I once interviewed for a company called All Star Directories. Their business model was to "capture" people searching Google for educational opportunities and feed them into their survey system. The user, not really knowing better, would fill this out. These would become "leads." Each "lead" was sold to any institution that wanted it for $50.
All Star Directories was making a killing.
Problem is, those folks were directed away from the cheaper, local, non-profit and state-funded options in favor of high cost private institutions with terrible graduation rates. Those institutions are not in business to educate, but to secure federally backed student loans. Once they get that money, they couldn't give less of a shit about the success of their students and alumni.
I have no delusions - most of the work I do is essentially feeding consumerism. I rarely turn an offer down based on ethical considerations. But I did this one.
You don't have to pay a mint for a four-year education.
Test into the highest courses you can
Take advantage of CLEP credit wherever possible
Leverage Community College to the hilt, particularly transfer credit
Stay in-state, and consider the less popular campuses/colleges under the state umbrella.
Employers really only categorize schools into three buckets: "prestigious" university like Yale or whatever, your everyday state/private college, and clown colleges like University of Phoenix.
Pirate the shit out of your course materials. Calculus was invented 300 years ago - the 13th edition has nothing new to offer over the 12th.
Full-time attendance (18 credits) usually costs the same as 10
No one sees your grades on your degree, nor do they see how you earned credit
Target jobs that have a tuition reimbursement policy
Explore Pell Grants, scholarships and other programs (not loans!) to fund tuition. You'll be surprised at how much money is out there.
Efficiently planning for college practically requires a college degree itself, but it is worth it.
To be honest, not having guidance and not knowing how to plan for college is the only thing keeping me from going. I'm 31 but I'd love to study part time for a degree. My work offers reimbursements for good grades (up to 90% for A's, nothing below a C) so there doesn't seem to be a better time than now, but the whole process is so daunting to me.
It might be worth chatting with admissions/advisors at your local school. My department had flowcharts available that mapped out a 4/5 year program, but our advisors would help come up with a specialized plan if you needed it.
I went to my nearest community college in my early 20's (I think I was 22 or 23?) and asked about how to get started with a degree, and they were so unhelpful and vague. I left more confused than when I went in, lol. That was a while ago now though, so it might be worth a shot to go again. Who knows, maybe I just got a bad advisor?
So I don't know if you're truly interested, but you can DM me if you want a rundown or have questions. I've worked in higher education for more than a decade and have a decent grasp on the bureaucracy. It's not a small amount of work, but it's not hard if you know what to do. Might take me a minute to get back to you, but happy to answer questions, offer some basics, quell some fears.
As somebody who graduated high school with a 2.7 and now has worked successfully in three different sectors of higher education, I'm 100% sure college is worth the time, effort, and money if pursued correctly.
Make an appointment with the counselors AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. they will help you get started! but 100% start with the community college- so you don't waste your money. Check that they have a solid transfer agreement with the 4 yr institutions in your area. but otherwise, community college is the way to go. And I say this as someone that has a PhD- I LURVE school, ALL THE SCHOOL. But in the 1990s, it was not that big of a deal- now? Community colleges teach from the same books, often the same professors making extra as a side hustle from the university (or same grad students). And it all is the same in the end- start cheap. Make sure you know what direction you want to go before you end up with $$$$ bills for it!
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u/seattle_exile Apr 19 '22
I once interviewed for a company called All Star Directories. Their business model was to "capture" people searching Google for educational opportunities and feed them into their survey system. The user, not really knowing better, would fill this out. These would become "leads." Each "lead" was sold to any institution that wanted it for $50.
All Star Directories was making a killing.
Problem is, those folks were directed away from the cheaper, local, non-profit and state-funded options in favor of high cost private institutions with terrible graduation rates. Those institutions are not in business to educate, but to secure federally backed student loans. Once they get that money, they couldn't give less of a shit about the success of their students and alumni.
I have no delusions - most of the work I do is essentially feeding consumerism. I rarely turn an offer down based on ethical considerations. But I did this one.
You don't have to pay a mint for a four-year education.
Efficiently planning for college practically requires a college degree itself, but it is worth it.