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........................... Nov. 30 - Jan. 06, 2001
OTHER ISSUES .................... |
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Think college costs too much? Then get a job... or maybe not |
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Lights streaming from the ceiling, an overhead projector with lists, and an administrative advisor standing at the front of the room, there is no question that orientation has commenced. That's right! College has begun.
Sitting in a strange room surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a stack of catalogs, requirements and handouts, no matter the college or whether a freshman, a transfer student, or a returning student everyone hears the same spiel.
Nevertheless, the phrase that can usually be quoted from all different types of orientations is, "If you are planning to be a fulltime student, don't plan on working fulltime". The thought soon to follow this phrase is, "Yeah, right".
Coming from personal experience, there is no way in today's society to live on your own and be a fulltime student without working fulltime or going into debt. It seems as though the educational system has lost touch with the expense of living or tends to forget that not all students have support from family or scholarships.
The community colleges should be especially aware because according to the statistical research done by Shoreline Community College, 27.1 percent of students need to support themselves and/or a family.
This impossible request of not working fulltime must be put into perspective. In order to do so, we will compare one quarter of expenses for community college to the need for fulltime employment. Rather than making this a hypothetical situation, we will use the data from my own experience.
Attending Shoreline Community College for one quarter, constituting 11 weeks, with fifteen credits, twelve credits classify fulltime, is valued at $636.00. The charge for books to attend these classes value at $301.87. In conclusion for 11 weeks of community college the total is $937.87.
However, this total does not include any of the other supplies need to attend a lecture class in which notes are required, and last time I checked, paper does grow on trees but its not free. Despite that fact, for the purpose of this comparison we won't take those expenses into consideration.
Since knowledge is power, but not free, there has to be some way of producing the money necessary for this knowledge. Being one of the many students that do not live with parents and don't have parents picking up the tab for educational expenses, a job is definitely required in my situation.
Keeping in mind the rest of data used in this example will vary in every situation; nevertheless, there is a definite need for fulltime employment.
Using one particular example and calculating an amount paid for 11 weeks of service, but removing taxes, insurance, and the 11 weeks of education one is left with $2901.57 to live on those 11 weeks. However, to properly display the need for a fulltime position, we will cut this number in half to demonstrate the lack of funds if only part-time work is obtained, as recommended.
Once replacing fulltime pay with part-time pay what is left, after the deductions, is $981.85. However, even though the education bill is paid for there are still the expenses necessary to survive. There is rent, utilities, internet, phone, food, transportation, and much more. Just for a bit more clarification on the expense of living we will continue to use my current situation as the example.
Living with a roommate in a 700 square foot apartment rent for one is $350 a month. The combined price for two months of internet, electricity, and phone, with no long distance, constitutes of $77.63, but thanks to shared living expense, that is only $38.82 for one.
Just in case anyone lost track of how much money is left after 1 quarter, without food or transportation, the grand total is $-106.97. In case you missed the small sign in front of the hundred-dollar digit that is a negative sign. Yup, this part time working student is in the hole over $100 without all living expenses taken into consideration.
The need to continue the argument is obsolete, for it is in black and white, crystal clear. A fulltime student, going to the least expensive college can not support themselves without working fulltime also.
On the other hand, the education system might argue if one couldn't afford fulltime education, then go to school part-time. This is a valid suggestion, but in the long run it would cost the student even more money.
In explanation, it would take twice as long to finish college, either four years at community college or eight years at a university, just to accomplish the undergraduate programs.
If the program was finished in the timely matter, one would either be able to continue schooling or start the intended career. However, if taking the "twice as long route", the career wouldn't be started until much later in the student's life.
This would cut into the student's longevity of his/her intended career costing early retirement and higher pay at an earlier stage in life.
All in all, it is unrealistic to ask a student, who is fully supporting him/herself, to only work part-time. Even if the student is using the "longer is better" approach to education, that student will still be working fulltime to pay for living.
In conclusion, the education system needs to wise up and realize their students have to work fulltime. As a result, either stop telling the students to work part-time, because credibility is lost, or help provide ways in which education can be better paid for.
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| by Kari Schulz | |
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