FLIPSIDE - School Daze

With the economy folding faster than a bad poker hand, job seekers are leaving their tool belts behind and grabbing their pocket protectors.

Nationwide, institutions of higher education are enjoying a higher rate of enrollment. This is theorized to be because of the lack of available jobs. Seemingly a good idea, out of work workers are focusing on educating themselves to hopefully qualify for new jobs, but is it worth the financial strain?

Some state aid allows for job seekers to utilize job training in other fields for free, but for those who need to finance school on their own, the financial burden may be less than affordable. The fact remains that most people searching for higher education will more than likely have to use government assisted funds. Those funds come in the form of grants and loans. Grants do not have to be paid back, however, an overwhelming amount of students are using loans and will create a substantial amount of debt in an economy that is not guaranteeing job placement after school. Will school shelter us from the economic storm that is sweeping the nation?

The education institutions, oddly enough, are still increasing in cost each year. With the heavy incline in degree hopefuls, it would be probable that the tuition would decrease at least some small amount. However, this has not been the case whereas institutions in Michigan alone have increased in cost over 7 percent in the past five years. A degree in the past would help solidify your position in the workforce, but today, so many degree holders are competing for the same jobs that there is no clear advantage for new graduates. Hopefully, the economy will rebound and employment opportunities will become available for all of us government loan snatchers to finally pay the FEDS back for sending us to school. Catch ya' on the FLIPSIDE.