college Archives - Page 2 of 12 - Student Debt Diaries

Student Loans Should Not Impact Relationships

August 9, 2021August 12, 2021 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

Student loans can have a substantial impact on many major life decisions. Indeed, student loans can impact when and if individuals choose to buy a home, a car, or make other financial choices. However, student loans should not impact relationships, and individuals should not let their own student loans, or the debt of a partner, impact their connection with someone else. During my student debt repayment saga, I was afraid that my student debt would… Continue Reading Student Loans Should Not Impact Relationships

Interviewing for Jobs on a Budget

August 2, 2021August 7, 2021 Jordan RothmanSaving Money

During the last year of college or graduate school, a student typically needs to interview for jobs that they hope to enter after they graduate. Some interviews may take place virtually, but some employers may wish the candidate to travel to them to interview in person. Students who are living on a modest budget may not have too much cash available to pay for travel and other costs related to interviewing. Nevertheless, interviewing for jobs… Continue Reading Interviewing for Jobs on a Budget

Working Your Way Through College

July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 Jordan RothmanEarning Extra Money

In the past, when tuition costs were lower, it was much easier to pay your way through college. Indeed, we have all probably heard a story or two from older individuals who recount how they worked a job as a college student that allowed them to cover tuition costs and expenses. Working your way through college is much more difficult in the present due to rising tuition costs, but it is very possible, and one… Continue Reading Working Your Way Through College

How Student Loans Have Changed Over the Years

July 19, 2021 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

I originally borrowed student loans in 2005 to finance my first year of college. It is almost hard believe it has been sixteen years since I first started my student loan story, and this was half a lifetime ago. As I reflect on what student debt was like decades ago, there are definitely several ways how student loans have changed over the years, and the student loan landscape is in many ways better now than… Continue Reading How Student Loans Have Changed Over the Years

Higher Tuition Costs May be Worth It

July 5, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

As discussed in several prior articles on this website, tuition costs at many colleges and universities are astonishingly high. Indeed, tuition costs have been increasing more than the cost of inflation for decades, and as a result, the tuition and fees for a year of college or graduate school may be more than an individual earns in a year. However, higher tuition costs may be worth it in certain circumstances because schools may use tuition… Continue Reading Higher Tuition Costs May be Worth It

Applying to Schools During Competitive Times

June 21, 2021June 26, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

As many applicants to undergraduate and graduate school programs understand from firsthand experience, some admission cycles are more competitive than others. People may wish to ride out hard economic times in academia, and the increase in applications can make it more difficult to be admitted to programs and be awarded financial aid. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic consequences the pandemic has created, many people have applied to college and graduate school, and… Continue Reading Applying to Schools During Competitive Times

Attending School for a Challenge

June 7, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

I recently had a number of conversations with one of my friends who was thinking about attending law school about a decade after he graduated from college. This friend makes a great living in his current career, but he felt that his job was easy and that he was not getting too much mental stimulation with the work he performed on a daily basis. As such, this friend decided to apply to law school, not… Continue Reading Attending School for a Challenge

Unpaid Internships Hurt Student Debt Borrowers

May 31, 2021May 31, 2021 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies, Saving Money

As many people understand from firsthand experience, students and recent graduates often need to complete unpaid internships during the school year and summers in order to build their resumes. Such unpaid internships may confer valuable experiences that can help the student during their job search later in their careers. However, unpaid internships hurt student debt borrowers, and employers should consider offering paid internships while interns should look for sources of funding. During my student debt… Continue Reading Unpaid Internships Hurt Student Debt Borrowers

Income-Share Agreements Can Help Pay for School

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

The student loan landscape has not changed much over the past decade. Individuals who do not have financial resources to pay for school outright typically must borrow loans from government or private sources to cover educational expenses and then must pay back this debt. However, income-share agreements can help pay for school and are a novel new way to structure education financing. As such, more schools should consider this unique way of paying for college… Continue Reading Income-Share Agreements Can Help Pay for School

Minimizing the Impact of Transferring Schools

May 17, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

This website has previously discussed how transferring schools can impact your educational costs and student debt burden. Indeed, some schools offer financial aid to transfer students, and the cost of attending a new school may be significantly less than attending the school which a student originally attended. In addition, a new school may have a lower cost of living, which can impact your bottom line. Even though transferring schools can be a major life decision,… Continue Reading Minimizing the Impact of Transferring Schools