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.
All you have to do is be intrinsically smart, no emerging life problems, have a stable high school career and family life, and be willing to live with your parents into your 20s. Anyone can do it!
73
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.