The Betrayal of the American Dream The Betrayal of the American Dream
Thanks to Governor Christie, a generation of hardworking New Jersey students don't know if they'll be able to afford college.
Sep 20, 2010 / John Connelly
Undereducated Students, Overburdened Teachers and the Future of America Undereducated Students, Overburdened Teachers and the Future of America
After describing the immediate effects of budget cuts to education, such as overburdened teachers and lack of after school activities, the 16-year-old author considers the long-ter...
Sep 20, 2010 / Hishaam Habib
Books, Brilliance, or Burgers Books, Brilliance, or Burgers
Finding out that higher education and burger production have a disturbing amount in common.
Sep 20, 2010 / Deric Mendes
A Necessary Luxury A Necessary Luxury
A father councils his son to find work he's passionate about, after losing his own job as a in a bank buyout.
Sep 20, 2010 / Adam Zobel
History Helps Students Understand the Present, but not When History’s Cut From The School Curriculum History Helps Students Understand the Present, but not When History’s Cut From The School Curriculum
After taking an enlightening AP European History course, the author hopes that enrichment courses will survive the budget cuts to education.
Sep 20, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Demetrius Shahmehri
Overcoming the Hurdles to College as a Navajo Student Overcoming the Hurdles to College as a Navajo Student
A college degree shouldn't have to seem out of reach for American Indian young people—and they shouldn't have to compromise their cultural heritage in the process, either.
Sep 20, 2010 / Candace Bogody
Failing New Jersey’s Schools Failing New Jersey’s Schools
Nation Student Writing Contest Winner: A freshman at Old Bridge High School reports on how New Jersey's budget cuts have cheated her and her fellow students of a quality education.
Sep 20, 2010 / Melissa Parnagian
DREAM Act Comes to the Senate Next Week DREAM Act Comes to the Senate Next Week
Senators decide next week if hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people will get a path to citizenship. Student activists are mobilizing to convince them to say yes.
Sep 16, 2010 / StudentNation / Braden Goyette
Major Student Loan Mistakes, and Ways to Avoid Making Them Major Student Loan Mistakes, and Ways to Avoid Making Them
The economy's long nosedive has done more than raise unemployment rates and housing foreclosures—it's also contributed to a devastating increase in the amount of student debt. Following a recent Education Department report on debt repayment figures, Gawker compiled a list of the top ten universities for student debt, which is topped by NYU's staggering $659 million total. This year also marked the first time in history that outstanding student loan debt exceeded outstanding total credit card debt, with student loan debt nationwide increasing at a rate of about $2853.88 per second. It's a grim landscape for students who've borrowed money, and one that is rife with ways to exacerbate the amount owed. In light of this, Sarah Deveau has provided a helpful list of tips and practices to avoid via the San Francisco Chronicle. Highlights from the pieces, "The 6 Worst Student Loan Mistakes You Can Make" include smart warnings against tempting practices like falsifying information on a student loan application, spending loan money on non-essential purchases and missing payments. "Some experts suggest that your monthly student loan payment should be no more than 10% of your expected salary," Deveau writes. "Calculate your monthly loan payments based on a 10-year repayment schedule, including interest, the find out the average starting salary for your career choice. If your loan payments will be higher than 10%, look at reducing the amount you borrow, either through producing more income or switching to a less expensive program." The bottom line, she says, is this: A student loan is often the first large sum of money a young adult must manage themselves. Avoiding common money mistakes when it comes to financing your college education is crucial to graduating with only good debt, and as little of it as possible. Some of it seems fairly no-brainer, but Deveau lays it out in concrete, practical terms that should make a lot of sense—especially to students taking on loans for the first time.
Sep 10, 2010 / StudentNation / Carrie Battan
Sorry, Kids, No Jobs Here Sorry, Kids, No Jobs Here
A million and a half teenagers were unemployed this summer and didn't want to be. What does that mean besides less spending money for teens? Plenty.
Sep 2, 2010 / Liz Shuler