Big College-Students having to chose between food or tuition

[WhatInThe]

College students say they're having to chose between tuition or food stamps.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/n...ve-enough-money-for-food-last-year-2019-04-30

Two problems with this. First college like it or not is optional. A person should be responsible for funding and planning their optional activities. That means where is one going to eat, sleep, study, buy a computer or books and/or get to class or work along with funding it. Work is another issue because some colleges now recommend one doesn't work while attending.

The biggest problem with this is that Big College pricing is out of control. And that's because third party reimbursement in the form of scholarships, loans, grants etc perpetuate inflation. So Big College makes big money yet can't build in a discounted or free food/meal program?

 

[Don M.]

College is Not for everyone. Many of these students go through Liberal Arts programs which barely prepare them for a career of flipping burgers...and leaving themselves saddled with student debt that they can barely pay off. College used to be reserved for the top percentages of students, now anyone with a heartbeat thinks they need to go to college. There are thousands of good paying Blue Collar jobs going begging, because many of today's kids don't want to get their hands dirty. Joining the military is also a great way to get started in a career, but almost half of today's kids cannot qualify for the military...due to being physically unfit, after years of TV, and cellphones occupying their waking hours.

College has almost become just another big business, using students as "pawns". The worst examples are in college football...some coaches make millions per year, while 95% of the players wind up with little hope of joining the NFL, and no worthwhile education to prepare them for a career in the real world.

 

[retiredtraveler]

College is Not for everyone. Many of these students go through Liberal Arts programs which barely prepare them for a career of flipping burgers...and leaving themselves saddled with student debt that they can barely pay off. College used to be reserved for the top percentages of students, now anyone with a heartbeat thinks they need to go to college. There are thousands of good paying Blue Collar jobs going begging, because many of today's kids don't want to get their hands dirty. Joining the military is also a great way to get started in a career, but almost half of today's kids cannot qualify for the military...due to being physically unfit, after years of TV, and cellphones occupying their waking hours..............

Agree 100%. There are also huge opportunities by either going to a community college for two years to get the prereq's for a 4-year, or get a 2-year degree that puts you into a trade, or gives you enough background to help you with a business. We are fortunate to have a major community college close to town that keeps expanding due to demand. They have everything from horticulture, auto repair, and business/accounting courses to help you if you want to go into business yourself. There are many paid training positions at the local small businesses who just can't find machine operators such as CNC.
There have been any number of recent articles showing that in most cases, you don't do better going to more expensive institutions. Yeah, Harvard and Yale will do more for you, but there are so many expensive colleges across the country that just don't buy you anything better than less expensive schools, except for debt.
We just have too many young adults who don't want to get their hands dirty. Meanwhile, the dirty-hands people are making upwards of 6-figures in many cases, depending on the trade.An airline mechanic, for example, start at about $75,000 a year after the training.