大学生们莫让债务限制了你梦想.docVIP

大学生们莫让债务限制了你梦想 　　凯瑟琳?康奈尔 著 　　大连工业大学职业技术学院 刘克 编译 　　 　　导读：Huge school loans can hinder future growth. Think about potential income before signing the dotted line. 　　巨额助学贷款可能会阻碍你未来发展，因此请三思而后行。 　　 　　A college education has long been viewed as a ticket to a better quality of life. It is probably the most important decision a student will make and it may have the highest rate of return in achieving life goals. Unfortunately, some students do not think clearly about this decision, buying the “hot” college brand and assuming large amounts of debt. By overinvesting, they destroy their chances for a brighter future. 　　“Excessive student debt, often made without an explicit decision on its impact on future life choices, not only restricts traditional career choices but the basic ability of young people to take risks―requiring them to defer their dreams,” says Robert Shireman, executive director for the nonprofit Project on Student Debt. 　　Carmen Berkeley, a 23-year-old who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh last year, assumed a huge financial burden to attend a public university as an out-of-state student. 　　“My life is definitely impacted by my $80,000 college debt from the University of Pittsburgh,” she says. “I really want to go to law school, but can’t unless I get a scholarship. Though I believe my college education was a good investment, I doubt I will ever own a car or a house.” 　　The nonprofit US Student Association, where she serves as president, contributes a $200 monthly stipend to assist in retiring her loans. Once she completes 10 years of public service, Ms. Berkeley will also qualify for loan forgiveness under the 2007 Higher Education Act for a portion of her outstanding federal loans. Even with the stipend and loan forgiveness, it will take her more than 20 years to repay her debt. 　　Berkeley did not consider future income before assuming her loans, although she always anticipated working in the nonprofit or public sector. Her choices con