Does College Make $ense in Today’s Economy?

Posted on January 31, 2012 | Filed Under Articles

For many young adults growing up, it’s a given that they will attend college some of them even consult a college planner that will guide them to choose what is the best college course to take up and in what should they enroll. It’s simply the natural order of things: You go to elementary and high school, you get a college degree in your field of choice, and you go on to get a job and make a good living in your field of choice.

The only problem is, what happens if you don’t wind up earning enough money in that job? Many young graduates find that although they have done the work to get the degree and secure employment, the resulting value of their college degrees does not add up to a sizable income.

Previous studies have estimated the value of a college degree around $1 million; however, this estimate does not necessarily account for tuition, lost wages and future earnings. The intergovernmental Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that the true net value of a U.S. college degree is actually closer to $325,000.

These figures therefore beg the question: Is college really worth it? Let’s examine the pros and cons.

College Versus High School Graduates
A 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report shows that 95 percent of college graduates have jobs, despite the recession that dominated in years prior. In contrast, high school graduates with no college experience have a 9.6 unemployment rate. For those without a high school degree, 14.6 percent of them are jobless.

These numbers do not specify the type of jobs that college grads are taking, however. They may, in fact, be working in underemployed positions as a result of the difficult economic times, simply to make ends meet. At the same time, BLS data suggests that these workers are unlikely to remain underemployed over time.

The highest-earning jobs tend to result from undergrad college degrees in engineering, according to PayScale.com’s 2011-2012 College Salary Report. At the top of the list: petroleum engineering, where the starting median salary is $97,900. Meanwhile, careers in education bottomed out the list, with the starting median salary of a child and family studies major at $29,600.

The Merits of Vocational School
If petroleum engineering isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps vocational school is the answer. Benefits of vocational studies include:

· Short-term courses. In a matter of six months or a year, you could potentially finish a vocational studies course and start looking for jobs. This puts you in the work force more quickly than a four-year degree. Plus, you will be studying only the subjects that apply to your vocation, rather than spending time studying undergrad subjects that do not necessarily relate to your field of study.
· Smaller classrooms. Vocational schools tend to have smaller class sizes. You will get more one-on-one attention from instructors, helping you to build professional relationships that could result in positive letters of recommendation to future employers.
· A positive hiring environment. Some employers prefer to hire employees who have hands-on industry training. In Europe, for example, there is a high demand for skilled professionals. These employees often have the expertise to step into a job quickly without a great deal of training.

If you like the idea of specializing in a niche, then vocational education might be a good option for you. For a more well-rounded approach to education, consider a four-year degree or a community college (see below).

The Benefits of Community College
If you are not yet sure where you want your education to take you, then community college is an excellent starting point. The costs of tuition, room and board are often a fraction of the cost of a university. Therefore, you can spend the first couple years of your college education exploring different types of subjects without spending a fortune.

Community colleges also offer the ability to sharpen vocational skills, with many of these colleges offering associate degrees in vocation-oriented programs. You also have the ability to transfer credits to a four-year college once you decide on a course of study. (Check with a college counselor to determine which courses to take in order to achieve transfer status.)

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of community college education is that students can take advantage of flexible scheduling. Working parents and other adults can fit in classes around work schedules and child care, so they can earn income while also working toward a degree.

A Personal Choice
Only you can decide if a college education is right for you. Weigh your options carefully before settling on a program. Perhaps spend some time with a mentor in your desired field of study who can advise you on the best course of action. Lastly, always be willing to change directions, whether by course of study or career, if one path does not suit your needs.

About the Author
Karen E. Spaeder writes frequently on college planningand financing as well as retirement and financial planning. Her articles appear at College Funding Resource, FinancialMentor.com and several other online publications. Although Karen holds both an undergrad and a graduate degree, she also loves furthering her education through vocational studies such as yoga teacher training.

006 CFR – When It’s Smart to pay for College with Student Loans

Posted on January 24, 2012 | Filed Under Podcast

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This is another helpful podcast from Felicia Gopaul–here with guest expert Gary Carpenter. Both are going to share to you about student loans, the process applying for them, and other enlightening details.

Gary Carpenter is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified College Planning specialist, and very proficient in Student Loans. He has helped countless parents and students create and manage solid plans to take on these loans and has expanded to a variety of options for families.

*Subscribe to the College Experts Talk Podcast by RSS feed or via iTunes.

If you want to be more proactive about Student Loans, listen and find out more about:
- The different types of loans that students and/or parents can get
- The difference between Federal loans and Private Educational Loans and how to find the best student loan
- The planning, research and evaluation needed when looking at Educational loans
- Managing your debt, consolidations, and other procedures for paying back student loans

You College education is gonna set you up for a promising career. And it is never a free ride. Understanding student loans is a key process in this whole journey. Learn more about it in this edition of the College Experts Talk.

To learn more about College Funding Resource, Watch a FREE introductory video. You can also get a free copy of Felicia Gopaul’s “5 Strategies that Parents Need to Start using today to Cut their College Costs Tomorrow” by subscribing to the newsletter now!

005 CFR – How to Fund the Financial Gap in College Costs

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Filed Under Podcast

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If you are looking for ways to figure out on how to save up to 75% of the cost of a College education, here is Felicia Gopaul and expert Chuck Moore, who will open your eyes to such valuable information. Listen as they discuss on how to deal with financial gaps in college costs.

Chuck Moore is the President and Founder of Educataional Literacy and the Student Athletic center. He has a lot of certifications under his belt, including: College Planning specialist, Cashflow consultant, and Athletic Marketing consultant, among others. Chuck has helped families in the areas of college financial literacy and athletic marketing issues. He’s also been approved to teach Professional Development classes for Guidance Counselors, Principals, Athletic Directors and School Administrators in the states of Kentucky and South Carolina.

*Subscribe to the College Experts Talk Podcast by RSS feed or via iTunes.

This podcast gives you helpful viewpoints and strategies like:
- What parents need to know and do before they go looking for a college
- How to correct a flawed way of thinking about the college financial assistance available through the Federal Government as well as the State
- Cashflow Management and knowing what your expected family contribution is
- Taking an indepth look on your financial habit and how this affects your ability to pay for College Education
- How to pay between 65-75% of a college education without spending anymore money than what you’re spending now

College is a lot more than filling the student application, it is a financial investment. Take a proactive approach to college and educate yourself on the process especially on financial literacy. Don’t miss this edition of the College Experts Talk.

To learn more about College Funding Resource, Watch a FREE introductory video. You can also get a free copy of Felicia Gopaul’s “5 Strategies that Parents Need to Start using today to Cut their College Costs Tomorrow” by subscribing to the newsletter now!

004 CFR – Head Start for Parents who have more than 4 years

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Filed Under Podcast

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Yet again, another addition to your learning playlist: Felicia Gopaul and Gwendolyn Moore talking about the College application process, College Funding, and other important matters that parents need to know as early as possible.

Guest Gwendolyn Moore is a mother to daughter, young Acacia. Gwen, like any other parent, regards Education as very important and would do all things possible to send her daughter to college. She and her husband were the first in their respective families to finish college and they don’t want their daughter to experience the same kind of financial struggle they had to face and overcome.

*Subscribe to the College Experts Talk Podcast by RSS feed or via iTunes.

Tune in to this amazing exchange of questions and answers as both Felicia and Gwen address topics in a parent’s point of view, like:
- The cost of college and how you are not necessarily required to pay for the whole thing
- Finding a good partnership—between parents, students and schools
- Knowing the direction of where your child wants to go, the deal with SAT scores, the depth of extra curricular activities and how important all of these are
- Common misconceptions on scholarships , and the whole College investment

Getting into and graduating College is a process. The more you learn about the process, the better results you have. It’s all about being well prepared to get your child to college, so don’t miss this edition of the College Experts Talk.

To learn more about College Funding Resource, Watch a FREE introductory video. You can also get a free copy of Felicia Gopaul’s “5 Strategies that Parents Need to Start using today to Cut their College Costs Tomorrow” by subscribing to the newsletter now!

003 CFR – Searching for and Finding Scholarships

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Filed Under Podcast

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Here is another valuable resource from Felicia Gopaul as she discusses College Scholarships with her guest expert Devethia Thompson. This is information that every parent should know more about.

An attorney by profession, practicing in Bankruptcy and Commercial Collections Area, guest speaker Devethia also does College Counseling as well–particularly focusing on College Scholarships. Being a mother of five, her time-tested experience and strategies make her one of the most sought after counselors in terms of applying for and attaining scholarships.

*Subscribe to the College Experts Talk Podcast by RSS feed or via iTunes.

Listen in as Felicia and Devethia answer questions like:
- What types of scholarships are available out there, and who can qualify?
- When is the right time to search for scholarships, and where to start?
- What are the most common requirements and tips when applying?
- How long does the application process take exactly?

If applying for scholarships is an important part of your plan for paying for your college education, then you don’t want to miss this edition of the College Experts Talk.

To learn more about College Funding Resource, Watch a FREE introductory video. You can also get a free copy of Felicia Gopaul’s “5 Strategies that Parents Need to Start using today to Cut their College Costs Tomorrow” by subscribing to the newsletter now!

Posted on January 4, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized

Good Day,
Hello. Thank you for responding to my ad on onlinejobs.ph. I had a number of people respond, so forgive me for not personally addressing you in this email. I have an US based company and am looking for a full-time employee to start very shortly.

I have a short process for anyone who is truly interested in the position. The second step is to:

1. Listen to the first 10 minutes of the podcast (unedited) found 7124321680-479071-30.
2. Please write a short summary in your own words (approximately 200 words) of the podcast. The summary should include:
a. A brief introduction of the interviewee
b. 1-2 points that you as a listener found interesting about the podcast.
c. A call-to-action so that listeners will come again to listen to additional podcasts.

You can see an example of a longer summary here. If still interested, please return your summary by 1/6/2012. The final step is a 15-20 minute Skype interview to give each of us a chance to ask questions.

I am looking for someone who is:
1. Hard-working
2. Has internet connection at home
3. Is interested and willing to learn new tasks (using a audio editing software)
4. Can follow directions and will ask questions if uncertain
4. Is available to be interviewed via Skype

Felicia Gopaul

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