Higher Education has 3 crises!
Families nowadays have three major crises to overcome when it comes to college:
1) Admission is more competitive than ever before. Even public State schools are rejecting more and more applicants because they don't have enough room to admit all the applicants. It's becoming more common that a school's admissions rate is 50% or less. You can't leave this to chance.
2) College Debt is overwhelming and financially crushing the majority of families nowadays. Most families can't save enough to pay for college. So most families end up over-borrowing. Student loan debt in America has exceeded 1.8 trillion dollars!
3) Unemployment & Underemployment is the third crises that's been silent until recently. Higher Education likes to tell high school students that it doesn't matter what you study in college. All degrees will make you better prepared for the working world. Unfortunately the data proves that is not true.
1) Admission is more competitive than ever before. Even public State schools are rejecting more and more applicants because they don't have enough room to admit all the applicants. It's becoming more common that a school's admissions rate is 50% or less. You can't leave this to chance.
2) College Debt is overwhelming and financially crushing the majority of families nowadays. Most families can't save enough to pay for college. So most families end up over-borrowing. Student loan debt in America has exceeded 1.8 trillion dollars!
3) Unemployment & Underemployment is the third crises that's been silent until recently. Higher Education likes to tell high school students that it doesn't matter what you study in college. All degrees will make you better prepared for the working world. Unfortunately the data proves that is not true.
1) ADMISSIONS
Let's BUST one of the biggest MYTHS about getting into college:
Having a Good GPA / Test Scores ≠ Getting Accepted into a Good University
* There are more smart students than there is space available. *
Therefore, universities are not only looking for academically strong students. Universities also look for students who will stand out, be successful after graduating, and uphold the school's excellent reputation.
Stanford University |
For every 1 spot available, there are 18.2 students who apply with a 4.0+ GPA |
56,378 overall applicants 39,859 applicants with 4.0 + GPA 2,190 students enrolled |
UC DAVIS |
For every 1 spot available, there are 8 students who apply with a 4.0+ GPA |
76,225 overall applicants 49,317 applicants with 4.0+ GPA 6,137 students enrolled |
Clemson University |
For every 1 spot available, there are 9.1 students who apply with a 4.0+ GPA |
52,814 overall applicants 41,723 applicants with 4.0+ GPA 4,588 students enrolled |
Hear it from universities themselves:

“Even perfect test scores don't guarantee admission. Far from it: 69% of Stanford's applicants over the past five years with SATs of 2400—the highest score possible— didn't get in... we're also looking for evidence that this young person has a passion, that he or she will bring something to our community that is unique.”

“Academic criteria are important to Yale’s selective admissions process, but we look at far more than test scores and grades... every applicant brings something unique to the admissions committee table. Perhaps one application stands out because of sparkling recommendations, while another presents outstanding extracurricular talent; maybe your personality shines through a powerful written voice.”
2) COLLEGE DEBT
College is more expensive than ever and you're being told:
1) Don't think of student loans as debt. Rather think of it as an investment in your future.
2) It doesn't matter what you study in college. Any degree will make you employable.
3) College is always worth it.
I say fine - go ahead and think of college as an investment. And just like any other investment... it can fail. And it has for many.
Both student loan debt and underemployment have become the norm for college graduates. It's negatively affecting millions of people every year. It's gone unreported for nearly 20 years. But finally, these two issues are getting recognized as the crisis that they are. Yet families, high school counselors, and college financial aid offices don't know how to prevent either from happening.
1) Don't think of student loans as debt. Rather think of it as an investment in your future.
2) It doesn't matter what you study in college. Any degree will make you employable.
3) College is always worth it.
I say fine - go ahead and think of college as an investment. And just like any other investment... it can fail. And it has for many.
Both student loan debt and underemployment have become the norm for college graduates. It's negatively affecting millions of people every year. It's gone unreported for nearly 20 years. But finally, these two issues are getting recognized as the crisis that they are. Yet families, high school counselors, and college financial aid offices don't know how to prevent either from happening.
LET'S HEAR FROM REAL PEOPLE WHO
DID NOT USE A COLLEGE PLANNER.
DID NOT USE A COLLEGE PLANNER.
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I'm still nearly $20,000.00 in debt for a degree I neither completed nor found a use for. That price tag alone makes me regret ever going to university in the first place. |
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I have over $100,000 in federal and private student loan debt. My parents helped me to take out over 6 figures in student loan debt without any guidance - and I took private loans instead of the pell grants awarded to me. We were uneducated and unable to navigate the situation. My dad cosigned my loans, but passed while I was in college. Most of my loans went into default, then collections. I've been paying over $600/month toward these loans for a decade with no end in sight. I've paid more in interest than my original principal. Situations like these should be illegal. These lenders - including the government! - are predatory. I will never be out of debt in my lifetime. |
The Rising Cost of College - CBS News
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3) UN- and UNDER-EMPLOYMENT
More than 60% of entry-level jobs require a degree above high school. And that seems to be rising each year. This means more and more students are forced to go to college, take on an enormous amount of college debt, just so they can be paid an entry-level wage.
Ironically many of the entry-level jobs don't really require a college degree to perform it well. And in the current economy, often times college graduates can't find jobs in the field of their major. So they are taking jobs that did not require their college degree.
Research shows the way you start your professional career has a profound and lasting impact on your whole professional life. If you start behind, it's very difficult to catch up to where you should have been. College graduates are struggling to keep up.
Ironically many of the entry-level jobs don't really require a college degree to perform it well. And in the current economy, often times college graduates can't find jobs in the field of their major. So they are taking jobs that did not require their college degree.
Research shows the way you start your professional career has a profound and lasting impact on your whole professional life. If you start behind, it's very difficult to catch up to where you should have been. College graduates are struggling to keep up.
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