2015年ESL之日常生活 21 Paying for College（在线收听）

Paying for College 

Chris: Which colleges are you applying to? 

Marcella: None. I can’t afford to go to college. Even if I lived at home, tuition, fees, and books are just too expensive. 

Chris: You could apply for financial aid. 

Marcella: I don’t want to get a bunch of loans and be in debt for the next 10 to 20 years. It’s not worth it. 

Chris: Loans aren’t so bad, especially ones that are federally subsidized. Apart from that, you could get need-based grants or work-study. Put all of that together and college can be affordable. 

Marcella: I don’t want to go into debt of any kind. 

Chris: You could go to a community college and transfer to a four-year university after two years. Community college tuition is much lower. 

Marcella: But who has the time? I have to work full-time to pay my bills. 

Chris: Then think about a program that has a service commitment. 

Marcella: What do you mean? 

Chris: There are teaching, military, or community service programs that will forgive or pay off your loans if you work for the organization for a few years after graduating. 

Marcella: And be an indentured servant? No, thank you! 

Chris: Okay, but most good jobs nowadays require a college degree. 

Marcella: Not if you really have talent 

Chris: Talent? 

Marcella: Yeah, haven’t you seen me mime? That’s my ticket to a great career. 

Chris: I’m happy to hear you have such a practical plan mapped out for your future. 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse