I started college by paying as I went out of my own pocket and then dropped out due to my partner & put him through school under the agreement he'd put me through when he was done.

When I went back almost 4 years later as a single Mom I remember composing the grueling essays for scholarships and grants... I remember the elation of getting enough to cover my tuition. I remember my college councilor telling me I'd be making 60k out of college & that I should take out loans to fix my car, etc because I'd have more then enough after I graduated.

Reality set in hard after graduation & I thought it was just me that had been ill advised during college but a few months ago I was talking to some people at work & they all got the same spiel in college... "Take out the loans incase you need it for living expenses because you'll be making plenty to pay it back later."

Here I sit with 2 degrees & I don't think I've ever made more then 25k... although I admit the single parent thing doesn’t help – I’ve been passed over for things because I can’t stay till 11pm working on a project. I really wish I could go back & tell myself in college to not take out those loans. Wonder if the people in those college offices get a kick back or something on the loans… or do they just have no concept of reality & finances?