College students to get shafted again this summer

[marmar]

WASHINGTON — Millions of college students could be in for a shock this summer when the interest rate on a popular federally subsidized student loan doubles unless Congress acts.

College students on Tuesday delivered more than 130,000 letters to congressional leaders asking them to stop rates from increasing from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. The rate hike affects new subsidized Stafford loans, which are issued to low and middle income undergraduates. They hope to raise enough awareness to get Congress to stop it.

"I will be put back into buying a house and saving up for my expenses later on in life, and life as we know, is very unexpected. Adding that variable definitely limits my ability to be successful," said Tyler Dowden, 18, a freshman at Northern Arizona University who spoke at a press conference outside the Capitol before the letters were delivered in boxes with "Congress: Don't Double Student-Debt Rates" printed on the outside.

Dowden said he anticipates graduating with $25,000 in debt, but if the rate increases, he expects to add about $3,500 to that tally. He's studying to be a mental health therapist. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/finance/20120313/US.Student.Loans/

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[RKP5637]

2. This country has lost its sanity! n/t

[Igel]

3. "Unexpected."

I have students like that.

Friday afternoon I put the next week's schedule on the board for all to see. Often it has "test" or "quiz" for Friday.

Students see the board Monday. On Monday I tell them to make sure to check the week's agenda. I announce the test.

The board stays unchanged Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday.

On Thursday they get something called a "test review." I say it's due Friday just before the test.

They see the board Friday when they come into the room. I ask for them to turn in their test reviews. Some do.

Then I tell them to clear their desks for the test or quiz, and 90% of them say, "There's a test? When did you announce it?"

Somehow my tests always seem to be unexpected. It's a mystery.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. kick