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23 replies

Cost of college--You're kidding!?

C CWCSmall Talker
I am incredulous at the costs listed under the photo of Melody Stewart (12/12/06), in particular...$1,200 for rent, cable, utilities; Food: $920 Car payment: $1,200 Clothing: $400-$600 Sundries: $200 Entertainment: $320-$480 TOTAL: $7,142-$7,602

Subtract out the tuition and books and you have a monthly buget of $4,800 (approx)!!! Since when does anyone, particularly a single person going to school, require almost $5,000 a month to live?! No wonder adults (actually kids who won't grow up) are tending to stay in school longer--they've got it made.

This is not directed at Melody, but at the mindset of our society. College should be a time to prepare, learn and develop discipline...as in NOT spending hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars per month on quality of life and entertainment-related "necessities."

Think about it: You CAN live without cable/satellite. You CAN eat cheap, self-prepared meals. You CAN do without new clothes, even for an entire semester. You CAN drive a dependable, decent car for a few hundred dollars a month, including insurance. You CAN have a social life without spending money every weekend going out.

What a setup--to enable our kids to live this way while in college. Seems like they are certain to have trouble when they graduate, for then their standard of living is supposed to increase even more. But of course it should, for "Now I have a degree, and I should have the perfect job making a large salary, complete with benefits and perks."

BTW--I have children, I have a college degree, and I don't make enough money to live on the budget illustrated above, even after the tuition and book expense is deducted...

Yes, I am ranting and raving
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_Joy__Joy_Old Faithful
UNA Tuition: $2,162
Books: $500-$600
Rent, cable, utilities: $1,200
Food: $920
Gas: $240
Car payment: $1,200
Clothing: $400-$600
Sundries: $200
Entertainment: $320-$480
TOTAL: $7,142-$7,602

Figures based on per semester averages
# In-state tuition rates.
# Tuition based on student enrolled for between 13 and 16 credit hours


I'd still say the amount spent could be cut back. I know my daughter's budget doesn't look like that. She just moved out to share rental house with 3 other girls and goes to UNA as well.
A alparalegal1118Member
I was quite a shock for me when I applied for the spring semester at UNA. Returning to college at 41 is a pretty daunting task in itself. After seeing the cost, it almost made me question my judgment. I decided that yes I HAVE lost my mind but will be going anyway. Since I'm going back to school to become a lawyer, it's better that I lose it now, before law school.

By the way, RD Young Law, any positions in your office? Smiler

ALParalegal
Shoals LoverShoals LoverHall of Famer
Fall '06 semester 19 Aug - 16 December
Spring '07 semester 6 Jan - 12 May

Four months per semester

Approximate cost per semester (for 4 months)
$7,142-$7,602

Per month breakdown = $1785.5 - 1900.5

Range per year = $21,426 - 22,806

That's slightly over a $10/hr job.

If a student
1.) Receives financial aid (grants)
2.) Does work-study on campus, and/or works a part-time job,

they ought to able to make it on that.

Now... when the tuition is nearly $900 per credit hour, that's when you start to sweat!
_Joy__Joy_Old Faithful
quote:
Originally posted by BJGreider:
OK Its official I am opening up
Greider University
half price of UNA....guaranteed learnin or your money cheerfully refunded.....
Subjects include Happiness thru chemicals, and toga parties 101......there thats all I remember from college anyway........


LOL

If they could sneak it past their parents, your future would be set.
Reflecting One of the voices iReflecting One of the voices iEverybody Knows My Name
Lighten up ...........jeez
defrauded!!!!!
would you like a saucer of milk to drink.
No after I got into MENSA and managed thru the grace of God to achieve the blessing of owning my business, I guess I'll let the past be a reminder and the future be an opportunity;but if you think I am guilty of defrauding them maybe I will.
but uhhhh good luck..... and may Jesus forgive us all....I do have a checkered past and a daughter in college at UAB which I pay 11k a year for and a son who scored highest in the nation on his SAT.........tada, but more importantly they are both nice kids
Shoals LoverShoals LoverHall of Famer
Well now!

Congrats!

(I inquired w a friend of mine about benefits of MENSA several years ago. His opinion was low. However, things change. Change... that's the only constant, eh?)

Indeed, may the Almighty forgive us all.

And as business owner, congrats as well!

Considering the remark was either half-hearted or sarcastic, there was certainly bound to be some truth to it. However, most whom have shared their undergrad experiences don't quite express it as the doper/druggie/alcoholic "Animal House" model portrayed by the late doper/druggie/alcoholic actor John Belushi.

If one indeed agrees that the purpose of enrollment in an institution of higher education, the understood purpose is for learning, i.e. academics.

Thus, if one purposely neglects learning opportunities in a learning environment, one is expressly using something without purpose or benefit, a purpose not expressly or implictily intended, i.e. defrauding.

And while experience may be a teacher, but it's certainly not the best one, is it!?

But!

It's good to know your life it now in order!

Thanks be to God!
asouthernthingasouthernthingMember
I saw this thread and was quite amused! Personally, I've been in college on and off for years, and I don't see that changing. When I can't get by, I don't take classes - I get a full-time job, simple as that.

I get approximately 4k a semester from financial aid after the business office takes their share. We live on-campus in family housing where cable and water are included, drive a 10+ year old car with lots of dents and fading paint, and work seasonal/weekend jobs. I can't imagine having those kinds of living expenses. I get mad and shut off everyone's lights when my electric bill goes past $100!
Shoals LoverShoals LoverHall of Famer
Aaaah... were you truly "amused," or were you merely entertained?

To muse, means to think.

The article "a" means the negation of the thing which it precedes.

Thus, a-muse is the removal, or more accurately, the cessation of thinking, also known as the cognitive process.

Please, don't ever be amused.

Instead, be entertained!

Oh yes... I almost forgot.

Are you a "professional student" in the inaccurate sense that it's taking you a longer time to finish a degree, or that you're seeking multiple degrees?

Or, are you a professional student in the correct sense that you're studying a profession and seeking a professional certification such as medicine, nursing, law or architecture, etc.?
Shoals LoverShoals LoverHall of Famer
Your remarks are right-on!

UNA is an outstanding liberal arts school.

The value of their education, the student : professor : classroom ratio is outstanding, and the overall quality of the learning environment is par excellence!

As well, UNA is one of (if not THE) oldest higher education institutions in the state.

(had to edit to get rid of that !%^&#@* stupid tongue-sticking-out smiley)

Oh!

Have you noticed that specific and other such wonderful words are automagically censored!

Spe cific...

And let's not forget the product **** And Span! www.****nspan.com

That's S P I C And Span...

Arrrgh!
asouthernthingasouthernthingMember
quote:
Originally posted by Shoals Lover:
Please, don't ever be amused.

Instead, be entertained!

Oh yes... I almost forgot.

Are you a "professional student" in the inaccurate sense that it's taking you a longer time to finish a degree, or that you're seeking multiple degrees?

Or, are you a professional student in the correct sense that you're studying a profession and seeking a professional certification such as medicine, nursing, law or architecture, etc.?


I got a great deal of *entertainment* out of this, indeed. You are sporting quite the wit and wisdom indeed.

I did not intend for "professional student" to mean either of those things, but the former does actually apply.
KindredKindredOld Faithful
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessionalStudent:
I saw this thread and was quite amused! Personally, I've been in college on and off for years, and I don't see that changing. When I can't get by, I don't take classes - I get a full-time job, simple as that.

I get approximately 4k a semester from financial aid after the business office takes their share. We live on-campus in family housing where cable and water are included, drive a 10+ year old car with lots of dents and fading paint, and work seasonal/weekend jobs. I can't imagine having those kinds of living expenses. I get mad and shut off everyone's lights when my electric bill goes past $100!


Okay, now I am nosy, LOL... how long have you been in college? Have you earned any degree, or are you going for a higher level? Or do you just like going to school?

Sorry for my nosiness, but I cannot help myself, lol.
B brakefield20032003Everybody Knows My Name
quote:
Originally posted by ProfessionalStudent:

I get approximately 4k a semester from financial aid after the business office takes their share.


As far as the financial aid goes, I am paying back student loans and it is not fun. I would advise borrowing as little as possible because when they come due (6 months after you stop matriculating) it is NOT fun to start paying them off.

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