You Can't Work Your Way Through College Anymore- new report from Georgetown

Some people go to get an education.

“Some people go to get an education”

sure-those that can afford it.
What about the rest of the intelligent college age students in this country who want a college education but cant afford it?
Do we just say “too bad kid”? “tough luck”? You were born in wrong family?

This was already common knowledge. The exception would be part time community college students or military commitment.

But I do want to point out that some jobs can be worthwhile. DD found a campus job, one of the few that didn’t require Financial Aid eligibility. In the beginning it was answering phone info line … great practice for a shy kid. As time went on she did IT support work and eventually became the weekend team lead. These skills helped her get the first job despite the lack of a formal internship.

I’ve never heard any of my peers say this, and I have no problem asserting that I wouldn’t pay tens of thousands of dollars for an education if it didn’t have any effects on my career prospects.

Sounds like we run in different circles. All my friends value education.

We? I don’t know what you do, but hundreds of millions in scholarships are collected and given out every year.

“hundreds of millions in scholarships are collected and given out every year”
they are given out to how many students?
and how many of those scholarships end up going to students who dont need them in order to be able to afford to go to college?
Its a serious question.

We were talking about doing a little planning before college in order to have a better job than just minimum wage during your time there.

What are you talking about?

I personally would love to live in this world where there was unlimited financial aid and high school students had gross annual incomes of $12,000.

I forgot to mention that my university is changing their class scheduling for commuter campuses, thereby increasing commuting costs and making it harder to maintain a consistent work schedule. There are also probably going to be increases to the planned tuition increases. So if you want to save money while attending UConn by commuting and working extra, have fun. Yes, I realize that this is a (partially) unique place.

"What are you talking about? "
I’m the OP remember?
this is what I’m talking about-
“What has changed is the cost of tuition, which soared 46 percent between 2001 and 2012, to as much as $65,000 at some schools, which makes it unlikely that any job could cover the cost of school.”
i.e - a college degree is now unaffordable for teh vast majority of students who did not win scholarships or whose parents CAN’T chip in thousands of dollars each year to pay for college.

A low wage part time job during college does not generate enough $ to pay for college expenses, especially if the student cant live at home.
its like applying a bandage to someone who is bleeding to death.

Yeah, if you don’t have money, haven’t done any planning and can’t get merit scholarships, you’re going to have to shoot lower than the $65,000 level.

However, the average tuition at public schools was less than $10K last year and that is definitely affordable.

And, for the third time, I will point out that there are better jobs than minimum wage and many people can get them with a little planning and motivation.

Private caregiver jobs around here pay more than minimum wage. I used to hire high school and college kids to help with my autistic child for at least twice that, and more than lab assistants would get. We even paid for them to be trained by a behavioral psychologist.

But not everyone has the ability or personality to be trained to do this sort of work, even if they are straight A students in majors that are usually regarded as “marketable” or in what I would have thought of as related majors such as psychology or special education.

My own kids are good at this, but they had their fill with helping out with their brother.

“New research shows that working through college isn’t going to make a dent in student debt and could ruin your GPA.”

  • The GPA depends on the time management skills that college kids should have developed way back in HS. And if they did not, they better do a good job developing it at college or they will not be able to function successfully as independent adults.

    I actually, do not agree much with the first one either. What if employer pays for college? Mine does!
    I have worked full time while completing my BS and then MBA. Several employers in our very economically depressed city paid for my education, which actually the only reason why I obtain an MBA, I really truly do not need it being in IT department. I did not only work, I had a family. And in regard to ruined GPA - I graduated with Magna Cum Laude, still remember doing lots of homework by the poolside, spending wonderful time with my family.

^ Fewer and fewer employers are paying tuition benefits.
And in many cases, they are paying for advanced degrees, because they won’t hire people without a bachelors’ degree.

Time management skills are great, but only work if work, family, and school obligations are realistic for the individual.

H got an advanced degree through his employer years ago, and this was a good deal although it took several more years than if he had been going to school full-time, and he had less time to spend with the family. And, at that time he was working a job that finished by 6 or 7 at night and did not have to travel much.

More employees seem to be working on a contract basis without tuition benefits and those who work as employees with benefits can find that they are working very long hours or hours that do not allow the flexibility to attend class, compared to twenty years ago. Even an online class requiring ten to fifteen hours a week can be a stretch if they are struggling to find hours to sleep and exercise.

And, yes, this is AFTER the first degree has been paid for.

18 "It seems like it would be a good idea to develop a skill during HS that would enable you to work part time in college at a higher rate than minimum wage. Common sense."

For example, I got myself certified as a life guard. Since you needed a license, not everyone could get that job and it paid more than minimum. It also was an easy job that let me get in some studying while at work. 20 hours at the rec center during the school year and then full time jobs plentiful during the summer. Also used to work in a few shifts as a bus boy, waiter, bar tender, especially during the summer.

The baby sitter/nanny gig is also pretty easy to pull off and pays more than minimum. Especially if it is done off the books.

I still think this is not quite true. I think it’s true that a college degree at a four-year college, and especially a private college, is less available than in the past, but is it really true that a motivated student who is willing to work, and willing to take, say, eight years to complete a college degree can’t afford to do so?

@northwesty Yep, at least a couple good ones there. You might be only a “babysitter”, but with a couple “certifications” and the ability to make kids read a book or do their homework, you can charge double or triple the going rate.

Waitstaff. Heh heh. Yep. And, do you want to wait tables at Mr. Steak where the average tab for two is $34 or at Chez Moo where it runs to $150?

But Chez Moo isn’t hiring a teenager. The bulk of their profitability comes from selling overpriced bottles of wine- and at least in my state, since an underaged server cannot handle alcohol, no restaurant like Chez Moo is hiring anyone under 21.

It’s nice to live in a fantasy world isn’t it?

Many college students are actually 21 (or older).

I’ve seen quality underage wait staff before. Of course, they may have to share their tips with someone called a “sommelier”.

Underage servers are often allowed where the primary purpose of the establishment is dining.

And, finally, there are high-end serving situations that don’t involve alcohol. Although, while we are on the topic, I will take the opportunity to mention that bartending at a club can yield big evening income.

It’s always interesting how powerfully people want to deny the notion of work.