<p>I appreciate that some of you are putting these things in a better way that the original person is, but again, what you’re talking about has nothing to do with me. I don’t have 10k in savings. My credit isn’t the best (if it was, I’d probably have 10k in savings). And I’m not sure why someone would say “don’t have your mother co-sign, you’re an adult!” Do some of you know how many adult students in undergrad and grad school have to take out additional loans to cover college? And do you think that all of them have the good credit to do so? Heck, my roommate had to have his mom co-sign on a loan for a viola just last year, and he’s almost 25. Should he have stopped going to school just so his mom shouldn’t have to co-sign? </p>
<p>I realize that many of you who are responding are coming from a place of “my son this did” or “my daughter did that”. You are proud of your children. I get that. You may think that everyone can recreate exactly how your son or daughter managed to make their way through school. “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps” and whatnot. </p>
<p>But in all honesty, are your sons and daughters truly independent from you? Are you seriously providing no money to them at all on the side to help for school? Extra spending money? Rent? A little grocery money here or there? Or did you cut them off unceremoniously and say “good luck to you, your dad and I aren’t planning on helping at all, you’re a better person if you do it on your own.” Answer that question for me, please.</p>
<p>Again, I am not your son. And the bit of scorn and guilt that is being written into some posts is amazing. Yes, my credit is bad and I didn’t save 10k while I was working the last 10 years. You don’t know the circumstances of why I have bad credit or why I don’t have 10k, but your tones are making it sound like because I don’t have those things, I have less right to look for ways to attend college like your sons or daughters do. It’s like you’re using them (or yourselves, in one case) as the standard by which to judge others. </p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure why I seem to be incurring the wrath of a bunch of moms, other than the only experience you have to share is about your sons or daughters. But again, I’m looking for advice that might relate to me or MY situation, not your sons or daughters. I don’t have 10k saved up, my credit isn’t the best, and I can’t change those or other parameters of my life in order to go to college. In short, you can’t tell me to stop my life and make it into your sons or daughters. </p>
<p>In fact, not that it should be any of your business, but the reason I don’t have 10k saved, my credit is the best, and need a co-signer on a private loan is because for the last few years I have been battling cancer. My personal savings are gone thanks to this, and because I’m still negotiating payment on many of the medical bills, my credit has been damaged. My company didn’t offer health insurance (most companies in my field do not because they are small business). My cancer is now in remission, thank god. But the damage has been done, and I need a degree in a field that offers more stability and benefits in case my illness returns. That’s why I have to go back to college. And that’s why I may not be your son or daughter. </p>
<p>If I seem upset or irritated, you now know the reason why. The reason really shouldn’t matter though. 29, cancer, bad credit, any of that. If you have information, share it because its helping someone but do it without the dose of moral judgment about why they need the advice in the first place. You really can’t know what any of the people on a board such as this are going through, or their reasons for needing the advice you have. </p>
<p>Otherwise, perhaps some of you should start saying: “before I give you my advice, I’m going to ask your some personal questions about your situation to make sure it fits my definition of someone who is worthy.” And doesn’t that seem a bit silly? </p>
<p>I want to say one quick thing about “get a job” before I go. I’m not sure how many of you can see this, but if I work more, the Financial Aid system penalizes me by offering less aid. Right now, I’m at 12k in financial aid, and that’s if I don’t work another day this year and bring in any taxable income. </p>
<p>If I work, that financial aid will be adjusted downward, and that means I’ll have to work MORE in order to make up that shortfall and pay the school. Which means my aid will be adjusted downward again. </p>
<p>I am more that willing to work more, outside of my work-study. So, anyone, how do you propose I get around this? If someone can come up with a legitimate, legal way to do this, I’m ON BOARD. </p>
<p>And don’t use “employee tuition programs.” Here’s why:</p>
<p>Awhile back, I worked at a company that offered such a program. It required at least one year of service first before applying. The best benefits from these programs also require you to continue to work full-time, but the full-time earnings pushes your federal aid package down. And part-time employees receive even less. </p>
<p>Besides all of that, the most generous programs are in larger corporations, which I would need a degree to get into anyway. And, whether you knew this or not, most managers don’t want their employees taking advantage of these programs. It interferes with productivity and work hours. If you ask most managers, they will tell you that they don’t promote it because they need their workers available and committed to their jobs, not school. And what’s more, they certainly don’t want to create a special schedule for a worker so he or she can go away mid-day or morning to take a class that is only offered then. School must fit into the work schedule. And if you’ve ever been to a college or university, some classes only take place during the day.</p>
<p>These programs, although available to everyone, are really targeted for people at management level on up where the company has a reason to invest in education. But they offer it to everyone to enhance the benefits package at all levels. How do I know all this? I was an assistant to the owner of a company once. He offered such a program but was honest in his assessment: “Why would I train someone with my money so they could just go off to my competitor or I have to offer them more money to stay?” These companies aren’t stupid; they offer the programs when they know it will benefit them first and foremost. </p>
<p>Which brings me to the final point on tuition reimbursement programs: Many companies can force you to pay back the tuition if you leave the company. They only pay for classes that directly benefit the company, and prepared you for promotion or help you do your job better. A degree is not a necessary goal for these companies. This means that many of the gen ed classes that are required for a degree are NOT covered by the employer because it doesn’t directly affect them. They can choose which classes to pay for and which to reject. And, in fact, they can choose which college you attend to take advantage of the program. </p>
<p>And, again, all of this requires you to get into a company that offers you such a program and have a manager that is willing to schedule you to allow you to take advantage of it. </p>
<p>So, unless I’m wrong about reimbursement programs and their true purpose, I’m totally willing to listen to ideas about how I can work without losing financial aid. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>