As this is my first blog, I suppose I should start by introducing myself. My name is Sarah Chase. I am originally from the northeast but have lived in Harrison, AR for most of my life. I am a second year student at Cottey College and I will graduate with my Associate of Arts degree in May. My major is Graphic Design and I am working as an intern at the Nevada Daily Mail for the semester.

I spent a small amount of time trying to decipher what I should talk about. Since this is my first blog, I wanted to feel like what I write about will help you, as the reader, better understand who I am. While considering possible topics to discuss, I happened to receive a very important e-mail. An e-mail that I had, since December, been waiting to receive, informing me of whether I was or was not accepted to the college that I want to transfer to. Before I tell you if I was accepted or not, let me tell you a little about the college. The college is Moore College of Art and Design. It is a 4-year art and design school that specializes in only 10 different majors and is located in Philadelphia, PA.

Well, I was accepted. Now this should be really exciting for me. Do not get me wrong, it was, but my excitement was only temporary as I soon learned that being accepted and being able to afford to go are two very different things. I received, as part of my financial package, a $5,000 scholarship based solely off of my art portfolio. Exciting, right? It would be more exciting if the college did not cost around $40,000 a year! So now I am stuck trying to decide if the difference of $35,000 is worth it. I should explain that I may not only be receiving the $5,000; there are other scholarships and grants that I may receive, but I do not know what I will get just yet.

The question, however, remains; is $40,000 per year really worth paying in order to receive your bachelor's degree? Should I pay the difference and receive a top-notch education or should I attend another, less expensive college, and receive a good but not necessarily great education? Is education worth thousands of dollars of debt?

My gut is telling me to go for it; any amount of money spent on enhancing my knowledge is well worth it. However, there is still the part of me that says there is a limit to how much it is really worth. If only we knew the answers to these questions, it would make life so much easier!

It's times like these that I really wished I lived in France, where the government pays for your higher education; every last bit of it. I suppose it does make me a stronger person to rely on myself to become well educated and it teaches me what I can accomplish if I truly want something.