Thread started by bentstrider at 11.27.08 - 12:44 am

I've always wondered what is the best way to go about getting it.

Me, I prefer to work and make enough money to at least, part-time it.
This is mainly due to the fact that when I first started taking some classes, I was a little shocked and disturbed by how the financial aid awards were disbursed.

I always assumed that they were locked into an account that the school you attended maintained.
But, it was an actual check that could pretty much be used for anything.
When I got it, I held onto it for a few days, then returned it and relinquished any further money to be given to me.

After that, I got into security and starting taking classes here and there, paying my own way as I went.

You could think of financial aid as getting paid to learn, but after I witnessed other students going on splurges and binges, I was turned off to the program at that point.

As for those of you that are on it, I'm pretty sure that you use it for what it's meant for, but it's just that my own first-hand account just put me down.

So, what's everyone else's take on "how post-high school, schooling" should be paid for?

I figured that this seems to be a question no one has asked before, and it doesn't seem very, political to me.
Not to mention that there are quite a bit of college students and grads that post and ride.

Rip and shred folks!!!

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i still don't believe you're 25.



Candy Cane
11.27.08 - 1:46 am

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Next ride, I'll show you my CDL, occifer.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 1:59 am

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Its all up to you.
If you make the effort there is lots of different kinds of money to dig up for going to school.

How you spend it is also up to you.
The only time I've ever had money on top of tuition expenses is when I took loans ... so if I spent some of that money on weed and records, that was on me.

If you want to expand your career options/ earning potential with an education, GO FOR IT! Just look for all the free money you can get your hands on, and be conscientious about the relationship between what you borrow and what your realistic earning potential is.

If you need help finding money, try looking on line ... and especially: go to the library, find the right department and ask for help. the librarian will help you find the books that have grants in them.

Get the money, get an education, and contribute to society; and we (the taxpayers) will recover our investment.





trickmilla
11.27.08 - 3:01 am

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Well, I plan to continue working and paying my way through whatever schooling I intend to put myself through.

However, I just get a little irritated with all those people who think
"full-time/right now" is the absolute only way to go, and free-money, or loans are the only way to go about it.

But, for those of you that are choosing the FAFSA-path and are utilizing in to the full-potential of getting your education done, then I salute you!!

Now, keeping this thread in line with schooling, is there any difference in the amount of time it takes to say, get a degree from a CSU-school, vs. USC?

I noticed a typical, B/S at a CSU-school requires 198-210 units, while a B/S at USC typically requires 120-132 units.

Do CSU-schools require more units over a private U like USC, or are is 1 quarter unit equal to 2, or 3 semester units?

If I'm engaging a degree program, I myself am nowhere near the starting point.
I still want to part-time it and get some work done, but I just don't want to be stuck somewhere taking 8-10 years to get a bachelors degree finished.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 4:00 am

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you're right... i used my first semester monies for a nice mac. the second for a nice bedroom set (girl at the time) and so on and so forth. adam, you have to be responsible and serious about school before touching that money.


then again, i have yet to pay it off and i'm pretty sure they've (wachovia bank) given up trying to collect it.


hoooooray for free monies!!



Jazzy Phat Nastee
11.27.08 - 7:24 am

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Here's what you do:
Get some really smart, hardworking parents who set aside enough money to send 5 kids to college (sometimes twice.)
Then live in a country that won't put you into lifelong debt if you decide to go to school.
Then work really hard for 4 years, get really good grades, and proceed to coast through life...

umm yeah... it worked for me.

sorry, i haven't the slightest idea how anyone could ever afford to go to school here... and i realize my circumstances were extremely fortunate. If I were you I'd start hunting for all those scholarships that different organizations offer (for tax breaks, etc.) They always told us in school to apply for the ones that we don't even qualify for (ex: Mauritian heritage scholarship) because if they go unclaimed, then that money goes to nobody.



canadienne
11.27.08 - 9:28 am

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fastweb.com is a database of scholarships
try it.
i'm going to college college in the fall so no exp. yet.



aksendz
11.27.08 - 9:32 am

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hi bent,
these are some of the things that i looked into before making the choice to quit work and go to school full time...here are some ways to pay for school...

a) tuition reimbursement (most jobs will have this)
b) federal grants
c) scholarships
d) work program (if you have time, work towards tuition)
e) financial aid (pell/stafford loans)

if you served in the military, the MGIB

hope that helps and good luck




FMontanez1974
11.27.08 - 10:24 am

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I'm quite aware of all that, and I'm not really asking for handouts.
As I said, I'm working my way through it so that way, I don't have to pay back diddly-squat to anyone, or feel like I was funded by some random set of taxpayers that bitch and groan alot(me being one of those people).
Anywho, I also tend to have a bit of a guilty conscience when it comes to taking money from anyone.
I've seen how most of my family members treated this type of aid when they got it, and that also, in turn, made me not want to fore-go that route.

I was actually wanting to know how everyone felt about "receiving this type of aid" without having to place a derogatory-sounding, thread-title up on the top.





bentstrider
11.27.08 - 10:58 am

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Also...

Cal Grants - If you have a school that can verify your GPA have them fill out the GPA verification form now and fill out that FAFSA by March 2nd. Forms are available now. By summer next year, you can start using that money for your Fall, Winter, etc. semester for the 2009/2010 award year. Make sure you get a proof of delivery when you mail it out. Even if you don't use it that year, you can apply for an Leave or Absence so you can prevent you Cal Grant to be withdrawn.

It's good that you wanted to use your FA strictly for school cause I've heard stories of people getting the check for their Pell Grants, using it for like a down payment for a car, and next thing they dropped from school and was asked to pay that back before they get any future FA.

For those who are current or former foster youth and not have reached your 22nd birthday ... there is also the Chafee Grant



digablesoul
11.27.08 - 11:01 am

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well, i like obama's plan on school. community service for money for school.



FMontanez1974
11.27.08 - 11:15 am

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My first and only semester I took didn't go all that well, so I've been told that I've got to take four to five, not just one, 4 unit classes to get my gpa back up in order to fulfill that.

I've taken one class here, and one class there, but the school-counselors tell me that isn't enough to cut it.

Another issue I've been having is that the counselors at my local school keep trying to steer me into a different path, as in away from the medical, and emergency fields.

Essentially, they want me to work towards these 12-30 unit certs in fields I don't even care to mention, that probably won't even guarantee part-time employment.

I've already picked a path, and I want to stay on it.
The firefighter/paramedic route seems to be a good path to take while I wait for those law-enforcement apps to run their course.

Essentially, if I keep meeting barriers with law-enforcement agencies due to tricky, psychiatric exams that are fixed to make you fail, then I could at least get on with AMR, then eventually a county fire department by simply taking the required certifications.

As far as taking on a full-load for a bachelors degree, I know I could eventually figure out the hard math and the hard science, but cushy office and lab-jobs are considered the bottom of the barrel for me.




bentstrider
11.27.08 - 11:15 am

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@bent

Im at csun right now and to graduate with my degree i needed 120 units.

as far as financial aid,

i apply for fafsa every year.

it pays for my tuition and whatever is left over, i get mailed to me via check.

i use that money to help me out with rent, books, etc.

i still have to work but it's nice to have that little extra cushion.



KiMS1
11.27.08 - 1:09 pm

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@kIMS1

I see what you mean.

But, all decisions for next year depend on whether I get rehired with Swift or not.

If I do get rehired, I'll probably spend two more years driving full-time anyway, then I'll seek out a part-timer and do school full-time on some FAFSA assistance.

If not, then I'll seek out a local, part-timer immediately and then seek out some of the FAFSA assistance to aid me with the all the EMT-->Paramedic-->Firefighter training requirements.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 1:37 pm

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Benstrider why don't you just buy a diploma on eBay. I think everyone I've ever hired used that route.



indigis
11.27.08 - 3:22 pm

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I may like things that go boom, but I also have my principles.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 4:19 pm

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there is a program by United Way.... you save $50 dollars a month and when you save $2000 out of your own money.... United Way provides you with a grant of $3000... to keep with your idea, the check is written out to the institution you are attending... so, it can only be used for tuition, books, or anything at the student store....

FYI, it is an IDA (individual development account) program by United Way.... there are income restrictions.... so check for the requirements.....



dayone
11.27.08 - 4:47 pm

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in total, you will have $5000 to assist you with your finances.... it is not a hand out since you are saving on a monthly basis... plus, the program will require you to complete 20 hours of financial literacy... so you have to put some work into it....



dayone
11.27.08 - 4:52 pm

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College is free in Sweden.



imachynna
11.27.08 - 4:59 pm

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Sweden is cold.

End of story.

I like ovens like Arizona in case

you forgot.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 5:41 pm

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Oh, and the EMT+Paramedic+Firefighter-I Cert is a total of 70 units when you break it down.

I guesstimate that about $4,000-$5,000 will need to be raised by myself to pay for it out of pocket.

A solid, four-six month series of trips with Swift ought to take care of that.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 5:44 pm

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All good advisements!

Definitely go into the financial aid office at the school of your choice and meet with a councilor and get a basic rundown.

Then check the web and library.

This is a chance that there is somebody who is looking to help send somebody like your self to school.

You'll make them happy by taking the money and doing something good with it.

There is nothing wrong with taking a hand out.
Especially since you clearly intend to apply yourself in a field that will give back to your community.






trickmilla
11.27.08 - 7:25 pm

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As I said, I'll keep all options on the table.

I just want to make sure I also meet with the right counselors who will actually approve my intended plans, as opposed to making me switch once again.

Either that, or I could make myself happier by moving to an area with better schools.

Ultimately, I'm most likely going to remain rural the way I see it.

Nothing wrong with city living, but small-towns and deserts are probably going to remain my favorite types of place.

Aside from the prospects of becoming a top-dog LEO in Bumfuck, TX, I could also end up being the same on the emergency-side of things.



bentstrider
11.27.08 - 7:37 pm

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@bent

one more thing

im not sure how ur internet situation would if you startd working with swift again but keep in mind that if ur doing part time and you plan on being on the road a lot, there are many online classes you can take.

i know a lot of GE's are available online at CSUN and about half the classes in my major also offer an online equivalent course.

it is a bit harder bc you dont have an instructor drilling things into ur head but if ur good at keeping up with reading straight outta text books, ithis can also be an option.



KiMS1
11.28.08 - 2:24 am

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My trick: working 32 hours per week or more while taking a full course load and federally subsidized student loans. I ended up only 15k in debt after all five years.

The other trick: travel back in time to when college was affordable. Tuition rates have gone batshit crazy in the last eight years or so. I really feel sorry for kids who are in college right now.

Money saving bonus: don't change majors, especially not to some totally unrelated field, unless you're really sure it'll be worth it. I changed from psych to computer science at the beginning of my third year and added five semesters to my tour of duty. It ended up being worth it, but not until a few years after I graduated.



mullingitover
11.28.08 - 2:33 am

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I'm sticking to where high-employability will be.

Doing what you desire is one thing, but I'm sort of a realist when it comes to making sure I'm not living out of a trash-can.

As far as the internet-situation goes should I get back to OTR, I've got a wireless-card with T-Mobile, along with hotspots at the Starbucks and selective truckstops for when I need a stronger signal than what a cell could put out.



bentstrider
11.28.08 - 2:43 am

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I like the way you think, Bents.

I would advise anyone to follow his example and absolutely do whatever it takes to avoid going into debt.

And if you're already in debt, bust ass to get out of it as quickly as possible.

You don't want that albatross around your neck when the shit hits the fan.



ephemerae
11.28.08 - 8:01 am

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