The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/68603
College Life more; a post-graduate degree, but more and more students are now doubting their ability to get into a college, as costs skyrocket and the number of ap- plicants rises. Most public colleges in the US have a 4% yearly increase in tuition. If this continues, in little more than ten years prices will have become twice as expensive. Each year more and more stu- C dents apply to colleges, making the process more selective than ever. In some circumstances there are as many as 3,500 students applying for 400-500 seats. Scholarships are also spread out over more stu- dents, making it harder for those students to pay for their own education even if they are accepted. Colleges are forced, by rising utility costs, and a ris- ing number of students apply- ing, to reject more applicants than ever, making getting into any college a huge accomplish- ment. Rising utility costs include the higher price for oil and electricity to power the school, According to the 2012 Senior Survey here are the top five universities that graduating seniors will be attending in the fall. These are the top five in terms of attending gradu- ates. Staying Alive Life after high school involves decisions to be made about Food In College how you wish to live your life. It means consciously making the right choices. One important factor to survive college is, dun dun dun...Food! Stress, work, and school may leave you with few options, but you do have more than you might think. Everyone needs food, some less than others; nonethe- less, it's necessary for survival. Everyone has heard the horror stories of college students surviving solely on Ramen Noodle, Take-Out Chinese, and caffeine, but that doesn't have to be the case. Many colleges offer meal plans to students living on cam- pus, which offer healthy, hot, and convenient meals ev- eryday, ready to be picked up in the dining hall. Colleges have devised a system through either a point-system or the three-meal plan. There is also the option of cooking for yourself, some- Dorms? many pros. You have a built in social life, though that could also be a problem if you and your dorm mates don't get along, or have different opinions on the way your room should be organized or run. "Greek Life" also becomes an option, which can provide many unique opportunities. Many times there is also an included D meal plan, or discounts on campus activities, or even discounts at the student store and other places on campus. You are located on campus, so there is barely any commute whatsoever, which can also cut costs. Communicating with your professors will also be easier, as you are closer to their offices. Overall, the cost tends to be reasonable, and there are social opportunities. orms can be slightly more expensive, but they come with L thing that may take more time and energy, but will be good practice for life after school, rewarding, and significantly healthier than most other options. Cooking for yourself can be convenient in some cases, but with all the stresses of college life your eating habits might take a downward spiral with the convenience of fast food. Off-Campus? iving off campus, but away from home, brings autonomy, as well as the benefits of only being responsible for your own being. You can choose with whom you live, and have more direct control with your environment. Your aren't sharing a bathroom with the whole dorm floor! It can be more expensive than a dorm, V.S. but provides more of a sense of self- sufficiency. There is also less chance of having to deal with the cliche college social scene that includes: loud music, parties, or your roommate's social schedule, which H Home? ome life is by far the most economical option once you enter the college world, as there is a lack of rent, and usually no money spent on food. This option does, however, limit your choice of school, and what classes you can take at what times. It also presents a significant commute for most people. It comes with all the problems V.S. could interfere with your own schedule. A major con in this economy though is that living off campus may facilitate a need to commute, meaning money spent on gas. As a whole this option lets you grow as an individual, but that comes with an economic cost. you may face living at home now; increased chores, less of a chance to grow personally, less chance of new experiences, and less personal space. After school this option will have prepared you less for real life, since paying bills and such may not be familiar territory. Your social life will also be more limited. This option may be limiting, but is the only option for many people with little income. Living at home is the only option for many people. ollege is essential for many jobs and careers in the world market today. Many of those require der- as well as the lack of state funding, which makes: buying supplies, housing students, funding labs, and paying staff members harder. Public colleges also must contend with the fact that they now get less money from the state per each student that they enroll. More students also means more teachers, more classes, more buildings, and more equipment. As much of the staff pay comes from the state edu- cation budget for the school, it's un- standable that there was protest when the new presi- dent of San Diego State was paid $400,000- $100,000 more than the previous president of that same university the year before. The Cal State board of Trustees voted unanimously to put a cap on the pay of in- coming presidents, forcing them to take no more than 10% of what the former president received. Cal State is also trying to limit the pay of all university staff who earn more than $200,000. Those earning that amount or more will not be eligible for a raise for two years, until 2014, and for four years af- ter that will not be able to receive a raise of more than 10%. That bill passed the state senate 36-1, and is now in line for the as- sembly. Story by: Alaina Rudnick Story by: Alaina Rudnick Story by: Shelby Keeler Tuition takes a toll