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SALT LAKE CITY - Many people feel pressure to go to college and get a degree in order to get ahead in the struggling economy. But some are not prepared and drop out with loads of debt. One college is trying to help with that.
The University of Phoenix now has a required orientation course for anyone with little college experience. Spokesman Ryan Rauzon says, "See what getting a degree is really like, whether you have the time for it, or the computer skills."
"Before you take on any debt, before you decide what degree or program you are going to pursue, and whether it's right for you and your family at this time in your life, make sure you understand the work it's going to take," he advises.
Rauzon says the university wants more students not just to enroll but to complete their degrees.
The school also has new financial counseling and has changed its recruiting to hopefully cut back on the number of students who drop out.
Rauzon says most of the university's students are non-traditional, or what they call the working learner, meaning they also have jobs, families, or are in the military at the same time they are in school.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
