Barbara Pytel's Blog

Posted by Barbara Pytel

Posted by Barbara Pytel

Every parent of an 18 or 19 year old knows that Mr. Know It All from The Bullwinkle Show not only lives on but resides with them in their home. The teen is now an expert on everything under the sun. I am so fortunate to have someone so brilliant living under my roof because I no longer know how to drive, how to get to Wal-Mart by the proper route, no longer know how to park a car properly, select insane music, and can no longer be trusted with a lawn mower. Mr. Know It All holds all knowledge at our house.

Good Days Are Over

Unfortunately, I no longer have the comfort of living with a genius because he went off to college. Actually, he is very lucky to have found a one of a kind college in the center of Kansas. It was difficult to think of him being 425 miles and three states away, but I am very confident it is worth it.

McPherson College

The college my son is attending is the only four year car restoration program in the world. It sits in the center of Kansas surrounded by wheat fields, sorgum, cattle, soybeans and an oil refinery. If you check your baking flour label, chances are good that your flour came from Salina, Kansas about 30 miles away.

Who ever named the college was probably not a creative right-brained person since it is named McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas in McPherson County. However, it is a stroke of genius to turn a two-year restoration program into the only 4-year program in the world. It caught the eye of Jay Leno who openly promotes the program on television.

While many parents have strong concerns about sending a child off to college, this college helps with that.

• No girls in the boys dorm.
• No boys in the girls dorm.
• No cigarettes, chewing tobacco or gambling.
• Mandatory weekly check-in with faculty. While he did look a little frightened when I left, he's in good hands. It was a very quiet trip home.

Posted by Barbara Pytel

Instead of going directly to a four-year college, students are choosing to attend the first two years at a junior college and later transfer. How much of a savings is it?

Tuition Costs

The average tuition rate at a junior college is $2,361 for 30 credit hours. At a public university, tuition averages nearly $7,500. Students can attend two years at a junior college for less money than one year at a state university. Couples that have children at an older age don't want to go into debt 5-7 years prior to retirement and choose junior colleges as a way to keep debt down.

Class Closeouts

Traditionally, large universities have problems with classes filling up leaving students on a waiting list. Now, junior colleges are beginning to have the same problem. With record numbers of students on campus and tight budgets, junior colleges have waiting lists for students to enter certain programs.

Technical jobs are hot and the place to get training is also at junior colleges. And, Baby Boomers are sending their youngest off to colleges in record numbers. This adds to the congestion. But, these big numbers are not expected to last so colleges don't want to build and hire only to fire.

Posted by Barbara Pytel

College tuition has always been a struggle for parents. After receiving thirteen years of free education in public schools, price tags of $26,000 per year are staggering. However, recently there is a new crunch. Why?

Parents Are Older

Women are choosing to have careers first and become parents later. With the recent trend of women becoming first time mothers in their late 30's and early 40's, the college issues comes much later in life.

Student Loans Less Available

Private loan companies are cutting back in the loans they give for college. Many banks do not issue private students at all. And, in the recent low interest era, many companies will lose money if they issue loans. In the past year, 50 lenders have pulled out of the student loan business.

College Tuition Rising

While everything is rising in costs, college tuition has recently risen much faster than inflation and parent income. Over the last 40 years, incomes have risen 304% but college tuition has risen much more. Public college tuition has risen 844% and private college tuition has risen 778%. So, if it seems much harder for parents to pay for college--it is! In some cases, college costs have tripled from what their parents paid for their college expenses after allowing for inflation.

Age Factor

Now throw in the fact that parents are taking out loans at the age of 55 or 60 instead of 40 or 45 and we find a crises. The FAFSA does have an age factor built into it. The older the parents, the less they are expected to take out in loans. However, colleges are not obliged to honor the FAFSA's Expected Family Contribution. Parents are now being forced to take money from their retirement funds to pay for college, leaving them underfunded for the golden years.

Source: Sue Asci, InvestmentNews.com, June 30, 2008

Posted by Barbara Pytel

Lori Drew, the mother who posed as a teenage boy on MySpace, is not being charged with cyber-bullying. She is being charged with

• conspiracy
• 3 counts of unauthorized access to a computer

The prosecution is being very clever using a law against Drew that was intended to stop hackers from breaking into computers and stealing information. Three girls are also being charged in participating the creation of the fraudulent profiles.

What are the chances of the prosecution being successful? Some lawyers feel there is a very good chance. This is a story that will be unfolding with ramifications far into the future.