tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post8735471015367090061..comments2024-03-20T04:19:52.573-05:00Comments on Stuff, Things, etc.: Why "free" college isn't a good ideaKristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12075708535155080258noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-3507597320942573972019-04-27T13:13:38.437-05:002019-04-27T13:13:38.437-05:00I don't have much to add because I agree with ...I don't have much to add because I agree with you. 100%. It scares me when people bring up free college. Do they think it's just that easy? To say it's free? Nah, dude.<br /><br />I came from the generation where it was college or "you'll be working at McDonald's for your whole life." You just went to college, that's it. And there's guilt if you didn't. And thank goodness we were able to pay off my debts - but we paid them off, I didn't whine about them and ignore them. For my kids, I will always offer college as a realistic option, as long as it works in their goals. I will also offer up trade schools, or just working, or whatever. There are so many options.Chantalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09543581308363689982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-66869151186866086622019-04-25T11:14:34.562-05:002019-04-25T11:14:34.562-05:00I feel like this just goes with the generation tha...I feel like this just goes with the generation that is coming up that wins all the ribbons & there are no losers on a team. Too pampered... maybe its just me....Rebecca Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965781380511208862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-65193447890011519552019-04-25T07:33:35.533-05:002019-04-25T07:33:35.533-05:00I so agree with this - and I have two kids prepari...I so agree with this - and I have two kids preparing to graduate from high school in the next couple years. Free college tuition is not the answer and it's comparable to a participation trophy, in my opinion. My two have been told numerous times that I went about college the wrong way - I did work my tail off to get grants and scholarships and was able to get through 4 years with no debt ... but I ended up with a degree I couldn't use. I picked a major I liked, not a career-path that would pay bills ... and regret it immensely now. But to get free tuition right off the bat - where's the incentive to work hard? Elizabeth - No Lazy Dayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850346132248360959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1457422002171939579.post-70726211207313577202019-04-25T03:20:07.506-05:002019-04-25T03:20:07.506-05:00The idea of free college in the USA is legitimatel...The idea of free college in the USA is legitimately scary to me. I think, as you said, there would be serious issues with people majoring in whatever they wanted to without thinking about job earnings/consequences. Besides, already so many college students are being really stupid and wasting their time by skipping classes, not studying, etc...how much worse would it be if they never had to pay for it? College should be an earned privilege, not a right, because that's the only way that adults are fully going to appreciate it.<br />My parents basically had three rules: you have to get a bachelor's degree, we're not going to help pay for it, and you can't take out any loans. So far three kids have graduated and two are mid-way through.<br /><br /> I actually did go to college for free because I got a hefty scholarship due to being in the top 1% of students admitted by test scores, that's just something my college did, gave varying scholarships depending on what percentile you were in your year. Angel decided to go to college after a summer working construction and knowing he wasn't tough enough for that--he got scholarships too, but also did take out loans, but going into nursing and moving to a state with a high need for nurses right after graduation (lots of overtime available!!) meant that he paid off his loans before we got married.<br />My siblings actually have worked their way through college. They all have lived in my grandparents' basement and help take care of my grandparents (grandma has Alzheimer's and Grandpa isn't able to do much anymore). They all have had jobs working at the same shop at the mall, the owner loves them so much, he will hire anyone in my family (he's hired 4 of my siblings and one cousin). They did as many credits as possible at the community college and transferred to the state university where they can pay in-state tuition. People say "it's not possible" but if you fight hard enough it might be possible. Living with my grandparents doesn't make it easy, in fact where they live, rent would probably be cheaper if they moved into their own little apartment, but taking care of my grandparents in their old age is important to them, and I'm glad that they can be there even when I'm far away.<br /><br />What bothers me is that my two little sisters both currently have boyfriends who have college degrees...and aren't using them, aren't interested in ever using them, do random side jobs and have no health insurance and have 5 figures of debt due to said degrees...and I don't really like this situation after they've worked so hard pursuing education degrees and are getting ready to start off in life responsibly...please don't hitch yourself to someone who doesn't have the same ethic.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07894832851934334471noreply@blogger.com