Getting Schooled

   We all know that college is what we're supposed to do when we grow up. It's programmed into us as children: graduate high school and go to a good college or university so you can get a great paying job when you graduate. That all sounds fine, but in reality, that's not how it works. Why? Most of us can't afford to get a higher education; whether we want to or not, and it's starting to show across the country.

   There are many reasons for kids not to go to college: work, family, military and the biggest one of all...lack of money. Our economy today and since 2008 has grown increasingly worse and it also looks bleak for our future, and this is making life difficult to even shop for groceries, let alone spring for fall tuition. According to an article in the New York Times, this decline is being seen in both public and private colleges, and is more noticeable in Midwest and Northern public and graduate schools because there are lower numbers of high school seniors.

   What seems to be the trend is slight decreases in numbers, but in the end, numbers are staying flat, but could easily drop drastically in the future. One example from Dartmouth shows that the number of early applicants has declined but seems to be too early to tell for sure what the future will show for numbers, but seems that the numbers will flat line for the time being. 

   A question to ask, though, is what makes the difference? Does it matter the location or size of school or the cost of tuition? We all know the reputation that we keep here at VCSU. Small numbers in students and also in tuition...could that be the reason our numbers continue to rise, or will we fall to the economic woes that the country faces every day? 

   As a college student, I struggle with the facts often. I don't like school enough to go, but what would I do if I didn't attend classes? I don't want to work a full time job that I dislike, will going to school and getting a degree really get me a well paid job once I graduate? The biggest question of all is: how am I going to pay for all of this?! Especially if I don't get the high paying dream job. These aren't easy questions to deal with, but we must. Each individual must decide whether they're right for higher education, but one thing is for sure. Do your homework before you pick the right college for your future.