INTERACTIVE: Payback https://www.timeforpayback.

com/

Part I: Play 

Play the game, Payba¢k. As you play, make realistic decisions to keep your debt manageable and
maintain your focus, connections, and happiness. Record your decisions in the Round #1 column below

Round #1 Round #2

I chose out of state public because it seemed I chose in-state public because it’s a
What type of school did like a good school with reasonable money good school, good money, education
you choose? Why? payment. Even though it was out of my own
state, I really had just cared about the
and close to home. It was reasonable
education at that point. and simple to me.

I chose a simple dorm with roommate and I chose a simple dorm with a
Living arrangement: spent a lot on supplies for my dorm and me roommate and I spent a little amount
(school stuff). I bought the good but cheap
on supplies that were necessary. Also, I
stuff. Stuff that will just get me through
college fine. I also chose the standard meal
chose the good old standard meal plan
plan because it is standard basically and n0o since I need those extra foods and
need for extra things. money to pay back anyways.

Will you work? How Yes, I am working. I will Yes, I am working. I will
many hours per week? be working 10 hours per be working 15 hours per
week. week.

Major, including starting Agriculture, salary Biology, salary $40,800,

Your final debt amount: $84,635 $11,317

Your starting salary: $38,906 $40,800

Your paycheck amount: $1,945.3 didn’t show it

Your estimated monthly $898 didn’t show it

Part II: Round Two

Play the game a second time. This time, choose a different scenario. This is your opportunity to see the
financial impact of your school type, housing, and other college decisions. Record your decisions in
Round #2 in the chart above.

Part III: Reflection

1. What two lessons did you learn by playing this game that you could apply to your real life?

-school is everything

-be smart

2. What were the factors that you considered in choosing a college the first time you played the
game? Did that change the second time you played? 

At first, I just wanted to go to a really good quality public school that was expensive and all that. I
didn’t even think of choosing the in-state because I just cared about the high end stuff I could get.
My choice changed the 2nd time because I wanted to be close to my family and I wanted the school
to be cheap but still get a really good education. The in-state was a decent choice as it made things
more simple and comfortable.
 3. Did you find it difficult to balance the three factors: happiness, focus, and connections? Describe
a decision you made and how it impacted each of these factors.

I found it difficult to balance happiness and focus the most because I wanted to work hard but then I
also wanted to have a good mental set.

4. What impact do you think GPA and Extracurriculars might have on the college you attend and
how much you will have to pay?

I think the impact was great since I you have better extracurriculars and higher GPA you do in-fact get
a greater advantage than other people when it comes to college choices and such. I feel like you
won’t have to pay much if you have great qualities with you.

5. If you were the game designer, what are two changes that you would make to the game?
Explain why.

Add more details so you get more of a better sense of each year so you can like can understand what
senior year or freshman year is specifically like and stuff. Design the game by making it look more fun
and jolly and not that intimidating looking because it would make the person playing more calm and
happy I guess.

6. How did you feel as you saw your student debt grow during the game? Did you make changes
later in the game to try and keep your debt more manageable, and if so, what were they?

I felt worried and pressured and sometimes even stressed a little. When I saw my debt grow, I did try
to keep my debt more manageable by going into everything really cheap, simple and once in while
treating myself.

7. What is your attitude about student loan debt after playing the game? What do you think will
have the biggest impact on your debt amount?

My attitude towards student loan debt is that to be more logical and wise against it. I don’t want to get
to carried away with my money or just spend way too little on stuff I actually need. I feel like the thing
that will have the biggest impact on my debt amount is the bills of the dorm and paying rent and that
stuff. This is because since you will be using school material a lot you will have to pay for what you use.
A year is a lot and four years is a lot.

8. Do you think this game is reflective of the expenses you will have in college? Explain.

No? this is because it gives you sometimes choices that will result in real money pay. Sometimes the
game doesn’t really make you do money choices sometimes as it says how much you will have to pay
but then later on, the pay never happens or something of that sort. It does tell you to pay for simple
things but then it didn’t really show the dorm rent and that such. You bought something and then you
either get money back and that’s it.

9. As a rule of thumb, your total student loan debt should be less than your starting salary after
graduation. 

a. In the first round, was your total debt amount more or less than your starting salary? 

b. Does this worry you? Why or why not?

In the first round my debt about was more than my starting salary. Of course this worries me, it
worries me because obviously you can’t pay for something you don’t have the money for. I also
need to stay away from making those types of choices that led to me have a big debt amount.

10. How can you use the experience of this game to minimize debt in college?

I would focus on the small but important things then when I get that all together I would make decisions
on how I would complete the bigger tasks so that my focus is not all scrambled and I could possibly work
with things much better I guess. Never know, my plan might change.