San Antonio, The Aftermath

14 October 2007

After a week of travel to Texas and Florida, I am ready to return to the office for a two week period. It will be nice to catch up on work, phone calls and to settle down before rushing off again.

My week in San Antonio was wonderful. The weather was great, the kids that I met with were interested in Norwich University and pursuing their dreams through higher education and all of the college fairs were a wonderful way to display the Norwich name to a greater audience. One of the most striking questions that was asked again and again was “how much does tuition cost?” I think this is a topic for further commentary.

At a college fair or a high school visit, when the consistent cost question would arise, I am always one to tell the truth, but once I say the words “thirty-thousand dollars”, I believe that people stop listening. I truly feel that asking someone how much their university costs is similar to asking a woman how old she is or how much she weighs; you just don’t do it. College costs a lot of money; anyone who tries to deny it is lying to you. However, we cannot assess your financial aid opportunities if you do not apply. Regardless of how much college costs, if you are genuinely interested in going to that institution, apply. After you’ve applied, and done the financial aid paperwork, you can then understand how much an institution can give you. If you do not apply though, you may never know. Colleges and universities hand out millions of dollars every year, so just because the college costs more than a new car does not mean you will not receive a fair package from that institution.

So enough of the serious college talk, I think that the best part of the San Antonio trip was listening to KJ97, San Antonio’s country radio station. Every hour, they would play a George Strait song and you would have the chance to win $97 and a chance to tour with George and the Ace in the Hole Band for the first two concerts of the 2008 tour. And little did I know, in just over four weeks, the new album will be released with more hits from the King of Country Music.

Well, back to the office to see what adventures await.

Until then, I remain.

Tim

Comments

[No longer suspicious about NU]

Asking about cost is a practical question. Even asking a woman her age would have to be a necessary question to ask, if you want to marry her...Any way people need to consider their lives w/o a college education. If all that they're concerned w/ is to make money, they should go to a vocational or a trade school. Nothing wrong w/ that. The cost of a college education can seem like a very tall mountain to scale from one side, but from the other side it is a mountain of invaluable resources. The academic degree, the social networking and friends made, opportunities for further study and career advancement... $30,000+/yr. at NU is a bargain compared to other schools. And NU offers scholarships to top students...