[clintonb]

> No, but they all went to college, so they should have learned calculus, and derivatives.

I've been out of school for ten years, and haven't used calculus in about twelve. How exactly do you think knowing calculus would have helped here? Be careful assuming everyone learned the subject as you did and knows how/when to apply it to various situations.

Personally, I learned about interest rates in middle school. I used that knowledge, combined with additional research on subsidized loans, to decide to take out loans. I also had the advantage of learning the downsides of debt collection from my brother's mistakes.

Not everyone is a rational economic actor. Children/young adults ages 17-22 definitely aren't the most rational amongst us.