Summary Of A Lifetime Of Student Debt Not Likely By Robin Wilson

What is your American Dream? For most people, the American Dream involves a quality education, a family, a home, good health, and financial security. Many people all over the world know about the “American Dream,” but what they may not know is how it is being affected by…. With an increasing number of young people going to college and the increased cost of college, many students must take out loans to pay for their education. According to Norris, student loans have historically been a way to pursue a college education for a person who might not otherwise be able to afford it. However, student loans and the accompanying debt are quickly leading to problems financially for those that borrow that will continue for many decades (B1). Dave Ramsey,

Gillian B. White’s article “Even With Debt, College Still Pays Off” is a worthy example of a well written, thesis titled article using reliable sources. Her article exemplifies the criteria of what makes a source respectable.

Student debt is a topic that generates a lot of debates. From politicians to lenders to students, everyone has an opinion on the topic. With a trillion dollar national debt, it’s not surprising why the topic is such a huge issue and the solutions are even greater. The student debt is a form of debt that is owed when a student has completed college or drop out. The average interest rates for the ungraduated and graduated are 4.45% to 6% (Quadlin). To pay off all the students’ debt, it will take 10-25 years to complete it. College students will have at least six months before they have to make the first payment. Student debts can be a real problem for those who aren’t preparing for them. Student loans debt should have a longer grace period, lower monthly payments and repayment programs that apply to all because students will be able to manage and repay their debts in a timely manner.

Kayla Webley’s “Is Forgiving Student Loan Debt a Good Idea?” essay first appeared in the Time magazine in 2012. In her essay, she aims to convince her readers that Robert Applebaum’s idea of one-time bailout of student loan debt isn’t a good idea and how it will affect us economically and politically. Although she includes many rational arguments through the use of statistical facts and comparisons, her objectivity comes into doubt because of her word choice, appeal to ethos, and illogical conclusions.

A problem with student loan debt is that students gain more debt because they are not able to pay off the student loans within the given time which also causes them to put certain life decisions on hold. According to Sophie Quinton debt is a problem for the recent college graduates because “There’s currently no way to get rid of federal student debt other than paying off the loans. while some borrowers are paying off their debts just fine, overall they are adding debt faster than they are shedding it”(Quinton). According to Jamaal Abdul-Alim stated that a “survey - titled Student Loan Debt: Who’s Paying the Price?- revealed a number of troubling statistics about the practical ways that student loans are impacting college graduates in their everyday lives. For instance the survey found that: 49

With the ever-increasing tuition and ever-tighten federal student aid, the number of students relying on student loan to fund a college education hits a historical peak. According to a survey conducted by an independent and nonprofit organization, two-thirds of college seniors graduated with loans in 2010, and each of them carried an average of $25,250 in debt. (Reed et. al., par. 2). My research question will focus on the profound effect of education debt on American college graduates’ lives, and my thesis statement will concentrate on the view that the education policymakers should improve financial aid programs and minimize the risks and adverse consequences of student loan borrowing.

Over the past decade, it has become evident to the students of the United States that in order to attain a well paying job they must seek a higher education. The higher education, usually a college or university, is practically required in order to succeed. To be able to attend these schools and receive a degree in a specific field it means money, and often a lot of it. For students, the need for a degree is strong, but the cost of going to college may stand in the way of a successful future. Each year the expense of college rises, resulting in the need for students to take out loans. Many students expect to immediately get a job after graduation, however, in more recent years the chances for college graduates to get a well paying job

College debt can stunt most students from pursuing their college dream and going to their school of choice. Students get scared of the word debt and the numbers that they would be dealing with outside of college. Students are putting aside going to their dream schools because of the fear of how much debt they will get into after college. There are many reasons why people don’t pursue college, or just from not being able to afford it. Students go back and look at not going to their dream college or college at all and regret not taking the challenge and going with what they always wanted to do. Some students experience not being in debt after college and why they think college tuition is right where it needs to be, but others will make shocking choices to not be in debt. College students are choosing not to pursue their dream college or college at all because of finances they would be dealing with after college, debt.

In Wilson’s example she believes that there should be no reason for “over borrowing” and the total cost of an education consisting of books, classes, and living expenses cost around the weighted average. Due to the biggest setback of students who are determined to go to the college of their dreams tends to put a hole in their wallet. In other words, Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid states, “students want to be able to pay for the school they have wanted to go to for as long as they can remember, and they are willing to do whatever it takes” (258). These college students unnecessarily pull out large sums of money, which consequentially result in an outrageous amount students realize they can’t afford to pay back. Furthermore, a second situation that causes large debts is going to graduate and professional schools. Those schooling debts are way more expensive than the typical undergraduate debt. As Wilson argues, “medical school graduates borrowed on average of $113,661. But this higher debt makes sense for people who earn degrees in law, business, and medicine because they are much more capable of landing high-paying jobs and paying off larger loans” (259). These situations are the exceptions to the average student loans, which get confused on a daily basis. Wilson isn’t trying to discourage students from going to graduate school, but she is informing individuals about the end results. She

On the first day of class, the professor showed a graph to illustrate how much wealth has deviated to the right most part of the curve. A question was then raised: what does it take to be in the top ten percent? Most students rushed to get their answers through, but none of them ever thought about their chances of being on the left side of the graph, a graph that depicts inequality of wealth in America. In “Who Got Rich Off The Student Debt Crisis”, James B. Steele and Lance Williams showed how the elites, like former Sallie Mae CEO Albert Lord, used money and lobbying to bring the government and school officials in their favor as they siphoned educational funds and retired like kings, and how it affected millions of lives of small people like Jessie Suren.

Student debt has led to many negative consequences for students attending college. Senators tend to have different views when it comes to solving the student debt issue. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, has been concerned about the constant rising of interest rates on student loans throughout the years. She proposes a certain bill to help cut down such rates. Bernie Sanders, another Democratic senator from Vermont, focused on the importance of the young generation earning an education. He attempts to make college more accessible for everyone. Lastly, Robert Reich, a former United States Secretary of Labor, has pointed out that college is not for everyone. He believes that individuals should have a choice rather than being forced into college due to society.

Robin Wilson had quite a compelling article, showing the potential contrast with the debt vs. the quality of life and stability a degree can provide. Wilson overall points show that the American dream we are all striving for has changed. She is able to demonstrate this through the use of several anecdotes. Wilson interviews with various professionals to see how they use these degrees to better themselves. In doing so she highlights various pros and cons of having a college education vs. the amount of debt they are now responsible for.

College is where you go to get higher sources of education. Many high school students dream of attending college in order to attain more knowledge, yet so many people fail to realize the cost of college. Attending college, currently, is nearly impossible to do without being in some sort of financial debt or seeking out government help. According to the American Association of University Professors, “two-thirds of American college students graduate with substantial debt, averaging nearly $30,000 (if one includes charge cards) in 2008 and rising.” (AAUP, 2012) Although going to college is beneficial, there is an argument on whether or not going to college is worth the possible debt incurred. The goal

Barbara Ehrenreich in her essay “College Students, Welcome to a Lifetime of Debt!” characterizes the transition of teenager to adult as they acquire mature responsibilities. Ehrenreich’s purpose is to convey the idea that although colleges and universities are supposed to empower young minds and expand their horizons, students are often left with an outrageous amount of debt and student loans at the end of their degree. The author adopts a humorous tone to appeal to the realities that young adults of this generation are facing. Ehrenreich’s essay adopts a satirical tone which speaks to how colleges are meant to encourage students to learn and mature but burden them with a plethora of unnecessary fees and skyrocketing tuition.

I think that one of the biggest issues in America is the rising cost of college and the student loan debt problem. College costs are constantly rising ahead of inflation, and the amount of people borrowing money for college is steadily increasing. According to Kelly Holland from CNBC, in 2015 there was over $1.2 trillion in student loan debt out of a total of 40 million borrowers (par. 1). On average, that means each borrower owes $29,000 in student loans (par. 1). When people are in that kind of debt, the economy falters. People are less inclined to invest, buy things, have a family, and even start a business (par. 20-22). The one thing that drives the United States economy is incentives and when people don’t have the incentive to contribute to the economy, the economy suffers.