One of the big buzz topics surrounding colleges in the last couple of years has been an administrative push to get everyone to graduate “on time” – as in, the four year model. Florida’s university system thinks they might have found the answer – as a number of other colleges have – in “block tuition”. Block tuition is basically just a flat rate system where every student pays a set price for a year or semester, regardless of how many credit hours they take. I can see some serious advantages to this program – that might be completely outweighed by the disadvantages.

On the one hand, anybody taking a heavy course load essentially gets a couple of free classes since most block tuition systems are set up around 15 credit hours. Anyone who’s already taking 18 credits, then, is getting a break on her education. Also, somebody who might want to graduate earlier could possibly get a lot of their credits packed into a year without having to pay extra – awesome! The system obviously works because it’s become a norm for private universities along with some big names like the University of Texas at Austin and UCLA.

The downside, though, is that anyone who doesn’t – or can’t – take the set number of credit hours is totally getting screwed. It’s one thing for people who just won’t get off their ass and sign up for an extra class, but it’s a different deal for someone who, say, has to have a job, or has other family commitments and just can’t fit that many hours into their schedule. Is it fair that they should have to pay extra for classes they aren’t taking? And isn’t this essentially a way to have a tuition hike without saying they’re charging more for tuition?

And what about those second semester seniors with only 8 credits left to graduate who take class two days a week and savor their final moments of college for the rest of the time? Has anyone thought about them!?

What do you think? Is block tuition a great idea? Or is flat rate just a way to rip off students? Does your school already have block tuition – what’s it like? Duke it out, ladies!

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Some people are fortunate enough to have everything covered, but those college students who are on their own are forced to seek employment on or around campus. Usually for minimum wage.

I watched many friends as they sat in class all morning, in the library all afternoon and at their crappy work-study jobs all night, every night. They missed out on bonding time, parties and even student groups on campus, and still barely had enough money to get by. I know that college is all about learning, but it sucks to miss out on the rest of college life. There is a lot to be learned outside the classroom (like your drinking limit!).

But what if there were a better option? What if someone could make enough money to get by without sitting at the check-out desk of the library 6 nights a week? What if you could make enough money to learn and enjoy college without spending game-days serving burgers to drunk students?

It’s as easy as getting a sugar-daddy.

Melissa Beech, tired of working retail and waiting tables, did just that. “During my job hunt, I met a potential employer. He was in his early thirties, single and successful. He didn’t hire me, but he did suggest a position that seemed perfectly suited to my attributes and skills: he proposed that he become my benefactor.”

Some people consider Melissa’s “job” to be prostituion, but she doesn’t agree; I call it a ‘mutually beneficial arrangement’ that pays for my killer wardrobe.”

What do you think? Is this the answer we have all been looking for, or is this simply a real-life Pretty Woman?

And your three best friends are the only people who read it.

But you don’t care; you’ll get there. And even if you don’t, you have so much fun blogging that you keep tip-tapping away…while thinking in the back of your mind that maybe – just maybe – there is a chance that this will somehow turn into a job after college.

Well, we can’t promise you that, but we did just get word that all those hours you log in documenting your life on your creatively titled website (I once had “LaurenIsFunny.com”….for real) could be worth $10,000 in college scholarships.

Yeah, you heard me.

CollegeScholarships.org is giving away a $10K blogger scholarship! To any college student with a blog. Even if you didn’t have a blog until just this second!

You can get all the deets on their website, so hop on over and check it out.

The economy sucks, the costs of college are rising and you could be $10,000 richer just for typing up a few things about your life while lounging on your bed? I know – it’s almost too good to be true.

But it’s not. Because those dudes over at CollegeScholarships.org support the bloggers (and future blogers) of America. They too work from home in their PJs blog for a living and want to help others reach that goal. So start writing, apply for the scholarship and send us a little money when you win.

Or just let us know about your blog so we can spread the word.

[Photo courtesy of www.enetincome.com]