With interest

My father, Danny, did not go to college. Yes, it was a different time. Yes, he has had to work his way up the ladder. But let me tell you, he's got something a lot of people of my generation do not have: work ethic (and a damn good job). Nowadays people expect a college diploma to double as an example of their work ethic....or the work ethic itself. And friends, a college degree does not a hard worker make.

Students throughout America are facing record amounts of student loan debt. College is not looked at as a privilege anymore....it's expected. And a college degree is now the equivalent of a high school diploma. Unfortunately, what most people do not realize is that many degrees are completely unnecessary for the field they wish to go into, and that they would almost certainly be better served to spend four (or five) years receiving valuable work-related experience than throwing their money away learning how to properly participate in a kegstand or getting their general studies degrees. That is not to say a college degree is not valuable, but for many, it's unnecessary and expensive. If you want to be a doctor, you should go to college. If you want to be a plumber.....maybe you should get an apprenticeship or go to trade school (which is NOT embarrassing--I don't think I'll ever understand the elitist attitude about trade schools). And FYI, plumbers don't do too badly as far as salary goes.

Seeing as how I'm a law student, you can imagine I've taken on a little bit of debt. Around me, I see people wracking up thousands of dollars in debt. I see them taking out Student Plus loans because the regular loan amount just won't cut it for them. I am allowed roughly $11,000 per semester worth of student loans (and of that, just under half is subsidized and the other is not). My tuition costs about $5000 a semester, which is on the EXTREMELY LOW END for law schools. If I were taking out the maximum amount of student loans, I would graduate about $66,000 in the hole. The past few semesters, I have taken only the subsidized loans, meaning my loans are NOT accruing interest while I am in school. Which also means I receive about $4500 per semester, an amount that doesn't even fully cover my tuition. I'm blessed that my parents cover the rest of my expenses. Because of this, I strive to keep my living expenses low. Well, actually, I'm just a cheap person, but that's neither here nor there.

I went to undergrad at a public school. My mom pushed me to apply (literally) for every scholarship for which I was eligible. So I did. Because of this, everything was paid for. Everything. And I didn't even qualify for need-based aid (so don't give me that pitiful excuse). Since I was able to graduate debt-free from undergrad, my parents feel no qualms about helping me out in law school. I got a job my third year of undergrad when I decided to live off campus--to pay for basic living expenses. I was not too good to wait tables, and I learned a lot about diplomacy doing so. I used my tip money to buy things I wanted, to pay my electricity and water bills, and for petty expenses. This is something almost anyone can do. Which is why I don't understand how so many people graduate from UNDERGRAD with outstanding (even incredible) amounts of debt (this is before we even get to grad school or other types of post-secondary education.)

Except I can. I saw people taking trips with their student loans. I still see people buy shittons of booze when their checks come in. They finance expensive vacations, luxuries, and (yes, I'VE SEEN IT) plastic surgery with their student loans. People, the madness must stop.

You are not too good for a job in a service field. You are not too good to go to a public school. And you are certainly not entitled to blow through student loans like monopoly money. Colleges that cost 40K a semester are not necessary. Student loan debt, to some degree, may be necessary. But an undergraduate debt of $100,000? No, that's not necessary. Especially considering you most likely took on this debt by going to an expensive private school that provided no better education than one you could receive from a public university.

If you decide to take on student loans, consider the type of job you'll have in the future. Ask yourself realistically if you'll be able to pay off the loans you incur with the job position for which you will qualify. Compare universities and ask yourself if they offer a unique degree program or unbeatable statistics regarding the type of education you wish to pursue. Hunt for scholarship opportunities, sign up for a student work program, and inquire about receiving in-state tuition. Never take out more than is necessary.

Because student loans? They never go away.

And you will have to pay them back in full......with interest.