Ranger Rick: Don’t go to college unless you can afford to

The quest for college is a frantic round of SATs taken by high school students to score high enough to enter the college of their choice.  Applications, statements from parents concerning income status, and applying for grants and scholarships, all part of the high school junior and senior year college kabuki dance to get into desired schools.

I remember taking the SATs and probably scored average or below, not great in math but high in other areas.  But I wasn’t getting a scholarship or grant because my folks made too much income.

I actually looked forward to joining the service instead of attending college, which broke my mother’s heart and my dad said if you’re set on volunteering, go into the service to learn a trade.  It certainly worked out for me in the long run.

I worked in factories and joined the service a few years later, going to college nights and during my service years to gain a degree.  I didn’t have a silver spoon in my mouth when born, as most of my classmates didn’t either.  To get a college scholarship or grant when I went to high school you to be exceptionally smart or exceptionally poor.

I’m not the exception from my generation, my example was similar to many trying to achieve a college degree.

Let’s move forward three generations to today.  There are SAT classes on how to take the test, what likely questions will be presented, and tips on how to score well to get into the college of choice.

There are even parents willing to cheat to get their darlings into college.  Enter Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli.  Three reprobates paying to cheat to get their lovely daughters into their dream colleges.

Ms. Huffman has been sentenced (month in jail, complete year of probation, and pay a fine of $20,000). She said little Sophia had learning disabilities from an early age and paid $15,000 to have someone correct Sophia’s SAT answers, giving her higher scores she didn’t earn.

Ms. Loughlin and Mr. Giannulli are up next in the trial game.  Since they have not admitted any guilt and continue to trial, their futures are in jeopardy if the court decides to throw the book at them for allowing a ruse to say their daughters were recruited as crew recruits for the college rowing team.  However, neither is a rower and weren’t in high school or in a rowing club.  There was photo manipulation to show the daughters in rowing situations, which were clearly debunked.  The parents paid thousands (up to $500,000) to get their daughters into University of Southern California.

Now as bad as the preceding paragraphs depict parents of doing illegal things to get their little darlings into the college of their choice, they are probably not the exception but the rule with people of means to get their children into colleges in which they don’t belong due to poor high school academic performance and low SAT test scores without help.

How many Hollywood, political and business elites “help” their children in this manner every year and everybody involved winks, nods and turns their heads?  Whereas deserving young people working their asses off to get high grades and SAT scores are screwed out of spots at colleges they should be attending instead of kids with influence and money.

Many in our family have college degrees from state institutions, earned through hard work and hours completing course requirements using our own money, usually paying for classes through our earned wages.  My experience, both working and scholastic, is college is vastly overrated.

A person where I worked was considered “the” expert in his area of expertise and knowledge.  He never set foot in a college, a fact he doesn’t brag about, but acknowledges if asked.  I asked him why he didn’t attend college and he said his father died when he was in high school and he had to support the family.

He wanted to attend, but found he could hold his own with college graduates and master degree co-workers.  He was held in high esteem by his co-workers and higher echelon directors and vice-presidents.  He just never felt as though he couldn’t compete with college educated co-workers, so he just didn’t want to waste time and money.

I also knew an engineer in the same situation.  He attended a few classes at Grand Rapids Junior College (now GRCC) and found them boring and repetitious to what he had in high school.  He was on par with engineering knowledge most coming out of college couldn’t compare.  He was just naturally smart, curious, and read voraciously about engineering, physics, and math.  His insight and vast knowledge about most things mechanical and computers/applications was outstanding, recognized, and he moved up the ladder of success.

I give these two examples of people in my life who had no college education, admittedly, both wished they had the degrees, but have done well without them.  They are the exceptions not the rule.

But with the cost of a college education so huge now since the federal government runs the college student loan program, money is given out freely.

As of June 2018, Forbes reported that total U.S. student debt was $1.52 trillion and that 44.2 million people owed debt. The average student debt is $38,390. The median student debt is between $10,000 and $25,000, while 2% of borrowers owe $100,000 or more.

I urge all prospective college students to do your best in high school and in SAT testing but only go to college if you can afford it.  If you have to borrow thousands for a degree that will not give a return of high worth, of what use is the degree?

Borrowing $50,000 for a degree that will have a starting job wage of $40,000 per year is not a good return unless you wish to be a slave to the lender, the American taxpayer.  Consider going to a community college where tuitions are low and transfer to a four-year institution after completing a two-year degree.  Work while attending college, and if your place of employment offers college tuition assistance use it to your fullest advantage.

Attend night, weekend, and Internet classes.  It can be done without taking on a huge financial burden and putting your life on hold while you repay the debt.  It’s not easy, but it can be done without enormous debt at the end of your college years.

The rotting of America from within continues…