Helping out a young guy at work...

[rebel100]

I'm about to go down the sometimes dark path of trying to help this guy at work (24 years old) with his college degree. Kid is actually quite intelligent, but lacks any sort of positive self worth, at least in the education related parts of life. In spent some time chatting with him today, I worry most about the fact that he seems to have no idea how the whole process works. He seemed astounded to learn that any degree follows a plan. I think a light actually flashed on when I broke down 30 credits in gen ed, 30-60 in electives, and 30 upper level = a Bachelors Degree. I fear there are all to many kids out there that just haven't had the basics explained to them. How do you get through 24 years without a basic understanding of common things?

He will be starting off by completing his FAFSA and trying the FEMA PDS...at least then it won't be a lot of talk about nothing.

[sanantone]

I'm about to go down the sometimes dark path of trying to help this guy at work (24 years old) with his college degree. Kid is actually quite intelligent, but lacks any sort of positive self worth, at least in the education related parts of life. In spent some time chatting with him today, I worry most about the fact that he seems to have no idea how the whole process works. He seemed astounded to learn that any degree follows a plan. I think a light actually flashed on when I broke down 30 credits in gen ed, 30-60 in electives, and 30 upper level = a Bachelors Degree. I fear there are all to many kids out there that just haven't had the basics explained to them. How do you get through 24 years without a basic understanding of common things?

He will be starting off by completing his FAFSA and trying the FEMA PDS...at least then it won't be a lot of talk about nothing.

That's noble of you. You probably just saved another person from enrolling in HIV Testicle University and catching $50k in private loans with 14-25% interest rates to go on top of the government loans. Yes, this does often happen at ITT. Federal student aid is not enough to cover their astronomical tuition, so they have taken it upon themselves to directly offer students loans that can't be forgiven, deferred, or put in forbearance. They are being investigated for this.

People who come from families that have no one with a college education often don't know the basic things about college. That's how they end up seeing a school on a t.v. commercial, calling the school, having the school hound them with multiple phone calls, and enrolling in said school. They make it so easy because they almost do everything for you.

[mrs.b]

They make it so easy because they almost do everything for you.

This is it exactly, but not just from uneducated families. A friend of the family works at a local university, and her husband is educated as is others in her family. She was mystified that I completed a four-year degree in two years (one year at TESC, and I had a year in previously at B&M) while working full-time with a family; as far as she knew, that was only possible if you spent every waking hour on school, did not work, had no family, other obligations, or life in general. The school she works at proctored a lot of my exams, but few schools advertise the road less traveled because it pulls money from their pockets. Instead, they put the degree plan all together and basically tell you what courses to take next (from them) so students do not get too inquisitive and see there are less expensive, less time-consuming ways of learning the same material elsewhere.

Good for you, rebel, for helping someone else save time and money! I'm helping a coworker and that above-mentioned woman start game plans. Hopefully both of them will be regulars on the forum here, soon. The coworker is looking for a quick Psychology undergrad with plans to go to a big name grad school; she's coming over Friday night to dig into some of the templates others have posted, and we'll put together something that will work around our employer's tuition reimbursement program. The friend of the family above has not yet decided her path, so not sure if the road less traveled will be much of an option for her, yet.

[ironheadjack]

I fear there are all to many kids out there that just haven't had the basics explained to them. How do you get through 24 years without a basic understanding of common things?

A 24 year old shouldn't need to have basic things explained to them. Believing that a college degree is just 120 random credits that doesn't follow a plan, is (for lack of a better word) ignorant. Every college lists the degree requirements on their website, a little bit of research and you will learn that.

[Getiton1]

LOL!

Sanantone, you crack me up!

That's noble of you. You probably just saved another person from enrolling in HIV Testicle University and catching $50k in private loans with 14-25% interest rates to go on top of the government loans. Yes, this does often happen at ITT. Federal student aid is not enough to cover their astronomical tuition, so they have taken it upon themselves to directly offer students loans that can't be forgiven, deferred, or put in forbearance. They are being investigated for this.

People who come from families that have no one with a college education often don't know the basic things about college. That's how they end up seeing a school on a t.v. commercial, calling the school, having the school hound them with multiple phone calls, and enrolling in said school. They make it so easy because they almost do everything for you.

[Getiton1]

Good luck Rebel! May the force be with you.

A 24 year

old shouldn't need to have basic things explained to them. Believing that a college degree is just 120 random credits that doesn't follow a plan, is (for lack of a better word) ignorant. Every college lists the degree requirements on their website, a little bit of research and you will learn that.

[sanantone]

A 24 year old shouldn't need to have basic things explained to them. Believing that a college degree is just 120 random credits that doesn't follow a plan, is (for lack of a better word) ignorant. Every college lists the degree requirements on their website, a little bit of research and you will learn that.

You could not work at my school. You would make the students cry.

LOL!

Sanantone, you crack me up!

Even though the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is relatively easy to transfer, credits from HIV Testicle Institute are not.

It is unlikely that any credits earned at an ITT Technical Institute will be transferable to or accepted by any institution other than an ITT Technical Institute.

ITT Tech | Campus Programs FAQ

At least they're honest about that, but they were probably pressured to make that disclosure after numerous complaints.

[sanantone]

A 24 year old shouldn't need to have basic things explained to them. Believing that a college degree is just 120 random credits that doesn't follow a plan, is (for lack of a better word) ignorant. Every college lists the degree requirements on their website, a little bit of research and you will learn that.

You could not work at my school. You would make the students cry.

LOL!

Sanantone, you crack me up!

Even though the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is relatively easy to transfer, credits from HIV Testicle Institute are not.

It is unlikely that any credits earned at an ITT Technical Institute will be transferable to or accepted by any institution other than an ITT Technical Institute.

ITT Tech | Campus Programs FAQ

At least they're honest about that, but they were probably pressured to make that disclosure after numerous complaints.

[ironheadjack]

You could not work at my school. You would make the students cry.

If being blunt and telling them the truth makes them cry, good. Way too much hand-holding and coddling going on nowadays.

[burbuja0512]

Good for you, Rebel. I think that it's correct to try and mentor whenever possible. I have tried many times over the years (not about school, but about work) and usually end up sorely disappointed when someone doesn't realize that they actually have to work hard. However, it's the few people that have really grown and appreciated the help that makes it all worthwhile. Besides, I believe that you get the good karma regardless of what the other person ends up doing.