Should High School prepare students who aren't going to college?

[FEELS Inc.]

So I am doing a "survey" of sorts. I want to see what kids my age and kids in high school think about this concept.

When I was in high school all the preparation was geared towards going to college directly after high school. The problem with that is not all the kids in my grade went to college and if they did they went to a community college part time and had to get a job to help support themselves.

The problem that I have is that my high school could have easily integrated a preparation class that was devoted to those situations. I happened to be a kid that couldn't afford to go to a big name university and get the entire "college experience". I had to use my first semester of what was supposed to be college and work a full time job in order to pay for myself to go to community college. My parents made just enough money to keep me from getting financial aid. The messed up thing about financial aid, also, is that when I was 21 I was in school, lived on my own, and had a full time job but my financial aid was based on my parents income. This is different if I had been born before 1986 but the fact still remained that I had absolutely no financial help from my parents but my help from the government was based on my parents income. I don't get it.


So my questions are:
Should high schools prepare students for life without college?
Should the financial aid system be reconstructed?
Should college be cheaper in your first year and get more expensive as you go?

Thoughts/Answers/Ideas/Comments/Tell Me I'm an Idiot

[KidRobot]

Everyone can get financial aid. Scholarships/grants/loans are everywhere. There's no real reason to be working fulltime while in college...it's not really smart.

1) They do. Vocational schools/trade schools.
2) I wish.
3) Doesn't really matter...though that could help the kids who do drop out after their first year since they won't be in debt that much.

[Animalhill]

Everyone can get financial aid. Scholarships/grants/loans are everywhere. There's no real reason to be working fulltime while in college...it's not really smart.

1) They do. Vocational schools/trade schools.
2) I wish.
3) Doesn't really matter...though that could help the kids who do drop out after their first year since they won't be in debt that much.
Some people, such as myself, do not have a choice. Uterus lottery my friend- not everyone has parents that can pay for college.

[PenThrive]

Some people, such as myself, do not have a choice. Uterus lottery my friend- not everyone has parents that can pay for college.

Exactly. I worked full-time (night shift) while in college, not because I wanted to, but because I HAD TO. It's not a matter of being smart at all. There were semesters where I could not attend because work had the priority. There are scholarships and financial aid out there that help slim the cost of attending college, but rarely do they cover the entire cost.

[Animalhill]

Exactly. I worked full-time (night shift) while in college, not because I wanted to, but because I HAD TO. It's not a matter of being smart at all. There were semesters where I could not attend because work had the priority. There are scholarships and financial aid out there that help slim the cost of attending college, but rarely do they cover the entire cost.
Yeah, I hear you. I had to drop out altogether. I was born into poverty, and removing myself from that condition is not an easy task. Some people forget that entitlement requires exclusivity.

[PenThrive]

Yeah, I hear you. I had to drop out altogether. I was born into poverty, and removing myself from that condition is not an easy task. Some people forget that entitlement requires exclusivity.


You're right, it was not easy removing myself, but I was lucky enough to return be it after a year or two off. In all, it took me 5 years to get my A.A. degree because I had to take a few years off and attempt to save what I could. My financial aid at my new school is pretty good, so I'm back at it again. I never had the option of taking out a loan either because I had no way to pay it all back. Some of my friends went to college and got degrees, some I see working at various stores. You do what you can, and that's about all you can do.

[Animalhill]

You're right, it was not easy removing myself, but I was lucky enough to return be it after a year or two off. In all, it took me 5 years to get my A.A. degree because I had to take a few years off and attempt to save what I could. My financial aid at my new school is pretty good, so I'm back at it again. I never had the option of taking out a loan either because I had no way to pay it all back. Some of my friends went to college and got degrees, some I see working at various stores. You do what you can, and that's about all you can do.
This. As long as I'm happy- I could care less about what I do for work. I'll hopefully be touring full-time within the next year anyways, so dropping out to pursue music has been worth it.

[rollerman4221]

A) Your an idiot
B) What do you feel your highschool should of taught you that you didn't learn to be in the "real world"
C) You can't make college for cheaper for some and not others, thats just retarded. If your not man enough to go to college dont do it, nuff said

[Animalhill]

A) Your an idiot
B) What do you feel your highschool should of taught you that you didn't learn to be in the "real world"
C) You can't make college for cheaper for some and not others, thats just retarded. If your not man enough to go to college dont do it, nuff said
This is one of the dumbest fucking posts I've ever read.

[rollerman4221]

This is one of the dumbest fucking posts I've ever read.

you must not get around this site much

[Animalhill]

you must not get around this site much
On the contrary, I actually do.

[rollerman4221]

On the contrary, I actually do.

then please explain

[Animalhill]

then please explain
Shit- was your initial post directed towards, 'kid robot' or the OP?

[Srsly]

The fuck, I don't know about where you live but here in highschool you can take courses geared towards university, mixed, college (community college) or apprenticeships in the trades, etc. Plus everyone nearly everyone who needs it can get financial aid.

[Animalhill]

The fuck, I don't know about where you live but here in highschool you can take courses geared towards university, mixed, college (community college) or apprenticeships in the trades, etc. Plus everyone nearly everyone who needs it can get financial aid.
Not in the states, man.

[rollerman4221]

Shit- was your initial post directed towards, 'kid robot' or the OP?

OP

[KidRobot]

Some people, such as myself, do not have a choice. Uterus lottery my friend- not everyone has parents that can pay for college.

Can't take out a loan? I did. My parents aren't paying a cent.

[Animalhill]

Can't take out a loan? I did. My parents aren't paying a cent.
Yeah, but did they cosign?

[-whisp-]

I've had a loan to pay tuition for my last 3 years. For rent etc my parents and I payed. I managed to get a scholarship for a year which basically payed for my rent/food and stuff. I'm taking a masters this year and haven't been able to take out a loan, I'm hoping I get another scholarship to help out but I will need to get some sort of side job to help out a little more.

My parents aren't that well off either and I'm so grateful for all their help so far. I do feel bad but it's important to them and for myself to get a degree that I enjoy. If I ever land a good job I'll pay them back, however long it takes.

[KidRobot]

Yeah, but did they cosign?

Nope.

[Animalhill]

Nope.
So, you got a long in the realm of tens of thousands of dollars (I'm guessing) at 18 or 19 years old without:
A)A cosigner
B)Credit history
?

[laxcrs]

I've had a loan to pay tuition for my last 3 years. For rent etc my parents and I payed. I managed to get a scholarship for a year which basically payed for my rent/food and stuff. I'm taking a masters this year and haven't been able to take out a loan, I'm hoping I get another scholarship to help out but I will need to get some sort of side job to help out a little more.

My parents aren't that well off either and I'm so grateful for all their help so far. I do feel bad but it's important to them and for myself to get a degree that I enjoy. If I ever land a good job I'll pay them back, however long it takes.

who does the art/design for your avatar

[Praetor]

We desperately need to socialize our education system.

[Animalhill]

We desperately need to socialize our education system.
We need SOMETHING. Our education system is a joke that caters to the privileged.

[KidRobot]

So, you got a long in the realm of tens of thousands of dollars (I'm guessing) at 18 or 19 years old without:
A)A cosigner
B)Credit history
?

A) Correct
B) Incorrect

[Animalhill]

A) Correct
B) Incorrect
How did you have sufficient credit history at 18?

[KidRobot]

How did you have sufficient credit history at 18?

Getting a credit card. Pretty noble.

[Animalhill]

Getting a credit card. Pretty noble.
Wrong word, and totally out of context. Maybe purchase a thesaurus with that credit card?

[-whisp-]

who does the art/design for your avatar

It's a design I found on threadless.com .

[Kozzy333]

The fuck, I don't know about where you live but here in highschool you can take courses geared towards university, mixed, college (community college) or apprenticeships in the trades, etc. Plus everyone nearly everyone who needs it can get financial aid.

This. Is it really not like this in USA?

[KidRobot]

Wrong word, and totally out of context. Maybe purchase a thesaurus with that credit card?

I don't get why you're being such a prick about this. I'm not being handed college either. I've grown up in a very affluent area where pretty much every kid is going on their parents money to a nice school. Unfortunately for me I do not have those luxuries. I commute to a school I really do not like that has 80% guys and is one of the worst cities in the nation. I get up every morning at 5:20 so I can work some of my debt off before I graduate then go to school til at least 5:30 at night...usually 9.

I was just saying being a student full time and working full time is very hard to balance.

[FEELS Inc.]

Can't take out a loan? I did. My parents aren't paying a cent.

I couldn't take out a loan. I had bills including rent. I had to eat and my parents didn't give me a cent either. I worked full time because I had to and because I wanted to get an education past high school.

Maybe there isn't anything that high school can do to prepare you for the real world. However, I don't think they should prepare me for a world that I would never be in.

Financial Aid is a joke. They need to fix it. I feel bad for the up and coming generations. How are we supposed to change the world when the only kids that are going to Division 1 universities are the kids with money and the kids with money only want to make more money. It is a continuous cycle that can be changed and should be changed.

Maybe there is a political science major at a big university reading this right now and if you are than maybe you can do something about it when you are 40.



How can we fix this problem? It is up to our generation to do these things and right now I am not sure there are enough who care or if they do care they don't know what to do.

[KidRobot]

I couldn't take out a loan. I had bills including rent. I had to eat and my parents didn't give me a cent either. I worked full time because I had to and because I wanted to get an education past high school.

That is a tough situation and yeah there is the possibility of that being an issue. Couldn't you just go to a community college part time going for a few credits at a time? It's only a couple hundred per credit usually.

[FEELS Inc.]

That is a tough situation and yeah there is the possibility of that being an issue. Couldn't you just go to a community college part time going for a few credits at a time? It's only a couple hundred per credit usually.

I did end up going part time taking six credits. I still had to work the full time job. At that pace of taking six credits per semester it would take me 10 years literally. Haha. I know that this is something that I have to deal with and I have dealt with and I don't really think there is a clear and easy solution. I just wish my tax dollars could help spawn a solution instead of paying for stuff I don't even know about.

Word? Word.

[Ohlax51]

While I do think the financial aid system can use some improvement I think you might be a little too pessimistic. I come from middle-middle class family and sadly after long illness (and hefty medical bills) my father passed away with my mother having to work full time and me having to take care of my younger siblings. That being said I still found it fairly easy to take out loans maintain a solid gpa for some scholarship and grants to help with the cost of college and will be graduating a semester early and go on to grad school. Maybe there is another reason you found college to be not worth your time but financial aid is a sorry excuse, even with our less than stellar financial aid system. While I agree everyone should be helped in achieving their goals personal responsibility/motivation has to be addressed at some point. Its not easy going to college with limitied financial resources but it sure as hell is not impossible especially with the low cost of community colleges/regional campuses if I can afford a 4 year university without having to take out non government loans and no parental contribution than you definetely can afford at least community college. I suggest you reconsider college and talk to someone with a good knowlege of financial aid at your prospective school before giving up hope.

Good Luck

[KidRobot]

While I do think the financial aid system can use some improvement I think you might be a little too pessimistic. I come from middle-middle class family and sadly after long illness (and hefty medical bills) my father passed away with my mother having to work full time and me having to take care of my younger siblings. That being said I still found it fairly easy to take out loans maintain a solid gpa for some scholarship and grants to help with the cost of college and will be graduating a semester early and go on to grad school. Maybe there is another reason you found college to be not worth your time but financial aid is a sorry excuse, even with our less than stellar financial aid system. While I agree everyone should be helped in achieving their goals personal responsibility/motivation has to be addressed at some point. Its not easy going to college with limitied financial resources but it sure as hell is not impossible especially with the low cost of community colleges/regional campuses if I can afford a 4 year university without having to take out non government loans and no parental contribution than you definetely can afford at least community college. I suggest you reconsider college and talk to someone with a good knowlege of financial aid at your prospective school before giving up hope.

Good Luck


This.

[FEELS Inc.]

While I do think the financial aid system can use some improvement I think you might be a little too pessimistic. I come from middle-middle class family and sadly after long illness (and hefty medical bills) my father passed away with my mother having to work full time and me having to take care of my younger siblings. That being said I still found it fairly easy to take out loans maintain a solid gpa for some scholarship and grants to help with the cost of college and will be graduating a semester early and go on to grad school. Maybe there is another reason you found college to be not worth your time but financial aid is a sorry excuse, even with our less than stellar financial aid system. While I agree everyone should be helped in achieving their goals personal responsibility/motivation has to be addressed at some point. Its not easy going to college with limitied financial resources but it sure as hell is not impossible especially with the low cost of community colleges/regional campuses if I can afford a 4 year university without having to take out non government loans and no parental contribution than you definetely can afford at least community college. I suggest you reconsider college and talk to someone with a good knowlege of financial aid at your prospective school before giving up hope.

Good Luck

Pessimism is my downfall. I have still managed to go to school through all of this. It is just coming out of my pocket more than I think it should. Education should be more affordable. That is the point. Thanks and props to you for making it through all your trials.

[quitmyscene]

Financial Aid is a joke. They need to fix it. I feel bad for the up and coming generations. How are we supposed to change the world when the only kids that are going to Division 1 universities are the kids with money and the kids with money only want to make more money. It is a continuous cycle that can be changed and should be changed.

This isn't true at all. I go to a Division 1 university and my parents aren't paying a cent. Because my school is so expensive, I get a ton of financial aid even though my parents (well, dad) make an average salary. I did have a fair amount of loans to take out last year, but this year it's significantly less because I moved on campus and work part-time to pay for it. I guess it's just a matter of choosing the right school in terms of finaid. My school is probably split 50/50... with half of the students having parents pay for everything and the other half relying completely on financial aid. However, I DO agree that it needs to be fixed - international students don't get a cent of financial aid, for example, and there should be more/better financial aid for students whose parents aren't paying for college. Of course, I think the reason they don't do that already is because it's hard to prove that they are/aren't paying and people would abuse the system.

As for questions..
Should high schools prepare students for life without college?
Primary purpose of vocational schools. While you CAN go to college after graduating, they prepare you so you do not have to unless you choose to do so.

Should the financial aid system be reconstructed?
Absolutely. However, it really depends on the school. If you have no money and aren't getting financial aid, you're applying to the wrong schools. As it is now, I want to graduate a semester early.. but it would be more expensive to take 3 summer classes than it would be to stay the last semester. You do need good grades as well; if high school shows that you aren't serious about schooling and continuing your education, why should the college put their money into you?

Should college be cheaper in your first year and get more expensive as you go?
Isn't that how it works currently? I know with most schools tuition goes up every year.. I wish it would stay the same all four years (however, even though tuition goes up, the percentage of financial aid stays the same assuming all other things do).

[poi]

A) Your an idiot
B) What do you feel your highschool should of taught you that you didn't learn to be in the "real world"
C) You can't make college for cheaper for some and not others, thats just retarded. If your not man enough to go to college dont do it, nuff said what?

[rollerman4221]

what?

The OP talking about making college cheaper for 1st year students incase they drop out or can't handle it the financial burden won't be as bad. I was responding to that comment with what I said.

[pambeesley]

1. highschool didnt prepare me for anything, especially not university
2.OSAP is amazing, i dont know what other people have offered to them but it helps ppl around here although
3. i dont think that post secondary school needs to be any more expensive, it holds enough people back already, as for the increase in pricing that would not affect anything i dont think maybe a couple more people would go to university but the smart people would know there being screwed with

[joeag1985]

Yes. It should.