[north park girl]

[quote=walterwhite]Maybe burst is the wrong word. How about balk? Or at least hesitate, question and think before enrolling.[/quote]

I was considering an MBA last year, even applying to a few top schools for technology (Stanford, MIT, Berkeley). After getting rejected from all three, I thought about casting a wider net, then saw this article about law school debt: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

Now rethinking the whole MBA thing–at least with law school you come out with a more concrete skill–with business programs I feel like I’m paying for a name on a resume and possibly a network, less so an education.

As for undergrad programs, I don’t see it letting up anytime soon. There’s a perception that more expensive is better (I remember reading an article about a school that raised tuition and got MORE applications the subsequent year). If you read college guidebooks that compare different schools, they talk as much about the campus, food, dorms, and athletic facilities as they do the classes–these things seem important to a 17 year old. Looking back, I wasn’t nearly mature enough to get the most out of all the opportunities there were at my school–I had too much fum living with 300 people my age unsupervised.

A teacher friend of mine told me that if she got back into the classroom (she manages after school programs now) she would do an exercise with her high school students working backwards: say you want to live in a nice house one day. Maybe in a nice San Diego neighborhood. Look at the cost of a house, how much payments are. Add in other expenses and taxes, how much do you need to make to afford that (don’t forget saving for retirement)? What kind of jobs would pay that much? How much education do you need to do that job (most science fields, you need a PhD, for example, an undergrad degree won’t cut it)? How much does all that cost? Make sure to add it to your list of expenses. I think every student should do this–gets students thinking about the future in a realistic way and picking a major that gets them where they want, and also realizing how expensive being an adult is!

[north park girl]

[quote=walterwhite]Maybe burst is the wrong word. How about balk? Or at least hesitate, question and think before enrolling.[/quote]

I was considering an MBA last year, even applying to a few top schools for technology (Stanford, MIT, Berkeley). After getting rejected from all three, I thought about casting a wider net, then saw this article about law school debt: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

Now rethinking the whole MBA thing–at least with law school you come out with a more concrete skill–with business programs I feel like I’m paying for a name on a resume and possibly a network, less so an education.

As for undergrad programs, I don’t see it letting up anytime soon. There’s a perception that more expensive is better (I remember reading an article about a school that raised tuition and got MORE applications the subsequent year). If you read college guidebooks that compare different schools, they talk as much about the campus, food, dorms, and athletic facilities as they do the classes–these things seem important to a 17 year old. Looking back, I wasn’t nearly mature enough to get the most out of all the opportunities there were at my school–I had too much fum living with 300 people my age unsupervised.

A teacher friend of mine told me that if she got back into the classroom (she manages after school programs now) she would do an exercise with her high school students working backwards: say you want to live in a nice house one day. Maybe in a nice San Diego neighborhood. Look at the cost of a house, how much payments are. Add in other expenses and taxes, how much do you need to make to afford that (don’t forget saving for retirement)? What kind of jobs would pay that much? How much education do you need to do that job (most science fields, you need a PhD, for example, an undergrad degree won’t cut it)? How much does all that cost? Make sure to add it to your list of expenses. I think every student should do this–gets students thinking about the future in a realistic way and picking a major that gets them where they want, and also realizing how expensive being an adult is!

[north park girl]

[quote=walterwhite]Maybe burst is the wrong word. How about balk? Or at least hesitate, question and think before enrolling.[/quote]

I was considering an MBA last year, even applying to a few top schools for technology (Stanford, MIT, Berkeley). After getting rejected from all three, I thought about casting a wider net, then saw this article about law school debt: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

Now rethinking the whole MBA thing–at least with law school you come out with a more concrete skill–with business programs I feel like I’m paying for a name on a resume and possibly a network, less so an education.

As for undergrad programs, I don’t see it letting up anytime soon. There’s a perception that more expensive is better (I remember reading an article about a school that raised tuition and got MORE applications the subsequent year). If you read college guidebooks that compare different schools, they talk as much about the campus, food, dorms, and athletic facilities as they do the classes–these things seem important to a 17 year old. Looking back, I wasn’t nearly mature enough to get the most out of all the opportunities there were at my school–I had too much fum living with 300 people my age unsupervised.

A teacher friend of mine told me that if she got back into the classroom (she manages after school programs now) she would do an exercise with her high school students working backwards: say you want to live in a nice house one day. Maybe in a nice San Diego neighborhood. Look at the cost of a house, how much payments are. Add in other expenses and taxes, how much do you need to make to afford that (don’t forget saving for retirement)? What kind of jobs would pay that much? How much education do you need to do that job (most science fields, you need a PhD, for example, an undergrad degree won’t cut it)? How much does all that cost? Make sure to add it to your list of expenses. I think every student should do this–gets students thinking about the future in a realistic way and picking a major that gets them where they want, and also realizing how expensive being an adult is!

[north park girl]

[quote=walterwhite]Maybe burst is the wrong word. How about balk? Or at least hesitate, question and think before enrolling.[/quote]

I was considering an MBA last year, even applying to a few top schools for technology (Stanford, MIT, Berkeley). After getting rejected from all three, I thought about casting a wider net, then saw this article about law school debt: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

Now rethinking the whole MBA thing–at least with law school you come out with a more concrete skill–with business programs I feel like I’m paying for a name on a resume and possibly a network, less so an education.

As for undergrad programs, I don’t see it letting up anytime soon. There’s a perception that more expensive is better (I remember reading an article about a school that raised tuition and got MORE applications the subsequent year). If you read college guidebooks that compare different schools, they talk as much about the campus, food, dorms, and athletic facilities as they do the classes–these things seem important to a 17 year old. Looking back, I wasn’t nearly mature enough to get the most out of all the opportunities there were at my school–I had too much fum living with 300 people my age unsupervised.

A teacher friend of mine told me that if she got back into the classroom (she manages after school programs now) she would do an exercise with her high school students working backwards: say you want to live in a nice house one day. Maybe in a nice San Diego neighborhood. Look at the cost of a house, how much payments are. Add in other expenses and taxes, how much do you need to make to afford that (don’t forget saving for retirement)? What kind of jobs would pay that much? How much education do you need to do that job (most science fields, you need a PhD, for example, an undergrad degree won’t cut it)? How much does all that cost? Make sure to add it to your list of expenses. I think every student should do this–gets students thinking about the future in a realistic way and picking a major that gets them where they want, and also realizing how expensive being an adult is!

[north park girl]

Thanks everyone. Dan, I think I’ve met you before, when I was checking out a condo in Hillcrest a few years back. I’m passing along the advice, I appreciate it. It’s always nice to know that there are people willing to take the time to give advice to some anonymous poster on the internet 🙂

It looks like the lot has been on the market since January. Interestingly, my friend had negotiated down the rent by offering to sign a six-month lease (it was advertised as a month-to-month). I don’t know why the landlord would have agreed to that.

What happens if that place sells sooner rather than later? Would the new owner be able to kick her out before the lease ends, or do they have to honor the remainder of the lease?

[north park girl]

Thanks everyone. Dan, I think I’ve met you before, when I was checking out a condo in Hillcrest a few years back. I’m passing along the advice, I appreciate it. It’s always nice to know that there are people willing to take the time to give advice to some anonymous poster on the internet 🙂

It looks like the lot has been on the market since January. Interestingly, my friend had negotiated down the rent by offering to sign a six-month lease (it was advertised as a month-to-month). I don’t know why the landlord would have agreed to that.

What happens if that place sells sooner rather than later? Would the new owner be able to kick her out before the lease ends, or do they have to honor the remainder of the lease?

[north park girl]

Thanks everyone. Dan, I think I’ve met you before, when I was checking out a condo in Hillcrest a few years back. I’m passing along the advice, I appreciate it. It’s always nice to know that there are people willing to take the time to give advice to some anonymous poster on the internet 🙂

It looks like the lot has been on the market since January. Interestingly, my friend had negotiated down the rent by offering to sign a six-month lease (it was advertised as a month-to-month). I don’t know why the landlord would have agreed to that.

What happens if that place sells sooner rather than later? Would the new owner be able to kick her out before the lease ends, or do they have to honor the remainder of the lease?

[north park girl]

Thanks everyone. Dan, I think I’ve met you before, when I was checking out a condo in Hillcrest a few years back. I’m passing along the advice, I appreciate it. It’s always nice to know that there are people willing to take the time to give advice to some anonymous poster on the internet 🙂

It looks like the lot has been on the market since January. Interestingly, my friend had negotiated down the rent by offering to sign a six-month lease (it was advertised as a month-to-month). I don’t know why the landlord would have agreed to that.

What happens if that place sells sooner rather than later? Would the new owner be able to kick her out before the lease ends, or do they have to honor the remainder of the lease?

[north park girl]

Thanks everyone. Dan, I think I’ve met you before, when I was checking out a condo in Hillcrest a few years back. I’m passing along the advice, I appreciate it. It’s always nice to know that there are people willing to take the time to give advice to some anonymous poster on the internet 🙂

It looks like the lot has been on the market since January. Interestingly, my friend had negotiated down the rent by offering to sign a six-month lease (it was advertised as a month-to-month). I don’t know why the landlord would have agreed to that.

What happens if that place sells sooner rather than later? Would the new owner be able to kick her out before the lease ends, or do they have to honor the remainder of the lease?

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

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