Big Dilemna (Funding & Cost of Graduate School)

Graduate School
1

<p>Thing is if you're not getting aid, and you want to go to one of the DC schools like GWU, AU, SAIS, Georgetown....as in you're admitted.</p>

<p>Do you just eat the loan, or do you give up on Grad School?</p>

<p>My undergrad academic credentials weren't good enough to get financial offers. However, i can apply for FAFSA next year and see what happens. </p>

<p>I'm very much working in an entry-level position now (albeit in the field--at a large multilateral organization), and any advancements or jobs I'd look at or apply for require Masters Degrees.</p>

<p>I've already made the payment deposit for enrollment just to make sure I didn't lose the offer. So the decision this summer is get a huge loan--made worse by the fact that I'll go to school part-time while working full-time. Or just give up on Grad School, and forget about it and resign myself to lower-level positions (perhaps look into starting a business or some breakthrough eslewehre). </p>

<p>I have to do that as i'm not "living with my parents", I'm essentially my own man, married now :/</p>

<p>FWIW, I'm upper20s, I'd hoped to finish school before family and different considerations come into it.....</p>

<p>A third option I guess is to do one of the online Norwich University type deals with an online masters.</p>

2

<p>Look for outside scholarships and grants and yea, eat the loan. Try work study at the university. You’ll have to leave your current job. If you’re now willing to sacrifice now then wait until you’re in a better financial position. The longer you wait the better chance you have of getting scholarships because of your test scores. Try n0n-matriculated status so you can take 1 or 2 classes for 2 semesters. Or, you may have to go for a PhD to be a graduate assistant which will pay for half. Ask you employer for money or stop being so proud and ask your family for help. </p>

<p>Are you:
A Veteran
A Woman
In a targeted industry
African American
From a specific state…</p>

<ul>
<li>There are many scholarships out there just for being from a specific state and county and majoring in X.</li>
</ul>

3

<p>Thx for the advice.</p>

<p>I’m a minority, good shout on the scholarships front, I’ll check it out. </p>

<p>Clarification: By “before family” I meant before I START having kids i.e. start my own family, not before help.</p>