Thursday, January 5, 2012

A College Education Does Not Have To Cost An Arm And A Leg

Wouldn't it be great if we could all go out and get a college education for free? If there were no tuition fees or living expenses, a college education would be available to so many that would be appreciative of it and make a great contribution to society. Although we may have an influx of applicants for available jobs, at least there would be a fair competition.
It has been said that there is a job for everyone, but that doesn't mean that anyone should settle into a position because he or she feels like he or she cannot obtain the education necessary to go after the career he or she really wants. Perhaps people are unaware of the different resources available that can help them get the money they need for school, and that is why they do not enroll.
If college courses were one-hundred percent free, and you could walk into any college and sit down in a classroom, what would you choose? Perhaps you would follow your aspirations to become an artist since nobody can tell you that it is a waste of money. Careers would be passed out like postcards if there were no further requirements for college courses other than showing up.
Although I think everyone can agree that it would be wonderful if every college course was one-hundred percent free to everyone, there are alternatives that can come close. Some universities are instituting free courses by allowing you to watch webcams that stream live during lectures. This allows students to get a feel for how the courses will flow and give a 'try before you buy' approach so to speak.
If you were able to secure enough scholarships, your college education would be free. Although it would take a lot of time to research and apply for small scholarships to cover the cost, you can always get a full ride scholarship for academics or athletics. The benefit to these programs is that they usually provide an incentive to continue keeping your grade point average high.
There are many corporations that are offering tuition reimbursement to their employees. Programs like these will allow people to get a portion or the total of their tuition reimbursed through their companies as long as they make great grades. There can be a sliding scale for reimbursement based on final grades. Working for a company like this could greatly improve your chances of completing a higher education degree if you have the incentive of free courses.
Although student loans are not free, they do help you get the money you need for school. You should borrow money with caution, and keep in mind that all of the money you borrow will need to be repaid with interest after graduation. Some students allow themselves to think of loans as 'free money' and do not realize that their debt is adding up while they are in school.

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