Career Advice ( badly needed)

<p>Well, I wanted to go to school for Industrial Design, yet I don't have the money ( not even for community college) what should i do? I'm actually on gap year right now, but have been doing alot community service ( jobs aren't to good in my area) I was thinking about doing Americrops, but thats only going to last a year.<br>
I got into 3 art colleges & have applied to a few scholarships, but I have barely gotten any financial aid. ( I will not take out any loans) </p>

<p>Get a paying job, and save money for school. Work through school to help pay your bills. Can you go to school part time, while working full time? It will likely take longer to graduate, but may be more affordable if you’re going to be working your way through school. How are you living now if you are just doing community service? Are your parents supporting you? Would they be willing to contribute?</p>

<p>Are there any other schools that you can go to that meet need or give better financial aid? Perhaps, there’s a similar degree you could get at another university that meets need. If you aren’t even able to pay for community college, then you should get substantial financial aid. Do what it takes to be more competitive for scholarships.</p>

<p>I don’t see much other options than working to fund your education yourself if you can’t afford community college, can’t get scholarships, don’t get any financial aid, and aren’t willing to take out loans. You don’t have very many other options, unless you have a family member willing to foot the bill.</p>

<p>I’ve applied to many jobs already, alot of rejection ( alot jobs in my area wanted 18+ or who people enrolled in college. I just turned 18 not to long ago, I worked through out highschool, but I guess thats not enough still.) plus, I’m still waiting on 25 jobs I’ve applied for. Ranging from Americrops to caring for animals. </p>

<p>I would like to do part time, but that would knock out A TON of scholarships and even if I do community college. ( a few of schools that I have spoken too that for-full my needs about community college for my major in industrial design. Said that I would come im as a sophomore & still have to take a few other classes) One school gave me $30,000, but they divided it into all four years so I really get $7,500 a year for a $42,000 school. I don’t get any state grants( another long story) </p>

<p>My parents can’t contribute. <em>sighs</em> thats a long & personal story, but I am staying with them. </p>

<p>I’ve thought & looked at different majors & schools…its just…I don’t have the money period and if I change my major for something smiliar…what I am going to do if…I’m in class, sitting there, hating every moment of it,You know? </p>

<p>I’m still waiting on 2 scholarships & 2 financial aid packages, yet I highly doubt any good would happen. In all honesty, not out of self petty, just reality. </p>

<p><em>Sighs</em> I’ll get a job & build from there, but college won’t a option for me unfortunately. </p>

<p>Well, if you get a scholarship that would make school affordable, then you wouldn’t need to go to school part-time. Going to school part-time would be if you were working to pay your way through school and had to work full-time or more to support yourself.</p>

<p>Just because college isn’t an option for you now doesn’t mean that it never will be. And if you really want it, then you have to work for it.</p>

<p>So find a job (keep applying, and make sure you’re applying smart. If you have a lot of work experience, you should be able to get something, even if it’s not necessarily what you want), and try to save as much as you can. Work more than one job if you are able and willing to. If you’re living with your parents, than that should help, unless they’re charging you rent. Find the most affordable school in an area that’s affordable to live. If you can’t get financial aid and you won’t take out loans, you don’t have very many other options. Will you not take out loans because you don’t want to go into debt or because you don’t think you can get them?</p>

<p>Also, see if you can get any experience related to the field (even if you’re not really doing anything related or your just doing grunt work, just having exposure can help you see if you really want to do it or can help get you connections). Are you sure this is what you really want to do? Do you have any experience in it?</p>

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<p>It won’t be an easy option, but it is still an option. Like others said, you may need to go to school part-time and work full-time to support yourself. It may take a few extra years to get to where you want to be, but it is certainly possible to do. Or, work full-time and save as much money as you can to pursue college at a later time. </p>

<p>If you’re not having much luck at even very entry-level jobs then I would suggest having someone knowledgeable look over your application, resume, and with whom to practice your interview skills. What is the longest amount of time you’ve worked at any one job? If you have several short term jobs (less than 1 year) then that may be a red flag to employers. You may also need to start off part-time and work your way into full-time given your age and depending on the types of work experience you have. </p>

<p>Yes, either way its going to be hard, but me getting a job is my only option. It doesn’t make sense for me to take out loans, if already I have problems paying for not only 4 year university, yet also community. ( Community Colleges is going to cost me almost $20,000 per year where I live. I don’t count as a “instate student”) Even if I move out the state, I don’t have the money to get there & still going to cost me more.</p>

<p>I’ve had a few jobs, two short term & the other 2 were over a year. None of gave me experience in my chosen career field. </p>

<p>I would like to go to college, but it cost too much. I would like to in the future, but seriously, its not going to happen if college tuition keeps raising so high.</p>

<p>How long does it take to be considered an “in state” student? I think that it usually takes 1-1.5 years for most states. I would work until you’re considered a resident of your state, then go to CC. That will greatly reduce the price.</p>

<p>There also seems to be a personal issue with why your parents aren’t able to help you out financially. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it, then that’s fine. However, you should also know that you can apply to be an emancipated minor. This may be useful if your parents make too much money for you to get aid.</p>

<p>Make sure to talk to a few industrial designers who are at different phases of their careers. Spend some time building relationships with them. Make sure that you’re planning for moving down the right track. Ask them for ideas about jobs a young person could do that would help you in your future as an industrial designer. Do you have access to any trade apprentice programs? </p>

<p>For me to become a in-state student, I would have to stay here a year. (Only been 8 months as of now) & I’ve never hear of trade appreciate programs, but I 'll look it up. </p>