Applying for college is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, both personally and financially. So many students, rightly enamored by the idea of higher education and the college experience, skip the important step of thinking through the long term financial requirements and commitments. Many well meaning young people end up selecting institutions well beyond the reality of their financial ability, making their college dream stressful, and in the worst cases, unsustainable.

Recently, I experienced a situation with a young man who chose a college he could not easily afford, and due to the financial hardship it presented, was forced to withdraw during the second semester of his freshman year. Because of his withdrawal mid-semester, the student was left with a sizable bill of seven thousand dollars. Through a long and hard negotiation with the institution, we were able to restore the student to financial solvency and he was able to transfer to another institution that was more financially reasonable for him. Through this experience, he learned the importance of thoroughly investigating the financial commitments required and consulting with a staff member or trusted adult before signing any binding documents. He was able to then take what he learned and match his next college choice with his financial means. Today, he is pursuing his dream of becoming a graphic artist and able to focus on his academic work, not the stress of paying tuition.

Most of all, we want every young person who comes through our doors to graduate—not just attend college. Taking full advantage of the career and financial counseling services available to you here at the Mayor’s Youth Program will help ensure that you have the full college experience-- graduation included.