Is college a sham, or is it just me?

   We all know that getting a higher education is not always a guarantee for a better job, higher pay or the occupation you have dreamed of all your life.

   What we should know, however, is that going to college can put us in debt for a good portion of our lives and force us to take classes that have nothing to do with your major.     

   We also spend hundreds of dollars on books every semester. When we go to sell them back, we will get, what, less than 20 percent back?  And that’s regardless of how highlighted or note-happy we got within the pages. Then, of course, if the school is “not using the book next semester,” you are pretty much screwed when it comes to getting anything back at all. 

   However, there are websites like Amazon that may be a help to this headache of overly priced books we only use for a few months.

   Another problem is transferring from one school to the next. Credits from the previous school may not transfer or be accepted, and this can prolong your graduation date.

   Some of us are not as lucky as other students and have to work during the semester, which can also prolong the graduation process due to being limited on how many classes you are able to take while juggling a job and trying to pay for yourself to live. 

   With tuition costs rising all over the country and the recent SUNY cuts, how are we supposed to get an education that will supposedly benefit our futures and the future of the world? 

   Plus, if you move to go to an out-of-state college or university, you can end up paying double the tuition until you are considered a resident.  I have been living in New York for two years now and am still paying out-of-state tuition.

   Some of this is my fault, for not taking proper action in getting all of the legal documentation proving I have been living in New York for two years. 

   The other part?  Bureaucratic rules and regulations that will probably force me to become a part-time student for the simple fact that I may not be able to afford to continue my education.

   These issues are a severe detriment to my motivation for a better future, and also downsize my determination to do better in my classes. Unfortunately I do not have a reasonable solution to fix these problems, for my GPA will go down as I work more or my GPA will go up as I work less, but then I won’t have enough money for rent. 

   The lack of my motivation is also ridiculous because as I pay all of this money for school, why not actually DO WELL in school?  I am either mistaken or insane, but I do think these problems should not only be addressed but also dealt with.