As the youngest member of the U.S. Senate, and a lawyer, Chris Murphy is still paying back student loans. So is his wife.
"Frankly, we're not saving a lot of money for retirement," he told a group of Trumbull High School seniors recently.
If interest rates go up, students will be paying $500 more a year in student loans, he said.
"We have to make college cheaper," Murphy said.
"These days you need a graduate and an undergraduate degree," he said, noting that student loan debt is second only to mortgage debt.
One student said she did not apply to her first choice college after analyzing the costs.
Board of Education Member Lisa Labella was unhappy that athletics is stressed as a source of scholarships.
THS student Josselyn Layedra wants to become a nurse but because her mother remarried recently, she no longer qualifies for as much aid. Her mother called it "heart-breaking."
Leyendra came to United States in fifth-grade knowing no English but has made great strides, said her guidance counselor, Tracey Cranston.
Meanwhile, Diane DeVellis, of Fairfield University, noted all colleges and universities work differently regarding application of scholarships when deciding financial aid.
Murphy said the THS stop was part of a tour he was making regarding college costs and student loans.
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