I was told in high school that getting a college degree was the ticket to achievement. So far, all I have achieved are a bunch of student loans that I can't afford to repay. Where's the reward??
121587
People who started working directly after high school have 4 (or more) years of experience on the new college graduate.  But they will progress more slowly and will reach a point, in most companies, where they can advance no more.  Many jobs aren't open to a person with only a high school degree.\n\nWith a college degree, you open more doors for yourself, but you have to still pursue them.  No one is going to hand you a job, a promotion, or a raise.  A degree is not a guarantee of being successful, but it's can help a hardworking (and a  little lucky) person succeed.
480376
Are you a senior graduating this year, or are you already in college?  When I was in high school, I made EXTREMELY good grades, but I didn't receive many scholarships (a combo of 3 for my freshman year), so it was kind of discouraging.  The competition between seniors for college scholarships is so intense, it's sometimes ridiculous.\n\nThen, once I was in college, I kept making good grades and applied for scholaships for continuing students the next 3 years I was in school.  These are the scholarships you have to go for if you're serious about getting free money.  APPLY EVERY YEAR.  If your grades are where they should be, you will receive money.  A bachelor's degree is not cheap, but I managed to get out of school with no student loans to repay.  Just keep your grades up and remember that scholarships are for everyone, not just incoming freshmen.
20825
Go to work for a local university.  Tuition benefits are a common benefit at schools.  I got my Master's for free this way (though admittedly the pay wasn't great, so I guess the tradeoff was in making a crappy salary for a couple of years).
238761
Look into a Pathways program. You can earn college credits while you're still in school. It will save you a lot of time when you graduate from high school.
97408
Save up before hand. Also you can  get student loans and/or grants and scholarships. Just apply in the financial aid office. I never got a loan but did get both a scholarship and grant (you don't have to pay these back). Also another thing I did was work at the University. You could find a flexible job there that works around your classes and only work up to 20 hours per week.
64167
There are scholarships out there.  I was, like you, a late bloomer without much money and no family support.  Still, I managed to locate funding and so can you.  There are several scholarships and grants that come under the heading of "non-traditional student" funds, so that is one term that you should be searching.  There are also scholarships that are available to you based upon your ethnic background (I assume, from your avatar that you are African-American, but regardless, there are funds out there for practically every identity).  Search aggressively and methodically.  Be prepared to take on a "second job" of filling out applications and drafting and revising essays.  It may seem like a lot of work (and it is), but considering the thousands in student loans you will not have to borrow, it is time and efforts well-spent.\n\nFinally, I would encourage you to be less afraid of student borrowing within reason.  If your college education allows you to add 50% or more to your pre-college earnings AND helps you identify those areas that hold promise for you in terms of choosing a vocation, a bit of debt going forward will seem like a minor inconvenience.  Plus, if you can manage it, there are programs, such as Teach for America, where you can have some or all of your student debt forgiven for teaching for a few years in inner-city schools.  The point is this:  You've become motivated about improving your life by becoming a more educated person.  Do not allow poor cash flow to stand in the way of such important progress.  Put in the time and efforts and soon you too will be advising some ambitious stranger on how to get this thing done.  Best of luck to you.  You'll be fine!
149643
Go to university and get at least one university degree. You will realize significant return to you only decades later. At that time, you would not be able return to classroom and get the education that you could have taken at your young age. Don't look at these few success stories of people without univ education, and flatly reject the idea of university education. Only those who have had higher education know how education  can change their life styles, and know when will it start paying you back. University education is not a lottery, but an investment. Its very hard to convince people of the age: high school graduates. I wonder whether you will read my comments from top to bottom. Those kids whose parents have good education background, have higher chances of getting at least first university degree. Education provides you wings to fly and see the world from sky. Imagine: "If I were a bird". University Education (but not the F rated Distance learnig or Independent Studies: current trend of purchasing a university certificate. Think of traditional university class room education) attaches wings and let you fly like a bird. Enjoy being a bird. Its your life, your choice. Bill Gate or Bill clinton, one of them said: "Intelligence is almost equally distributed, but not the opportunities." Education provides you a road-map to find opportunities.
217301
If you're educated, apparently you got educated in the wrong field if you can't get a job from your education. Why don't you go back to college and try again in a field that needs more people?\n\nAnd by educated, I assume you mean college. High school diplomas aren't going to get you a good job that may lead to you being rich. [Although my dad is rich and he went to community college and started his own business for remodeling. Community college had nothing to do with it.]\n\nEdit: I just noticed the "I want being a rich man" part - unless English is your second language - there's no hope for you. You're apparently not educated like you say you are. Educated people spell check before they submit things.
9049
I had a friend win one from a teen club. But, sometimes colleges go to schools. Or you can sign up to enter into one. If lucky they pick you. For more information ask your school
584937
i went to community college for 5 semesters (not including summers).  I got student loans for all semesters.  They don't go by years; they go by hours attempted.  I think it's something like after 90 hours attempted and you still don't have a degree then they cut you off.  Or if your degree plan say you are getting a Bachelor's eventually then they cut you off after 180 hours.  All this is based on a 60 hour associates degree and a 120 hour Bachelor's degree.
500537
Buck up and finish the year. Discipline is good for you.\nBet you didn't want to hear that. Let me explain a bit for you. You've already gotten the loan for your semester or year, or paid for it, why waste good money just because you're bored.  Finish the time, then go find a job. Any old job will do, and without a degree any job is exactly what you have to take. After you've busted it at work for a few months college is going to look mighty fine and you're going to regret wasting that time and money, but, if you finish the semester it's not wasted you still have that and now you can go back and finish college like you wanted to in the first place. You're smart, don't be dumb.
267186
I have a Master's and still found I wasn't getting paid enough to have a comfortable living. After all of the studying and all of the loans, I decided it was more profitable to own my own home based business and put all of my hard work for my benefit instead of my time being bought for wholesale and being compensated at retail. Now my entire check is mine, with no overhead. I was a day late and $70,000 short in learning that lesson. I won't make the same mistake with my children. I am teaching them how to own jobs instead of getting a job. Good luck with your degree.
542880
My understanding of the Student Loan Process in the past 7 years I have been attending and the past years I have helped my son with his college tuition, is that THERE IS NO RELIEF from PAYING STUDENT LOANS.  The only way you get out of paying off your Student Loans, is if you die.  They are then forgiven for the families benefit.  You do not get out for what you mentioned, you do not get out for Filing Bankruptcy.  You can thank President Bush and his pals for rewriting part of the Student Loan process.  They also reduced many of the student loan amounts that used to be available.  If I am wrong, then the Financial Aid people who just returned from training this past fall were given the wrong information by the government.
17560
Because *everybody* is getting a degree these days. My fiance spent $20,000 on hers, and she's making less than half of what I am, and I only graduated high school. Sometimes its just the luck of the draw.
611147
Well good for you! I am one of those in the middle bracket who got screwed. I really am glad to see you are doing your best in school, because where I go, it seems like 1/2 the students who get financial aid don't even want to be there! They don't show up to class, don't study, and party all the time. Then you wonder where they went next semester and they are gone because they failed too many classes and couldn't get more money. (that was my little rant) But as for the rich people, they are used to having everything handed to them. I don't see why they care though, because their parents are probably paying for everything, including rent/food/entertainment money, so they don't even need to work!
313858
Is it too expensive? YES! Overrated, idk... So many ppl get college education today that it has almost become an expectation when looking for a better job. To really pull away from the crowd you have no choice, but continue your education, grad. school, etc. And that's becoming a natural step for many as well, while college has become almost an another high school.
628880
.First of all, there is no such thing as a sponsor for college.  You can apply for scholarships.  Contact A&M and find out what scholarships are available for your intended major and apply for them.  I hate to burst your bubble, but unless you kick butt in sports--no one is going to offer you a free ride at a major university. I would suggest that you continue at the community college and earn an associate’s degree and then transfer over to A&M.  More then likely, you will have to take out federal student loans to help pay for your education.  Federal student loans are not bad.  I myself had to take 24K out to help cover the cost of my schooling.  You do not make payments while in school.  Once you leave or graduate from school, you have six months before you have to start repayment. If you are having trouble landing a good job, you can apply for forbearance or deferment.  That will give you a year without payments or reduced payments.  I struggled to get money up for school; after the first year at community college, I decided the debt was worth it to go to a real university.  There is no fairy god mother to help you; she's too busy gushing over the quarterback of the local high school football team.  It sucks that the jocks get the free ride, while people like us with the "A" average have to go into debt.  \nCheck out: www.ed.gov .  Find the section that is for students.  There you will find a link to the federal financial aid programs.  Good luck