financial zen

I’ve spent the past two weeks moving, studying, and moving. And then moving some more. I’ve been quite exhausted physically and mentally, but with an upcoming break in another week hopefully I can get into the swing of things…

Dong points out that a private college charges 30k while public charges 12k (on average). It’s a huge gap that needs some explanation - Dong helps point out:

They end up succeeding not because they have received a better education but because they are by nature already ready to succeed. The degree is merely a reflection of success rather than the root of success.

The students make the school more often, not the other way around. So why pay a premium when so many dropouts are doing great? Of course, it’s more of a “luck of the draw” when others lie and land their job. It makes it hard to choose “prestigious” when it seems “luck” and “determination” play larger roles in the fates of careers.

Of course, what many people don’t realize is scholarships play a huge role - I know people who attended the private schools, and did so not because of big bucks in the bank, but because of big bucks in scholarships they applied for (and won, and most importantly, earned). The huge price tag drops dramatically, or disappears entirely.

Now, I’ve heard of people’s affiliations applying to their employment - old frat boys meeting up, people knowing someone from that school of… art, business, what have you. That will take you so far and make things easier for you. For example, I could go to a technical school for design - it ranks less than Pratt Institute of New York, but attaching the name may raise heads until they compare portfolios (let me point out - I like that portfolio, and I don’t have one online to show). At the same time, listening to a world-class violinist is all in the ear of the listener. It’s up the the listener/viewer to determine the value.

I’m looking at a “higher ranked” school down the road. Community college now, top ten school for finance. Will it determine how good I am? No - I determine that, but it may open a few doors, or wedge open the flood gates - which in any job can be the determining factor between success and failure.

Yes, I’m a college student. Still. Despite a myriad of classes and major changes, I have yet to attain that magical piece of paper that gives you credit in the real world… a degree!

What have I majored in you ask? Well sit right down and I’ll tell you a tale…
*Graphic Design at a Tech School (until the B.A. program they ‘offered’ disappeared my second quarter)
*Graphic Design at a Community College (it became a general Associate of Arts to Transfer to The University)
*Visual Communication at The University
Associate of Science with a focus on Finance at the local Community College to transfer to The University in about three or four quarters.

Now why am I not in the University, you ask?

MONEY! Let me explain something - I receive tuition reimbursement for all my classes - so they are paid for as long as I pass. So why not throw that “free” money to the well-known University? Because I can use more of the tuition reimbursement taking more (and cheaper) classes at the community college! I can drop two-thousand dollars (plus!) on a University education in one quarter, or I can drop one-thousand dollars on a quarter’s worth of community college classes - and yes, Virginia, they do transfer!

This is akin to investing - would you buy expensive because it’s expensive, or would you buy cheap because it’s comparable? When I graduate with a Bachelor’s in Finance, what will my paper say? “The University” - not “Transfered classes from this college to the University.”

For people looking at the big name education - this is really the way to go. Even better, for all you high-schoolers out there:
Post Secondary Option. I got started late on this because my counselor neglected to mention this to me, but dropped hints to other kids - so I jumped on that boat a little late and still managed to get a few classes taken care of in high school.

Free Education = Awesome Education. Cheaper Education = Better Investment. Transferring to a University to get that Bachelor’s after spending little to no money? Priceless.