1. The College Fear Factor
Chapter 3

2. Motivation to Attend College
Question: Why do students remain in college in spite of all the adversities that encourage them to quit?
The primary reason is Economic: College is an investment with purpose to achieve career goals
Means to a secure a financial future
College is the most direct route to achieve career goals

3. Two Primary Benefits of College Degree
Occupational Benefits: most important reason
A post secondary credential promotes career goal advancement
Economic Benefits
“The high school diploma is not going to allow the student to obtain the salary-paying job in order to support oneself.

4. Occupational Goals
College is the means to improving occupational prospects
Tired of menial jobs for minimal pay; but college offers a chance for better opportunities
Sometimes the student does not know what they want to be; they just know that they want to be something.

5. Frustrations of College
Required Gen Ed Courses (ex: math and English) prior to taking requirements for chosen area

6. Sources of Inspiration to Attend College
Parents
Parent may tell son/daughter: “You are not going to stay home and do nothing.”
Parents encourage but it usually takes the student to realize that he/she will not be able to get higher paying job unless they get a post-secondary education.
Peers
Mentors

7. Student Expectations of sub-Baccalaureate Degree
Most students see this as a “first step” in a longer career path: plan to continue on to a baccalaureate degree and even on to graduate programs
Employers are looking for people who have education
Initially the student’s goal is to have the security of an associate’s degree; perhaps with an associates degree and a better job, the new employer will pay for a bachelor’s degree
Some saw a continuous path to a baccalaureate
Some saw two years in community college, then transfer to 4-year college
Some saw two years, work for a few years, then return to school

8. Short Term Costs of Postsecondary Degree

9. Conflict between Short term and long term Considerations
Two Types of Costs:
1. Price of Attendance (tuition, books) compounded by lost Employment Income
Even part time students lose short-term income
2. Decreased Ability to Advance in the present place of employment if they did not attend school
Result: Going back to school is a gamble: risk of losing certain advancement in of greater (but less certain) increases in future income

10. Why wait to go to college?
If student attends college right out of high school they may find themselves still without the ability to get a job
Students may be forced by parents to register for college courses; they choose not to attend classes or complete assignments because they are not ready to attend
Other students come back to school and don’t care what they get a degree in (EMT, nurse, lawyer), they just want to get a job that pays so that they can get out of debt

11. Career vs Financial Security
Conflict between Long Term (good career) and Short Term (financial) Security:
Part time job requirements may take priority over school
Seasonal required increase in hours
Overtime requirements
This conflict affects:
Whether and when to attend college
How long to attend college
What type of degree to pursue
How that degree can be earned most efficiently

12. Getting an Education vs Enjoying It
School is only to be endured for its long term benefits
Classes positively associated with challenge and importance to future goals
But do not facilitate enjoyment, positive affect, or motivation
Student finds that attending will not be any more appealing as time passes
Taking basic course like comp may be considered a “necessary evil” to prepare the students to write papers in other classes

13. Pitfalls of Chosen Career Path
Future Financial Security Important:
Student may choose an area based on future salary rather than on personal interest
Realities of needing financial stability may alter educational and occupational plans
Plan: gain financial stability and then return to the area of interest
Problem: student may get a degree, go out into a career, and disliking the career
Other students may find that they would rather get an education to learn to do something that they want to do

14. Community College: Narrow View of Utility
Students view degree plans (and specific course requirements) as directly linked to a specific career path
Student meets with advisor and is placed into a career plan immediately
If student not sure about career choice, sent to career counselor, who would help them determine their major
Basic course may not transfer to another career path if student changes
Therefore each decision places constraints on future paths

15. Cost-Benefit Assessments
College students regard efficiency, and consider strategies to win while minimizing consequences of losing
Higher education is seen as the means to achieving a goal and at the same time an obstacle to getting a job and getting on with life
Value of a course:
is the student getting what they are paying for?
Is the cost of the textbook worth the money?
Student’s Value of a degree: “college is important as it applies to the financial and occupational future but the best college experience may be the shortest one”
Sometimes can earn a certificate rather than an Associates degree, get finished sooner, and not have to take comp 1 and math courses

16. Getting Money’s Worth
Sometimes the career goal does not require a diploma (ex radio broadcasting)
Time and money are scarce resources
Short term choices most important