<p>I am majoring in sociology and I also decided to minor in business, which my mother was very happy about. She thought it was a very good idea. However, I just found out that my school adds additional fees for business classes, which will add about an extra $1000 per semester. I dont get much financial aid because I am not 24 yet so they consider my parents income. My dad makes a fair bit of money but he does not pay for any of my school. Weve asked, hes refused, girls dont need to go to school. So its just me and my mom. However, I dont have time to work much and I only bring in about $100 a week. My mother is very against taking out student loans but I dont see how we are going to pay for it otherwise.</p>
<p>My dream is to either be a professor, or if money is going to dictate my life, I might go to law school. If I went to law school I would want to focus on international law, and it would be helpful to have some business knowledge. I dont know what to do. Her theory seems to be that its a risk, it might not do anything for me in the long run. I dont see how it could hurt. Ive got about 15 elective hours, they would be better spent in the business school than taking a bunch of history classes and such.</p>
<p>I know she is worried about our financial situation right now, but I cant help her later in life unless I am prepared for whatever career I end up in. I could use some insight from other parents. Am I wrong? The whole reason I decided to try the business minor was because I felt guilty about picking a major that wouldnt really make me any money. I want to make sure that I can take care of my parents. They will both need medical care and I want to make sure that they get it. What do I do? What do I say to her?</p>
<p>Well, I’m simply a waste of space and life since I’m a girl. I’m just supposed to get married and let my husband work while stay home with the kids. If I want to go to school and support myself then I am on my own. He is however, allowing me to live at home while I am in school. I suspect my mom has had a few arguments with him about that. Idk. I don’t really care what he thinks.</p>
<p>Your dad lives in the stone age so I won't even go there.</p>
<p>I feel your Mom may be limiting you too much by resisting a student loan.
Please call your college's financial aid office and ask them to help you do the math as follows: If you borrow $1,000 per semester for the number of semesters left in your undergraduate career, what will be the percentage of interest; how long will you have to pay it back, and what would be your monthly bill. Then, for perspective, compare the monthly bill to an electric bill.</p>
<p>I think these are not things to discuss in generalities ("we don't want to borrow money.."). It's to your advantage to find out the hard data. Student loans are not like car loans; they have a smaller amount of interest and let you repay them over a very long period of time. Your mom might not realize and is thinking it's like borrowing to buy a car or furniture; it's not.</p>
<p>Also, it's an investment with a payback possibility. If you have those majors, you have a greater chance of getting a job. Imagine yourself earning $30K per year, with the monthly bill of your student loan, and perhaps even still livingt at home if necessary. I'm pretty confident you and mom will decide you can reapy that much money as a college grad with a job. It is a bit presumptuous, but I don't think that's a lot of money to borrow, especially when your dad might pay for "other" things he believes girls should have (clothing? makeup?).
If he continues to pay for these things in the few years after college, you can take it upon yourself to handle the student loan right out of your own salary. </p>
<p>Does the minor in business really make a big difference? Maybe you are better off with just one major and getting your business experience working in the summer or with an internship during the school year.
You could look ahead and talk to the admissions office at a law school that you are interested in. I will bet that they will say that the most important factor is to do well in your major.</p>
<p>Lol, paying3tutions. Um, no. My dad does not pay for any other things. He provides a roof over my head. That's about it. Everything else (food, clothing, you name it) is on my mom and myself. Actually, that's how it's always been.</p>
<p>I second paying3's advice. Perhaps if you get the hard numbers from your college financial aid office, you can present your mother with a more persuasive argument. You sound like a really able and motivated young woman. The minor in business will provide many more career opportunities and your hard work will look good on graduate applications, whether to law school or another kind of program. Your instincts to pursue the additional degree will serve you well. </p>
<p>What amazes me is that you haven't let your father's ridiculous point of view erode your confidence. Good for you. I hope there's a way to make this work financially. College is the right time to get as much training and education as you possibly can.</p>
<p>Asthe possessor of a BA in sociology I highly recommend doing what it takes to add the business degree on to your soc degree. I wish I had had a more tangibly useful degree and business would have been a smart choice. The want-ads just weren't soliciting grads like me when I graduated so I went back and did two more years. Much more expensive than doing it all at once!</p>
<p>I also agree w/ Paying3's advice (as usual) if you handle student loans wisely and frugally there is no reason to fear them. If you do your homework and present your proposal to your mom, you are more than likely to get her support. If she still is dead set against it,you may want to consider just doing it without telling her.</p>