Young Catholic Looking for College Advice

[Friendly_Stranger]

Greetings,

I few days ago, I vented my frustrations in a recent thread: (Bored, how to meet other college Catholics? - #19 by guanophore). In it, I lamented that I wish I could meet other young Catholics, make friendships that last, and actually enjoy life and what God has created for once. Told my parents about it and here’s what we discussed earlier, prior to this thread:

-The area where I live is more-so “spiritual” and less religious. There is a strong Christian Evangelical presence here, which is too Protestant for my liking.

-My parish has a disproportionate number of elderly people, and the “young people” have fled to the colleges or abandoned the Catholic Faith altogether. The elderly are fine, but I feel like I am still missing out on life.

-The university closest to me has a small Catholic campus ministry and there is no Newman Center or any Catholic organizations such as the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

-My intended field of study is Engineering, specifically, Electrical Engineering.

After a couple posters sent me their suggestions, I have considered them and asked for my parents’
suggestions. My parents can allow me to attend one of those colleges, and I have the GPA to attend.

There’s just this problem: somebody is going to pay for the costs of dorm life or renting living space to live outside of classes. That “somebody” is me and me alone.

Problem is, I don’t have the money, and I don’t have a job that can pay for the expenses. I do work part-time at a retail store, but it is not enough to live and attend classes at one of the colleges I am interested in. Financial aid, scholarships, and college loans are out of the question.

So that’s my problem. I really want to make friends, build lasting memories, and enjoy life for once through the Catholic Faith. Unlike most Catholics my age, breaking away from the Faith is unthinkable. But the opportunity is just not there, and I wished it was.

Therefore, I am seeking the advices of others on this forum. Advice on how to make this dream into a reality. The only reason why I cannot enjoy life is because I feel like I have no control, no Free Will to choose. Everything is being decided for me, and it has brought nothing except loneliness, regret, resentment, and a cynical outlook.

Let me know what you guys think. I’ll come back and respond whenever I have time.

With Hearty Greetings,
-FS

 

[guanophore]

Financial aid, scholarships, and college loans are out of the question.

Why is that?

So that’s my problem. I really want to make friends, build lasting memories, and enjoy life for once through the Catholic Faith. Unlike most Catholics my age, breaking away from the Faith is unthinkable. But the opportunity is just not there, and I wished it was.

If this is the case, and I fully expect it is, then money should not be an obstacle. Never allow money to prevent you from doing what God has called you to do.

The only reason why I cannot enjoy life is because I feel like I have no control, no Free Will to choose. Everything is being decided for me, and it has brought nothing except loneliness, regret, resentment, and a cynical outlook.

I think this is the temptation for all who feel they have no control, and no ability to choose.

 

[Irishmom2]

Loans are how many, many people that really want to go to college do it. Maybe you should reconsider that route.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

Guanophore judged because he wanted to be judged. I shall return the favor.

Why is that?

Which one are we talking?

If this is the case, and I fully expect it is, then money should not be an obstacle. Never allow money to prevent you from doing what God has called you to do.

I think I established that already, thank you very much!

I think this is the temptation for all who feel they have no control, and no ability to choose.

There are far worse temptations than I need to watch out for than that. Please elaborate.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

Loans are also a good way to rack up debt, debt that I am not going to pay back. Do you know how I am going to pay it back?

I sure don’t!

 

[Irishmom2]

Well, I guess you will get a job after you graduate, and pay it back just like everyone else does.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

I don’t know about that. You never know: I might not be able to pay back the debt. Ever considered that idea?

 

[Irishmom2]

You might want to change your attitude when people try to help you.

I am not in charge of your life, or your future, or your loans. That would be your responsibility alone.

Don’t talk down to me. I already went to college sweetie, and I paid back all my loans.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

Sorry about that. There has to be another way besides college loans.

 

[kristenj239]

You can take loans, apply for scholarships, or go to your local university and live at home.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

I thought I mentioned my reasons in an earlier post. Did you see it?

I thought I mentioned my reasons in an earlier post. Did you see it?

 

[Irishmom2]

Are you always this rude to people?

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

No. I’ve been in a really cranky mood for the past several months.

Things are stressful, frustrating, and despairing right now. I feel like my life is not going anywhere, like I’m wasting my life away on not doing what God wants me to do. A good analogy is the Third Servant in the Parable of the Talents.

 

[Xantippe]

I’m one of the biggest anti-debt people you’ll find on CAF. I was just looking at this, which might be helpful to you:

http://www.aplu.org/projects-and-in...financial-aid/publicuvalues/student-debt.html

“The vast majority of four-year public university graduates complete their undergraduate degree with a relatively modest and manageable amount of student debt. About 36 percent of students at four-year public universities finished their bachelor’s degree without any debt and 79 percent graduated with less than $30,000 in debt. Only 6 percent of public university graduates left with more than $50,000. And those with over $100,000 in debt are rarer still: they are anomalies representing less than half of 1 percent of all four-year public university undergraduates completing their degrees.”

"Among those who borrow, the average debt at graduation is $25,500— or $6,375 for each year of a four-year degree at a public university. Among all public university graduates, including those who didn’t borrow, the average debt at graduation is $16,300. To put that amount of debt in perspective, consider that the average bachelor’s degree holder earns about $32,000 more per year than the average high school graduate. Bachelor’s degree holders make $1 million in additional earnings over their lifetime.”

If you got a degree in electrical engineering at a state university, the return on investment could be very good, assuming you keep your debt level close to the average.

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

I’ll think about it.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Consider working for a year or two while taking base classes at community college. Save up about $10k. Then, when you do enroll, take out college loans and work a part-time job when possible. This is how most college students Cobble together their fundd for school. Especially if you’re going to be an electrical engineer, you will be able to pay the loans off rather quickly when you get out.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Sorry about that. There has to be another way besides college loans.

With all due respect, it sounds like you are looking for a free ride. Some people can get a free ride when everything aligns properly and they get a full scholarship. Most people don’t get this. Again, I would suggest taking out school loans like everybody else does. Make sure you go into a line of study that is going to insure you will be able to pay your loans back by working a decent job when you get out of school. The people you hear who have trouble paying their loans back typically major in a field that does not guarantee a good job when they get out.

 

[guanophore]

Guanophore judged because he wanted to be judged. I shall return the favor.

I am sorry, I think you lost me here.

Which one are we talking?

if you use the up arrow at the top right of the post, you can find the post to which one is responding, but I included the quote from your post, so there should be no question about “what we are talking”.

I think I established that already, thank you very much!

Ok, only you know your own values, but your post was clear that loans were not an option, though you did not say why.

There are far worse temptations than I need to watch out for than that. Please elaborate.

You know your temptations the best, but I think despair is quite serious.

Loans are also a good way to rack up debt, debt that I am not going to pay back. Do you know how I am going to pay it back?

I sure don’t!

Such a position seems to reflect a lack of trust in God. If you do not believe that God wants you to be in college, maybe you should not be there? If He does, then why would you not be able to trust Him to make a way?

I don’t know about that. You never know: I might not be able to pay back the debt. Ever considered that idea?

Certainly, which all the more speaks to trusting God. Either He is leading you and will make a way, or you are going against His will, and will not find a way.

Sorry about that. There has to be another way besides college loans.

Why? Given your attitude, a student loan seems like a great avenue through which God can deliver you from your trust issues!

No. I’ve been in a really cranky mood for the past several months.

This is a good sign that God is calling you to some change. When we get complacent and contented, we are not likely to be motivated to change. God has made us for peace and life, so when we are cranky, we are missing out on His gift of the Kingdom.

I feel like my life is not going anywhere, like I’m wasting my life away on not doing what God wants me to do.

Which brings back the question, are you sure you should be in college?

 

[Friendly_Stranger]

I don’t know. I get a feeling that this place reeks of groupthink. A really terrible form of it. CAF has shown me that over and over again.

Is there a way I can deactivate my account? Of course, somebody is going to twist and distort my words, but people on this forum love to do that for some reason.

 

[QwertyGirl]

You should consider feeling grateful that everybody is giving you the same advice. This would indicate that there is a good chance their answers are correct.