december_solstice

Fast =/= efficient.

That is what Carl Honore, author of “In Praise of Slow” and “Under Pressure“, would have to say.

SHIT M8!

I. Agree.

As an academic — as a young person whose life revolves around studying (which is what exactly? Reading, thinking and writing? Pretty freakin’ much m8) I don’t think there is any better way to excel as an academic than to take the “slow learning” approach.

This doesn’t mean procrastination and being lazy, this means information digestion and deep thinking.

This means taking the time to reflect on what you’ve learned.

This means slowing down to digest information, apply new information to old information, and making connections.

That is deep thinking. Critical thinking. Using logic and reason to articulate your thoughts better.

To become better thinkers and problem solvers, we need to be avoid reacting prematurely to the ideas and opinions presented to us, to not make decisions or conform to a thought process or idea before thorough analysis.

You can learn more about this “Slow Learning” phenomenon here:

Ideally, I'd like to get my Masters online from Southern New Hampshire University. They have competitive prices, especially for graduate degrees. The New School, where I originally planned to get my Masters, would have cost me about $3500 per course, whereas it would cost me half that here. I could collect enough financial aid to cover my tuition. Because the courses will be online, I will have an open schedule to work a regular job.

Problem is, my $1500 balance at The New School still needs to be paid off. I still need to pay that off or they will not release my transcripts. And, I will not be able to apply elsewhere. I should inquire anyway.

Again, ideally, I don't want to waste any time. I don't want to take a lot of time off. All that does is extend the time in which I don't have my degree. That puts me further away from my goal.

I don't know. Should I start some kind of fundraising page? I don't think it will be successful unless I have a big enough presence online.

Well sort of.

Can you believe there was a time when you could actually WORK your way through college? Now, students are spending the cost of a house in less than 4 years.

College is an investment. One that isn't easy to make if you're poor.

The worst is that overwhelming excitement you feel after finding out you got in -- then realizing you can't even afford the tuition deposit, or any other fee thrown at you that is required to even register for your classes.

My spirit? Crushed. My dreams? In ruins.

Yeah, I'll get over it, sure, eventually I will move along and carve a new path for myself.

But there is something else I've realized. It's all nonsensical. Higher education is a profitable business -- it does NOT have the student's best interest in mind.

Here is my story:

I recently completed my Bachelor's and graduated with a 3.5 GPA. This Spring, I applied for an MFA program, with the same university, and got in! This summer, I took my final 2 credits I needed to graduate and start my MFA program in the Fall.

By the time I was nearly done with my short 7 week summer course, I discovered that I would not qualify for any financial aid. For me to qualify, I would need to take 6 credits or more. Why would I take 6 credits, when I only need 2 to graduate? Why would I waste upwards 10,000 in federal grants, scholarships and student loans, that I simply do not need to spend? Why on earth would I do that? That funding could be applied to another deserving student.

This problem has only presented itself because I wanted to graduate this summer, instead of in the Fall. It was the most logical solution to complete my final credit in the summer, therefore being able to attend graduate school in the Fall. Logical. Common sense, even.

In order to start the MFA program, I needed to first fork out nearly $1500 in a matter of days. They did not offer me a payment plan even when I tried to explain to them-- Hey man, there isn't $1500 lying around under my mattress. Hey man, I'm living in it (rent). Which I can barely pay. I'm just trying to get ahead here. I am a working young person with little to no credit. I can't get a private student loan when I have no cosigner. Nor could I get a personal loan.

When I finally exhausted all of my options, I surrendered to the fate...that I kind of already saw coming.

That wasn't even the nail in the coffin, though.

Can I take a semester off to pay this off?

Admissions requires $500 for a 12 month deferment. BY MONDAY. Let me just go pick money from my money tree out back. Not only do I have to wait an entire school year, but I need to pay a tuition deposit for the f'ing tuition I am not even f'ing paying.

So tell me, does colleges have the student's best interest in mind? Because, excuse my french but, all I smell coming out of this university is bullshit.