Hello! Due to the bad economy, high school seniors are opting out of four-year colleges and going to community colleges or considering going to the military to save money.
• Scholarships trump school status. Roughly 57 percent of college-bound students are considering a less prestigious institution because of affordability, according to an October study by MeritAid.com, a scholarship-finding website.
• Delaying college for at least a year isn't out of the question. Some 16 percent of students are putting college on hold because they don't think they will be able to afford it, the MeritAid.com research shows.
• The military is, more than ever, a viable option to pay for college. Terry Howell, managing editor of military.com, a website for the armed forces, says the number of Google searches for the site's military aptitude practice test tripled between December 2007 and December 2008.
• Community colleges and trade schools deserve a second look. Both types of schools are seeing spikes in enrollment from students of all ages looking for cheaper -- and quicker -- educations. Community colleges are reporting unprecedented enrollment increases, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. Enrollment in technical schools is at an all-time high, says the Association for Career and Technical Education.
What do you think about this trend? Do you think it's smart to go to community college instead of a university to save money? Do you think that the students are missing out by not pursuing top-tier education?
I think it's smart. If I had to go back and do it I would have either gone to a community college first and then college OR gone to a school that offered me more financial aid. But I had NO ONE guiding me during the college selection process so I chose what I wanted. Not to say I made a bad choice, I love the school I went too...but financially there were better options.
Posted by: Tiffany | March 30, 2009 at 11:54 AM