3 ms·

It’s impossible to work your way through college nowadays (now with national data)

3 points by rhiever 13y ago

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
That was my experience. That chart gives a little comfort. I dropped out for the third and final time in 2006. It was a task that I was not well prepared for (I was prepared for what I expected it to cost). In retrospect I can see things that I might have done better (can't everyone?); but a number of those things amount to 'ignore the advice of [parent, grandparent, other well-meaning people, etc]' or disregard culturally imprinted ideas x, y, and z. In that light, I won't second-guess my early-twenties self for his lack of wisdom. I don't regret my college experience. I am glad that I don't owe a large student loan debt for a failed degree attempt, but if I had taken a small amount to help me complete my last year, that might have been worth it. So maybe just the one regret.
- bane 13y ago
  I also worked through college, and it sucked. I managed to make it through, but there were any number of times that I almost didn't. I did have a few loans at the end, but I went to <local state school> and they were well under <$20k and where paid off within just a couple years with the new salary I could command. >but a number of those things amount to 'ignore the advice of [parent, grandparent, other well-meaning people, etc]' or disregard culturally imprinted ideas x, y, and z. I'm glad that you bring this up. There's a tremendous number of people and sources that want to give you advice about how to do it, but they're frequently wrong and it's very hard for a 20-something just out of high school to go against those voices. Furthermore, the 20-something probably doesn't know the answers either given their experience. It's a shame you didn't make it through, but it's never too late and if you go to local state school a class per semester, it isn't that time consuming or expensive. The only advice I can give you is that it's better to achieve the achievable and not live with that regret.

3 points by rhiever 13y ago

That was my experience. That chart gives a little comfort. I dropped out for the third and final time in 2006. It was a task that I was not well prepared for (I was prepared for what I expected it to cost). In retrospect I can see things that I might have done better (can't everyone?); but a number of those things amount to 'ignore the advice of [parent, grandparent, other well-meaning people, etc]' or disregard culturally imprinted ideas x, y, and z. In that light, I won't second-guess my early-twenties self for his lack of wisdom. I don't regret my college experience. I am glad that I don't owe a large student loan debt for a failed degree attempt, but if I had taken a small amount to help me complete my last year, that might have been worth it. So maybe just the one regret.

bane 13y ago
I also worked through college, and it sucked. I managed to make it through, but there were any number of times that I almost didn't. I did have a few loans at the end, but I went to <local state school> and they were well under <$20k and where paid off within just a couple years with the new salary I could command. >but a number of those things amount to 'ignore the advice of [parent, grandparent, other well-meaning people, etc]' or disregard culturally imprinted ideas x, y, and z. I'm glad that you bring this up. There's a tremendous number of people and sources that want to give you advice about how to do it, but they're frequently wrong and it's very hard for a 20-something just out of high school to go against those voices. Furthermore, the 20-something probably doesn't know the answers either given their experience. It's a shame you didn't make it through, but it's never too late and if you go to local state school a class per semester, it isn't that time consuming or expensive. The only advice I can give you is that it's better to achieve the achievable and not live with that regret.