WHY WE CARE
We, as the authors, know that each student has a different story. Between the four of us, we each have a unique and compelling story. We wanted to know how the rest of our campus compared. It’s interesting to know how our peers handle the biggest obstacle: paying for an education.
Hi everyone! My name is Soulinda Somvong. I am a sophomore here at BVU and I’m majoring in Digital Media and Graphic Design. I pay for my schooling with scholarships, loans and during my junior and senior year I will have help from the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). IWD is a program that will help pay for books and pay off some of my loan debt. By the time I graduate, I should have between $40,000 and $45,000 to pay off. I also work at a grocery store during the school year to help my family with bills, such as cable, cell phone, gas. I also pay for my personal items.
Hello readers! My name is Samantha Hirschman. I am a second-year student majoring in Corporate Communication. Currently, I pay for my schooling with scholarships and loans. Between both my freshman and sophomore years, I have accumulated over $20,000 in debt. I am looking to have between $45,000 and $50,000 in debt by the time I graduate. I take out as much as I can in loans, without taking unsubsidized because I have to pay for my car insurance, phone bill, gas, and other personal expenses on my own. I take pride in paying for college on my own. Next year, I will be studying abroad, which only increases my amount of debt. While it will be a tremendous experience, it will also make a dent in the wallet.
Hello! My name is Parker Lee. I am a senior Graphic Design major at BVU. I use financial aid and scholarships to pay for most of my tuition, the rest is taken care of by work and loans. I currently work up to 32 hours a week while attending school so that the loans I take out are not so large. The remaining balance on my student account after financial aid and scholarships is around $12,000 a year. After I graduate my loan debt will be hovering at around $30,000. This amount definitly drives me to continue working while searching for another job that is hopefully within my major.
My name is Juwan Ocegueda. I am a senior majoring in Digital Media with a minor in Graphic Design. Currently, I pay for my tuition with the help of my parents, loans and work-study. I also work off-campus. I am looking at graduating with about $20,000 in debt. I took out as few loans as possible. I am also a commuter student and I live close to campus. I pay for my cell phone bill, rent, electricity, and a gym membership on a monthly basis. I plan to graduate in December of 2015!