If there was a specific item that you wanted and you knew you needed, would you get it? Even if it was miles away and costs you a fortune? What if I told you you could get it for free and in your own community?

The A+ program does just that, but instead of just something, you get a college education free of charge for two full years as long as you meet the following requirements: be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; sign an agreement; attend a designated A+ high school for 3 consecutive years; graduate with at least a 2.5 GPA; have at least a 95% attendance record all four years of high school; 50+ hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring; maintain a record of good citizenship; got proficient or advanced on the Algebra I End Of Course exam (according the Missouri department of higher education).

It couldn’t be easier and makes a huge difference financially for the same education that you could get at a four year university.

My peers often look down on me for choosing the A+ program, as if it is an option for slackers. Before you even get into what you’re going to school for, you need two years of gen eds. Why waste $10,000+ on the same thing, especially when it’s offered for free at the St. Charles Community College?

According to collegeatlas.org, 30 percent of college and university students drop out after their first year.  To me, that sounds like money straight down the drain. Money that could have been saved for your last two years of college at a university specific to you and your needs.

It may be a status issue, or the fact that people are ‘too good for community college’, but in my case, I’m not here to impress anyone. My goal is to get my associates degree, stay close to home, find time to mature and save my money so that when I know I’m paying $10,000+ for a college education, it is for something I absolutely want and need as opposed to a $10,000 partying fee coming straight out of my parent’s pocket.