Getting a college education is an expensive journey to start. In fact some studies show that 50% of students that start college do not finish.
Nevertheless everyone should pursue a higher education whether it’s at a local community college (which I attended) or a major four year university (which I attended afterwards).
There are several things that I learned throughout the 3 years I attended college in my early 30s that I wish the 20 year old me knew.
Being a parent made it harder, but I was blessed to have people to watch over my son while I studied and worked.
Here are three things that every college student should keep in mind when deciding on a college and they apply to both dependent and independent college students:
- The most expensive degree in the world is the one that you do not finish.
I attended college in my teens (17–19), and then dropped out shy of one class of my associate degree. I went back for a year in my early 20s and dropped out due to lack of finances and took another job. When I was laid off from that job I started to write while on unemployment and started my career as an entertainer after. Then I went back at 31 and finished at 33.
My biggest lesson was not getting into debt when I did not understand what debt could do to a person. My mother warned me not to get into debt and that scared me into not taking out student loans in my youth. As an older student with better planning and an outlook and a career already started those same student loans came in handy for planning how to finish college as an adult.
If you get into student loan debt and do not finish, the debt does not go away. In fact if you decide to go back later and you are delinquent, you can not borrow again until that situation is rectified. Always apply for FAFSA even if you do not think you qualify and always take free money first and only borrow what you can afford to pay back. I heard many young kids standing in financial aid lines saying they were going to take out money to have fun, and there is nothing wrong with fun, just know nothing is free and you (or your parents) will be paying for it later.
- If you can, start at a community college.
I’ve attended a major four year and I have attended a community and there is something to say about both types of educational environments.
In the community college setting you are surrounded by knowledge in the form of non-traditional students that have led unique lives and some lectures whom teach there part-time. In my community college my film teachers were made up of teachers that also taught (or at one point taught) at some of the major universities in the Los Angeles area.
So even if you can’t afford to go to a major name school, you can still get a competitive education by studying at the right ones. With the right teachers and support system, transferring down the road will be easier and you will be more prepared to step in to compete with your peers in the new school setting.
- Don’t turn down work-study!
If you are mid or low income and you apply and qualify for financial aid…Do Not Turn Down Work Study if it is offered to you.
Even if your goal is to be the best student in the world and focus 100%, DO work study. It’s a minimal commitment, it will help you build social skills and work experience and it will give you something to do to take your mind off studying some weeks.
Work study also assists low income individuals by allowing them to qualify for supplemental food. While some might not advocate for helping students eat when college is voluntary, I personally have seen young adults with little to no food and these future leaders do need help because college is a job.
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Http://www.visualstories.net
Also look for my upcoming book “From ‘Producer’ to Producer” coming soon!