MM: Almost three years. The majority of my friends work on or near campus.
JB: Are the kids you know working for spending money or to cover their tuition and school expenses?
MM: I commute to school every day and this means that the majority of my paycheck will go towards gas and groceries. Students I know are saving most of their money for school expenses.
JB: That's tough. I know it's really expensive these days to go to college.
MM: It's a harsh reality that people should become more aware of.
JB: If it's not too personal, Madison, how much student debt have you racked up so far?
MM: So far, I'm about $30,000 in debt. I estimate that, by the time I graduate, there will be another $20,000. This is after the maximum financial aid I am receiving from grants and scholarships. I also fill out about three scholarships a month, but almost never hear back from them.
JB: It's not a big surprise that the scholarship funds don't get back in touch; they're undoubtedly inundated with requests. How does having that much student debt make you feel?
MM: I become instantly stressed when I think about how much debt I am in and how much more I will be in. It's a big burden for four years of college education.
JB: Do you ever wonder if it's worth it?
MM: Every day I wonder if it's worth it, but the chances of getting a job are extremely slim without a college degree.
JB: I hear you, Madison, I hear you. Now that you have the floor and people are listening, Madison, do you have any suggestions or recommendations regarding the student debt situation?
MM: Forbes.com had a great article on the four most common student loan problems. They also offered ways to fix this stressful situation once you are in it. One way is consolidating your loans once you graduated. There is also a website that tells you if you work full-time in a public service job, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
These two ways can really help students who are in the same situation as me and are concerned with how they will be able to pay off their debt upon graduation.
JB: Both good suggestions. What else would you like to add, before we wrap this up?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
