|
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
   
| I'm sorry in advance.. This is really just a vent.
I'm trying to continue my education, and they make it SO hard for people going back to school who are past a certain age, that DON'T have children, that AREN'T married, that DON'T own their own home... I qualify for FASFA, but I have to get my GPA back up from when I dropped out of college after only two semesters straight after HS.
Now I'm finding I'm having to pay out of pocket to return to college. I paid for the Fall semester last year, and it cost me 1800. Which doesn't sound like a big deal... except I RUINED my credit marrying young and letting him use my score for EVERYTHING. So no loans and I'm having to pay it on top of everything else I have ( car, phone, insurances, horse board ect. )
Anyways, I was very proud of myself. Because I've kept putting it off, putting it off. Well I was going to go this summer, I just can't swing it with my bills right now. So I'm getting a jump on the fall semester and paying ahead of time. It's just so frustrating how little resources I've found... I've looked into scholarships and grants. But so far, because of my GPA ( 2.3 from withdrawals Ws being on my file still) I have to pay for at least one more full semester AND pay for all my classes out of pocket. Which is looking like after books, lab fees and classes to be about 3 grand. I feel like a ticking clock is over my head, because I just want to get my life kicked back off, in the direction I want it go..
Uhg. rant over. =( It's just frustrating. To have all these big dreams and only be limited by money. If I can ever get my GPA up to a 3.0 ( which I think after this next semester of 12 hours it will be that high or higher pending good grades) then FASFA will grant me 4000 a semester for school. Is anyone else dealing with something similiar? I swear every time I can't take classes in a semester because I simply can't afford it. In my head I HEAR that darn clock saying " you've got to get this done now, or you'll be 30 before you graduate!"
Edited by americanpride08 2015-04-29 1:17 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 5290
| Is this for community college or university? If university you might want to start at the JC level. Cheaper and you can get your general ed out of the way. I am a teacher myself so have sympathy for those trying to get a better education. Also, what is the job market for people in the field you want to go in? With our economy, a lot of people LOST MONEY by having college degrees. |
|
| |
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
| FLITASTIC - 2015-04-29 1:45 PM Is this for community college or university? If university you might want to start at the JC level. Cheaper and you can get your general ed out of the way. I am a teacher myself so have sympathy for those trying to get a better education. Also, what is the job market for people in the field you want to go in? With our economy, a lot of people LOST MONEY by having college degrees.
It's a local college. I'm transfering to a college that has the field I'm going into. The ecomony is pretty good for the field I'm going into, which is Zoology. But there are a ton of jobs I can pursue with that degree. Though I'll be relocating to pursue the job I want on a broader scale. My goal is to be a zoologist at a facility like Bush Gardens or Disneys animal kingdoms, or one of the larger zoos in NC or CA. The biggest thing for the field is experience, so I'll be interning at the NC zoo when I trasnfer. But the only way I can make ANY of this happen is to get my GPA high enough to qualify for grants. The good news is the zoo will provide housing AND I'll get college credits for it while earning money from the college in a work study program. But... it's getting to that point that I feel like I'm beating my head on the wall. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| College is very expensive, I agree. I know you do not want to do this, but you may have to bite the bullet and, if you can, send your horse home so your parents can take care of him for you, or sell/lease him. I have my daughter's horses at home now. They are out in the pasture until she can afford them. She just graduated from Chiropractic school. Being a responsible adult can sometimes s***. Hugs and I am sure you will figure it out.  |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | PM me. I spend spare time helping people with scholarships. I'm pretty darn good at it. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | GLP - 2015-04-29 2:28 PM College is very expensive, I agree. I know you do not want to do this, but you may have to bite the bullet and, if you can, send your horse home so your parents can take care of him for you, or sell/lease him. I have my daughter's horses at home now. They are out in the pasture until she can afford them. She just graduated from Chiropractic school. Being a responsible adult can sometimes s***.
That's what my parents did for me while I was in optometry school. They sat at home until I graduated, and then moved them when I could afford to keep them somewhere.
OP I can't give you any specific advice except to HANG IN THERE. It will all be worth it!
|
|
| |
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
| r_beau - 2015-04-29 2:45 PM GLP - 2015-04-29 2:28 PM College is very expensive, I agree. I know you do not want to do this, but you may have to bite the bullet and, if you can, send your horse home so your parents can take care of him for you, or sell/lease him. I have my daughter's horses at home now. They are out in the pasture until she can afford them. She just graduated from Chiropractic school. Being a responsible adult can sometimes s***. That's what my parents did for me while I was in optometry school. They sat at home until I graduated, and then moved them when I could afford to keep them somewhere.
OP I can't give you any specific advice except to HANG IN THERE. It will all be worth it!
Definately not what I wanted to do with my summer. But I'm sucking it up. He'll be ridden more at home at least while I'm in this state. The cool thing is, when I move to NC and intern at the zoo they said all I had to pay there was for bedding, and his needs ( vet, food ) and he can stay there because they have a full stable for their petting zoo. I found that pretty neat.. So there are pluses..I'm just to the point money makes me want to pull my hair out. there is NEVER enough I swear =/ praying helps. I have to pray for patience every morning noon and night lol
Edited by americanpride08 2015-04-29 2:53 PM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
| Back in the day that's how all of us went to school.
We paid for it |
|
| |
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
| arion - 2015-04-29 3:14 PM Back in the day that's how all of us went to school. We paid for it
Yes well.. back in the day. School didn't cost a full 3 years of your salary AFTER finishing school to pay for it. lol   |
|
| |
|
  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | arion - 2015-04-29 3:14 PM Back in the day that's how all of us went to school. We paid for it
Crap. I remember that. How old does that make me??? |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | I understand your frustration! My daughter went back to school two years ago and watched almost everyone in her class not only get loans to spend for what they needed but their schooling was all paid for. most were unmarried with children well my daughter was married and no children. she has worked hard to do everything right and paid double for it.It feels like you are punished for doing the right things in life.Most of the girls that graduated with her are not working now.THATS WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO VOTE WISELY.BUT IM NOT SURE ANYTHING WILL CHANGE. |
|
| |
|
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| americanpride08 - 2015-04-29 3:18 PM
arion - 2015-04-29 3:14 PM Back in the day that's how all of us went to school. We paid for it
Yes well.. back in the day. School didn't cost a full 3 years of your salary AFTER finishing school to pay for it. lol
I graduated 11 yrs ago, back then it costs about 10k/yr for schooling not including living expenses, where I live costs haven't went up that much.
Yes it sucks being an adult, but we all make our choices
Speak with a school counsellor and see what scholarships/grants are available for mature students |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
| americanpride08 - 2015-04-29 3:18 PM
arion - 2015-04-29 3:14 PM Back in the day that's how all of us went to school. We paid for it
Yes well.. back in the day. School didn't cost a full 3 years of your salary AFTER finishing school to pay for it. lol
If that's true then you need to rethink your field of study |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | My parents paid for two whole semesters of my community college right out of highschool... I highly under appreciated them for that.
Going back on my own years later was a huge wake up call for me. I wouldn't be able to afford it even on a payment plan without grants and scholarships. Maybe my classes, but not for books and extras.
I'm glad they have the grants and scholarships available and in place for people who really need them.
I'm also glad my work place encourages me to go back and get a basic business degree. I get paid more for having a degree and they will even let me off during the day to go to school. AND they want me to make sure I still keep my 40+ hours a week. I love that they are letting me keep my long work hours so that i'm not loosing money while going to school.
It's frustrating getting started again, but keep your head up. Keep going. You live and learn, but good for you for pursuing your education.  |
|
| |
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
| arion - 2015-04-29 3:47 PM americanpride08 - 2015-04-29 3:18 PM arion - 2015-04-29 3:14 PM Back in the day that's how all of us went to school. We paid for it Yes well.. back in the day. School didn't cost a full 3 years of your salary AFTER finishing school to pay for it. lol If that's true then you need to rethink your field of study
Exaggeration.  The career I'm going into will make anywhere from 50-80k starting out. Toping out average is around 100-120k |
|
| |
|
 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Kudos to you for deciding to finish.....but I don't get the rant.
You made the decisions that killed your gpa, scholorships are something to be earned and a 2.3 doesn't earn anything. I guess I don't really understand why you feel that should entitle you to a scholorship or grant? I'm not trying to be mean, it's just that those are things you earn, it's not a given that someone else should pay for your education. How should they know that you intend to take it seriously this time around?
Making poor decision ruined your credit....and banks are funny about wanting to loan money to people they feel will hold up their end of the deal.
Welcome to life as a grown up, we reap the consequences of our actions.
Edited by MS2011 2015-04-29 4:29 PM
|
|
| |
|
What Name?
Posts: 1994
| MS2011 - 2015-04-29 4:21 PM Kudos to you for deciding to finish.....but I don't get the rant.
You made the decisions that killed your gpa, scholorships are something to be earned and a 2.3 doesn't earn anything.
Making poor decision ruined your credit....and banks are funny about wanting to loan money to people they feel will hold up their end of the deal.
Welcome to life as a grown up, we reap the consequences of our actions.
You do realize the point of a rant is to get it out of your system? I'm well aware of my mistakes. But thank you for being so nice about it. 
Edited by americanpride08 2015-04-29 4:47 PM
|
|
| |
|
Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | americanpride08 - 2015-04-29 4:29 PM MS2011 - 2015-04-29 4:21 PM Kudos to you for deciding to finish.....but I don't get the rant.
You made the decisions that killed your gpa, scholorships are something to be earned and a 2.3 doesn't earn anything.
Making poor decision ruined your credit....and banks are funny about wanting to loan money to people they feel will hold up their end of the deal.
Welcome to life as a grown up, we reap the consequences of our actions.
You do realize the point of a rant is to get it out of your system? I'm well aware. But thank you for being so nice about it.
It's not easy... and seriously, great decision to go back now.
Getting thru college has always been very tough. I worked full time, had room mates, lived at home in the summers (so I could save $$$) and didn't have my horses the whole time. There's a whole new level of broke that you learn survival skills from. It was HARD, but it opened doors when I finished. Suck it up for a couple of semesters and your grades will come up and then you'll get some scholorship $$$.
|
|
| |
|
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| MS2011 - 2015-04-29 4:36 There's a whole new level of broke that you learn survival skills from. It was HARD, but it opened doors when I finished.
Uh, you win the Internet today!! Sounds like we had a similar experience! Mine was so rock bottom that the neighbors were bringing me food plates because I was getting so thin.
I agree. Keep bashing it out. I've been out of school for 8 years, I'm still paying student loans. Not keeping up the pressure on myself has never been an option. Venting gets you nowhere, pour that energy into forward motion. Be like a duck, calm and pretty on the surface, paddling like mad underneath. Don't let anybody but your inner group see you sweat. |
|
| |
|
Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | classicpotatochip - 2015-04-29 4:48 PM MS2011 - 2015-04-29 4:36 There's a whole new level of broke that you learn survival skills from. It was HARD, but it opened doors when I finished. Uh, you win the Internet today!! Sounds like we had a similar experience! Mine was so rock bottom that the neighbors were bringing me food plates because I was getting so thin. I agree. Keep bashing it out. I've been out of school for 8 years, I'm still paying student loans. Not keeping up the pressure on myself has never been an option. Venting gets you nowhere, pour that energy into forward motion. Be like a duck, calm and pretty on the surface, paddling like mad underneath. Don't let anybody but your inner group see you sweat.
If you work at a nice place as a waitress... it's easy to schedule around school..... AND if you're nice to the cooks (and pitiful enough) they'll let you eat the mess ups and take food home. LMAO! |
|
| |
Folks on-line