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  • May
  • Member Since Aug 24th, 2010

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Kelli Space Has a $189,182.39 Outstanding Student Loan Debt {AOL Jobs}

Nov 24th 2010 5:28PM Should she have taken advantage of scholarships? Yes. Should she be asking others to help her out? Maybe. But what's really bothering me is what all of you are saying. I suspect most of you are older adults, but let me tell you, college costs much more than what you paid. All the students or graduates who commented here said they also had a large debt. College is costing 50K a year at private universities and 30K at public (and twice as much if you're from out of state). I'm not at all surprised she had such a large debt, as everyone I know in my classes are also in debt. Not to mention that fees are climbing every. In one year at UCs, fees have been hiked 40 percent. And graduate degrees cost 50% more than an undergraduate usually. Also, any students majoring in something other than humanities or social sciences, have to pay more in extra fees. Such degrees are medical, psychology, or anything hands on. Hell, for some reason, there's an extra fee for any classes in which films are mostly used known as the "Studio Fee." Because a lot of fees, also ones in tuition, are going to paying off school buildings, or so we are told.

As to getting a job while in and before going to college, that would be wonderful and many people, much more than you realize, do. However, just as college has started becoming very expensive, the job market is also laying off workers. Many students in my classes are having trouble finding jobs (and school one only give you about 12 hours a week at min. wage) or were laid off. I have looked for a job vigorously and am very put out since now there are so many workers with so much more experience, many jobs are not available. As for my career field, most jobs say you must have a Masters now (can you believe that for a Proofreading job?) and almost all others say your degree must be from one of the top 100 colleges. Because of this, it is not always easy to attend a university close to you and sometimes a student must live on campus. For those that can live at home, DO!! It will save lots of money. But please realize that not everyone has the choice to continue living at home.

As for financial aid, all students MUST apply for it. So any financial aid she had the chance of getting, she would have gotten. Scholarships can be separately applied for, but understand that many times, when a student receives a scholarship, the originally financial will be cut to accommodate it. No matter what a student does, whatever the school says a student can receive in gift aid, that will be all you get. Getting a scholarship doesn't mean it gets added on. The student's EFC will always be the same and so it must be paid, not matter how much gift aid is received. And living at home also cuts gift aid because the school does not factor in your living cost (aka, travelling cost).

Lastly, parents must realize that colleges are mostly corporations these days. Most colleges make you live on campus for a year or two, if not the whole time (one is Mills College). Also, 70-80% of workers at colleges are administrators, janitors, secretaries, etc. while only 20-30% are actual professors. Classes are getting cut all the time while more students are pouring in, and professors are only allowed to work 2 out of 3 quarters, furthering cutting classes. This has become such a problem at UCs that they have now calculated it takes an average of 5 years to complete just an undergraduate degree. Also, do you know what happens to the money public universities receive from the state? At UCs, it goes to the Regents and they distribute it. Most of the money goes into a "savings" for UCs. What that really means is that the Regents are buying stocks and the like, mostly from companies that they are major share holders to. Look it up. Which also means less financial aid.

I am very astounded that so many people could be so unsympathetic to this girl's cause. I admit asking for money could be too much, but many other students are in the same boat--this one just thought of a creative way to handle it. Though I also question why she is asking for so much >.>

PS--to the person who said it costs money to run a website--many websites offer free hosting, meaning you can make your own site, but you won't own the domain. In return, a percent of any money collected from the ads your site goes to the domain owner (this is how most blogs function). Also, owning a website isn't expensive. Many times it costs a one time fee of 20 or so dollars for registering the name, and then a monthly (20-50) or yearly fee(100+) for the server. The price of the fee depends on how many you need. As you get more visitors, you'll need more servers, but those are the average prices for a small website. All in all, it has already become a good investment for this student.

Teens Banned from Trick or Treating {Holidash News}

Oct 29th 2010 2:01PM I can see where they're going with this, but teenagers trick or treating isn't going to stop. It's free candy and in case you haven't noticed, all the festivals around are aimed at little kids. There's nothing else for them to do. Unless, of course, have a party or go to one. Which I think is usually far worse than having them go door to door asking for candy--I'd rather have them scare some people (though that doesn't happen much because everyone's so used to it) than get completely smashed at a party and most likely do things they'll regret.

Also, the no masks thing is completely ridiculous. There's no harm in wearing a mask, no matter what day of the year. What's next, doing away with costumes all together? I highly doubt that could ever be fully enforced considering how much money/employment is made selling costumes to older people.

Lastly, to anyone who says Halloween is Satan's holiday, I suggest you reread your bible and some history. Halloween isn't in the bible because it's not bad. Halloween started when Catholics came over to Mexico to convert people. They had a Day of the Dead holiday, where they would dress up and have festivals HONORING THEIR ANCESTORS. Like the same way you have Easter to honor Jesus. Halloween has nothing to do with worship, it's a day of remembrance.

Does paying unemployment benefits create higher unemployment? {WalletPop}

Oct 24th 2010 4:18AM It's true that some people with benefits are looking for jobs, but it's also a fact that some with benefits aren't. I knew someone who would send out his resume, but would never open emails or accept calls from companies/unknown persons because he couldn't refuse a job if he was offered it. And he had a degree and years of experience--he got plenty offers. But he didn't want to work and used his unemployment partying and drinking and staying at home on the internet all day. In fact, he actually got paid more from his unemployment than his job because he didn't have to travel everyday (his job was really far away). I was very disappointed when they extended benefits to last even longer.

New textbook law gives students more pricing information {WalletPop}

Oct 24th 2010 3:47AM Woohoo! I hated schools not telling you what books you needed until the day of class. I would have to email my teachers and half the time they wouldn't respond. One responded and said the book was Intro to Literature--guess how many have that title? And that's all the info he gave. He even said he hadn't decided what other books to use--2 weeks before class starts.

Plus, schools just try to get your money with books. The schools up the prices. One time, a book was listed for being almost $90 in very used paperback. I looked online and it's less than $1 everywhere. I bought mine for 16 cents, brand new in hardcover. Why so cheap? It was an anthology no used and only had 1 editions/2 printings (hardcover and paperback)--in 2004. The book was 5 years old, no one used it anymore, and the school tricked students into paying $90 for it.

Plus, you'll notice schools always cover the ISBN or blackout the price that's printed on the cover. Many times I have taken the sticker off to find out it would have been cheaper to buy in a regular book store.

Walmart's strange credit card demand {WalletPop}

Oct 21st 2010 11:55AM Umm, I don't really see what the big deal is. Here in California, you always need to show your ID for every purchase (exceptions are usually made for restaurants and fast food). Even if it's just 5 dollars at the grocery store. This goes only for credit, not debit. In fact, it doesn't even matter whether your credit card has a photo of you on it or signature. Id is always required (out in Texas, though, they seem to swipe anything without requiring ID). Personally, I'm happy with this. I'd rather prove my identity than know that my card can be used by anyone because the stores aren't checking. Better safe than sorry.

I admit though that there is something wrong with needing an in-stated ID. I mean, as long as the name matches and the signature is the the same, there's no reason to suspect anything amiss.

Doctors Say BMI Is Bogus {Lemondrop}

Sep 8th 2010 6:26PM Yes, 5 pounds does equal 5 pounds. But muscle does weigh more than fat. Ever heard of something called density? Density is the little thing that makes a small rock which could fit in the palm of your hand 15 lbs. Ever notice how a 10 lbs. dumbell isn't that much bigger than a 5 lbs? It's because of denisty. The size of something isn't relative to it's weight (at least, not much). Therefore, if my arm was pure muscle, it would weigh more than if it was pure fat, even though the space it takes up is the same.

Doctors Say BMI Is Bogus {Lemondrop}

Sep 7th 2010 10:04PM A lot of people have been saying BMI is the wrong way to diagnose obesity for years. And they're completely right! Going by BMI, just about all sport players and muscle builders are very obese. BMI is only your height on your weight. It doesn't distinguish fat, muscle, lean muscle, bones, or anything.

Now, why don't we all just get on board with knowing BMI is wrong and change it? Wasn't it only last week a woman didn't get a job as a fitness coach at Weight Watchers because her BMI was too high? Never mind, she had lost over 100 lbs. on the very system or that she was the average dress size or that she was completely healthy.

Japanese Man Burns Down House After Mom Trashes His Gundam Girlfriends {Switched}

Aug 27th 2010 7:50PM Why is this in the news now? It was all over the news a year ago and everyone's already heard it.

Pay for College by Peeling Potatoes {AOL Jobs}

Aug 24th 2010 11:45PM 9,000 average for college? Bull!! I don't know about other places, but in California, 25,000 at least (and that's public!) or 50,000 for any other, especially private. I've looked at some out of state colleges, but once you count out of state tuition it's still at least 20,000 (and that's just tuition, not living, parking permits, books, etc).

Also, Me (person above) is completely right. Selling notes and tickets could get you on probation or even expelled. Running businesses/soliciting on campus is can also get you expulsion (so no selling junk food/anything, recycling, or parties). As to the other mainstream jobs, good luck finding them. Because so many workers have been laid off, there are many more qualified people to take retail/call center jobs (which usually ask for 2 years experience), plus, stores are closing and call centers downsizing (or moving to India).

The only things here that can make students money is teaching and fixing stuff. But it has to be done off-campus (otherwise it's a business) and finding someone willing to hire a college students is very hard. As for tutoring, you don't get enough hours to make any real money (off or on campus).

You want to help college students? Give us a list of jobs that require no experience or degree and actually hires college students (a lot of jobs will hire 20+, rather than 18-19 year olds). Better yet, tell us anything that can earn us a decent amount of money (the jobs you suggested will barely pay for books, clothes, food, or fun stuff costs).