Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Alex Chediak earned a B.S. Degree at Alfred University in Ceramic Engineering (1996) and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Material Science & Engineering from U.C. Berkeley (2001, 2004). He worked as an engineer for IBM for three years (1996-1999). From 2005-2007 he was an apprentice at The Bethlehem Institute (now Bethlehem College and Seminary), a masters-level theological training program overseen by Pastors John Piper and Tom Steller. During those years, Alex got his start in Christian higher education at Northwestern College. As of 2007, he’s been a professor of...
Overview
Getting a college degree without going broke is challenging but doable. It requires knowing how the system works, intentionality, creativity, and delayed gratification. Alex will discuss how to select a college based on value (quality vs. price) and how to pay or finance it. He will touch on the importance of leveraging your college major as well as spending less and earning more during college.
Does the cost of college seem maddeningly out of reach? Have your parents told you they can’t afford to help? Join the club: millions of students these days have no idea how they’re going to afford the education they know they need to have a shot at landing a decent job. But what if I told you the “I can’t afford college” line is mostly an illusion?
In Beating the College Debt Trap, Alex presents an optimistic, empowering, and counter-intuitive message: Americans from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including first generation students, don’t have to be totally dependent on Mom, Dad, or Uncle Sam to get through college. You can get the training you need to launch a meaningful career without going broke in the process. Graduation on a solid financial foundation is possible. But it will require knowing how the system works, intentionality, creativity, and delayed gratification. He starts the book by debunking the myth that a four-year college is right for everyone. There are less well-known, equally valid paths that can lead to a variety of high-paying jobs. He then explains (in simple terms) why college is expensive and why it’s so important that you take full responsibility for how you pay for it. From there, he moves into three crucial decisions every student makes – choosing a college, picking a major and looking discerningly at loan opportunities. Then he will give some practical advice on how to spend less and save more during college. Lastly, he'll look beyond the college years to the hurdles new graduates face in a slow-growth economy.
Whether you’re a parent filling out the FAFSA and getting ready for that first tuition bill, a student wanting to make wise financial choices (and understand what the financial aid office is telling you), or a graduate trying to launch a career, pay the bills, and dig your way out of debt, you’ll want to check out Beating the College Debt Trap.
