We came across this defaced University of Auckland billboard via the Poke website. We're not targeting Auckland University but we do think that the graffiti raises serious questions for people to think about.
Education is a good thing. Having a student loan debt can be a good strategy, perhaps because it will give you a good career and be worth it financially, or you just really love the subject you're studying and you've thought through the financial implications of taking on a large loan. Student loan debts start off large ($20,000 + by the time you graduate would be the low end of the range) and then they grow like metastasised cancer if you go overseas. Student loan debt require your serious attention before you decide to take one out. Make sure that you understand what you are getting yourself in to, that your course is worth it, and that your tertiary institution is worth it. We have heard horror stories about poor quality courses that cost students thousands of dollars. In other cases, students have been charged fees, fraudulently, including for time periods when they were not studying.
We aren't saying don't take out a student loan. What we are saying is make sure you make a decision with your eyes wide open.
Education is a good thing. Having a student loan debt can be a good strategy, perhaps because it will give you a good career and be worth it financially, or you just really love the subject you're studying and you've thought through the financial implications of taking on a large loan. Student loan debts start off large ($20,000 + by the time you graduate would be the low end of the range) and then they grow like metastasised cancer if you go overseas. Student loan debt require your serious attention before you decide to take one out. Make sure that you understand what you are getting yourself in to, that your course is worth it, and that your tertiary institution is worth it. We have heard horror stories about poor quality courses that cost students thousands of dollars. In other cases, students have been charged fees, fraudulently, including for time periods when they were not studying.
We aren't saying don't take out a student loan. What we are saying is make sure you make a decision with your eyes wide open.