There have been a lot of postings asking about certain colleges and programs and such here on NL. Regardless of what you decide on an education I would like to give a piece of advice here (please excuse us old goats for raining on parades).

BEWARE OF STUDENT LOANS!!!

Before you sign anything read the fine print - all of it. Pay particular attention to the sections on repayment time lines, interest rates and terms. Many of these online programs especially have some slick talking wolves that can hustle the unwary into signing up fast without giving a lot of thought to what you are getting into. A simple inquiry to Chamberlain got me an untold number of return calls, e-mails and snail mails. I've had softer sells from guys on street corners in New York selling an armful of Brolexes.

But look at the total cost and one sees a loan would be necessary. And of course they have all the help you need to accomplish that. Then look at the terms and consider the salary you could realistically expect to get as a result. At 60 I couldn't live long enough to pay for a MSN and eat and drive a car.

Sallie Mae used to be a government loan program but is private now - please keep that in mind.

I'm not advising anyone to NOT go for a loan. I'm simply warning the young and the unwise (of all ages) to consider how you will repay these sharks before you sign on the dotted line.

Horror stories welcome below.