The 3 Myths of Paying for College

Debt, n. An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slavedriver.

-Ambrose Bierce

In this video I bust 3 major myths about higher education and finances, so that you can know exactly how to get a great college education without taking on the burden of debt. Enjoy!

To find out more about Ben Kaplan and Zac Bissonnette, check out these links.

My Personal Record

As you know, I have the tendency to overstudy. Not everyone has this problem, but I can tell you that it can be debilitating. Spending a month on a test that others pass in one week is almost a sure way to pass, but it can also put you way behind on your goals. 


So a couple of weeks ago I determined to pass the Human Growth and Development CLEP as quickly as possible. 

• Tip #1: Never aim low! Set a high goal and do your best to reach it.

I didn't have a study plan mapped out, though, so my goal of "as quickly as possible" was intangible and therefore hard to quantify.

• Tip #2: Create solid, realistic goals. A goal is specific and measurable. Read about dreams, resolutions, and goals here.  Download this worksheet called The Power of Goals by Dan Miller.

The Wonders of the Portfolio

Get credit for your awesome trip to Europe! 

Tourists are weird., originally uploaded by another sergio.

Here's a little freebie not exactly related to CLEP: the portfolio. This is one great way for "nontraditional" students to get college credit for life experiences.

Basically, a portfolio is a package of written documents (charts, or even videos) that show your extensive knowledge of a subject learned outside the classroom. For example, say you did an internship at a local preschool--you might get a few college credits if you write a nice report, include some good photos, testimonials, and are very convincing about how much you learned.

If you really get into this, you can get college credit or a convincing résumé for tons of things, and you'll be looking everywhere for chances to learn. This can develop an interesting way to look at life: like a constant learning opportunity. Instead of saying, "Oh, that's an inconvenience," or, "I don't have time for that," you can dig deeper for the value in almost everything! The next time the chance for an activity comes up, think twice about its worth. On the surface it might just look like a fun time (example: being in a little theater production) but maybe it's more than that (a couple of credits for a drama class).

For more information on making your own portfolio, check out: www.edtech.kennesaw.edu