Should I get a 2 year College Degree, or go straight for a 4 year College Degree Program

By Susan - Monday 29 Dec 2:00 pm

You have graduated from high school and are looking towards your future college degree, but what are your options and where do you head from here? You are presented with two main options right off the bat: electing to enrol in a two year college degree or a 4 year college degree. Although 4 year college degrees receive a lot of hype and attention, they are not always the most suited for your personal requirements. There are pros and cons to each college degree and you will need to equip yourself with the background information on each one to decide for yourself which college degree is made for you.

Four year college degrees usually entail that students complete very general background subjects for the first two years, and then concentrate on their majoring subjects for the final two years. Those opting for two year college degrees go straight into their majoring subjects and complete their degrees in less time, although with a slightly lower level of recognition.

Pros of Two Year College Degrees:

• They are the cheaper alternative, resulting in you having less debt to pay on your college loan or perhaps no debt at all due to the overall reduction in fees 
• They are quicker than 4 year college degrees allowing you to start working much sooner upon completion 

Pros of Four Year College Degrees:

• These college degrees are highly recognized and rewarded worldwide in terms of employment opportunities 
• Highly commendable on and off campus learning opportunities in the form of lectures, cultural events, honor societies etc on campus, and study internships, field trips and education programs off campus 

Cons of Two Year College Degrees:

•  Not as highly revered as four year college degrees 
• Not as well rounded as four year college degrees resulting in a smaller scale of availability on the job front 

Cons of Four Year College Degrees: 

• The four year college degree option is extremely expensive, and will more often than not require that students take out a large college loan to pay for it. This could result in a substantial amount of debt needing to be covered after graduation 
• You can only start working two years after your counterparts who opted for the two year program 

Some students might not have the option of being able to study a four year college degree due to financial reasons, but they shouldn’t worry about it or feel that they have started out with a disadvantage. There are many jobs available to two year college degree holders, and many equal opportunities too. On the flip side of that coin are the advantages of studying a four year college degree if it is a viable choice for you. Some may choose to upgrade from a two year to a four year along the way once more funds have become available. Just because you have committed to one, it does not mean that you are stuck with your decision until completion. There is a lot of flexibility within both choices to change your college degree to suit your personal growth.

Posted in: College Degrees

Comments  | | Permalink

5 Best Banks for Federal College Loans

By Susan - Monday 15 Dec 2:00 pm

Federal college loans are the optimal choice for students looking for college funding that is affordable and easy to apply for. Although all federal college loans through separate institutions are very similar, there are some banks and financial providers that can offer you benefits and special offers that are slightly more appealing than others. Read more…

Federal college loans are government funded and federally guaranteed, and can offer students and parents of students extremely competitive interest rates that somewhat relieve part of the burden of college loan debt. All federal college loans will offer you a lower interest rate than private loans, and are offered to people with financial need. 

If you are searching for the best deal in your federal college loans and the most service orientated banks to make your application through, then you might want to consider one of the financial services providers listed below. They all offer federal college loans, but each one has a little something extra to offer over and above that. 

1. Chase Bank – One of the front runners in the supply of college loans to students and parents of students. Their website offers detailed advice on the differences between private and federal college loans and has a link to the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, which needs to be completed for all would be applicants. 
2. Sallie Mae – This financial services provider is the leading supplier of college loans in the country. Their federal college loans are divided into Federal Perkins loans and Federal Stafford Loans, one of which will need to be selected. Accounts can be managed online 24/7 for better convenience.
3. Wells Fargo – With Wells Fargo as well as most other federal college loans, you can qualify to have a certain portion of your loan subsidized. Wells Fargo have loan specialists constantly on standby to assist you with any federal college loan queries you may have. 
4. Next Student – Next Student have a wealth of helpful and useful information to help guide you through your college loan application process. Their website has numerous tools and applications to assist you in calculating what exactly you will require and how much it will set you back. Also known to be reliable and ready to assist. 
5. Citibank – One of the benefits of signing your federal college loan with Citibank is that you could receive a further .25% reduction in interest charges by making your payments automated. This reward for you is extra security for them, so everyone wins. 

Although the above mentioned federal college loan providers are industry leaders, there are many more that are worth your interest and investigation. Each one might be federally guaranteed and made possible by government funding, but the individual service providers all need to stand out in some way by offering you the best college loan deal there is. Take your time to explore the pros and cons of each one before making this huge commitment towards your future.

Posted in: College Loans

Comments  | | Permalink