Student Loan Debt?

[paulsharvey]

I don’t think anybody’s arguing whether or not school loans are a bad thing. At least I’m not.

I think the point most people are trying to make is paying off loans by the government is wrong.!

POTUS IS JUST TRYING TO BUY VOTES AND THAT’S A PURE AND SIMPLE OUTLANDISH PLOY

Oh I agree it shouldn't get bailed out. College should be viewed as either an investment or an asset, and if it doesn't have pay back potential, they shouldnt lend the money for just general "finding yourself" or whatever BS your borrowing money for.

I will add, though, you now can't buy cigarettes until your 21; But you can cripple yourself with $400k in loans for a useless degree at 18..

Also, I think most people view student loans as zero interest, and that's just not true. That loan payment stop over the past years just delayed everyone while intrest built up.

I dont even have an issue if the federal student loan people said, these top 10 demand careers, we will loan on a zero percent or whatever; but the other majors, that's on you.

It's crazy we view government student loans as ok, but imagine if you could apply for a federally garranteed small business start up loan, with literally no business plan, no experience, extremely spread out payments, and people asked the gov to forgive those loans? I think in many cases, a $40k small business start up loan, would be better for the person/community/nation, would be a better long term investment than a 'general studies' or 'communications' degree.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just get the gov___ment out of the financial end. Let the banks make loans and pay them back with some oversight by the feds.
We don’t need the feds picking who gets loans

 

[two_bit_score]

POTUS IS JUST TRYING TO BUY VOTES AND THAT’S A PURE AND SIMPLE OUTLANDISH PLOY

Those who did not take loans and those who paid their's back are pretty mad about getting stuck with the debt of the deadbeats who are getting their loans forgiven.

 

[Torvy]

The volume of money available drives up tuition for everyone. Loans were available before the government got involved with them. They were harder to get and your major mattered for some.

I paid my own way working FT and school PT. Kids all took different paths. We told them when little that college was on them. Oldest got a full ride academic scholarship (Chem E). No loans and did TA and summer work to cover the incidentals. 2nd one went nearby and had a small scholarship. BSN. Lived at home after freshman year and commuted. Paid back the small amount she took in loans. Also worked PT as a hostess/waitress from 16 until nursing job. 3rd one had a $50k music scholarship...school cost $70k. (Could have gone elsewhere cheaper, but....) Covid hit during freshman year. He messed up and now has loans and no degree. Waiting tables and CC classes for Rad Tech (pt). 4th got a healthy scholarship at TTU and brought in 55 credits of AP. Spanish. She graduates in December (2.5 years). Wants to be a prof. No loans. Works PT as tutor and in U dining. Will have paid research in Fall. No loans.

If the government is going to give money away, the people need something direct back. I figure 4 years of military (or othee hazardous) service or 8 years civilian.

Schools really push college. I only pushed it for kids who should go but were waffling. Last year I had 3 that wanted to be welders (1 girl). I encouraged them. Ultimately, choose a profession you can tolerate and hopefully enjoy that can pay for your chosen lifestyle.

 

[jyoutz]

Also, one thing missed, it's hard to talk sense to a kid, while the schools/world are saying go to college. My 17 y/o son 'should' get 100% tuition paid. He is convinced he wants to go to a 4 year college, and live in a dorm, even though the tuition is only like 25-33% of the cost. All this, when he could easily get a better job locally, take night/online classes at community College, taking on zero debt, for atleast the first 2 years, and probably get a 4 year degree debt free. Now, the truth is, I'm not co-signing anything, and it will be his cross to bear, and his mistake (IMO) to make.

How much did your 17-18-19 year old self listen to adults?

I went to a community College, using step dads VA money (VA pays dependents of disabled vets), and sold plasma, worked, and didn't use any loans. I was offered a 100% scholarship 2 years into an associates but turned it down, I was Done with school. About 8 years ago, I did go back, trying to get an engineering degree, but it was a pain in the butt, and decided I didn't want it enough to go through all that trouble. School (community college) was easy for me when I was 18/19; but twi things changed. #1; working full time at a real job, real priorities, kids, wife, vehicles to work on, yard to mow. ect; And #2; the professors now don't teach. They take a view of "it's not my job to teach you, it's my job to test you, and if you don't know how to do it, watch a YouTube video"

I don’t think that is generally the case for science fields. I occasionally guest lecture forestry classes at two universities. I keep in contact with the faculty and see their curriculum. I have also have participated in online short courses. Yes, we still teach hard sciences. And also applied science. For the courses I have participated in, these students are smarter and the instructors teach at a higher level for undergraduate students than when I attended college. Many of these classes taught at undergraduate levels are equivalent to the graduate level instruction from 30 years ago.

 

[paulsharvey]

With my son, in specific, I think part of equation is A; wanting to get out of the house. and maybe B; he's worked since he was 15, normally 20-30 hrs/week; and I Think he feels he missed out on some of that carefree teenager stuff.

 

[jyoutz]

With my son, in specific, I think part of equation is A; wanting to get out of the house. and maybe B; he's worked since he was 15, normally 20-30 hrs/week; and I Think he feels he missed out on some of that carefree teenager stuff.

Most college students want to feel the full immersion of college life that doesn’t happen in a non residential environment. I went to community college my first two years, and after transferring to a university, I regretted not going there as a freshman.

 

[two_bit_score]

I don’t think that is generally the case for science fields. I occasionally guest lecture forestry classes at two universities. I keep in contact with the faculty and see their curriculum. I have also have participated in online short courses. Yes, we still teach hard sciences. And also applied science. For the courses I have participated in, these students are smarter and the instructors teach at a higher level for undergraduate students than when I attended college. Many of these classes taught at undergraduate levels are equivalent to the graduate level instruction from 30 years ago.

Tell us someone was in remedial classes without telling us they were in remedial classes.

 

[MossRoad]

Most college students want to feel the full immersion of college life that doesn’t happen in a non residential environment. I went to community college my first two years, and after transferring to a university, I regretted not going there as a freshman.

The best thing that ever happened to me was all of my friends went away to college and I stayed home. We were all pretty much a bad influence on each other.

I don't regret one bit of it.

 

[kenmac]

No college for me. I made a good living in the trades !
Having said that. I use to work for many apartment owners that rented to college students . Many of these students I talked with while making HVAC / plumbing repairs told me their student loans make their car payment, pay their rent, food, their utilities, their clothes, tires for their car, etc,etc,,
I think this is where the real issue is. And those in Washington willing to forgive these so called ''college loans'', have no clue this is even going on . I know I never did. I always thought that your college loan way used to pay for college only. It was a real eye opener for me to find out otherwise