Where Does Tuition Money Go?

With the recent spike in the cost of Higher Education it might raise concern of where the increase in funds are distributed. The main purpose of higher education is to better the lives of those students who choose attend. So the programs colleges choose to spend their students money on should be a major concern when it come to deciding a school. A report produced by the Delta Cost Project,examined the different spending patterns at different types of institutions. It showed spending per student at private research university is almost twice that of a public research university.

Besides the differences in spending between a private and public university, there is a large difference into which department receives the most funding. It may come to a surprise but even with the increase of tuition the spending on the instructional departments have relatively stayed the same according to Jane Wellman, executive director of Delta Cost Project. The majority of ones tuition will most likely go into research departments that a university offers. Or at least the up keep of a research department is most likely greater than that of a regular instructional department. Does that seem adequate for someone who doesn't plan on going into a field that need such extensive research?

Cost of Tuition Today

In today's society prices are raising everywhere but for some reason the price of college has taken a steep increase over the past 15 years. Just from the year 2006 to 2007 the average cost of college increased 7 percent. The prices almost seem impossible for an independent student to afford even with the help of financial aid. Why has this drastic increase occurred? Well the qualifications and standards for the jobs available has also increased.

A large portion of the major companies today outsource a large portion of jobs or were competing with foreign countries which have taken away work, such as Toyota or Samsung. with outsourcing the jobs that use to exist in America which took little skill have now been placed in other countries for lower wages. With the lower level jobs leaving only a greater amount of higher skilled jobs are left, which causes a demand for higher education. Its with this higher demand for college education schools are able to jack up the prices to extremely high rates. Which can also raise the question of the opportunity cost of higher education.

The True Value of Education

The rising cost of higher education has caused many to doubt the true benefit of furthering their education past high school. People more than ever are wondering whether the opportunity cost of choosing college over a steady job is worth the reward. The risk is even larger for low income families who already have a difficult time making ends meet without college tuition and fees. Also with the recent spike in the cost of tuition it would leave a student directly out of college in thousands of dollars in debt.

In order to determine whether higher education is worth the risk, it is easiest to look at the average amount made over a life time of a high school graduate versus a college graduate. In a life time a bachelor degree makes around 1 million more according to a 2002 study. Another study conducted in 1998 showed a different perspective of improved life besides a greater income. The study showed a large number of aspects for that a college graduate enjoys, such as higher levels of saving, improved quality of life for their children, better consumer decision making, and more hobbies and leisure activities.

Overall if one can afford to go to college the opportunity cost may seem daunting at first but the benefits eventually outweigh the costs, not only financially but in the general standard of living as well.

Community vs. State: part 2

As I talked about earlier, there are several differences between the state schools and the community schooling. In my first post about the differences I mentioned the size of the class rooms and how they effect learning. Another difference however is the level of education you receive. The level at which is required is most classes for a major university is usually considered more intense. At UK falling behind on my work load was very hard to recover from and the was a lot more expected out of you. This wasn't the case in every class but for the most part the classes do seem more challenging.

At any institution there will be tough classes and easy one, also the amazing teachers and those who struggle to relate to the students and teach them in the best way possible. However at a community college they don't offer the level off qualifications that the universities do. Which are the levels of qualifications that the majority of higher paying jobs are looking for. although there are many programs that a community college offers for many jobs that don't require as high of standards.

There is nothing wrong with those jobs either, its all a point of perspective, and some times that perspective a negative one when it comes to a community college.

Writing in College

Either you have the gift or you don't when it comes to writing. Yes, everyone can write a decent paper but a good writer it just comes naturally, and there writing stand out from the crowd. I struggled throughout high school when it came to writing, working hard just to get a C- paper. Back then a 3 page paper seemed like a novel and took me the same amount of time to write it. Towards my senior year I did improve slightly but still wasn't where I needed to be for the college level and it showed on my first college paper.

As I walked in my first day he handed us our English 104 syllabi's, I glanced it over and saw a due date for a ten page paper. A 10 page paper was a big step up from the level I had been writing on in high school. The criteria becomes much more specific and rigid and the course moves a lot faster. At first it might seem like a lot but if you stay on top of the assignments and meet with your teacher to review each draft you should keep a decent grade.

To prepare for college try to, if the option is presented, get into writing classes or meet with your teacher to see where your writing needs improvement. My mistake was to attempt things on my own without seeking advice. Procrastinating was also one of my downfalls it didn't allow me to have the time to realize simple mistakes from transitions to minor grammar mistakes.

Community vs. State: Part 1

what is the true difference between community and state schooling? It differs from school to school but most community and state have several standard differences. The size alone is probably the most obvious between the two, an average class at a community school will have around 20 students opposed to a minimum of 30. I have attended the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community and Technical College and each are very different. At BCTC my average class size was from 15-20 students, unlike where UK I found my self sitting in class with over 200 students.

At the university a question would arise but never get answered due to the fact no one would speak. I mean who want to be the dumb ass that asks the question he just covered in front 200 plus students?
However at BCTC in some of my classes I find myself asking more questions than anyone else. The showed the smaller classes allow the student to feel more comfortable and in touch with the teacher. In my case asking the teacher for help or to clarify the material, allowed me to understand it much easier and progress throughout the semester. Where if I had been at a university that out come probably would have never had happened.

Greek Life

As you enter college there are many paths to take that will define or represent you as a person. Whether it be the athlete, a loner, the tree hugger, the frat guy, or sorority girl, all are accepted, simply just different. In my situation I went with the route of Greek life and pledged Delta Tau Delta. Although with joining people begin to perceive you differently, some may automatically assume you're a douche bag while others see a brother. It has its pros and cons, same as every decision in life.

Whatever your choice maybe, doing nothing shouldn't be one of them. Participating within the campus or the community brings about definite rewards, especially in the choice of Greek. The bonds built last an eternity, as well as the social networking. The party's aren't to bad either. You instantly become involved with projects to help out the community, from helping the Governor to setting up charity events.

If your a confused timid freshmen as I was, participate in something. However choose one that fits you right, the recruiting process is often times skewed.