<p>Ah, Blossom, you said it better than I did or could again! Absolutely. But some people want to be lawyers, and if you want any job in law these days, having experience in the fields that are hot is one way to up your chances in getting something. But how much a fistful of degrees would make, is a whole other story. I get offers for work over those with the degrees in certain fields, due to the many, many years of hands on experience and knowledge, and contacts, with no programs, no major no anything official. And some of those are glut fields. I have no doubt that if I went and got a law degree, something I was considered, I could find something in the specialty fields and in law, but it sure as heck wouldn’t be for the law degree. My chances of a pure law job would be a big fat zilch with just a the teeniest chance. No illusiions about that at all. So, yes, that law degree is often superfluous, and one has to use the other credentials to work ones self to an attorney’s job.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>OP specifically said in her first post that she is not interested in health administration.</p>
<p>I pretty much abandoned this post because I was really getting frustrated.</p>
<p>Don’t you guys think that I already know how hard life is with a small child with a disability? I’m not planning to get on a plane one week from today and try to make all of this happen.</p>
<p>I understand that I am younger than a lot of you, probably most of you, but I am a 26 year old woman that knows better than anyone else how freaking hard it is to do ANYTHING with no money, no car and a toddler. Because that’s what I’m doing right now.</p>
<p>The job market in my current area for paralegals is just fine, and failing that, I’m also taking accounting and managing classes as part of my degree to possibly be a bookkeeper… and I’m fine with being a secretary, too, and not just for an attorney’s office. The paralegal program in my area is pretty highly regarded, and I have all A’s, and our program director has been in the area for a long time and is well-connected with the legal community. Also, this community college has locations in 4 different counties and has 5 different campuses, so I can commute as well to nearby cities if I need to.</p>
<p>I don’t plan to move without a car. I don’t plan to just take out a bunch of private loans and fall headfirst into a mountain of debt. I don’t plan to move without first VISITING the area. I also have friends that live in that area. My older brother is an hour away. He may not be available at the drop of a hat, but certainly he would be fine with me coming over to study while they supervise the cousins playing together. And my son’s grandparents are not going to sell their house and move if I stay in Florida, so they will no longer be reliable either for childcare. No matter WHERE I go, childcare will become an issue. Gainesville, Tampa, UCF… they’re all HOURS away. Also, my son will be in elementary school… at the very least, I can take classes while he is in school, which is what I am doing right this very moment. If I don’t get any sort of viable financial aid, then OF COURSE I am NOT going to accept the offers of any of the schools. But why are some of you insinuating that I shouldn’t even try? And even bagging on the fact that I said UF and USF are aces in the hole (which they are… there is a statewide articulation agreement between all public universities and community colleges in FL, and I have straight As… now. My last attempt at college was when I was 18, and even then I had 2 A’s, a C, and that one dang F). Why settle on my education, the only thing that I am really passionate about, when the possibility exists, however small it is, that I could have MORE? If it doesn’t happen, then fine. Uncle.</p>
<p>I also have taken out only one Stafford loan, which was back when I was 18 and used all the money for non-academic related activities. And it is not in default. I am saving the rest of my loans for when I may really need them.</p>
<p>I can’t remember everything else and I have to go to class, but of course I see that I have some huge flaws in my plan right at this very moment in time. But I have three years to FIX them, to save money, to research, to explore, et cetera. I just wanted some advice about schools that might be right for me and understanding of a single parent’s situation, not to be blasted to death about how immature and wrong and poor I am.</p>
<p>I am really resentful for all of you negative Nancies. I understand you think you’re giving me a reality check, but really I think you’re just being completely pessimistic. You underestimate what determination and years of making $10,000/yr can drive you to do, and you underestimate my essay writing skills. </p>
<p>I am really intolerant of heat, but a very outdoorsy person. It is really depressing to be stuck in a place where you have to stay inside from the end of March to the end of October because it is 90 degrees with 100% humidity and I become faint after about ten minutes of activity, just from the atmosphere. My son loves to be outdoors, but he can’t be outside often very either because he has a health condition and dehydrates easily. We obviously do not have a pool, either, and often it gets so hot that the pools are 85+ degrees anyway. I hate the intolerant political atmosphere, the racism, the overwhelming anti-gay sentiments, the gigantic 60+ population, everything about this place is wrong for me and I have been miserable for the past seventeen years. I have no friends, the education system here is horrible and I don’t want to raise my son in a place where the teachers use phrases such as, “y’all ain’t got no homework tonight.” We are discussing COMMAS in my COLLEGE English class. I wrote a 1000 word essay for my English class in 20 minutes (stream of conciousness), didn’t even proof read it, and got a 97. Really. It’s true. That should not be possible in higher education.</p>
<p>I have the support of both sides of Connor’s family, and they understand how unhappy I am. </p>
<p>As for law school, I don’t think I ever said that I was planning on hopping right into it. That is my END goal. I don’t have any interest in hospital administration as a lifelong career, but failing law school, I will have a degree in health sciences or biology to fall back on. It’s an area that I love, so I’m sure I could find something that pays decently and that makes me feel like all of this current bullcrap was totally worth it. Also, whoever said that the job market for health care attorneys is better than regular ones, they’re right. I have no interest in family law or general practice or criminal law or personal injury law or any of the other areas where there are nineteen million attorneys vying for the same positions and clients. A JD/MPH could take me many places, including policy, representing a hospital or heath care corporation… that’s just what I can think of in the 5 seconds I have before I’m late to class. But that’s my end goal, at some point in time. I want an MPH because I actually really wish that I had the personality and the stomach to be a doctor. I’d be a neurologist or a nephrologist, but I am kind of a loner and touching other people kind of grosses me out. So no doctor. But I can get deep into the medical field without being one. And if I want to do that, I think I really need an MPH or some other medical-related graduate degree.</p>
<p>Gotta go, now, though.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who is being supportive.</p>
<p>No one is saying you shouldn’t try. You are getting some suggestions of some programs that will fully subusidize non traditional students. Those are the cream of the crop opportunities, but getting accepted to a slot is very competititive. Getting financial aid to meet full need as a transfer student is nearly impossible. These are all facts to keep in mind.</p>
<p>That you have little in loans is good, as you can then use them to pay for the rest of your education if the need arises. You have under $50K allowed as an independent student less anything you have already taken out. </p>
<p>You have excellent opportunities in that UF and USF are your safeties. Both excellent schools, both relatively inexpensive and that they have agreements with your CC will make the transition much easier. Other schools,…well, those are going to be tougher to get it together, and there is that expense of moving and getting your child well situated. But you know that.</p>
<p>Yes, many of us are older than you, and have seen and even gone through exactly what you are describing. We are telling you the opitons, the pitfalls and the likelihoods. Sorry we are not all rah rah about this because it is a tough run you are contemplating. We are all wishing you good luck with this. Hopefully support includes financial for you and your child because that is where it usually becomes a problem–the money. An hour drive to a relatives is about $60 in gas, never mind wear and tear on an old car that is not in optimal shape, so there is a cost to a lot of theset things you have in mind. </p>
<p>Being around a major university, and USF and UF do fall in that category would probably mean a lot of options for your son if he has any issues. Some such schools have all kinds of programs well subsidized as they have big leading edge education, psychology departments. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your son.</p>
<p>Mrs. B- you are doing a fantastic job both for yourself and for your son and I apologize if my posts somehow implied otherwise.</p>
<p>I have been in recruiting for almost 30 years and can tell you that you do not need an MPH to work in the medical field. You need to be an MD for many careers (you know that) but there are people with nursing degrees, social work, PT, and all the other allied health disciplines who do interesting and cool things. And you certainly don’t need a JD to do many of them (except litigate personal injury which you say you’re not interested in.)</p>
<p>I absolutely understand your need to get out of Florida. Really, I do. But I think you’d get better advice on colleges if you weren’t pushing back so much on what dummies we all are for suggesting that you stay in Florida until you finish your BA.</p>
<p>Thought for you- my community has two free loan societies. If the lack of reliable transportation is what stands between you getting a higher paying job right now- you might see if there are organizations in your own town which can help. We’ve lent people money (interest free) to buy laptops, buy a reliable second car, pay tuition, etc. We do a credit and criminal check to make sure we’re not facilitating some kind of scam, but basically the programs exist to help people get better jobs and become self-sufficient. The repayment terms are generous (interest free, the borrowers tell the organization what kind of time frame would be realistic) and the default rate is relatively low, which means money is coming in all the time which can go back out into the community.</p>
<p>You are doing a heroic job without a lot of resources… maybe there is something close to home which can help you overcome a lot of these obstacles.</p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Being huffy with people who were genuinely trying to help isn’t a good strategy. We all wish you luck, and I add another vote for investigating the women’s colleges programs for non traditional students.</p>
<p>I wish there were a way to let posters know what the issues and realities are with their plans and ideas, yet not shoot them down. We want to impart the knowledg and make sure that the reality is there, list the options and yet explain how things are. </p>
<p>Most people who start posting here have little knowledge of how financial aid works, and the OP states that is the case with her. The reality is that the vast majority of schools do not meet full need most of the time. In fact they rarely do. Those who are commuting to a local state school or community college can “make out” with PELL, loans and work study, since the COA is low enough that federal entitlements can cover most of it. Move on to a state flagship and it gets a bit more difficult as rents near those schools tend to be higher, tuition and fees more as well. When it comes to privates, when you include acceptance stats, the number is very small of those aspiring to get enough money to make it work vs those who get it. Relocation is expensive. Having friends and relatives is a great, but if they are all so helpful and interested, the OP would not be destitute with a small child. Needing a car is a big deal in terms of finding work, and opening up options, and cars are expensive. I just got a $700 unexpected bill for car repairs right now, and my car has a market value far higher than $2K. When you have an older, cheap car, you can count on car repairs to be needed regularly. Kids can be very expensive if anything goes wrong, and we parents so want to provide what we can for them. </p>
<p>These are all realities, and there have been a number of suggestions for the OP to pursue. I also give OP a lot of credit, in going for program to enhance the chances of getting a job with a living wage. That will put a lot of things in perspective when it happens. Hopefully, that is soon.</p>
<p>It is a parent forum, so expect parent type answers like “OMG do you know how much that will cost!!???”</p>
<p>Wish you the best. It will be a marathon, not a sprint for sure.</p>
<p>Heh, heh. Forgot this was the Parent’s Forum, and yes, Lizardly has a point. We parents do react that way. </p>
<p>If you were one of my kids, yes, I would encourage applications to one of those non traditional programs. I would also encourage, probably beg you to come home with the little guy, so that we can directly help with his care, and address any of his needs, and also provide some basics for you until you are on your feet rather than being a destitute single mother. After getting your paralegal certification, and getting a job with a living wage, I’d help you find a place of your own nearby to live with your son, or elsewhere if the pay warrents it. I would not be depending much on financial aid from a school and would not be wanting you to borrow much either. But my direct concern would be with the little boy, then you, and then more on getting you as quickly on your own two feet so that you could best care for your son. I’d be more interested in the end line of the sprint (support network for the boy, certification for OP, job, indepence) than the marathon (law degree, MPH, selective colleges).</p>
<p>Hmmm… our town has a non–profit for “Providing transitional housing and supportive services for diverse homeless families and individuals helping them achieve self-sufficiency.” </p>
<p>They provide very low cost apartments for up to 2 years for renters (often single parents). When my D was in hs, she volunteered at their after-school childcare program. Maybe your area has something similar. If so, put your name on the waiting list. It may be a good option down the road, if you decide to stay.</p>
<p>“you underestimate my essay writing skills.” - We don’t. Based on your posts, you are an excellent writer ;)</p>
<p>Thanks guys, I feel a lot better now. Tbh I thought that this was a parent forum, like, students that are parents. I didn’t realize that so many of those on this forum are parents to college aged kids. I guess I didn’t think past my nose on this one. 
but I really do appreciate all of the advice you’ve given me and it has really helped me narrow things down and change the way I think about schools. I’ve dumped all the ones in Boston and D.C. Whoever suggested Smith, I absolutely fell in love. I had never even heard of it before and I have the number of the admissions recruiter… I am going to call her over winter break. :)</p>
<p>Yep, we are moms and dads of students. I have two kids older than you and many of their peers have children, and situations that make it difficult for them to move quickly and do what they please, as they would if it were only themselves in the picture. </p>
<p>And many of us have been where you are, and worse, or better, but within sniffing distance.</p>
<p>I applied to law school some years after college–was accepted, but decided not to go because I was pregnant, and had an opportunity to finally be in a position to have some money, security. I was sick and tired of being poor all of the time, and having to study, work and to throw that all back into the picture with a baby, I just could not bear to do it So I got my MAMA degree instead, many times over and put work on the back burner, and it never came forefront again. Others did differently. </p>
<p>It’s difficult when we see the younger generation going through the same old things and having to discover all of the difficulties as we did, making the same old mistakes and having the same old, know it all. But that’s the way it has to be, as each generation needs to learn things on their own, and many come up with new and varied tactics that work better from them. My friend, always grumbles, that her DD thinks she’s the first person to ever become a mother, and then we laugh, because we were once that way too.</p>
<p>You have a good varied set of alternatives on the table, so good luck. Hope some choices come up that are wild cards. Good wild cards.</p>
<p>Great. I think there is a high probability that the folks at Smith (and at Wellesley as well if you are interested) may give you some insights that are specific to your needs as the mother of a small child pursuing higher education, even if their programs turn out not to be right for you personally. Both of these places see it as part of their “mission” to help women in these situations - which is very different from the average college / university which may express sympathy for your situation but not necessarily have programs or procedures in place to help you address it. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>Don’t overfall in love with Smith, though (though it’s a fine place). Just make sure that your first consideration is - how do I get excellent, consistent childcare for my child (whether that is a relative or someone else) at a price that I can afford. The rest will fall into place after that. If that rung of the ladder isn’t steady, nothing will be steady.</p>
<p>Dealing with childcare during the school years was more difficult than we had anticipated. It helped that DH is a hands-on dad and my mother helped, but it was still a juggling act. Here were some of the challenges: </p>
<p>Summer break - OP already realizes she’ll need to plan for this. </p>
<p>Various vacation days - Typically students get far more vacation days than parents. Some are with holidays. Others are random… like “teacher conference comp day”</p>
<p>Illness - OP probably already deals with this in daycare. You can’t send sick kids to school either. (I missed a lot of work due to chickenpox. It would have been harder if I had school too. Maybe this is better now with vaccines). And of course you have to come pick them up if school calls about a sick kid. Ha, if they are wearing clothes borrowed from the school nurse, that’s a sure clue that you have a barfer on your hands 
</p>
<p>Side Note - If the nurse calls you about a pale, light-headed kid… insists she ask him if caused it himself, from spinning himself too much on the playground. DS was to embarrassed to admit the truth to the sub (maybe his real teacher would have known), so we had an unneeded run to the doctor that afternoon.</p>