Why Decision Making is Vital to Success

Only 1/3 of College Grads Paying Off Student Loans

Far too many college students are conned into believing they will be able to pay off their student loans with the paychecks they will earn after graduation. Statistics tell a far different story. About 30 million grads are never going to be free of student loan debt.

Nationwide about 38% of graduates are current with their payments. Their balances are decreasing over time. Eventually, they will be debt free. This may not happen until they are old and gray, but at least they have a chance.

However, 62% of those with student loans are unable to make a dent in the principal owed. About 46% are current with payments, but the interest charged means the balance is not decreasing. In many cases, although payments are being made, the balance owed is actually increasing.

Those in the most trouble are in default or delinquent. That’s 16% of those with college loans. Although they are not making payments, or doing so sporadically, interest still accrues. The balance owed increases and cannot be erased by bankruptcy.

There is only one way to avoid falling into this trap. Don’t take out college loans, ever, for any reason. Go to the least expensive accredited college that teaches the subject you wish to study and get a job. Better yet, do what Full Ride Scholarship winners do. Become the ideal scholarship or grant applicant and earn enough scholarship money so college loans are not necessary. Graduate debt free and enjoy life. 

For more information, you'll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing and Watering Seeds. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Embrace Competitive Friends

Persistence Leads to College Scholarships

The Secret to Happiness after College

Find a college that offers the course of study you need for the occupation of your choice which will also give you a full ride scholarship, (excluding loans of any sort). If they don't require you to take a job, that’s even better. Under no circumstances should you go somewhere requiring you to take out student loans, even if that university has a fabulous reputation. No one cares where you went, just what you learned.

If you can't find a full scholarship, attend the least expensive accredited college that will teach you what you need to know for your career choice. Start applying for scholarships while still in diapers (not really, but do start early). Live uber-frugally, even if that means living in your childhood bedroom (as I did). Get a part time job to pay any bills your parents are not willing or able to cover (dentist, shoes, etc.). Don't get married, no matter how cute he/she is. Don't have children either, no matter how adorable they may end up being.

I worked a full time job, lived at home and took a full load of classes the first two years of college. Then I foolishly married, making everything more difficult. We saw each other more while dating. Study hard, work hard. You can hold your breath for four years. Time will pass. The only two things that last forever are what you learn and student loan debt. Avoid the second while acquiring the first. Yes, of course there are other factors that contribute to or detract from happiness. But all things being equal, people with no debt are less stressed and happier than those with debt, especially student loan debt. This is the secret to happiness after college.


For more information, you'll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing and Watering Seeds. How to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Goal Setting is Crucial to Success

Importance of Study Groups, Unions and Teams

How Should You Keep in Touch with Your Child’s Teacher?

While parents usually have only a few children, teachers have many more. This is especially true for secondary school teachers. Often, they have 180 students on their rolls. That’s beyond the ones they have at home. So when parents want teachers to communicate with them, which is a very good thing, they need to make it easy for teachers to do so.

This will vary by teacher. The easiest way to find out what works best is to ask straight out, “How do you prefer I communicate with you?” Personally I found the telephone was the worst way to contact parents. They were rarely home when I could call, and expecting a message to reach them through their children was beyond optimistic. Therefore, I always asked for a current email address. I provided mine as well. This was not my personal email address, however. It was the one attached to my school run website.

Occasionally, I did call a parent. This was not always easy due to the time factor, but also because there were frequent language issues. I taught German and French throughout most of my career, but I do speak a little Spanish. It is enough for travel and telling parents what was wrong in class. I remember once calling and realizing I needed to switch to Spanish. After I explained the child was not coming to class and not turning in his work, I heard the father tell his child, “You didn’t tell me she speaks Spanish.” I don’t really, but it was enough to do the trick.

Another time I had a high school German student who was severely ADHD. Since the parents did not trust their son, I sent home a short email daily. It told them what we covered in class, his behavior and what was expected to be completed by the next day as homework. Having an up-to-date website makes communication fairly easy. Most teachers are willing and eager to keep parents informed, but parents need to make doing so simple for teachers. Teachers don’t have the time or energy to hunt down phone numbers or email addresses.


For more information on education, you'll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing and Watering Seeds. Learn how to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo Credit: Google Images

How Things Get Done

The Secret to Good Grades and Scholarships

Students, It’s Your Job to Find the Pony

Years ago, while attending a business conference, I heard about a psychological test of two small children. One had been placed in a room full of toys, the other in a room containing a pile of horse manure. After a few hours, they checked on the boys. The first had played with all the toys, broken a few and was bored. The second was up to his elbows in horse manure and grinning ear to ear. When asked why he was so happy, he replied, “With all this horse manure, there’s got to be a pony in here somewhere.”

Since this time, I’ve often found myself in locations or situations that were not to my liking. Each time, I tried to be like the second boy. I looked for the “pony” or benefit in each. Students should keep that in mind when sitting in a classroom or completing an assignment. Not every subject or task will be a thrill a minute. But, there will almost always be a hidden benefit. It’s the job of the student to find the benefit. It may be short term pain for long term gain.

Perhaps the assignment will train your brain to think differently. It may broaden your horizons or teach you a valuable skill. In any case, there is a reason the assignment was given, or the class is a requirement. The perspective of the student isn’t the same as that of the instructor or educational institution. They are farther down the path and have a more informed point of view. So instead of shrugging off the intended lesson, seek the pony. It’s got to be in there somewhere.

For more information, you’ll want my new book, Free College Awareness, coming soon from Griffin Publishing and Watering Seeds. Discover how to avoid needing college loans; available soon to families of Pre-K through High School students.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com

Photo Credit: Pixabay

How to Find Your Rhythm

Challenging Times Require Action