Maybe college...isn't for me?

Paying for College
1

<p>(Wow, I had to type everything again. When I submitted the thread, it brought me to the log in page, and when I tried to go back, log in page again. So, whoops.)</p>

<p>Turning twenty-years old soon, male, Filipino/Spaniard/Chinese student. Just for reference, I guess. I’ve pretty much been alone in what I may need to do in the future. So, I’ve been attending at community college for many reasons. My idea is that I’m going to get my Associate’s Degree in Art, (Not actually pursing art, but it’s just one out of two Associate’s degrees that they offer.) spend a year getting transfer credits to a four-year university. I want to become a Social Worker, so I’d get my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, then I’d have to spend two years to get my Master’s in Social Work, along with a license. (Most jobs in Social Work require these.) I just want to help people find their motivations in life, and etc..</p>

<p>But, I don’t think college is actually for me. First off, I don't really have any help to get from my parents to pay for college. My mom filed for bankruptcy and my dad doesn't like the idea of me going to college. I’ve relied on financial aid and grants from my own state. In my whole life, I only had two part-time jobs in my whole life, but only saved up $160.00 because I was more stupid with finances when I was younger. At least I don’t have my own credit card, but a debit card. With all of this, I don’t even know how I’m going to get a student loan. I don’t even know how to do that, either. So, I’ve been thinking that, to get a student loan and have some money for the future, that I work a full-time job after getting all the credits I need for the university that I want to go to. The tuition there is pretty high, though. It’s about $19,000.00, including mandatory fees, books, and supplies. Even then, I’d have to know where I’d live, because my parents’ house is too far away for me, not efficient at all. Room and board over there is like $9,000.00. So yeah, not even considering that. I don’t even know how to drive a car. My mom’s too busy for that, my dad’s vision is very bad and is partially disabled, and I don’t really have anybody else. I got my Learner’s Permit, at least.</p>

<p>Another factor, is that I’m kind of bad with academics. I currently have a 2.667 GPA. I don’t even party, I just get depressed about the future. I failed a remedial math course, in which I have to take again to get the math course I need that counts for credits towards my degree. So, I don’t know if I’d be acceptable, anyway. I also never got into extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>I ask myself a lot, if I’m actually better off already. I mean, I never really had to pay for any of my classes, so far. Not in debt. I don’t have to work much already. I don’t want to work a lot in the future. Maybe I’ll be poor as Hell in the future. I never really wanted to work a lot, anyway. I mean, being born in a world in which we all have to do hard work and pay bills. It’s not just work, it’s hard work. I just don’t want to live that life, but I know I have to face it. I don’t have too many interests to live for, anyway. I don’t want an intimate relationship, my own kids, or even pets.</p>

<p>In high school, I always talked more to the staff than peers, and we’d get into conversations about life in general. I’ve always been told that I have potential into getting where I want to. Specifically, my Social Worker thinks that I have a gift and that I need to spread this around to people. I also talk to a professor from my community college about life in general, and he said that he thinks that I have many gifts to share around the world. They both think that I’m articulate, observant, that I think so much differently than most people, that they want me to explain why I think this and that, and to explain their importance(s). But, no. Although the intrinsic value to spread around my perspectives on life seems good to me, I do need money. I can’t ever ignore money, and I don’t think doing this will ever get me to where I want. I love philosophy, ethics, and fine arts, but I know I might have to ditch them for at least a job that may be “worth it,” so I’ve chosen Social Work to at least spread/introduce my ideas, helping others, and while still earning money.</p>

<p>In the end, I expect that it’d take me eight years to get the degrees I want (…Not even including the license.) along with at least $90,000.00 in student loan debt, (Two years at university plus Master's Degree with $890.00 for each credit. Forty-eight credits to finish with mandatory fees. This is without scholarships, grants, and financial aid.) if I ever figure out how in the world will I get a student loan. This is based on if I don’t fail a class.</p>

<p>I'm really scared about my future.</p>

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<p>You can get your college degree, but instead of getting depressed about each hurdle you need to simply handle each one. I can’t tell you where to start, but it may require dealing with your depression issues, working on more independence from parents, setting up your own household, learning to drive, etc. It may require working a few years to save up some money before going to a 4-year college. It may require moving to a different state, gaining residency, all in order to have a cheaper price for the state school. Maybe you will join the military and use the college benefits later. Or crafting a career path that allows you to work fulltime while attending college part time. Or finding a job that has the benefit of paying your tuition. Or getting a job at a college itself that gives tuition breaks to employees. It may require waiting until you are 24 and can get a better FA package because you will be considered “independent.”</p>

<p>Do note that you “qualify” for the Direct (used to be called Stafford) loans. For a junior level student the sub and unsub loans come to 7500 in total while you are a “dependent” student but goes up to 12000 when you are “independent” after age of 24, so waiting does have some other benefits.</p>

<p>I don’t recommend 90K in total student loans for a Masters in social work–the field is too underpaid to carry that kind of debt, so get creative and find ways to pay as you go.</p>

<p>Also, lots of people fail college math and prep-math. Retake the class but hire a tutor. Study the book on your own for 6 months with a tutor and THEN retake the class once you learned it at your own pace. Etc. </p>

<p>You seem to want to get to the end goal–master degree and license–in a straight line, all on loans. Not going to happen. But I’ve heard far more desperate stories of students getting degrees and master degrees and they worked every angle possible. I knew a student from overseas who had moved to the US with zero help from parents who worked as a live-in nanny for a horrible family so she would have a place to live and scrape some money toward her college costs. She had to earn every penny for her degree. English was her 2nd language and she just gritted her teeth and made it work. She recently finished her masters. I know another person who worked a 40 hr a week job all 4 years of college and finished his BS degree. I know a student who took public transport 2+ hours EACH WAY in order to get to campus each day to take her classes. People who really want their education just do whatever it takes, keep going when they hit a set back, and keep their goals always in front of them.</p>

<p>It is great when parents can and/or will help with college. But there are thousands and thousands of students who find ways to pay their own way because they must in order to get to their goal.</p>

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<p>I realize that is probably your “depression” talking and calling the shots, but in case it is a real chosen attitude, that whole life philosophy is probably at the root of your problem. You want an easy route to the degree and an easy lack-of-responsibility life afterwards. You can’t avoid the “hard work”–you can control your attitude. You can enjoy the experience of working hard for something you really want.</p>

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<p>You don’t have to go to college right away. I mention in another thread having gone to my high school reunion and met many people, the majority in fact, who did not go directly to college after high school, or went and dropped out for a while, making their ways in life without college until coming to a point where they decided to get a degree. Many needed a directed goal, like they were in a job and needed some courses, certificates, degrees to move up. Many needed to mature a bit. Many just needed a break from school. Many needed to see the value of the degree. Going right to college should not be an automatic route just because so many of your peers are doing this.</p>