{"id":5815,"date":"2019-07-17T22:12:49","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T22:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/?p=5815"},"modified":"2021-10-15T20:55:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T20:55:39","slug":"5-myths-about-college-value-affordability-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/5-myths-about-college-value-affordability-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Myths about College Value &amp; Affordability Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5816\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Intro-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of rumors about the college experience. A handful may be about student social life. Others may be about academics. However, most are usually related to the overall value of universities and how affordable they are.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Before you can even decide on where to continue school, you\u2019ve likely heard more than one of these. And, unfortunately, they may have begun to affect your outlook on going to college altogether.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>No need to panic\u2014this is where I come in. I\u2019ve compiled a list of five common myths about college value and affordability, and I\u2019ve debunked each one. This blog is meant to serve as a guide to boost your confidence with your school choice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve got your back and so does Winona State!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/67ThRZlYBvibtdF9JH\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Start counting those bills because there's a ton of ways for you to save money at WSU\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Myth #1: \u201cThere\u2019s no way I can afford to go to college.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality:<\/strong> First of all, you\u2019re already considering furthering your education post high school, which means you\u2019re a pretty smart cookie.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/\">80% of all students at Winona State receive financial aid<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/affordability.asp\">94% of students benefit from financial aid during their first year<\/a>. This is because WSU offers various ways for students to pay for college.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/grants.asp\">Apply for federal or state grants<\/a> (no payback) or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/student-loans.asp\">student loans<\/a> (must pay back). Make sure to research eligibility guidelines before placing your request.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/scholarships.asp\">Apply for hundreds of scholarships offered at WSU<\/a>. These accommodate to a wide range of factors other than financial need, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First-year students and transfer students<\/li>\n<li>Athletic and performing arts talent<\/li>\n<li>Academic achievement<\/li>\n<li>Minority status<\/li>\n<li>Students studying away through an international program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>3.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/winona.academicworks.com\/?page=1\">Apply for scholarships offered through the Winona State University Foundation<\/a>. This committee awards over 700 scholarships annually, totaling to more than $1.4 million. These awards highlight student character by recognizing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On-campus involvement and leadership<\/li>\n<li>Community volunteer work<\/li>\n<li>A strong passion to learn in the classroom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/student-employment.asp\">Become a student worker through work study or student help positions<\/a>. Over 1,000 students at WSU are employed each year by a variety of departments, and you could be one of them. Depending on the department you work for, <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/2018\/02\/21\/why-you-should-get-an-on-campus-job\/\">you may gain insightful experience in your desired field for post-graduation<\/a>. FYI:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your financial status will dictate whether you\u2019re eligible for work study<\/li>\n<li>However, any student can apply for student help positions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Covering the cost of college tuition is, hands down, the biggest investment you\u2019ll encounter as a young adult.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t need to be scary, though, because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/warrior-hub\/\">there are counselors available at the Warrior Hub to help you understand your options and create a plan that works best for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Receiving financial aid isn\u2019t something to be embarrassed of, either. It shows you\u2019re a smart cookie who\u2019s taking advantage of available resources!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/9mfCOURaCaf2U\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Two-year universities fall short to four-year ones, especially Winona State\" width=\"500\" height=\"145\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Myth #2: \u201cI&#8217;ll save money if I transfer from a community college or tech school.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality:<\/strong> Let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: yes, attending a two-year university costs less overall than it does at a four-year. So that does mean less money out of your bank account upfront,\u00a0 but are you really getting your money\u2019s worth?<\/p>\n<p>There are <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/4-perks-of-attending-a-4-year-college\/\">quite a few benefits to choosing a four-year institution, like Winona State<\/a>\u2014which namely involve the broad amount of services, resources and experiences you\u2019ll have access to\u2014including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Learning from professors who have doctorate degrees and decades of experience in their fields<\/li>\n<li>Having <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.winona.edu\/content.php?catoid=21&amp;navoid=2122&amp;_ga=2.109919495.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">over 100 major and 70 minor departmental programs<\/a> to choose from<\/li>\n<li>Becoming as strong as a Warrior at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/fitnesscenter\/?_ga=2.77517079.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">triple-decker fitness center<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/healthservices\/?_ga=2.118298123.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">all-inclusive Health &amp; Wellness Services<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Forming networks and creating lifelong friends with the help of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/sal\/clubs.asp?i=8&amp;_ga=2.110432775.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">170 clubs and other campus organizations<\/a> to get involved in<\/li>\n<li>Receiving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/wsc\/default.asp?_ga=2.48042405.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">top-notch advising from the Warrior Success Center<\/a> while registering for classes<\/li>\n<li>Getting equipped with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/technology\/students.asp?_ga=2.123025545.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">fully configured laptop of your choice<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/technology\/Media\/Laptop%20Technology%20Recommendation2019-2.pdf?_ga=2.123025545.36921208.1562467647-911521583.1558025718\">complements your intended area of study<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gaining independence from hometown friends and family to take care of yourself socially, academically and physically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is how four-year universities provide more value to your whole student experience beyond just getting your degree. Is it really worth the lower cost if you\u2019ll be missing all this and much more? The answer is no, silly!<\/p>\n<p>When considering the long-term value as a student, you just can\u2019t beat the four-year package (especially at WSU). And if you do decide that a two-year program is initially right for you, WSU makes it easy to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/transfer.asp\"> transfer when you&#8217;re ready<\/a> to go for your bachelor&#8217;s degree. Check out these posts that outline <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/transferring-to-wsu-weve-got-your-back\/\">the process of applying as a transfer student<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/how-to-transfer-credits-to-wsu\/\">how to successfully transfer previously-earned credits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/10fAvEln0lB8Lm\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Knowing a little about a lot of subjects goes a long way\" width=\"480\" height=\"232\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Myth #3: \u201cI don\u2019t need to take classes in other disciplines because I&#8217;ve decided my major. It&#8217;s more useful to be an expert in only one field.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality:<\/strong> Choosing an area of study can seem like a daunting process, especially as a freshman. If you arrive at Winona State knowing exactly what you want to do in life, then fantastic!<\/p>\n<p>However, the likelihood of you changing your mind at least once during your college career is pretty high. This is because <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.winona.edu\/preview_program.php?catoid=21&amp;poid=4119\">WSU requires all students to complete the General Education Program (GEP) before graduating<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Coordinated with the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), the GEP outlines 10 goal areas and four additional intensive requirements. <a href=\"https:\/\/w3.winona.edu\/publicreports\/?reportname=Registrar%2FGEP+Accepted+Courses\">There are a variety of classes offered that satisfy each goal and intensive<\/a>. This gives you many opportunities to identify and explore your passions.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of the GEP is to prepare students to be more well-rounded adults post-graduation\u2014which, FYI, turns out to be much better than focusing on a singular subject. Just ask your future employer!<\/p>\n<p>Who knows? Maybe taking a few courses outside your intended career field will open your eyes to a new range of skills you never thought you had. <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/its-okay-to-change-your-major\/\">There\u2019s no shame in changing your mind<\/a>, either (I have three times so far!).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/3o6Mb35fHQHAGaYOGc\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"You will be successful post-graduation regardless of the degree you earn at Winona State\" width=\"480\" height=\"366\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Myth #4: \u201cI won\u2019t score a job out of college unless I get a graduate degree.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality:<\/strong> Although earning a graduate degree\u2014that is, either a master\u2019s or doctorate\u2014is a huge accomplishment, it isn\u2019t required to find a job post-graduation.<\/p>\n<p>The value of a bachelor\u2019s degree at Winona State is very high. This is because <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.winona.edu\/content.php?catoid=21&amp;navoid=2124\">faculty across all five colleges teach students how to expand their networks and play to their strengths<\/a> through a variety of departmental opportunities, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Internship postings and local business partnerships<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/studentemployment\/workstudy.asp\">On-campus work study<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/studentemployment\/studenthelp.asp\">student help positions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/study-abroad\/faculty-led.asp\">Travel study (faculty-led)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/study-abroad\/semester-abroad.asp\">study abroad programs<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Unique career path suggestions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Still not convinced you\u2019ll find career success after graduating? Check out this stat: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/admissions\/undergraduate\/outcomes.asp\">92% of WSU undergrads find a job in their field<\/a>. We\u2019ve got a reputation for this sort of thing, so don\u2019t worry\u2014we\u2019ve got you covered!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/12XDYvMJNcmLgQ\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"There are a bunch of things to do on campus and in the Winona area\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Myth #5: \u201cThere\u2019s absolutely nothing fun for me to do at a small-town university.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reality:<\/strong> Au contraire, Grasshopper, there are oodles of things to keep you busy on campus and in the Winona community:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cheer on our <a href=\"https:\/\/winonastatewarriors.com\/\">great Warrior athletes<\/a>, and show your pride during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/sal\/familyweekend.asp\">Family Weekend<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/alumni\/homecoming.asp\">Homecoming<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Get your sweat on at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/intramural\/fitnessclasses.asp\">weekly group fitness classes<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Embrace your inner art connoisseur at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/art-design\/galleries.asp\">two art galleries<\/a>, which frequently rotate exhibitions year-round<\/li>\n<li>Get comfy while watching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/dancescape\/\">live dance performances<\/a> and handmade movies as part of the two film series held at WSU<\/li>\n<li>Immerse yourself in nature, whether you\u2019re into rock climbing, kayaking or hiking at local parks<\/li>\n<li>Take a trip downtown to <a href=\"https:\/\/visitwinona.com\/things-to-do\/the-music-scene\/\">enjoy live music<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/visitwinona.com\/things-to-do\/distinctive-festivals\/\">annual festivals<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/visitwinona.com\/directory_entry_type\/places-to-shop\/?doing_wp_cron=1559926604.9911038875579833984375\">shopping \u2018til you drop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Satisfy your hunger at <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/2018\/09\/18\/the-unofficial-restaurant-guide-for-a-weekend-in-winona\/\">yummy local restaurants<\/a>. Then, end on a sweet note at our many <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/the-hottest-coffee-shops-in-winona\/\">coffeeshops<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pnqBGdTmzDI\">ice cream parlors<\/a> and bakeries (especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloedows.com\/\">Bloedow\u2019s Bakery<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the best of both worlds: you\u2019ve got the small-town vibe when you want to lie low and easy access to larger nearby cities when you\u2019re in the mood for a road trip.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5817\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5817\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5817\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/6-Maire-McMahon-15-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5817\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Maire McMahon &#8217;15<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get bogged down by these college myths (or others). Deciding what to do and where to go after high school is extremely important.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One rumor that <em>is<\/em> notably true, however, is that the time you spend as a university student will be some of the best of your life\u2014and that couldn\u2019t be more accurate at Winona State!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\">Updated by Elizabeth Berres on Aug. 8, 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; There are a lot of rumors about the college experience. A handful may be about student social life. Others may be about academics. However, most are usually related to the overall value of universities and how affordable they are. &nbsp; Before you can even decide on where to continue school, you\u2019ve likely heard more [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":231,"featured_media":5818,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,1841],"tags":[1811,1787,1842],"class_list":["post-5815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-admissions-blog","category-campus-life","tag-affordability","tag-brag","tag-value"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/Cover-Maire-McMahon-15.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7OGeT-1vN","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/231"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5815"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10025,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5815\/revisions\/10025"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}