College Low Expectations Game Cost Students, Parents, & Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars

During a recent conversation with a client, he shared with me his frustration when registering his son for his first year at college. This university, incidentally one of the big 10, would only allow his son to register for 12 hours. The university's position was the "expectation" that 12 hours was very, very difficult and for him to expect more as a parent was not realistic.

I suggested for my client to have a new conversation with the university and simply ask the following question: Since my son is earning a 4-year degree, how can he do that only taking 12 hours per semester? With most 4-year degrees averaging 120 hours, taking 12 hours per semester requires 5 years (12x2x5). Given that some required courses are only offered once a year and may have additional criteria, 5 years can easily stretch into 5.5 or 6 years. This expectation game of taking only 12 hours per semester may be one of the answers as to why the U.S. national average is 5.3 years to earn a four-year degree.

Many parents are planning for their children to attend a post-secondary experience at a local junior college, a public or private university. In 2003-04 academic year, the average tuition investment for one year in a four-year public college or university was $4,694. This represented a 14% increased over the previous year. Room and board costs could increase that investment by $10,636 to a total of $15,330. With books, supplies and additional fees, this total could increase by another $1,000 to $3,000. Given that college costs continue to rise much greater than the cost of inflation, each additional year becomes more expensive that the previous one.

Not only are colleges costing student and parents directly with the additional one to two years, they are also affecting the future of these young people. If the students agree with the university's expectation game and stay in college another year or two, they are losing earning dollars and two potential years of gainful experience. This loss affects their ability to move up the corporate ladder.

Parents suffer because college is expensive even when planned and parents have other needs to direct those college dollars. By not being proactive and insisting on at least 15 hours per semester, the parent's financial future is jeopardized.

Taxpayers are also losing in this game of low expectations because young people who aren't in the workforce full time are not contributing to significantly to the local, state and federal taxes especially social security. Communities suffer because loss of income contributes to negative economic development.

The only winners in this game of "Low Expectations" are the public universities and their professors who incidentally are paid with taxpayers' dollars. Given that the U.S. is graduating the same percentage of college graduates as in the early 50's, this game of "Low Expectations" demonstrates when you set the bar low, you get what you expect - poor performance.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, is the Process Specialist. With over 25 years of business and education experience, she builds peace and abundance by connecting the 3P's of Passion, Purpose and Performance through process improvement. She is one of the first national certified facilitators for America's Rising Stars and coaches young people to create a life long plan for success. Leanne believes we need to stop setting our young people up for failure. As co-author of M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capacities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement (Fall 2005 release), she speaks nationally to a variety of audiences.

Contact Leanne at 219.759.5601, leanne@processspecialist.com or visit http://www.processspecialist.com/youth.htm if you are seeking amazing results.

Copyright 2005 - Leanne Hoagland-Smith, http://www.processspecialist.com

Permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

---

Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:51:51 GMT Obama to demand more from Europe in Berlin speech - Reuters BBC News Obama to demand more from Europe in Berlin speech Reuters - 26 minutes ago By Caren Bohan and Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) - US presidential candidate Barack Obama is expected to call on Europe to do more in hotspots like Afghanistan when he speaks in Berlin on Thursday in his only formal address of a week-long foreign tour. Berliners welcome Obama as they did JFK Christian Science Monitor Obama Starts European Trip With Stop in Germany Wall Street Journal Voice of America - The Associated Press - AFP - Washington Times all 686 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:25:11 GMT US cancer boss in mobiles warning - BBC News CTV.ca US cancer boss in mobiles warning BBC News - 2 hours ago The director of a leading US cancer research institute has sent a memo to thousands of staff warning of possible higher risks from mobile phone use. Cell phones: The next cigarettes? The Week Daily Group sees possible link to brain cancer Baltimore Sun ABC News - Los Angeles Times - dBTechno all 549 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:35:11 GMT Day After, WNBA Untangles Brawl - New York Times ChattahBox Day After, WNBA Untangles Brawl New York Times - 7 hours ago By MIKE OGLE Some of the WNBA’s biggest stars commanded national attention Tuesday night and into Wednesday - but not in a way their teams or the league wanted. Don't count on fights becoming WNBA trend USA Today WNBA may have a fighting chance Los Angeles Times ESPN - Detroit Free Press - Hartford Courant - Denver Post all 876 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:06:48 GMT Hunt begins for Karadzic helpers - BBC News BBC News Hunt begins for Karadzic helpers BBC News - 1 hour ago Officials investigating captured Bosnian Serb ex-leader Radovan Karadzic say they will track down and punish those who aided his false identity. Video: Karadzic plans to defend himself in The Hague RussiaToday Kenya: Karadzic's Fate a Lesson AllAfrica.com AFP - Telegraph.co.uk - International Herald Tribune - Hartford Courant all 5,884 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:47:45 GMT Aurilia, Vizquel help Giants rally for win - San Jose Mercury News Washington Post Aurilia, Vizquel help Giants rally for win San Jose Mercury News - 4 hours ago By Andrew Baggarly It would be difficult to claim that the Giants improved their playoff hopes when they rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. Aurilia gets key hit, makes pitch for old guys San Francisco Chronicle Giants rally in eighth to edge Nats Sports Network Washington Post - The Associated Press - Washington Times - BlueRidgeNow.com all 455 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:43:04 GMT Sudan's president boogies on last Darfur pit stop - AFP BBC News Sudan's president boogies on last Darfur pit stop AFP - 36 minutes ago EL GENEINA, Sudan (AFP) - A dancing Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir paraded as a man of peace on Thursday during a heavily protected tour of Darfur defying accusations that he masterminded genocide in the region. Sudan counters charges with diplomacy Los Angeles Times Al-Bashir in Sudan peace pledge The Press Association Bloomberg - Monsters and Critics.com - New York Times - Workers World all 1,767 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:15:43 GMT Finding Bale's dark side - Chicago Sun-Times Times Online Finding Bale's dark side Chicago Sun-Times - 3 hours ago BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist 'The Dark Knight'' star Christian Bale's alleged ''assault'' in London against his mother and sister is part of a long-simmering family feud. Batman star stays silent in Spain BBC News Christian Bale's lady sidekick: Sibi Bale Los Angeles Times E! Online - hecklerspray - Times of the Internet - New York Daily News all 2,556 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:08:50 GMT Increase Web Traffic RSStoBlog

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Making the Most of Your Summer

At last, summer is here! After a school year full... Read More

Why You Should Choose an Accredited Online Degree

An accredited online degree is a college degree that is... Read More

Commercialisation of Higher Education in South Africa

Introduction and Literature ReviewSouth African education policies place priority on... Read More

Writing The All-Important College Application Essay

The application essay is the most crucial piece of writing... Read More

Accredited Life Experience Degrees ? Accelerate Your Progress Online

Chances are you are pursuing an online degree to reap... Read More

College Low Expectations Game Cost Students, Parents, & Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars

During a recent conversation with a client, he shared with... Read More

What Makes A Penn State Online Degree Preferable To Other Online Degrees?

A Penn State online degree is a college degree from... Read More

College Residence Life Staff: Speak to Gain Respect

When you speak, do residents listen or ignore you? If... Read More

Naturopathic Schools

NATUROPATHIC SCHOOLS instruct in Naturopathic medicine which is an holistic... Read More

Consolidate Student Loans and Shop Online

If you run a home business, you know that budgets... Read More

Self-Injury on College Campuses

Self injury is intentionally causing self-inflicted physical pain in order... Read More

Tips On College Selection

It is highly recommended that early in the college selection... Read More

Hidden College Costs: Roommate Conflict

Parents, if you're already reeling from the costs of today's... Read More

An Education in Saving on Textbooks

Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase... Read More

College Roommates: Threes A Crowd

It's hard enough sharing a dorm room the size of... Read More

Do Best Friends Make the Best College Roommates?

Do best friends make the best college roommates? Not always!... Read More

Get Your College Degree Online

Have you long wanted or needed to increase your level... Read More

Business and Academia!

The driving factor of any university is to make the... Read More

Distance Learning: Balancing Your Education and Busy Lifestyle

Distance Learning is a priority for most who have already... Read More

Chiropractic Schools

Before CHIROPRACTIC SCHOOLS accept one into their educational system, it... Read More

Chiropractic Colleges

Before CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGES & SCHOOLS accept one into their educational... Read More

PCDI - The College and University Alternative for Working Professionals Pursuing Their Degrees

PCDI | Professional Career Development Institute - The College and... Read More

How to Find Money for College Education

Many current and future college students need help to pay... Read More

Getting Into College No Longer A Numbers Game!

Sending your kids to college has never been more difficult... Read More

What to Look For When Choosing an Online University

A college degree gives a person a guarantee of higher... Read More