College Debt – how to avoid it, and how to get out of it

Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in first place?

The secret to avoiding college debt is to plan wisely and take advantage of many opportunities to reduce college costs before and during your college years.

Planning ahead You can avoid college debt by making wise high school decisions:

Take advanced placement classes Take all advanced placement classes you can in high school--every AP exam you pass means one less class you need to take in college.

Keep your grades up Scholarships can be competitive, and even grades you make early in your high school years can mean difference in winning or losing. Don't make mistake of thinking you can save hard work for your junior and senior years!

Stay involved Scholarships also may depend on community and school involvement.

Search for scholarships and grants Scholarships and grants are best money source for college because it is money that doesn't have to be repaid. To find out about grants and scholarships, visit your high school career counselor and Financial Aid Office of your intended college. You can also search internet for scholarships and grants.

Investigate public service options The United States Military, National Health Service Corps, and Americorps will give you money for your education in exchange for your signing up for a “tour of duty.” The time commitment ranges from 10-12 months to 8 years.

Your school site and district office media center can be valuable resources to tap into. Most school site have storage areas or closets with shared grade level curriculum resources and materials. The administrator or a veteran teacher would be person to point you in right direction. Depending on size of school district, a district library or media center will have materials available for checkout. Many districts have a new teacher orientation day to provide information about materials, procedures, insurance coverage, staff development and other key topics.

2. Set tone for year with detailed planning for first day and week.

Spend an extensive amount of time on planning first day and week of school. Make an impression and establish a positive tone for how your classroom will run. Describe in detail how you want your classroom procedures (homework, materials, line up, emergency, school/classroom rules) to work. Make sure students understand what your expectations are and why things need to be done in manner that you describe. Particularly with upper grades, much of description and discussion can be done as a team-building exercise, seeking student input and comments. The primary students would also benefit from participation in setting up classroom expectations. Have a plan in mind before hand so that students can be focused to develop something that is workable and acceptable to you and has buy in from students.

3. Develop a detailed description for student behavior expectations

The most important area to emphasize to students is that you have high expectations for their behavior. There are many models to explore, but your own personal model should blend with school rules for pupil behavior. It needs to be a system that is fair and manageable. Don’t put in consequences for poor behavior that can not be followed up with action. Talk to your colleagues or site administrator.

4. Talk to your colleagues.

The veteran teachers at your site can be one of most valuable contacts that a new teacher can make. They want to help new teachers. If you have questions or problems with discipline, lesson planning, parent involvement, ask for advise or suggestions. Don’t reinvent wheel. Many site administrators have already selected teachers that serve as informal mentors to aid first year teachers.

5. Use internet for lesson plan ideas.