College. Many of us encourage our children to go to college. Many students are taking out debt, and finishing four years of school with a massive pile of debt that they will have to pay back.
There are some very important keys to getting a college education:
1) Make certain that you get a degree in a useful field. I am not certain where someone will become employed with a degree in some of the fields that are out there. Education, Nursing, Accounting, some STEM fields- yes, I do see where they will be employed. Do some research to make certain that there is demand in the field you wish to enter.
2) Not every field demands a college education. Let your child be honest with themselves. Plumbers earn better money than teachers, and they can enter a program through the Vocational Center in your local school system that will make them employable upon graduation.
3) You don't need a degree from an expensive school to succeed in life. An in-state school with a low tuition rate will give your child an excellent degree. Do your research! Check and find out what the employment rate is for graduates of the school. What is their retention rate?
4) Community colleges are a wonderful, smart, affordable way to begin higher education.
So, we have two children in college full time right now. Neither one has debt.
Both boys took multiple Advanced Placement classes in high school. They entered college as sophomores by credit. Oldest child was a junior by credit at the end of the first semester of college. We are fortunate, in that he has some very generous merit based scholarships. He is covering the difference between what his scholarships cover with money he has earned working on campus.
We have paid for two years of the Maryland Pre-Paid College trust for the youngest two children.
Middle child is in his second year of his plan. He has already found an internship, in his field. Not only is he setting aside money for next year's tuition, he is also getting real-world, on the job experience in his field that is just as valuable as his school education, and will help him land that first job when he graduates.
Youngest child is a Senior in high school this year. She has taken AP classes in the past, and she is taking more AP classes this year. However, she mixed things up a little bit. She is taking Dual Enrollment Classes at the Community College. For two periods a day, she is at our high school. For the second two periods, she is taking classes at the community college. These classes will transfer directly - as credit - when she begins college. She has plans to finish 12 credits of courses this year.
In our county, we pay $100/credit hour for the first 12 hours of credits at the community college. That's a bargain, in my book.
Some counties cover the entire cost of coursework at the community college that students undertake. As long as they keep their average above a certain level (usually a 2.5) the school system will continue to cover the cost of the classes.
Yesterday, I heard of an innovative partnership I had never heard of before. Students who are entering high school, and meet grade and attendance guidelines may take Dual Enrollment classes at the high school beginning as Freshman. When these students graduate from high school, they will also graduate with an Associate's Degree. When I spoke with the librarian at this college, she mentioned to me that these highly motivated students are graduating with AA degrees in Nursing, Nutrition, Accounting, and have finished the first two years of Engineering programs.
Food for thought.
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