Bornali Biswas –Editor in Chief
“my college dream” is a series of first-person essays by college students about their college and career aspirations, the serious money struggles they faced along the way and the real-world consequences that resulted from their circumstances — and their decisions.
A big campus outside the city, a fancy name & courses in all the fields of study that one can pursue are on the menu of these institutes. These colleges become the best bet for those whose dreams have been tarnished by the cut-offs and low marks.
Gone is the era when securing an 85 in your board exams guaranteed a seat in one of the top colleges of the country? After 2 decades, the tables have turned & even scoring a 95% won’t land you up in a college of your choice. This is Indian education 2.0. The commencement of a highly commercialized education. The above situation of lack of admission opportunities even with high scores has been working as a catalyst to the commercialization of the Indian education system. scoring less than average marks or not cracking any of the entrance examinations gives private colleges a chance to grab hold of these children and demand enticing perks as fees and god knows what.
These big budget colleges then go on to spend a bomb on advertising and get super stars to endorse them. Â walk in admissions in these colleges have proved to be a lucrative move. Though the evolution of private colleges has been a boon for the students, top government colleges remain a preference any day. The only situation forces a person to join a private institute. Well mostly!
Since the virus of commercialization has entered the education system of India, how can the top colleges not be a part of it?
Coaching institutes for entrance exams into the top notch colleges of India have also been set up across the nation. The rivalry among these institutes is already quite intense & the level of competition is rising up every year. Acquiring a commendable sum of money from a candidate and training them without any assurance of cracking the exams is probably the most innovative idea flowing through the market. Again, loads of money of the students is spent on advertisements in which they portray these exams as docile which in reality require arduous efforts.
Education is now a way of minting money in India and is growing hastily every year. Having a commercialized sector for education surely has some drawbacks and can be misleading at times but the other side of it is where the sun shines more. The people who get rejected from other colleges can now (if they can afford) get education at these colleges. Training people for the toughest & most confounding exams can be looked upon as an act of generosity. Even though education is a business, it has only helped improve the literacy rate of the nation and has been a great step towards eradicating unemployment. at the point of dejection of a student, this line might hold true with private colleges now in contention.
As i bracketed (if they can afford)is a major concern again. if any student fails to pay the tuition fees for any genuine reasons, this so called money minting institution will never consider the career or future of the student in lieu of money. As per the survey of national literacy data of India it has been seen that many students are suffering for drop out the pending fees, non consideration of clearing back papers and unethical practices taking money to clear the papers etc.
It’s practically impossible to pay for college anymore, the pressure of the fees has become much higher than the studies. Government college used to be way cheaper. The average tuition of all higher education institutions has more than doubled since 1990, according to the national center for education statistics (NCES).
The rising cost of college is just one reason 42% of high school students are concerned about their financial futures. High schools are reassessing their dreams for higher education. In a 2022 survey by citizen’s financial group and junior achievement, nearly 70% of the teen respondents said rising tuition costs altered their college plans. Some are choosing to live at home instead of on campus or pursue a two-year degree over a bachelor’s.
WORKING WHILE ATTENDING CLASSES CAUSES STRESS
When many students to make up the fees they start working , with her marine science master’s degree in 2019, she balanced being a full-time student with three part-time jobs. Those jobs disappeared during the pandemic. Eventually, Poulami found a job as a cashier, but that came with a new set of challenges. “It was really exhausting, and people were not always friendly or understanding toward the cashiers during this time,” she said. “I was burned out.”
After getting a new job as a veterinary technician, her work impacted her studies. She said she’d come home with no desire to work on her master’s thesis. Eventually, Poulami left that job, too, primarily for mental health reasons. Many students hold a job.
MANY STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET
Even students who have access to scholarships and other financial aid may struggle to pay for day-to-day expenses. In 2019, since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, food insecurity has risen among college students. How can students thrive socially, emotionally, and academically if they can’t meet their basic needs?
FINANCIAL ANXIETY MAY BE GREATER FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS
First-generation college students face unique challenges in college. Financial anxiety may be greater for these students who tend to make lower incomes, incur more debt, and have less access to generational wealth. When feelings of shame or impostor syndrome creep up, it can keep you from seeking the financial help you need. But there’s no shame in using your school’s resources for first-generation students, such as financial aid and mental health resources. According to NCES, 81% of part-time students and 43% of full-time students were employed in 2018 despite the situation of the students just because a little balance money will not be considered to sit in exam. As a result the student’s career is spoiling and they are engaging themselves into harming practises, addition, suicide and more
STRESSING ABOUT STUDENT LOANS LEADS TO PUTTING OFF FINANCIAL GOALS
In a 2021 best colleges survey, almost 60% of people who borrowed student loans said they’ve missed out on something because of their payments, such as postponing buying a house, repairing their cars, or going back to school.it’s no wonder, then, that more than 60% of graduates with student loan debt said it negatively affected their mental health, according to CNBC.”my goal after college was to enjoy life and use my money to travel the world,”Mohan said. “But because I have loans to pay off, I now have to prioritize that.”Mohan puts $600 a month toward student loans. He holds a part-time job and two tutoring jobs to help pay.
DRINKING TO FORGET YOUR FINANCES LEADS TO A CYCLE OF STRESS
Some students under pressure turn to coping strategies that cause more harm than good.In a 2017 community mental health journal study of British students, learners who struggled to pay their bills reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence. In turn, students with poorer mental health and greater alcohol dependence had difficulty paying bills.If you’re stuck in a spiral of financial depression and alcohol use, help is out there. Your college counselors may have training to assist learners dealing with substance misuse.In addition, the substance abuse and mental health services association operates a 24/7 national helpline to offer information and refer people to treatment.
So why do we need to send our children to this money minting institution where their career and money is in risk !! Let’s change the mind set and follow the traditional method of education which has given us scholars and leaders from Past
The content is sourced out from various journals.
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