By Walter Peralta

Attending college is one of the biggest decisions that a high school student has to make, but many students don’t realize the high-cost it takes to get a degree.
“I have come across many students that have been impacted by financial aid debt due to loans because they didn’t do their homework,” said CAP counselor Mr. Bain. “There’s plenty of free money available for students of all types from high achievers to average ones. For example, the federal government provides a maximum $5,800 a year to students who demonstrate financial need based on their parents’ yearly income.”
MHS students have similar plans when it comes to paying for their college education. Senior Ana Garcia hopes to use financial aid, scholarships and maybe even grants.
Senior Sebastian Saavedra plans to use a mixture of FAFSA, scholarships, and his mother’s income.
In the past, many students have been negatively affected by student debt. “Where many students often run into debt is when they apply to for-profit colleges that offer little prestige or hiring power and ridiculous cost,” said Mr. Bain.
Many students feel confident that they will find a job in the field they plan to study. Senior Diana Garcia, who wants to study forensic science, said, “Murder happens every day; therefore, forensic scientists will always be needed for crimes.”
Senior Ana Garcia said, “According to statistics, the demand for clinical psychologists will increase about 11% between now and the year 2022.”
There is a history of students who have attended college but have dropped out due to personal or financial reasons. According to the article “High Cost of Dropping Out – If You Don’t Graduate, Student Loan Debt Hits Even Harder”, posted on the tuition.com website https://www.tuition.io/blog/2013/03/high-cost-of-dropping-out-if-you-dont-graduate-student-loan-debt-hits-even-harder/, among four year colleges, just 56% of students graduate within six years. At “top” colleges like Ivy Leagues, graduation rates are drastically higher at 90% or more. But for nearly half of college students, dropping out is a statistical likelihood. And ditching school is financially problematic for those students who borrowed to fund their education.
This raises the question whether college is necessary? Senior Gemma Nunez doesn’t think so. She said, “College is voluntary. I also believe that college isn’t for everyone because some people lack passion and self-will as well as discipline to pursue their aspirations.”
Similarly, Diana Garcia said, “Some people aren’t cut out for school. I’ve seen people succeed without a college degree.”
On the other hand, senior Ana Garcia does believe attending college is necessary in order to have a successful future. “From the looks of where our economy is heading, it seems that things aren’t going to get cheaper. I think that in the near future it is going to get to the point where if one doesn’t have some type of college degree, a high-paying, legal, stable job will be hard to find.”
Mr. Bain has good advice on this issue. “You have to achieve a balance between cost and value. What I valued most in life I received through my education. I think students should consider education at public universities as a way to pursue their goals in a cost-effective way.”