| There are many myths about college and the college | | | | you to guarantee professional success. |
| experience. The information below is to assist you in | | | | A college education shows that you have the tenacity |
| dispelling the some of the myths about attending | | | | to take the next step in academic achievement. A |
| College. | | | | college education shows that you made the decision |
| Myth: Your school college advisor can provide you | | | | to become a well rounded individual and that you've |
| with all of the information you need to know about | | | | taken the time to study a few subjects that may be |
| attending college. | | | | out of your comfort zone. Yes, you will have to study |
| Fact: College advisors can only give you limited | | | | English, math and science. You may even have to |
| information about college acceptance, attendance and | | | | study chemistry, physics and biology, but when you |
| financing. With the increased level of competition to | | | | finish, you will have knowledge on numerous topics that |
| enter college, it is imperative that you seek out | | | | you could not acquire any other way. That is the true |
| resources on your own. | | | | purpose of college at the undergraduate level. To |
| Myth: Most parents (and students) have a savings plan | | | | make you a generalist, with the intent of you becoming |
| for their child to attend college. | | | | a specialist in a specific vocational area. |
| Fact: Very few families save in advance. If you have | | | | A recent study indicated that 78% of high school |
| not started saving by now, the best way may be to | | | | students want to attend college. This study further |
| obtain funding through scholarships and grants or | | | | detailed the three top reasons why most students |
| through implementing the tools to attend college for | | | | don't attend college. The third most frequently cited |
| FREE. Financial aid is another possible resource and | | | | reason why students don't attend college is because |
| can be an effective way in helping you with the cost | | | | their parents didn't attend. But there are many things |
| of college. | | | | that you do that your parents didn't do. Your parents |
| Myth: You have to be really smart to attend college. | | | | didn't have 3D video games, your parents did not have |
| Fact: There is a college for everyone who wants to | | | | MP3 players nor did they grow up with the concept of |
| attend and everyone who is willing to study and put | | | | going green. Throughout your lifetime you will do |
| forth the effort to graduate. | | | | numerous things that your parents have not done. So |
| | | | saying that your parents didn't do it is a weak excuse. |
| The Numbers | | | | The second most cited reason why some students |
| 14.5 million students are enrolled in the 3,638 US based | | | | don't attend college is because they don't know what |
| Colleges; 12.5 million are enrolled at the undergraduate | | | | to study. Many people are not sure about what they |
| level. | | | | want to do with their lives. Just because you're not |
| 79% of students attend public colleges; 21% attend | | | | sure of your future does not mean that you need to |
| private colleges. | | | | become stagnant. College will expose you to many |
| 56% are full time students. | | | | professions and opportunities that you may not be |
| 23% are minorities. | | | | aware of. College will make you aware of vocations |
| 70% are enrolled in the college of their first choice. | | | | within vocations and professional opportunities that |
| 81% attend colleges in their home state. | | | | may be perfect for your personality. So this is definitely |
| 50% of all college freshmen come from families with | | | | not a good reason not to attend. |
| incomes of $30,000 to $75,000. | | | | The number one reason cited as why students do not |
| 45.2% of American adults have some college | | | | attend college is finance. Money! And once again this is |
| education. | | | | ridiculous. Financial resources should not serve as a |
| U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Department of Education. | | | | hindrance to your attending college. Funding is available |
| With economics being the way they are, and the cost | | | | through various sources, through various organizations, |
| of living continuing to increase, we wonder why more | | | | through various means for anyone who wants to |
| people don't attend college. Many are of the belief that | | | | attend college. And anyone who takes the time and a |
| college is still an unreachable goal. This may be | | | | little effort can quickly and easily find and make use of |
| because their parents never attended college. It may | | | | these resources. |
| be because those around them have told them that | | | | Last year over $300 billion dollars was available in |
| college is difficult or that they will never make it through | | | | college scholarship and college resource funding, and a |
| the college process. And, this cannot be further from | | | | high percentage of this funding was never accessed |
| the truth! Anyone who wants to attend college can go | | | | due to students not searching, not applying and not |
| to college and a college education is the best way for | | | | making use of the resources available. |