Hello, I’m wondering if anybody on this I might be able to help me better understand how I can accumulate money and order to finish up my education.
Currently, I need to save about $33,000 by next April to complete my education. I’m an engineering student minoring in a foreign language and business management with the international concentration. It would take me two and a half years in the United States to finish however if I go abroad for one semester then I can finish it up and one year. The reason being, I don’t have to compete with students for classes. The University I have chosen to study abroad at will allow me to finish up my minors because they prioritize International students in getting classes. They are making a serious push for international students and by guaranteeing classes they are trying to draw in more students.
Currently, I am working and I’ve saved up about $6,000. I have ask my family if they would be willing to co-sign on a loan; but, they are hell-bent on me not even finishing the degree if it means going abroad. They are a very conservative family. They believe that it is my “god given duty” to take care of them once I graduate (take note, I am 20 and my parents are 39 and 41 respectively)…they truly believe that “god” has given them a right to dictate my life.
I have a:
good credit history (building it for 3 years)
never missed a payment
always pay more than minimum
I have never taken out a loan that I can’t pay
I have been with the same bank for 4 years
I have also looked into:
-selling a kidney (no matches)
-giving blood (but everything I go in I am sick)
FAFSA (they will not cover anything that tuition…which is nothing more than $5,600 unsubsidized)
-and much more
I am in serious need of guidance. Can someone please help me figure out what I can do in order to raise the remaining funds for my education? I don’t want to have to drop out and save up money than come back.
Thank you for reading.
I hesitate to ask this…but how did you anticipate paying for your full bachelors degree? In other words…where did you think the money was going to come from?
You may need to take a leave of absence and work, if your parents can’t help,you at all.
Seems to me you would still need a plan for paying, even if you went abroad to complete your degree.
If I understand correctly, you think that if you study abroad for one semester, you can return and finish your degree in only one more year, rather than in two more years. Did I get that straight?
How on earth do you expect to cram a full year and a half of academic credits into just one semester?
Even if you can manage to do that, how is it that you know for certain that your home university will accept that many credits when you return?
If the real problem is that your engineering degree and two other strong minors simply can’t be fit together into four years at your home institution, you need to think carefully about whether or not you need to fulfill both of those second minors, or whether you even want the engineering major. Maybe that is what you should eliminate.
This doesn’t make any sense. No debt is a good thing regardless of where you reside, or ultimately live. It’s smart not having debt in the international market as well.
So…right now…you have accumulated NO debt. Are you attending a four year university? If so, is it fully funded? Are your parents paying for some? What’s the story?
I am in my fourth year right now. Because of priority registration, I was able to get into my classes early. So I have gotten through most of engineering. Only thing is, I started my minor fairly late. So they will take time. Some classes are offered only at certain times and have pre-reqs
2)1 will 30 units abroad. I will 16 upper japanese and 14 business. That will complete my minor.
@happymomof1 I got the mechanical engineering major because it’s a very top discipline and it is the decree the most engineers use to get into upper management. The business degree minute images of pennies minor airport getting me into asia.
I chose mechanical engineering because it’s very Broad and at the same time it is involved in every aspect of Technology. With globalization in full swing, countries beginning to develop again, and New Frontiers in engineering being discovered more and more people will be needed on the international level to help collaborate relations and new market analysis.
(sorry for my bad grammar, I am voice typing on my phone)
@thumper1 Sir, I understand where you’re coming from. But at the same time I need to do a cost-benefit analysis of what I’m doing. Sure it will cost me quite a bit of money to attend this University however this University is regarded as one of the more prestigious universities in Japan and Asia. It is also ranked as one of the best universities in the world for Global employee ability. Meaning that if I go here and have it on my resume and then I’ll be able to go into markets places across the world and have an alumni base to work with.
I’m attending a four-year University and I’m using the college savings account I’ve had since I was a kid to pay for it. However, it only had about $35,000 in it. Since it’s running out now, they don’t have the funds to continue on much longer. That’s why I want to go abroad and finish it in one year. I am in my senior year of engineering; but, it will take me 2.5 years to complete the minors here vs 1 year abroad
Believe me, I spent many weeks figuring out if this is the right move. And upon talking to my advisers, industry professionals, and mentors I believe that this is the best way to go.
And you are totally positive that this university in Japan will accept all of your credits from here…and award you a degree after only one year?
Are you familiar with the cost of living in Japan? Can you afford to live there.
To be honest…your plan makes no sense. It would make more sense to drop all of minors…and get your mech engineering degree done at your current college…assuming you can pay for it.
Who will pay for the college, living costs, and travel for the school in Japan?
You need to do a co-op and earn enough to pay for your engineering degree. Don’t worry about the minors, I don’t think you’ll see a lot of return in that investment. If you truly need a a foreign language for your career, you can take classes after you graduate and have a full time job. It is likely an employer who requires you to have a business degree will pay for an MBA or other classes you need.
People whohave a lot of money for college have the option of taking a few classes or minors, but you don’t have that luxury. Finish your engineering degree and move on.
You plan sounds unrealistic & unsustainable. If it was easy without specialized skills to amass $33k in savings in only one year, then there wouldn’t be any poor people in the world.
Your parents are only 20 years older than you. They have plenty of productive earning years ahead of them.
The COOP mentioned above is the answer. Sure it delays graduation, but you can earn a decent full time salary and get experience. It would not be time wasted.
@thumper1
–yes the university in Japan will transfer the units over, I checked with my department and theirs about the classes I would take.
–I would be living in the dorms in Tokyo and the cost of that is the bulk of the burden. ($17,000)
–The cost of living in the Japan for one year will be covered by me. The tuition for the university is not hat much. The cost of the university is $29,000; but, I am going for $38,000 to $40,000 in order to have about $850 a month for food and transportation. (which is more than enough because I have lived in Japan for 2 months and saw that cost of everything first hand.)
@twoinanddone Actually I want to go abroad for work, I wouldn’t be wasting time getting a minor in a language and business if I wanted to stay in the US.
After living in Asia, I enjoyed it there far more than here in the US. Sure, I was born in California and many people from there want to come here; but, I want something different in my life.
The university I will go to, the minors, and the engineering are vital for me to have a solid foundation to return to Asia.
I don’t trust employers paying for anything. Numerous engineers who have graduated before have tried to pursue an MBA on their own; however, they have all been left hanging. Many had to quit their job, return home, and than get an MBA.
This university I will going to is considered one of the big 3 in Tokyo. (Todai,Keio, and Waseda). I know I will be able to pursue the career I want once I get there. A debt is a small fee to pay, and even if I go into debt, I will still be well below the American student debt average.
By the way, selling a kidney is not illegal. It has to be legally approved.
@sportsman88 I have 4 internships under my belt in a vary diverse range of fields. I feel my resume is strong for where I am at at 21 years old. Working in a COOP will delay my graduation by multiple years for many reasons as well. I did look into this option though.