NGPF Activity
Paying for College
Spanish version
Teacher Tip Video
INTERACTIVE: Payback
30 min
Interactive: Payback
Your total cost of going to college can vary greatly depending on what type of school you choose
and the decisions you make while you’re in school! Play this fun interactive game, PAYBACK, to
experience some of these decisions.
Part I: Start the Game
Your Goal: Graduate college with a reasonable amount of debt and try to avoid burnout -
focus on your grades, make sure you get enough social interaction, and keep your
happiness levels sustainable (3 bars at the bottom of your screen as you play the game).
1. After opening the game, click on the “Get Your Payback” button to get started.
2. “Apply for college”: Choose options that apply to you and note them below.
a. GPA: 3.3-3.6
b. EXTRACURRICULARS: low
c. HOME STATE: Michigan
3. What impact do you think GPA and Extracurriculars might have on the college options
available to you and how much you will have to pay?
Extracurriculars might give you more training for certain jobs
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4. Compare your offer letters using the 3 factors: prestige, cost, and aid.
a. Which school did you choose?
An out of state school.
b. How much debt are you starting off with? (Hint: look at the bottom right-hand
corner of your screen after clicking on your school)
21,009$
c. How do you think your school choice might impact your overall success in the game?
It is out of state so not close to home and an unfamiliar area
5. Continue the game, but pause before you start Freshman Year to answer the next set of
questions.
Part II: Before Freshman Year
6. What was your strategy when making the pre-college decisions about taking jobs, buying
laptops, selecting dorm supplies, etc?
To get the second cheapist one/ used items, and with taking jobs make sure its something i know how to do
and pays me enough
7. Take a look at your meters for Focus, Connections, and Happiness and at your debt level.
How confident are you that you’ll beat the game in the end?
1 2 3 4 5
Not looking Definitely
good going to win!
8. Now, continue playing the four rounds, one for each year of college.
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Part III: After You’re Done Playing
9. Did you get through the whole game? Why or why not?
no, I couldn't pay for everything and lost my job.
10. What’s one wise choice you made during the game? What’s one choice you made that you
regret?
Wise Choice Choice I Regret
-buying used textbooks, comes with useful -out of state college
notes and is cheap
11. If you could choose just one, which set of decisions do you think is MOST important to your
success in paying for college:
❏ What university you choose to attend
❏ Your purchases to prep for freshman year
❏ The decisions you make during your 4 years of college
❏ The major and career path you follow
Explain your answer.
I think this is important because you should find what you love and do it to be truly successful in life.
12. Identify at least two lessons you learned by playing this game that you could apply to your
real life.
-Choose somewhere close to home and to always find the best quality in items but make sure they aren't overly
pricey.
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