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Lake Larsen<\/strong> | Alumnus<\/span><\/p>\n The world of finance and fiscal management is a stressful and scary place. Just the thought of budgeting will give many a thousand-yard stare. Because of this, far too many college students walk around playing a sort of Russian roulette with their debit cards. Just spending and spending until bam! You\u2019re overdrafted. <\/span><\/p>\n Due to this fact, colleges should be required to give some type of basic \u201chow to be an adult\u201d class for students. As an accountant at a university, I deal with students on a daily basis asking questions about their finances. In and of itself, this is not the issue \u2014 I love helping students. However, some of the questions I receive baffle me and honestly upset me with the failure of our education system.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of teaching students how to pay down the principle on their student loans, colleges instead force students to take classes unrelated to their major. Yes, it is important to be a well-rounded student. I also understand the benefits to some of the other courses and how they are advantageous to students. However, it’s kind of hard to focus on being well-rounded and to think of the benefits of some unnecessary class when you have $30,000 in debt with a 450 credit score. But hey, at least I have some random knowledge on a subject that will probably never come up again in my life.<\/span><\/p>\n If the goal of lower division core classes is to help students potentially find a hidden talent or help develop basic skills, then why not offer things that have a larger chance of actually helping in a student\u2019s life? <\/span><\/p>\n This isn\u2019t to say that students can\u2019t or won\u2019t find passion in one of these subjects. I realize that this is a possibility. However, I think it should be a student\u2019s decision if they want to take these extra classes. In the end, it\u2019s their money. It should be up to them entirely if they want to take extra courses. <\/span><\/p>\n Some classes need to be required, and I understand that. So why not add a very basic fiscal management course to the list? The skills students will learn in that class will benefit them for the rest of their lives. I can\u2019t say that same thing is true for some of the other courses they\u2019re forced to take.<\/span><\/p>\n If colleges want their students to be successful, give them the tools to do so. In a society where money is power, it\u2019s time to teach students how to become powerful. Because in the words of Pink Floyd, \u201cGet a good job with good pay and you\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [fruitful_alert type=”alert-info”]Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Western Howl. <\/span>[\/fruitful_alert]<\/p>\n