Laziness Doesn’t Pay at College; Time is Money for Modern Students

By ASHLEY KINDERGAN, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

WAYNE The college students who moved back into their dormitories at William Paterson University on Monday are different than other generations of undergraduates, school officials say.

They have more debt, are taking longer to graduate and work full- and part-time jobs. But these students are more focused and goal- oriented, taking classes that will advance their careers rather than experimenting in a wide variety of fields.

"They’re coming here wanting to take a course of study because they know they have to pay for their education," said Jack Martone, dean of student development at WPU. "Ten years ago, coming to college was their full-time job, and now we find students are coming in working at least part time and often full time."

Dan Greenwood, 22, went to Wayne Valley High School. He is in his fifth year at the university and has $30,000 in private loans that he has to begin repaying six months after graduation. Greenwood, who works 15 hours a week during the school year for a local recreation program, said he wants a career in physical therapy but knows he will have to return to school at some point. For now, he needs to start work after he graduates to get a head start paying off his debt.

"I’m just worried that when I finish my degree, I need to find a good, steady job to help me pay for school," Greenwood said. Still, he said, it took him a long time to decide to major in biology, and now doesn’t want to stack too many difficult science classes together at once. So, he will take an extra year to graduate.

"I’m on the extended plan. The super senior plan," he said. "It’s a good, steady pace for me."

The average undergraduate carried about $19,200 in debt in 2004, the last year for which statistics were available, according to the Project on Student Debt.

Students moving in at WPU reported a variety of financing methods private loans, federal loans, state loans and financial aid from the college itself. Nearly all the students said they had jobs, and very few anticipate graduating in four years.

Many students said knowing they will have to pay back loans keeps them focused on their studies. Angela Allers, 19, a third-year student from Union, recently took out $20,000 in loans. She said she will probably take five years to graduate to make sure that her chosen courses of study, graphic design and business, are right for her. She also goes home on weekends to spend time with her family, catch up on schoolwork and earn money coaching young gymnasts instead of partying on campus.

"This is a lot of money to go to school, and I don’t want to waste it if graphic design isn’t for me," Allers said. "My parents are going to help me out as much as they can [paying back the loan]. I’m going to do my best to get that good job so I can take the payments away from them."

Donald Oliver, a 20-year-old physical education major in his third year, said the key to balance is sometimes just not to think too much.

The Paterson Eastside High graduate works about 15 hours a week on campus in the athletics department and has an outside job at J. C. Penney that takes 30 hours a week. He also gets financial aid from the college.

"I just don’t let it get to me," he said of his busy lifestyle. "If you stress a lot, then it’s tough, but this is life."

Martone said the college offers time-management seminars and provides advisers to students who have not yet declared a major.

"The more students explore other fields, the more likely they’re going to end up in a career they love," Martone said. "My feeling is, you have to love what you do."

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E-mail: kindergan@northjersey.com

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