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
Sierra Club Ranks America’s Greenest Schools Sierra Club Ranks America’s Greenest Schools
Intercollegiate rivalry isn't all about the academics anymore. It's also about eco-friendliness, says the Sierra Club.
Aug 25, 2010 / StudentNation / Carrie Battan
Texas Fails High School Texas Fails High School
Without accurate reports and transparent outcomes, the urgent need to implement high school reforms could pass without notice.
Jul 9, 2010 / StudentNation / Sara Haji
You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught
Despite conservative attempts to whitewash what they learn in school, young Americans are a diverse and tolerant bunch—and they know it.
Jun 9, 2010 / Column / Melissa Harris-Perry
Student Writing Contest Student Writing Contest
We're looking for original, thoughtful, provocative student voices to answer this question: How has your education been compromised by budget cuts and tuition hikes?
May 10, 2010 / The Nation
Absolutely No Excuse Absolutely No Excuse
It is manifestly barbarous that children should be tossed into jail for life.
Nov 19, 2009 / Column / Patricia J. Williams
Slide Show: The Obama Youth Slide Show: The Obama Youth
The Nation presents images of a unique moment in time: when America's youth rallied and organized in record numbers for the 2008 election.
Nov 5, 2009 / Photo Essay / The Nation