Almost immediately after graduation, many decisions with long-term effects must be made.
Decisions about insurance, jobs and leasing a home have to be considered, and most young adults don’t have a clue where to begin.
The Internet provides answers to these questions at www.choicenerd.com, a Web site created by Ohioan Charles Schooler.
Schooler graduated from Wright State University with a degree in marketing in 1998. He developed the idea for a Web site that helps graduating students make decisions after a series of conversations he had with friends.
“We were talking about what’s next, and the general apprehension we had about becoming adults and entering the real world,” Schooler said.
Choicenerd.com offers many resources for young adults who are graduating. It provides tips for buying new or used automobiles, including financing options and the benefits and disadvantages of leasing students might not be aware of.
It provides an in-depth analysis of money issues, including information about banking, credit, financial planning and how to begin an investment plan.
The site contains additional information about the issues involved in renting or buying a house, dealing with mortgage loans, and even a list of metro areas around the country with the greatest shares of young adults. Columbus ranks 10th on this list with 23.7 percent of the population between the ages of 20 to 34, according to a study conducted in 2000.
Kevin Dickerson, a junior in psychology and photography, was not too confident about the legitimacy of Web sites like Schooler’s.
“Web sites like those tend to be too general,” Dickerson said. “Unless they were specific situations that people were in, like testimonials. I want to hear about the cat who had horrible credit and figured how to pay back minimal monthly payments and still remain unstressed.”
Schooler said the site was inspired by a class in personal finance management he enrolled in while at Wright State. Although the Web site does not mention a lot about insurance, it does provide information about things that are important for recent graduates.
“I also noticed some of my friends making bad decisions and getting burnt because they didn’t have the right resources,” he said. “I wanted to provide these resources needed to make informed decisions about these types of issues.”
After browsing the site, Dickerson agreed it could be helpful.
“The way the Web site is created is sort of like a template,” Dickerson said. “It makes it seem impersonal, but that’s fine because it is informative.”
The site also offers information about credit.
“It’s good to communicate with the collectors because no matter what happens, your bills are going to stay with you,” Dickerson said. “You might as well talk to them and try to work something out because it shows responsibility in the future to businesses and employers.”
Schooler built the site over two years. He kept changing his mind about the content, and also whether anyone would visit the site once operating. He said a lot of people have given him a warm response since the site has been online.
“Some of the feedback I’ve received is when people are interested in buying homes, they find the stages listed on the site to be helpful,” Schooler said. “I hope that people who visit the Web site will be able to receive as much information as possible before they make important decisions,” Schooler said.
Schooler recommends that students think about financial concerns before graduation.
“The most important thing for graduating students to remember is that even though you’re out of college, that doesn’t mean you’re finished learning,” he said.
