Charles Chadwick suggests an alternative method to study and a way to earn an income, i.e., enrolling in a trade school or a community college. Leading by example, Charles earned his associate’s degree from a community college, but that didn’t stop him from receiving further education. He continued by taking some additional trade/construction courses. You can enroll in a community college with little or no debt to receive an Associate’s degree. So, don’t think that a community college isn’t a place to get a good education because you’re missing out on a great opportunity.
The best part about having trade skills is that you become more productive as you gain more experience. Trade organizations expose you to work under pressure, which helps you improve productivity. It will also open up opportunities to perform your job duties more efficiently, far from your comfort zone. So, as a young graduate, such an experience can do wonders for you.
Charles Chadwick suggests that if you join an organization without any prior trade experience, your work might take longer to be more efficient. He suggests that you won’t have the sense of autonomy and responsibility required to prove yourself. Also, on the first day of working in a skilled trade with no skills, your pay will start on the first day, because companies are willing to train you!
Probably the best part about working in the trade industry is that most jobs pay well. In the discussion before, we talked about mowing lawns. Although it’s a comparatively easier task, it adds little to your professional experience and doesn’t pay well. Some college students may tutor other students during their college days, which takes a lot more effort and time without a good income.
Trade jobs offer real-world employment experience and pay well while you do it. Teenagers with no tangible experience and lack of good academic qualifications can acquire much-needed experience to help them create a strong portfolio. So, it’s time you take the blue-collar versus white-collar dilemma out of the picture and work on strengthening your experiences.
Charles Chadwick encourages young individuals to take up trade opportunities before applying for their dream school. It will give them viable work experience and help them learn a lifetime earning skill. By having a real work skills before attending a university a person could avoid getting into a lifetime’s worth of debt/bills. Charles also understands that it may take longer than you wanted, but you wouldn’t be drowning in student loans. Over 44 Million Americans carry massive student loan debt. Do think about it!
It wasn’t too long ago that the world came to a standstill after it was hit by a deadly virus taking the lives of millions. The globalized healthcare sector had thought its system was invincible and its practices absolute until the virus exposed their vulnerability. What made matters worse is people lost their jobs due to downsizing or shutting down businesses. More than 300,000 thousand people filed for bankruptcy in the United States alone. Imagine what other countries would have endured. Perhaps, things would’ve been different if students had acquired the necessary trade skills. Why is that? Let’s look at it this way, some jobs won’t ever end, even with a deadly virus. For instance, HVAC, Electricians, or Plumbers must work all year, no matter the circumstances. Extreme weather? HVAC workers are here and will be needed more especially from a futuristic outlook on global warming. Deadly virus outside? HVAC repairers are here to stay. Roads blocked? Electrical linemen find their way to their clients.
Charles, suggests that a college graduate with prior trade or acquired work experience can help them be more marketable and beneficial in the long run. A simple example is that a trade person’s field is directly related to the home industry, which can open up new earning opportunities and help survive global crises like pandemics or a recession.
This is a debate that might be just as old as higher education. Remember that funny clause, “You need the experience to land a job, and you need a job to gain experience.” So, experts suggest that successfully getting higher education proves that you succeeded academically, but maybe not so much in the real world. But some experts also claim that academic qualifications can improve growth opportunities, while professionals with only trade work experience can only grow so much. So, there’s no definite answer to which one helps in landing a good job. Charles Chadwick suggests that combined good education and trade experience can make a huge difference. Charles believes and knows it’s time for the next generation to adopt a “ Duality Mentality for the Economy.” Don’t just settle with earning a college degree, but also get into the trade industry! We will not build back a better America with just college degrees alone, we will also need people in the trade industry which has always been the backbone!
Are you a high school student looking to enroll in a good college? Unless you have enough money to pay the tuition fees, it’s your future. . Just look at what the past generation of college students are doing now, some are begging and asking for student loan forgiveness. A four-year college program can cost you a fortune, especially if you hail from a humble background. But Charles suggests other options to get a good education and land a better job today
Discussing his own experience, Charles said that he completed his Associate’s degree and trade/construction certifications from a community college. However, he was able to acquire another degree when he transferred to a university without drowning in thousands of dollars of debt. His books, offer other options as well, without compromising your financial stability. He also allows readers to explore different options to cut their college costs/expenses and remain financially solvent. Charles wrote these books after witnessing how millennials struggle to make ends meet to repay their student loans and find employment. Charles shares that he was motivated to capitalize on every opportunity that came his way during his college days.
Further, Charles’ assesses that trade opportunities can help individuals capitalize on the changing employment trends. He also claims that companies are looking for individuals with organizational experience besides academic qualifications. After all, a young college graduate without experience cannot help run a company failing to generate revenue. In contrast, an experienced professional has the potential to do the opposite. Think about it.
Millennials are known for their display of hard work and perseverance. With a college education and technological innovation firmly in their grasp, they have become the ideal employees for organizations across every sector. Unfortunately, these accomplishments didn’t come without a price. This educated lot had to endure a lot more than the previous generations, especially with the increase in college tuition fees.
As per research, millennials have a record of being the most indebted college students in history. The analysis further shows that Americans under the age of 34 had a combined debt of over $600 billion in student loans in 2019. This number will rise dramatically with the current economic circumstances and global recession. For financially inexperienced college graduates, this is an alarming situation. So, it’s essential for all of them to manage their expenses thoroughly and pay off their debts in an efficient manner. In his book, College Checklist, Charles Chadwick shares different ways college graduates can be vigilant in student loan crises and improve their financial future by cutting down college costs. This article is about helping the future generation of college grads make smart decisions, especially with the current economy in shambles.
Countless people around you think that a college education is for the privileged. With the increase in tuition fees, this kind of mindset is understandable. Sadly, a person without a college education has access to limited job opportunities, which can further deteriorate their financial standing. Consequently, if you do consider going to college, student loans can take up years of your money-earning days. So, if you want to secure a financial future without wasting good years paying off student loans, you must understand how they work.
Loans like these fill financial gaps and offer funds to cover an individual’s educational expenses. But as an aspiring student with future goals, you must fully understand the application, disbursement, and repayment process associated with student loans. Remember, you’re investing in yourself. You are responsible for funding your education and paying off loans as quickly as possible.
Student LoanNote that degree-seekers like yourselves can apply to public colleges and universities by acquiring federal financial aid and student loans per the government’s policy. Students can also apply for private loans, but the terms are different. We want to point out that not all student loans are alike and can sometimes be confusing. So, do your homework before taking this step, as this could make or break your entire life.
Students who graduate with heaps of loans under their name would feel the pressure after they graduate. This pressure can be severely harmful to the graduate who has only stepped foot in the professional world, but his initial goal is to pay off debts. Factors like stress and anxiety can be fatal. Experts suggest that before you take up the loan, make sure that you understand how it can affect your life.
One of the most common ways student loans can cause problems is by forcing one into employment that does not meet their requirements. After all, if you’re in debt, you must pay your monthly bills, depending on the amount you borrowed. This could lead many students to opt for jobs that pay less, or any job for that matter, by either compromising their dream career or a job to help secure their professional future. Also, a student’s wages could be garnished
The American Student Association reported that over 50% of graduates agreed that the pressure of paying off student loans hampered their professional journey. But student loans have become a necessity for most students in the country; it’s best to consider different career options. Psychologically speaking, if individuals focus on their dream jobs, they can excel quickly and improve their chances of promotion. Also, Charles, in an interview, suggests that one of the consequences of your loan being in default is that your wages may end up being garnished. In other words, your employer might hold a fraction of your income and send it to your loan holder to repay the defaulted loan.
Only a handful of students graduate college with a huge net worth, while graduates who acquired student loans have a negative net worth. That negatively impacts their mental health. But what does low net worth really mean for young graduates? Negative net worth simply means that you can’t make large purchases. On top of that, your credit score and the weight of debt would make it impossible for you to qualify for other loans.
So, before you find yourself in need of making a big purchase like a wedding ring, perhaps, make sure that your college debts are paid off. Charles Chadwick, in his book, shares different results-focused methods and steps to help you cut down college costs to effectively pay off student debts before you make a huge purchase.
We discussed poor credit scores in the previous section, but let us elaborate on the plot further. Mind you that your credit score can considerably impact your financial life. Financial experts suggest that paying off your student loans on time can help you build a good credit score. Consequently, missing payments can significantly damage it.
Since most students are loan borrowers, they find it hard to make payments. Their average credit scores are lower than the national average, which is 656, compared to 711 for everyone else. This is a huge difference and can potentially take graduates years to rebuild this credit after missing payments.
With the global economy in dire need of a miracle, crises on the national level like student loan debt continue to worsen the situation. We hear news about the college tuition crisis every day, but are we doing anything to resolve this crisis? Perhaps, this could take years, maybe decades, to resolve. Did you know that the current student debt has exceeded $1 trillion? This accumulated value far exceeds car loans and even credit card debt. So, no matter how you look at it, this is a crisis for the borrowers and the federal government.
The current United States President, Joe Biden, has proposed to make college tuition-free so that it can benefit students with lowered income. These aspiring students don’t have the finances to reduce overall borrowing. That’s why education advocates are calling for tuition-free four-year programs as well. But the tuition-free arrangement doesn’t include living expenses on and off campus. Still, it could take years to bring changes, but what about the students who want to acquire a college education? We have enlisted some possible solutions for you.
People take community colleges relatively lightly, but they can be helpful for high school graduates. For starters, they can prepare students for the academic pressure that college students usually face. Since community colleges offer two-year programs, students can work and study and prepare themselves for professional life.
Further, enrolling in a community college doesn’t deny you an opportunity to get into your dream IVY school. In fact, it will improve your chances to transfer your courses there and continue the remaining part of your four-year program in a well-reputed institute. The best part about enrolling in a community college is that you can secure a scholarship and save up when transferring your courses elsewhere.
Charles Chadwick shares that he received his earlier education from a community college. It helped him secure his finances and for tough college life before it started. Further, he was also able to explore his options and choose a degree, and earned construction certifications that were most beneficial for his professional growth. So, if you’re thinking of ways to minimize your student loans, community college can be a great start.
The most efficient way to pay off student loans quicker than the due date is to pay ahead of schedule and more than the minimum amount. Initially, you may find it difficult ,because you just started earning an income and have to pay off debts. This can feel like a punch in the gut and is definitely a bitter pill to swallow. Unfortunately, paying off an extra amount isn’t a simple ask. Most loan service officers adjust your additional payments in their own way. So, you have to ensure that the additional amount you have paid goes in the right direction.