Dear College: I Want My Money Back

August 3, 2009 Posted in Reality

After four years of attending a Big 10 school, I am now in big time debt. I’ll be in even more debt after I return for yet another semester. Do I have a job? No. Has my university made good on their promise to hook me up with sweet career options and internships? No. All jobs and internships that I have had were found on my own time and through my own devices (and only one of those actually had anything to do with my major).

So…what exactly am I paying for (besides education)??

Well, at least someone else is thinking along the same lines. A Bronx woman is suing her college for $70,000 or roughly what she paid in tuition fees because the career center hasn’t given her any advice or career leads.

Well well well – I can think of LOTS of things (besides my bleak future) for which I want my money back! How about a lawsuit for all the fifths of alcohol I had to throw out my window or toss down the sink because my RA suddenly realized that my “study group” came in costumes and left wasted? What about suing for mental ill health due to severe exam stress? Or suing for the 15 lbs I gained sometime freshman year and haven’t managed to lose since then (despite the fact that my classes seem to be 14 miles apart from each other)?

I guess the point of this is that everyone is broke and we want some of our money back. We’re not getting what we paid for, dammit; the least they can do is cut us a check. Maybe the solution is getting rid of the university career centers (which are proving to be useless anyway) and giving a tuition break with all the money saved. Or maybe we should all just stop whining and start taking responsibility for ourselves (I’m talking to you, Bronx Lady).

Either way, I’m gonna have to talk to someone about that water gun my Floor Mentor took from me freshman year. That’s gotta be worth at least $2.50 by now…

369148 CommentsDear+College%3A+I+Want+My+Money+Back2009-08-03+16%3A00%3A40Katie+-+Michigan+State+University on "Dear College: I Want My Money Back"

Kelly says:
Mon, 3rd Aug 20097:39 am

Totally agreed. I go to a Big Ten school too and in the first meeting I had with my new advisor all he said was, "If you want a job, you're going to have to intern. If you intern, you have to go to New York". That's it. Great advice!

Britt says:
Mon, 3rd Aug 20099:58 am

I just had a breakdown the other day thinking about the $50,000 I owe in student loans. The payments start in a couple months and I don't make as much money as I wish I did to pay them off quickly!

Linda says:
Mon, 3rd Aug 20094:41 pm

That's why I ditched a $50k/semester Top 20 school for a full ride at a state school. It's not worth the debt to me.

Paige says:
Mon, 3rd Aug 20096:28 pm

Totally agree with Linda. People who think they are above attending a state school and insist on attending a private/more expensive/"more prestigious" school are just stupid. Why graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt, when you can graduate debt free? That is what I did. My parents told me they would pay for everything if I attend a state school. I would be a fuckin moron to not have taken that offer. I have one year left and I haven't had to pay one cent for my education and will graduate with no debt.

nicole says:
Mon, 3rd Aug 20097:48 pm

Yeah, totally agree with the state school option. I opted for the state school instead of a private one, and I definitely have a lot less debt than my friends who went to private colleges.

Sarah says:
Wed, 5th Aug 20099:15 am

Paige, not all of us have parents who would pay for our tuition…

I went to NIU for 2 years (which I had to pay for myself) and transferred to a more expensive, private college (which I still had to pay for) because they give more student attention and the classes are much more fulfilling. I may have more debt by the time I graduate, but I'll be leaving my school with more knowledge and personal attention than I ever would have encountered at my state school. I didn't necessarily need the Career Services department because I had already found a great internship (turned part-time job) before I got there. If I had needed their services, however, I've heard from other students that they're extremely helpful and resourceful…and even go so far as to turn regular summer jobs into internships worth class credit.

I don't think the problem here is state vs. private colleges, but rather choosing the right school for you. If you need extra help finding internships and job opportunities after graduation, then maybe you should do your research and find which schools can deliver in that department rather than just going to whatever university is on the BIG 10 list just because the name is prestigious.

brandi says:
Wed, 31st Mar 20102:14 pm

What state are you in? State schools could be just as or more expensive.

brandi says:
Wed, 31st Mar 20102:15 pm

And like Sarah said, private schools give you more aid.

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