<p>just wondering how you all manage to live, and if you have any advice to give
we all have to become independent someday ;</p>
<p>This financially independent student works a full time job :)</p>
<p>wow, that must be something, to be supporting yourself :) what's ur job like ?</p>
<p>Let me stop messing with your head. I am the parent of a college freshman, but I am also a full time graduate student while holding down a full time job(woking in corporate life over 20 years), paying bills and her EFC. </p>
<p>Both of my parents passed away while I was in undergrad so I did have to work full time (at an insurance company because they had flex time) and take classes in the evening in order to finish college. The experience did teach me the value of my education since I was footing all of the bills my self.</p>
<p>Oh.. I didn't expect it was anything like that, I'm really sorry..
It must have been awfully hard; I hope you're better off now though. How did your college consider your situation?</p>
<p>Correction: Parent of a college sophmore :eek</p>
<p>During undergrad, I wasn't eligible for FA because it was based on your income from the previous year, so I went to work. As a grad student my being in school did not affect my D's efc, but her being a full time student lowered my EFC. So between a couple of scholarships from my school and tuition aid from my employer most of it is covered (my master's was fully paid for my my employer). I think because of my story, my daugter definitely appreciates the educational opporunity that she has been given. Even in her experience, she does not complain, because she knows kids that are really going through a lot and are making their education work.</p>
<p>As you get older you come to the realization that ike happens, people come to crossroads all of the time. You will also find thta no matter how bad you think your situation is you will come across someone with a worse situation. No one likes adversity, but it will teach you resilience because during those times you can either choose to curse the darkness or light a candle. Some people like fumbling in the darkness, but lighting a candle, you will see a solution.</p>
<p>Yes, I did acknowledge that point; I'm sorry I haven't made that clear to you.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing your experience, but I hope you're not jumping to conclusions about my intentions of posting this thread. I believe most college students do know the value of their education, though I think we'll all think about and appreciate it more after we've gone through it, perhaps even feeling personal regrets for not having pushed ourselves more. After all, the students and parents who come to this board are aware that we're all paying a large amount to invest in ourselves or children.</p>
<p>I am sorry if I sounded like pressing to know someone's situation like yours. I really do respect what you've done.</p>
<p>I guess I wasn't expecting practical replies, but was wondering if there even were any independent prodigies.</p>
<p>Thanks again for sharing your experience and views.</p>
<p>willow, my son dropped out of college after 2 years and has been working and supporting himself since then. He plans to return to college in the fall, to a state university. I had an agreement with him the if he returned to school after 1 year I would pay, but if he waited any longer than that I wouldn't... as I have his younger sister to worry about. </p>
<p>Basically he has saved up enough to get him through a year at the state u. and if he continues to work part time I think he should be able to handle things fine, taking out loans in the second year only. Obviously this is with having saved up about a years' worth of living expenses and paying in-state tuition. He also was accepted as a transfer student to an out-of-state public that he would really like to attend, but cannot afford.... that's the breaks of being financially independent. All of the sudden the difference between paying $3000 tuition at the school you once thought you were too good for and many thousands more for the school you really would rather be at becomes very real. Having been out of school for awhile, the monthly deduction from his checking account to pay off his student loan is very real too - not something he really wants to accumulate more of.</p>
<p>calmom, thanks for sharing that. It must be tough for him; I hope everything will turn for the better.. I think you're saying the value of education as I mentioned isn't exactly emphasized or equivalent to what I've thought, right? Well, I see by your story that it isn't. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind to avoid learning the hard way. But I'd like to hear more about that sort of situation, if that doesn't offend you. Like why your son make that decision and how the college responded. Are part-time jobs enough to cover the balance or not? And what would happen to his credit and chances of returning to college?</p>
<p>I've actually been an independent student the entire time I've attended college. But like sybbie, I was working full-time as well. This year will be the first time that as a full-time student, I only will be working part-time. The only advice I can think of is to save as much as you can before school starts, apply for as many scholarships as you can, and be frugal with your spending at school. I'm already trying to think like I'm a "starving student" and its helped. :)</p>
<p>willow, I don't think you understand the situation and I really don't understand your question. My son decided to quit school for a year, and went to work. He has applied and been accepted as a transfer student to a CSU. Of course most of his credits from the first college will transfer. </p>
<p>The CSU costs about $3000 in tuition and he would live off campus, expecting to pay $300-$400 in monthly rent and whatever it costs for food & incidentals. If he decides to get a car, that will be an added expense. He has saved up enough money from his work to easily pay the tuition for one year and for several months' living expenses, but at some point he will run out of money if he doesn't work. He can take a subsidized loan for $5500 if he wants, but I think he will be better off if he takes a part time job, because it is better not to be in debt. After he spends down his savings for the first year, he will qualify for more financial aid his final year - including grant aid --so he should basically come out in 2 years with a degree, a good job, and probably less debt than he would have if he had stayed at his private college for 4 years, because he has already paid down some of his Stafford loans for the first 2 years, and may be able to get through at least one year of college without needing another loan. </p>
<p>I don't think its particularly hard - at this point he's used to working and can easily find part-time work that pays well. He never ran into problems in college associated with too much work; his academic problems arose because of too much play. Now that he's worked in the real world a few years, he is more mature and shouldn't run into any problems.</p>
<p>Thanks kn519, that was about the politest post I think I've seen here till now. I hope you have a fabulous year!
Thanks calmom, for the elaboration; it was easier to understand than your previous one.</p>
<p>I'm going to be almost financially independent as of June 4th, 2006.</p>
<p>On that date, I move into my apartment for summer classes at UMD. All bills and expenses will be paid by me. The only connection I will have with my parents concerning $ will be that I'm under my father's insurance, and be under his automotive insurance plan. That means that I will be paying all expenses not covered by his insurance, and will be paying my own car insurance.</p>
<p>I've been working 40 hours a week for the past year while going to CC (15 credits) to save up money. I can only go PT (20-30 hours a week) with work once school starts up because I can't be Full Flex, which invalidates me from going FT at my employer.</p>
<p>I'm going to have a rather large debt once I graduate since I'm Out-Of-State, but you gotta do what you gotta do.</p>
<p>It's very, very draining to say the least.</p>