Comments on: Is Going Back to School in the Recession a Good Idea? http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea New York City on a Budget Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:47:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lauren Fairbanks http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-1793 Lauren Fairbanks Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:11:18 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-1793 <p>@clarissa - Are you getting another Bachelors in graphic design, and then going on to grad school?</p> <p>The reason I ask is that while I believe education is a wonderful thing, I also think that a lot of students overestimate the pull that a full educational resume (multiple degrees and a masters) has.  I'm not saying that having a degree is worthless -- a bachelors is mandatory in almost every field now. But, a Bachelors degree isn't what it used to be.  And Masters are heading in the same direction.  Taking graphic design classes somewhere that has a good track record could possibly be a better option -- and cheaper in the long run.</p> <p>As far as not having to pay utilities, you're absolutely paying for utilities, just not separately each month.  Trust me - those fees are packaged in nicely with your tuition and housing.  Unfortunately, nothing is free.  A university, while providing an excellent service, is still a business.  If you know that the field you want to pursue when you graduate mandates that you have a Masters, then by all means, get that degree.  But, if this is just something to pass the time until the economy shores up, then I honestly don't think that taking out student loans to pay for your tuition and living expenses is the best decision.  It may not seem like a big deal now, but paying off tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt is not easy, and it can drastically alter your future plans and major financial decisions for a long time.</p> <p>I'm not trying to downplay your decision to obtain higher education, I just think that more students need to really think about how much that additional degree is really going to help them pursue their chosen career and make money, as opposed to how long it's going to take them to pay it off.</p> @clarissa – Are you getting another Bachelors in graphic design, and then going on to grad school?

The reason I ask is that while I believe education is a wonderful thing, I also think that a lot of students overestimate the pull that a full educational resume (multiple degrees and a masters) has.  I’m not saying that having a degree is worthless — a bachelors is mandatory in almost every field now. But, a Bachelors degree isn’t what it used to be.  And Masters are heading in the same direction.  Taking graphic design classes somewhere that has a good track record could possibly be a better option — and cheaper in the long run.

As far as not having to pay utilities, you’re absolutely paying for utilities, just not separately each month.  Trust me – those fees are packaged in nicely with your tuition and housing.  Unfortunately, nothing is free.  A university, while providing an excellent service, is still a business.  If you know that the field you want to pursue when you graduate mandates that you have a Masters, then by all means, get that degree.  But, if this is just something to pass the time until the economy shores up, then I honestly don’t think that taking out student loans to pay for your tuition and living expenses is the best decision.  It may not seem like a big deal now, but paying off tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt is not easy, and it can drastically alter your future plans and major financial decisions for a long time.

I’m not trying to downplay your decision to obtain higher education, I just think that more students need to really think about how much that additional degree is really going to help them pursue their chosen career and make money, as opposed to how long it’s going to take them to pay it off.

]]> By: clarissa http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-1790 clarissa Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:17:16 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-1790 i've been out of school for eight months and in the process of re-enrolling (graduated with a bachelor's in public relations, now looking to do graphic design, then grad school). here's what i've encountered: yes, I will have to take out loans, but i will have a job on campus, and live on campus (they have apartments and most of the students do) eliminating utilities. This option is so much better than me sitting and being rejecting from both part time and full time positions.   i’ve been out of school for eight months and in the process of re-enrolling (graduated with a bachelor’s in public relations, now looking to do graphic design, then grad school). here’s what i’ve encountered: yes, I will have to take out loans, but i will have a job on campus, and live on campus (they have apartments and most of the students do) eliminating utilities.
This option is so much better than me sitting and being rejecting from both part time and full time positions.
 

]]> By: home loan http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-359 home loan Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:18:40 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-359 Lovely. Great site. Lovely. Great site.

]]> By: You Have the Power » Blog Archive » Is Going Back To School in the Recession a Good Idea? | Lifestyler http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-316 You Have the Power » Blog Archive » Is Going Back To School in the Recession a Good Idea? | Lifestyler Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:15:15 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-316 [...] Most of this comes from the lack of jobs for new grads, and seems to be a good way to pass the time during our economic downturn. But is this really a smart way to spend a period of low employment?[Continue Reading] [...] [...] Most of this comes from the lack of jobs for new grads, and seems to be a good way to pass the time during our economic downturn. But is this really a smart way to spend a period of low employment?[Continue Reading] [...]

]]> By: September Club - Social news that improves your life http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-315 September Club - Social news that improves your life Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:22:00 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-315 <strong>Post Featured...</strong> Your post was featured in September Club - Social news that improves your life! Here is the link to vote it up and promote it: http://www.septemberclub.com/node/214... Post Featured…

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]]> By: Lauren Fairbanks http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-314 Lauren Fairbanks Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:35:17 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-314 Hey Brandon, I agree that education is a great thing.  However, taking out loads of student debt (and other debt) to fund it in this economy is not a good idea.  I would recommend taking online classes while working part-time to make sure you still hold on to some level of financial security.  Living on loan money is bad in any situation -- but especially bad now. Also, great job on owning and operating several businesses.  I think entrepreneurship is the only way to a truly financially secure life.   Good luck with your businesses! Hey Brandon,
I agree that education is a great thing.  However, taking out loads of student debt (and other debt) to fund it in this economy is not a good idea.  I would recommend taking online classes while working part-time to make sure you still hold on to some level of financial security.  Living on loan money is bad in any situation — but especially bad now.

Also, great job on owning and operating several businesses.  I think entrepreneurship is the only way to a truly financially secure life.   Good luck with your businesses!

]]> By: Brandon http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-312 Brandon Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:26:22 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-312 STICK WITH SCHOOL.  I dropped out at one point but had a great professor who basically forced me to come back.  Once I finished up, I had the tools to own and operate several successful businesses.  School is cool! STICK WITH SCHOOL.  I dropped out at one point but had a great professor who basically forced me to come back.  Once I finished up, I had the tools to own and operate several successful businesses.  School is cool!

]]> By: SweetHype! http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-310 SweetHype! Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:21:41 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-310 <strong>Interesting post!...</strong> This story was just shared with our readers on SweetHype!! Follow this link to hype up this article and get more people to read it: http://www.sweethype.com/node/1953... Interesting post!…

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]]> By: » Is Going Back to School in the Recession a Good Idea? | LifeStyler » School Loan Rates http://www.lifestylermag.com/features/is-going-back-to-school-in-the-recession-a-good-idea/comment-page-1#comment-309 » Is Going Back to School in the Recession a Good Idea? | LifeStyler » School Loan Rates Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:41 +0000 http://www.lifestylermag.com/?p=3550#comment-309 [...] news by unknown « The Economic Downturn and Student Loans: Some Practical Advice for … Amiable [...] [...] news by unknown « The Economic Downturn and Student Loans: Some Practical Advice for … Amiable [...]

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