# data[].attributes.body
It is a lot of scrolling I'm sorry :)

# data[].attributes.body
By Karina Holly 100650113

# data[].attributes.body
This video is talking about how people assume that after you graduate, you will find a high paying job in your field. The harsh reality is most students work multiple part time jobs, are interning or not finding work at all. I appreciate how this video also mentions living expenses and how most student debt numbers do not include living on residence, its based on yearly tuition. This video also talks about how high student debt will also affect the mental health of young adults. It is also mentioned how the period of time to repay your debt puts too much pressure on graduates and that they need more time to obtain employment. There are a lot of things students need to worry about and the weight of student loan debt is over bearing, and most people do not think about the other expenses and other important things students need to worry about and pay for.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
STUDENT DEBT: HOW TUITION COSTS AND DEBT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS CANADIAN GRADUATES

# data[].attributes.body
This is an article from Global News. This website is explaining poll results that were taken across Canada. The website talks about how people plan to pay off the debt right away, but life can throw unexpected problems in your way that will alter that plan. I chose this link because it explains multiple perspectives and things to think about when getting a student loan. It explains the things people regret like not working in college, or how much money they spent that they did not need to, etc. It is taken from a student perspective to teach future students the affects they do not think about. The one part I found nice was the section labeled "Advice for Incoming Students" and one was taking some time off to save some money before going to school. I believe this is smart advice because then you will not need as large of a loan, and you will have some backup money if needed as well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Andrew Park paid off his student loans last year - more than 10 years after starting his post-secondary education.

The 30-year-old Toronto resident, who now works as a business development leader, racked up his loans while studying life sciences at the University of Toronto. His post-secondary education began in 2005, but it wasn't until 2012 that he finished his masters in political science at McMaster University.
READ MORE: Experts warn about private vs. government student loans
Paying off his student loans, borrowed through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), was something Park says he intended to do right after graduation, but other factors always got in the way.

"Things really got delayed," he explained to Global News, adding that he paid off the first half of his loans almost right away. But then the expenses of living independently and paying bills side-tracked his plan.

"My brain didn't really understand how to handle [the OSAP payments]," he said.

If he could go back, Park says he would start working earlier during his undergrad and save more money.
WATCH: Financial expert weighs in on student loan debt and how to manage it
"You don't need to go 100 per cent OSAP," he says, adding that some universities have work positions that are flexible for students' schedules, and pay well.

Park isn't alone in hoping that he had done things differently.

Regrets about student loans

About three-quarters, or 77 per cent, of Canadian graduates under 40 have some regrets about the money they spent while in school, according to a poll released Tuesday by debt firm BDO Canada.

The report, carried out by Ipsos Poll, found 30 per cent of graduates would have had more frugal budgets, some would have worked more during school (28 per cent), and 25 per cent would have avoided other debt by staying away from credit cards and car loans.
READ MORE: 4 Canadian schools make list of top 100 universities in the world
About 67 per cent of Canadians included in the poll said they had debt when graduating, and were an average of $22,084 in the red. Only about 33 per cent of respondents graduated debt-free.

Sixty-two per cent of those who wrapped up their education with debt are still paying off the loans, the poll said.
WATCH: Canadian consumer debt climbs higher
Advice for incoming students

The former students had some advice for incoming students, which mostly revolved around being smarter with money.

About half of the graduates surveyed said students should be more willing to make financial sacrifices and get a part-time job as soon as possible. About 45 per cent advised students to pay off debt without delaying it.

Some graduates (39 per cent) suggested taking time off after high school to earn money, and then enrolling in post-secondary education.
READ MORE: University tuition fees in Canada rise 40 per cent in a decade
Delaying post-secondary education is something University of British Columbia student Janessa Tom thinks is a smart idea.

"Taking a couple years off to work will put you in a better spot financially, as long as you're budgeting and very aware of your spending," the 22-year-old told Global News.

While Tom has parents who will help her pay off the loans, she's already thousands of dollars in debt. She says tuition isn't the only expense - she also spends on car insurance, rent and utilities, and groceries.

One thing the student hopes people will understand is that students aren't in debt because they're lazy.

"I think it's really easy for people to assume that students are taking out loans because they're too lazy to work a job while they're in school, but if you're taking a full course load, school takes up the equivalent amount of time as a full-time job."

Paying off student loans

Because of his debt, Park says he put off things like travelling, investing regularly in retirement, saving, and even family planning.

Since making his final payments, the newlywed says he feels liberated to invest in other parts of his life. One of the first things he did was ditch is old car, and buy a Ford Focus, he said.

But that's not all. Park also feels more confident discussing finances now.

"Now, I don't have this looming debt hanging over me," he says.

Tips to help manage student loans

According to the Canadian Student Loan Program, paying off student debt takes most about 10 years. But TD Canada Trust provides tips on how to get out of the red faster.

On its website, the bank says it's imperative students first figure out exactly how much they owe, and then make a budget. It's important not to delay the process, and make extra payments whenever possible.
WATCH: The emotional impact of consumer debt
"Didn't spend a lot one month? Whenever these kinds of situations happen, top up your payments!" the site reads.

It adds that curbing living expenses - whether that means living with your parents or a roommate - is a great way to save money faster.
This poll was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of BDO Canada, between Aug. 16 and 21, 2017, using a sample size of 2,212 Canadians aged 21-39 who had a completed college diploma or university degree. This poll is considered accurate ±2.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
77% of Canadian graduates have regrets about student debt: poll

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Andrew Park paid off his student loans last year - more than 10 years after starting his post-secondary education. The 30-year-old Toronto resident, who now works as a business development leader, racked up his loans while studying life sciences at the University of Toronto.

# data[].attributes.body
This image is showing how much debt is held by students living in Canada. It shows how much it has gone up over the years by starting in the year of 1964-65 up until 2010. The dollar amount it shown in millions and overall you can tell that the amount of money has drastically gone up over the years.

# data[].attributes.headline
Website #2 : New Thoughts and Perspectives 

# data[].attributes.subject
Website #2 : New Thoughts and Perspectives 

# data[].attributes.body
This article is from Huff Post. I really liked this article as it showed the other factors in to not being able to pay off your student debt. For example, it explained how after you finish University, most students are doing internships or working minimum wage jobs which is not enough to help pay off the built up student debt. This article does however show that the government are trying to make some improvements like making tuition free for low income families. A surprising but important fact shown here is how students are going through school just to end up in poverty. This is something I personally have never thought about before. You go through school expecting to get a great paying job after you graduate, just to be sitting on student debt and still making minimum wage. This shows there is a lot of room for improvement and it really shows the hardships millennial's are going through.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Students head back to school this month to universities across the country; it's a time to participate in social activities, a time to figure out what career path they'll pursue, and - for many - it's a time to rack up more overwhelming debt.

And that debt is only going up for students and young people in Canada. According to a recent report from Statistics Canada, tuition fees have increased by 3.1 per cent for undergraduate programs in the 2017-18 academic year. Tuition to a Canadian university costs an average of $6,571 per year, with significantly higher average annual costs for programs like dentistry ($22,297), law ($13,642), and engineering ($8,099).

For many millennials - part of a generation so often critiqued as financially irresponsible - what awaits them after graduation is a job market riddled with precarious employment and undesirable contract jobs, a closed housing market and a legacy of student debt that's higher than ever.

Many young people leaving university have no options but unpaid internships, temporary work, or minimum wage employment - circumstances that make tackling leftover debts challenging, if not impossible. Young people are also disproportionately represented in overall statistics on homelessness ( 18.7 per cent), food insecurity ( 10 - 17 per cent depending on age), and precarious employment (where employees face a lack of protection or inadequate rights at work). For many young people graduating university or college, their escape from student poverty is closely followed by the experience of working poverty.

Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press

Governments in Canada have taken some steps to address these conditions. Last year, the government of Ontario announced the new Ontario Student Assistance Program to make tuition free for 210,000 students in the province and the government of New Brunswick took a similar step for low-income families.

Recently, the government of British Columbia announced a program to make tuition free for former youth in care. And recently, Employment Minister Patty Haiju announced a new federal student co-op program, as well as indicating her ministry's intention to ban unpaid internships.

With these and other measures, we appear to be heading in the right direction. In the anti-poverty movement, we know change is about progressive realization - small steps forward toward a larger vision of achieving human rights, like the rights to education and an adequate standard of living, for everyone in the country, rights the Canadian government has a legal obligation to uphold.

On the other hand, these initiatives are piecemeal and are not part of a long-term overall vision of addressing the poverty that exists both as a barrier to accessing post-secondary education for many people in Canada, as well as the consequence of pursuing that education in pursuit of a better financial future.

In order to succeed, these programs and small steps must be backed by the political will for something much better.

These initiatives are part of a larger system of debt and insecurity plaguing students and recent graduates in Canada. And the loans students incur to access the education they are told will ensure economic security contribute to this climate. Ontario graduates with loans through OSAP pay a staggering 5.2 per cent (prime + 2.5%) in interest for the contribution by the federal government, compared to the interest rates of private financial institutions at 4.7 per cent, or even 2.25 per cent for some programs. For many young people, this high rate of interest on their largest source of debt, coupled with the insecurity of post-graduation life, creates a cycle of financial instability that can be decades-long.

Some government programs underscore the lack of political will to create lasting change. The Canada Learning Bond - a federal initiative being promoted right now - provides a $2,000 government contribution through a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to individual students. Tuition costs of an average four-year program in Canada sit at $26,288, meaning the bond, however well-intentioned, barely makes a dent. In fact, it contributes less than eight per cent towards average tuition costs - and even less when you take into account living expenses students accrue while pursuing their degrees.

When we look at programs like the Canada Learning Bond in a vacuum, it makes sense that people applaud them - it is funding flowing directly to students to help them pay for their education. But digging into the details illustrates the gross inadequacy of these programs, not only towards helping students stave off long-term debt, but also towards fulfilling their right to education.

In order to succeed, these programs and small steps must be backed by the political will for something much better. And governments can do so much more: increase federal transfers with conditions to provincial and territorial governments, create programs for youth employment based in human rights, and commit to guaranteeing the right to education by making post-secondary education tuition free.

Until we make a real commitment to break the cycle of poverty for so many young people, the celebration of efforts to solve this crisis are nothing if not premature.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Canada Is Nowhere Close To Ending The Student Debt Crisis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students head back to school this month to universities across the country; it's a time to participate in social activities, a time to figure out what career path they'll pursue, and - for many - it's a time to rack up more overwhelming debt.

# data[].attributes.body
The topic of this Padlet if the effects of student loan debt from the perspective of a student facing this problem. You can expect to learn about the long term affects and how this is a common problem not just in Ontario, but all across Canada as well.

# data[].attributes.body
Image #2 is showing a chart that represents the average amount a student owes in each province based on whether they went to college or have a bachelors. It shows those who received a bachelors owe more money than those who went to college. It also shows that New Brunswick has the highest rate of student debt in Canada.

# data[].attributes.body
This video is taken from the perspective from a law student at the University of Ottawa and she talks about how she feels about her $150 000 in student debt. The student explains how this debt is "dream crushing" and I think this is something not a lot of people think about. You have all this debt just to get the degree, but like mentioned in the article before this, most students do not end up working full time jobs right away and are stuck with part-time jobs that are not permanent instead. You already have all this debt, and like the student says, she would like to open up her own practice (which would bring in more income) , but its too much of a financial risk as you are already in so much debt. This also explains that having debt is stressful not just for the student, but for their families as well. This video shows an amazing perspective on the harsh reality students face.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'It's dream crushing': Ottawa University law student opens up about being $150,000 in debt

# data[].attributes.body
This article is from The Globe and Mail. I think this is a fantastic article showing what happens to a student after they have graduated. This article shows how just because you got the education, you may not get a job out of it. It kind of shows how big of a risk you are taking to go to school because not only are you putting yourself in debt, but you do not know what will come from it. I like how this article is showing how students are not being educated on what happens after high school and how no one explains to you what it is like trying to find a professional job or the competition that you will be up against. I also really like how this article shows how your student debt will also effect other aspects of your life like your future family, mortgage payments etc. It shows how new students are getting a much later start in their "adult lives" and are facing so many consequences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Iain Reeve feels he got a bit of a raw deal when it comes to his education.

The 34-year-old Vancouver researcher at a private-sector union was sold a dream when he graduated with a PhD in political science from Queen's University.

When he queried his academic advisers about his job prospects upon graduation, "All the advice was: 'You'd make a good professor,' " recalls Mr. Reeve. "I never heard a single dissenting voice saying the market was bad."

And it was.

When Mr. Reeve graduated in the summer of 2014, he sent out 70 résumés. "The jobs just weren't there," he says. Worse, he faced the repayment of an $80,000 student loan - the cumulative effect of an undergraduate degree, an MA and a PhD.
Millennials with part-time or contract work: We want to hear from you
Having secured some interest relief from the loan, which he has since reduced to $70,000, found a research job, and met a partner without student debt, things are looking a bit more optimistic. But Mr. Reeve concedes the $750 to $900 monthly payment eats into the couple's budget - he says they plan to move out of their Vancouver rental to save money. And having a kid is currently just a discussion.

"I think our generation has been sandwiched with higher education costs - we're getting squeezed from every direction," says Mr. Reeve. "I'm definitely going to be paying [the student loan] in my 40s."

Mr. Reeve is one a growing number of graduates shouldering high levels of student debt into the 30s and 40s - which affect rent and mortgage payments, travel and starting a family. According to a 2015 survey of graduating students by the Canadian University Survey Consortium approximately 50 per cent of students report having student debt, most often from government student loans (40 per cent). The average debt among those reporting any debt is $26,819, with 29 per cent of all students reporting debt of $20,000 or higher.

And given the same survey shows that about 38 per cent of graduating students plan to apply to grad school, and 22 per cent expect to apply to a professional school after graduation, that debt load is usually a lot larger.

Scott Hannah, president and CEO at the Credit Counselling Society in New Westminster, B.C., is seeing greater numbers of clients in their 30s and 40s who are struggling to pay back student debts. "It takes longer to complete the degrees," he says. Or, for some, "the program they entered initially isn't the program they ended up with," leading to extra years of study, more student loans, and possibly a different income post-graduation.

The impact on lifestyle can be significant. "It certainly stretches a person's budget," says Mr. Hannah. "For some, the home will probably be a condo. The chance for that person to get a house in their 40s is slim."

Craig York found this out when he wanted to purchase a home in 2014 with his wife. With $27,000 in student debts after graduating with a BA from the University of Victoria in 2010, the 31-year-old credit counsellor discovered that obtaining approval for a mortgage wasn't going to be easy. "Because I was carrying this debt and because of the monthly payments, we needed a guarantor for the mortgage," he says. "We couldn't qualify on our own."

Mr. York was lucky: His in-laws stepped in and acted as guarantors. But his life since the purchase of the home has included lifestyle modifications. For one, the couple bought their home in Surrey, well outside more desirable Vancouver, "because of the affordability piece," he says. "We had fewer options." As well, he saved well in advance of the birth of his child to ensure there were no surprises. "We're pretty creative. Right now, we're doing cloth diapers instead of disposable," he says.

There are still the $300 monthly student loan payments, which have reduced his debt to $19,000. "I've had to adapt my budget to accommodate those payments," Mr. York says. "If we didn't have that $300 payment, we would definitely have more money - and we'd find a place to spend it."

Mr. Hannah is an advocate of repaying student debt, a process which he concedes takes sacrifices. "It may be that a two-car household goes down to a one-car household," he says.

He advises people to sit down and prioritize their debts, putting student debt repayment at the top of the list. But he's conscious that this process isn't foolproof: some simply can't make it work. "For most people, the challenge is keeping up with the payments." In that situation, he recommends appealing to have the terms of the student loan extended by the National Student Loans Service Centre.

Allen MacLeod, a licensed insolvency trustee and president of D&A MacLeod in Ottawa, says there are also more drastic options for people who are struggling with student debt payment, don't have assets such as a home, and haven't secured well-paying employment. One is to make a consumer proposal to the Canada Revenue Agency to lower loan payments.

Failing that, Mr. MacLeod says that under the Bankruptcy and iIsolvency Act, after seven years after graduation, a former student can declare bankruptcy and have the student debt removed. "One of the first things a student would look at is filing an assignment of bankruptcy," he says.

There are also ways around the seven-year waiting period. Mr. MacLeod says a 2013 court case, Canada (Attorney General) v Collins, found that each student loan is considered a separate and distinct debt. That means that debts from seven years ago will be considered separate from the debt accrued at later dates, making students who are still studying eligible to declare bankruptcy. Formerly, a person could only declare bankruptcy and get their debt erased if they had not studied in the seven years prior.

Mr. MacLeod argues that although bankruptcy affects credit for six years, "if you're not paying a student loan, the damage to credit is done already. There's no use having a great credit rating if you can't service your debt."

Bankruptcy is no longer an option when a person has acquired assets, such as a home and a registered education savings plan (RESP), says Mr. MacLeod, both of which can be seized by the CRA. In such a case, repayment is the only option and he recommends a visit to a mortgage broker to refinance the debt into their home.

"If you have a house, say, 'We'd like to refinance this,' " he says. "Get a second mortgage at 10 per cent to 12 per cent." Mr. MacLeod says that although the mortgage interest rate is high, it's amortized over a longer period. "It's a lot but it's only 4 per cent more than what the student loan charges," he says. "Have that debt, that mortgage come due when the first mortgage matures, and put it all in one package and then you're taking care of it."

Mr. MacLeod feels people in their 40s shouldn't be worrying about student loans. "If you've made an effort to pay back that debt, if you're able to pay that debt back in a reasonable amount of time, at the very least, consider: 'Should I file a bankruptcy?' " he says.

"In the end, in terms of what is better for Canada, you want that person who is stuck with that student loan to have a secure future so when they retire the taxpayer won't have to look after that person."
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Mr. Reeve's PhD is from Simon Fraser University, when it is in fact from Queen's University. It has since been corrected.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Iain Reeve feels he got a bit of a raw deal when it comes to his education. The 34-year-old Vancouver researcher at a private-sector union was sold a dream when he graduated with a PhD in political science from Queen's University.

# data[].attributes.headline
Image #3: Future Thoughts Through a Meme 

# data[].attributes.subject
Image #3: Future Thoughts Through a Meme 

# data[].attributes.body
This is just a fun picture that represents how the majority of students feel. You finally get through college and then you do not really get to start making money because your sitting on a pile of student debt. The amount just seems impossible to pay off.

# data[].attributes.body
This is an educational video that explains the latest OSAP and how it all works. It shows you how to apply, and makes it sound and look super easy for students. It is a walk through process explaining what you are filling out to eliminate any possible confusion. This video makes OSAP sound like a fantastic option for everyone with out explaining what factors fully influence your funding or how this can affect you. I believe this causes much confusion for students. It sounds picture perfect and students tend to forget this must be paid pack, interest gets charged eventually and a lot of students do not plan far enough a head or think about all their options.