It's the most wonderful time of the year...not really

Back to school! A time when students drag their feet and parents jump for joy. While each year brings new changes and adjustments, college is one of the biggest yet. It is very similar to kindergarten, you don't know what to expect but you're parents assure you everything will be fine. However, unlike kindergarten, students have to chose a college to go to and their choices are almost unlimited. Without considering geographic location, finances, or courses offered, there are over 2,000 four year colleges in the United States alone. So, where do you start? It is hard to know exactly what you want to do with your life at only 18 years old but choosing to further your education is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is hard to choose which college is best for you because there are so many options and you do not want to limit yourself. And with the economy situation of the United States right now, it is a struggle for many to make ends meet let alone pay for education only to come out with heavy student loans. For the first time ever, the Federal Reserved reported that outstanding student loans will add up to more than $1 trillion. So with that in mind, you want to choose a college that is right for you because you don't want to end up paying off your loans for a college that wasn't for you. Another important part of your decision is your major and the courses offered. Studies have proven "that 36 percent of the students are studying five or fewer hours a week and get a 3.16 grade average.” While that may pass you with a B average in college, it is not going to fly in the real world. Author Richard Arun, who co-wrote, Academically Adrift, said that students are doing the bare minimum to pass their classes and are pleased with their lack of effort. Arun also said that professors are not pushing students hard enough and giving them enough work to do which not only prepares them for the real world but gives them more opportunities to learn. 


Gail Collins, the author of Humming to a Higher Ed, encourages parents to remain involved in their child's work in college. She thinks that although students should gain independence in college and learn to do things on their own, she still believes that parent intervention in grades is necessary. Collins feels that it is a waste of a students education, and money if they are doing the bare minimum to pass their classes. The problem is that professors accept that because they are not their to hold your hand and guide you through success 24/7. The lack of work and study skills that students are practicing in college are only damaging them for the real world, where they are most important. I agree with Collins in that not everything is handed to you in life and you need to work hard for what you want and deserve what you earn. So while students skip off to their dorms, parents should be concerned about their aspiring students grades and loans are worth it at graduation.


Humming to Higher Ed by Gail Collins
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/opinion/humming-to-higher-ed.html?_r=1&ref=opinion