Comments on: The Best Ways to Cut College Costs Now http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/10/05/the-best-ways-to-cut-college-costs-now/ Writer. Mindfulness Trainer. Global Ed Cheerleader. Savvy Gardener. Happy Frugalista. A Former Oregonian Celebrates the Simple Life in Rural Uruguay. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:45:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Heidi Fettig Parton http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/10/05/the-best-ways-to-cut-college-costs-now/comment-page-1/#comment-8190 Heidi Fettig Parton Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:56:57 +0000 http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/?p=612#comment-8190 I did this back in 1988. I opted for a cheaper state school in my hometown so that I could live at home a few of the years. I had diligently pursued a language in high school and was able to test out of a full two years of language classes, which gave me enough credits to place me almost as a sophomore. I then took summer school and even studied abroad one summer on a full language scholarship, returning with even more credits. By doing this, I graduated in three years and without any loans. I was still 20 years old when I graduated. Sometimes, I have had regret that I missed out on the "true" college experience by living at home and shunning the "party life" to enable me to work through my 20-plus credit load each semester. I do think, however, that graduating without the burden of college loans has enabled me to make some decisions that I wouldn't otherwise have been able to make in terms of jobs. In fact, I had a job for 10 years with a publishing company, which allowed me endless opportunities to travel. While I may have felt pressure to take a more "high paying" job if I had loans strapped to my back, I was free to take a more creative job that allowed me wonderful personal growth opportunities. Now my own daughter stands at the edge of college. She is doing her junior year abroad in Japan as a Rotary Exchange student. She was trying to study online for her SAT while abroad but it was stressing her out so much, I told her to just stop and get the most out of her time in Japan. Before she left for Japan, she really thought she wanted to go to Columbia University. Now, however, being out on her own is teaching her about adult responsibility and even the value of money. I see her shifting her thinking in terms of college choices. I really believe she'll come back with a much more practical view with respect to her college education. I also hope she'll come back with a better idea of what it is she'd like to do with her life. Thanks for your book. It has been a great help to us. I did this back in 1988. I opted for a cheaper state school in my hometown so that I could live at home a few of the years. I had diligently pursued a language in high school and was able to test out of a full two years of language classes, which gave me enough credits to place me almost as a sophomore. I then took summer school and even studied abroad one summer on a full language scholarship, returning with even more credits. By doing this, I graduated in three years and without any loans. I was still 20 years old when I graduated.

Sometimes, I have had regret that I missed out on the “true” college experience by living at home and shunning the “party life” to enable me to work through my 20-plus credit load each semester. I do think, however, that graduating without the burden of college loans has enabled me to make some decisions that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to make in terms of jobs. In fact, I had a job for 10 years with a publishing company, which allowed me endless opportunities to travel. While I may have felt pressure to take a more “high paying” job if I had loans strapped to my back, I was free to take a more creative job that allowed me wonderful personal growth opportunities.

Now my own daughter stands at the edge of college. She is doing her junior year abroad in Japan as a Rotary Exchange student. She was trying to study online for her SAT while abroad but it was stressing her out so much, I told her to just stop and get the most out of her time in Japan. Before she left for Japan, she really thought she wanted to go to Columbia University. Now, however, being out on her own is teaching her about adult responsibility and even the value of money. I see her shifting her thinking in terms of college choices. I really believe she’ll come back with a much more practical view with respect to her college education. I also hope she’ll come back with a better idea of what it is she’d like to do with her life.

Thanks for your book. It has been a great help to us.

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