For years, we watched as Cartman, the fictional fat faced kid with a foul mouth, go on rampages of power in the now classic Comedy Central satire, “South Park” yelling at his peers and teachers “respect my authoriti…” as he waved his black stick of authority and a badge that read, “hall monitor.”
It seems these days its college institutions that wave its monetary baton asking for millions of high school seniors every year to afford its outlandish application fees, tuition bills, and housing costs. But, for one high school student living in Orange County, California, that authority is just one he can’t respect.
Chase Miller has devised a plan on just how he can combat the institutional authority that says you can’t get to college if you don’t have the money. And here’s how:
THINK SMART-It’s not important to just take a rigorous curriculum that will enhance your educational experience at the institution of your choice, but it is also important to take additional courses for college credit to cut the tuition tab after completing your degree. For Chase, he not only did well with his high school courses, but he signed up to take college courses for credit through his high school, a free ride to a starting sophomore year. With 32 college credits under his belt for free, he’s saved over $28,000 because his freshmen year of college was also his senior year in high school.
GO FOR THE LONGTERM-Students across the country have developed a strategy of attending two year community colleges or technical colleges to save money on their first or second year of college because the tuition rates at these institutions are so much cheaper. But, for Chase, he says its smarter to begin at a four year institution if a bachelors degree is your heart’s desire, but sacrifice some of the keg parties and dorm room cuddling for a couple of years. He plans to stay on campus to network, make friends, and get comfortable with college life the first year and then move back home for his last two years to save on room and board.
CAR ENVY-Last but not least, this young penny pincher believes the best way to save money is to ditch the car and take public transportation or ride with friends to class. With the increase in gas prices, insurance for students under 25, and state car tax rates that sometimes equal more than the monthly payment itself, he feels it’s smarter to catch the bus to and from home.
Get your calculator because you are about to wowed. After devising such a stringent, but intelligent plan, especially for a young student such as himself, Chase will save over $81,000 in tuition and housing cost if he sticks with his program.
For all students, Chase is a shining example of what it takes to be financially savvy when institutions across the country are run more like a business than a safe space for student learning. Take notes America.
J. Prince, Princepality 7
Princepality 