How did you or are you paying for school?

WisChief · 02-21-2001, 11:08 AM

Reading some of the discussions concerning what you can and can't get in our country leads me to this? I'm one that believes that just about anything is possible and higher education is definately attainable for us all. Yes, you might not get it "free", but most excuses for not going to school don't fly well with me. So, how did you or are you doing it?

I joined the Marine Corps and collected the GI Bill money. Spent 8 years as an 0341 infantryman, fought in Desert Storm, went to school while serving and finished after getting out. BTW - I bought my first house with a VA loan.

NaptownChief · 02-21-2001, 11:18 AM

Took a student loan and worked my a$$ off during the summers for the 1st two years...Last two years I worked full time at the Post Office (40-60hrs a week) at night while going full time school during the day...

It is not for everyone cause not everyone is willing to take responsibility and bust their a$$ for something worth while...They would rather piss, moan and groan cause they didn't come from a "wealthy" family and blame the system...

Anyone who is willing to work hard and use contraceptives can get a top of the line college education regardless of their family situation...

seclark · 02-21-2001, 11:20 AM

scholarships and work for 2years, until i got married and had to drop out.
now i'm making monthly payments so my twins can go.

sec

Mark M · 02-21-2001, 11:26 AM

I was fortunate enough to have a grandfather put aside $30K in a fund for my sister (who is 2 years older) and me. Unfortuantely, my sister (who has never held a full-time job) blew threw most of it in 3 years. My parents made too much $$ for me to get financial aid, yet not enough to pay our way. I had to take a few semesters of only around 6-9 hours while working nights at a liquor store. Once I turned 23 I got student loans. I currently owe around $8,000.

My wife had no such family support and currently owes $35,000.

Together, our payments are around $400 and neither one of us is doing anything close to what we went to school. But we graduated and are getting by.

What is scary is that almost all of the people that I knew who dropped out of college now make better money than the Mrs. and I combined. Education does not always equal financial success.

MM
~~Knows that anyone who wants an education can get one.

[Edited by Mark M on 02-21-2001 at 11:28 AM]

**Bob Dole** · 02-21-2001, 11:50 AM

Bob Dole went his first time on a full-ride merit scholarship (ACT cumulative score coupled with competitive testing.) Bob Dole partied his way out of that one after 2 semesters.

Bob Dole went his second time on a full-ride merit scholarship earned by wins at state-wide math relays. Bob Dole also partied himself out of that one after 2 semesters.

Bob Dole then worked his tail off at unrewarding jobs for 6 years and decided that was not what Bob Dole wanted out of life. Bob Dole enrolled in 9 hours during a summer semester at a community college and performed well enough to qualify for the Honors Program (after writing essays and sitting through awful faculty interviews). The program came with a full-ride. Bob Dole's performance, more essays and more interviews then allowed Bob Dole to obtain a full-ride merit scholarship for his BBA. Grades and GMAT scores led to similar interviews and essays for graduate school.

Bob Dole was fortunate.

Otter · 02-21-2001, 12:11 PM

Miscellanous scholerships, odd jobs and student loans.

I came from a large family, 2 sisters 2 brothers, and by the time it was my turn to graduate high school all the funds were used up. We were too "rich" for fincial aid.
I've been out for about 2 years now and still have roughly $10,000 to pay off.

Graduated in '98 with a BS in comp sci and now I sit here all day writing code, sitting in meetings and working with our EDI people putting out the never ending fires that spontanously combust wishing I was back in school full-time.

Well back to the Java and RPG! :rolleyes:

[Edited by Otter on 02-21-2001 at 03:51 PM]

ck_IN · 02-21-2001, 12:15 PM

First I took scope of what means I had and coupled them with my educational desires. The means came nowhere near the desires and I quickly shelved my Mizzou, KSU, KU ambitions. I settled on my hometown college; MWSC which had an excellent computer/math department.

Having done this, I talked to my high school counsler and applied to every scholarship under the sun. Did you know that there's a scholarship for left handed people? I also worked full time in a warehouse. Loading/unloading trucks outside in Feb strengthens ones resolve. Coupling this with a little free lance tutoring and I graduated with BS's in Comp Science and Math and no outstanding bills. I also developed a taste for fried potatoes and pinto beans. *L*

HC_Chief · 02-21-2001, 12:26 PM

Sold crack cocaine to white suburban school kids...
;)

Actually, paid my own way for 2 semesters at a JuCo... maintained a 4.0, received an academic scholarship. :)

Yosef_Malkovitch · 02-21-2001, 01:01 PM

Worked, joined the Army Reserve and used the GI bill, and lived frugally. Also took out loans.

What kinda sucked was that my parents made too much money for me to get the "free" money-- grants, interest-free loans, etc. but they weren't GIVING me any of that money. There should be a spot on the fin aid application where they ask if you're actually GETTING any of the money your parents are making.

Anyway, I graduate in August with only about 15k of debt, so I guess that's not TOO bad, considering what it could be. My lifestyle helped to keep the costs down. I drive a 10 year-old fuel efficient Saturn that I bought used, I don't waste a lot of money on things like eating out, and I don't go through clothes that quickly. I have had some of my shirts for 5 or 6 years. It's amazing how cheaply you can live if you're willing to make a few sacrifices.

Funny thing is, once I graduate and start making real money, I expect to accumulate a substantial nest egg quite quickly because I'm now USED to living like this. I don't plan on buying a new car until this one falls apart (150k miles on it now-- I bet I can get it to 200), and I have gotten to where I wouldn't go out to eat even if I had the money because I see it as a waste.

**Baby Lee** · 02-21-2001, 01:29 PM

My parents made what seemed like a dream offer, and it turned out to be one indeed. . . for them. they'd pay for undergrad and I'd take it from there. Well I was a national merit finalist [PSAT] and a merit scholar [ACT]. That, with the combined ability scholarship [grades, athletics and music] provided by the university, paid my way through undergrad and then some [a paid internship and a modest lifestyle actually yeilded a net profit on the venture].
Then came Law School, 21K a year plus expenses. I maxed out every available loan [Perkins, Stafford, Law Access] to the tune of $73,500. Now I pay approximately $900 monthly in school loan payments. Then I recently find out that my next pay raise will 'phase' me out of deducting any of the $2000 of approximately $6500 in interest they now allow me on my taxes.

**ChiTown** · 02-21-2001, 01:47 PM

Started my own cleaning business at 17. Used my contracts that I had to collateralize a small business loan for $15K(contracted to clean schools and office buildings during the summer's). Paid my small bus. loan back after one year, and I sold all my contracts when I turned 21. I made enough to pay the rest of my college costs plus a new car and plenty for the stock market. Best practical business experience of my life (at that time). To owe nothing coming out of school was fantastic. It was a b!tch being that responsible at such an early age, but it was worth the sacrifice. I guess that is why I acted on the urge to start my own business later in life.

keg in kc · 02-21-2001, 01:55 PM

You guys'll love me...

Paid 12,000 dollars for my first year out of my own pocket.
Parents paid remaining 4 undergraduate years.
Didn't pay a cent for graduate school - 1st year of grad school I was a graduate assistant, 2nd year I was a teaching assistant.

Don't owe anything...

Two weeks before finishing my masters I dropped out of college due to some really ugly office politics (very good friend of mine, tenured professor, was bascially fired because he was unpopular with several other professors...)and the realization that I hated what I was doing, and always had.

Haven't looked back. Much happier now than I ever was in college.

Struggled with depression for a while, not knowing exactly what I was going to do. Drank a lot, spent a lot of time on my computer hiding from everyone, including my fiance (almost lost her for good...). This actually lasted almost two years, until about last October or November.

Thankfully I had about 20K bucks saved away so I was able to help her pay the bills, since I've been unemployed since 1999, except for some odd work here and there. Now, after much soul-searching and conversing with my better half, I've set my sights on writing a novel, something I've always felt I should do. Have set myself a limit of 6 months to do it, and if I am unable to do it in that amount of time, the dream dies and I find some more traditional employment, probably something that doesn't pay much over minimum wage since my emplyment history for two years is nil, and prior to that it consists only of a few years working full-time in motels as either a clerk or a maintenance man. I have her blessing, however, and I believe I will succeed, which isn't something I've ever believed before now (long, long story).

Supposed I've exceeded the bounds of the question, but hell, we're all friends here in a bulletin-boardish sort of way, and I don't have anything to hide.

The moral of the story, I suppose, is that 7 years of college have absolutely no bearing on my future. For those of you who haven't gotten to college yet, if anyone is willing to listen, don't go because it's what is expected of you, or what you should do, go because you want to go, and study something you love. Will work out much better for you in the end. Trust me, I know... [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/3dlil/wink.gif[/img]

Brock · 02-21-2001, 02:01 PM

Good Luck, Kyle. hope you're the next Grisham. I also hope that wasn't an insult!

Pitt Gorilla · 02-21-2001, 03:10 PM

Full ride undergrad.
GTA for grad tuition plus stipend
GA for phd.

By the way, there ARE people who shouldn't be in college!!!

**The Bad Guy** · 02-21-2001, 03:33 PM

Kyle best of luck to you with your book. You can be successful without college, neither of my parents went to school, and my dad had a very good paying job before his illness, and my mom lives very comfortably as well.

I'm currently still attending college. My dad is disabled, and part of his disability plan pays for my college tuition.

I'm in the middle of switching to a state school in Pennsylvania (Kutztown, where John Mobley graduated from!)from a private and that will save me roughly $11,000 a semester. The private school cost me $19,000 to go there and live at home and the state school will cost me $8,000 (not including financial aide) and I will be dorming there.

I have about $6,000 in loans right now, and the job I'm working in now helps pay for some of that.

Hopefully all of this will pay off someday when I'm a successful print journalist, or working in front of a television. The skys the limit, I just need to reach my potential.

02-21-2001, 11:18 AM	#2
NaptownChief Football Pimp Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Indianapolis,IN Casino cash: $9974900	Took a student loan and worked my a$$ off during the summers for the 1st two years...Last two years I worked full time at the Post Office (40-60hrs a week) at night while going full time school during the day... It is not for everyone cause not everyone is willing to take responsibility and bust their a$$ for something worth while...They would rather piss, moan and groan cause they didn't come from a "wealthy" family and blame the system... Anyone who is willing to work hard and use contraceptives can get a top of the line college education regardless of their family situation... __________________ "We weren't worth a damn," the Kansas City Chiefs head coach said, shaking his head. "I'm not worth a damn. No one's worth a damn..." Former President of the Eric Downing Fan Club and Current President of the Kris"Secret Weapon"Wilson Fan Club
Posts: 4,357

02-21-2001, 11:20 AM	#3
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $-410100	scholarships and work for 2years, until i got married and had to drop out. now i'm making monthly payments so my twins can go. sec
Posts: 13,447

02-21-2001, 11:26 AM	#4
Mark M What time is it? Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: You tell me ... Casino cash: $9884900	I was fortunate enough to have a grandfather put aside $30K in a fund for my sister (who is 2 years older) and me. Unfortuantely, my sister (who has never held a full-time job) blew threw most of it in 3 years. My parents made too much $$ for me to get financial aid, yet not enough to pay our way. I had to take a few semesters of only around 6-9 hours while working nights at a liquor store. Once I turned 23 I got student loans. I currently owe around $8,000. My wife had no such family support and currently owes $35,000. Together, our payments are around $400 and neither one of us is doing anything close to what we went to school. But we graduated and are getting by. What is scary is that almost all of the people that I knew who dropped out of college now make better money than the Mrs. and I combined. Education does not always equal financial success. MM ~~Knows that anyone who wants an education can get one. [Edited by Mark M on 02-21-2001 at 11:28 AM] __________________ ChiefsPlanet -- n. The place where brilliant minds assemble to willfully pool ignorance with questionable logic in order to reach absurd conclusions.
Posts: 4,687

02-21-2001, 11:50 AM	#5
Bob Dole King Shit of **** Mountain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texarkana, Texas Casino cash: $-1124563	Bob Dole went his first time on a full-ride merit scholarship (ACT cumulative score coupled with competitive testing.) Bob Dole partied his way out of that one after 2 semesters. Bob Dole went his second time on a full-ride merit scholarship earned by wins at state-wide math relays. Bob Dole also partied himself out of that one after 2 semesters. Bob Dole then worked his tail off at unrewarding jobs for 6 years and decided that was not what Bob Dole wanted out of life. Bob Dole enrolled in 9 hours during a summer semester at a community college and performed well enough to qualify for the Honors Program (after writing essays and sitting through awful faculty interviews). The program came with a full-ride. Bob Dole's performance, more essays and more interviews then allowed Bob Dole to obtain a full-ride merit scholarship for his BBA. Grades and GMAT scores led to similar interviews and essays for graduate school. Bob Dole was fortunate.
Posts: 51,534

02-21-2001, 12:15 PM	#7
ck_IN Feels so good. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	First I took scope of what means I had and coupled them with my educational desires. The means came nowhere near the desires and I quickly shelved my Mizzou, KSU, KU ambitions. I settled on my hometown college; MWSC which had an excellent computer/math department. Having done this, I talked to my high school counsler and applied to every scholarship under the sun. Did you know that there's a scholarship for left handed people? I also worked full time in a warehouse. Loading/unloading trucks outside in Feb strengthens ones resolve. Coupling this with a little free lance tutoring and I graduated with BS's in Comp Science and Math and no outstanding bills. I also developed a taste for fried potatoes and pinto beans. L __________________ As sweet as Tupelo Honey
Posts: 2,718

02-21-2001, 11:08 AM
WisChief GO 'NOLES! Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $10005400	Reading some of the discussions concerning what you can and can't get in our country leads me to this? I'm one that believes that just about anything is possible and higher education is definately attainable for us all. Yes, you might not get it "free", but most excuses for not going to school don't fly well with me. So, how did you or are you doing it? I joined the Marine Corps and collected the GI Bill money. Spent 8 years as an 0341 infantryman, fought in Desert Storm, went to school while serving and finished after getting out. BTW - I bought my first house with a VA loan.
Posts: 918

02-21-2001, 12:26 PM	#8
HC_Chief That's just f***in' stupid Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: suburbia Casino cash: $3687107	Sold crack cocaine to white suburban school kids... ;) Actually, paid my own way for 2 semesters at a JuCo... maintained a 4.0, received an academic scholarship. :) __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
Posts: 12,355

02-21-2001, 01:01 PM	#9
Yosef_Malkovitch The Lurkiest Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wichita, KS. Casino cash: $2655999	Worked, joined the Army Reserve and used the GI bill, and lived frugally. Also took out loans. What kinda sucked was that my parents made too much money for me to get the "free" money-- grants, interest-free loans, etc. but they weren't GIVING me any of that money. There should be a spot on the fin aid application where they ask if you're actually GETTING any of the money your parents are making. Anyway, I graduate in August with only about 15k of debt, so I guess that's not TOO bad, considering what it could be. My lifestyle helped to keep the costs down. I drive a 10 year-old fuel efficient Saturn that I bought used, I don't waste a lot of money on things like eating out, and I don't go through clothes that quickly. I have had some of my shirts for 5 or 6 years. It's amazing how cheaply you can live if you're willing to make a few sacrifices. Funny thing is, once I graduate and start making real money, I expect to accumulate a substantial nest egg quite quickly because I'm now USED to living like this. I don't plan on buying a new car until this one falls apart (150k miles on it now-- I bet I can get it to 200), and I have gotten to where I wouldn't go out to eat even if I had the money because I see it as a waste. __________________ Lurking since 2008
Posts: 2,757

02-21-2001, 01:29 PM	#10
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8028275	My parents made what seemed like a dream offer, and it turned out to be one indeed. . . for them. they'd pay for undergrad and I'd take it from there. Well I was a national merit finalist [PSAT] and a merit scholar [ACT]. That, with the combined ability scholarship [grades, athletics and music] provided by the university, paid my way through undergrad and then some [a paid internship and a modest lifestyle actually yeilded a net profit on the venture]. Then came Law School, 21K a year plus expenses. I maxed out every available loan [Perkins, Stafford, Law Access] to the tune of $73,500. Now I pay approximately $900 monthly in school loan payments. Then I recently find out that my next pay raise will 'phase' me out of deducting any of the $2000 of approximately $6500 in interest they now allow me on my taxes.
Posts: 95,642

02-21-2001, 01:47 PM	#11
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $-341038	Started my own cleaning business at 17. Used my contracts that I had to collateralize a small business loan for $15K(contracted to clean schools and office buildings during the summer's). Paid my small bus. loan back after one year, and I sold all my contracts when I turned 21. I made enough to pay the rest of my college costs plus a new car and plenty for the stock market. Best practical business experience of my life (at that time). To owe nothing coming out of school was fantastic. It was a b!tch being that responsible at such an early age, but it was worth the sacrifice. I guess that is why I acted on the urge to start my own business later in life.
Posts: 40,903

02-21-2001, 01:55 PM	#12
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	You guys'll love me... Paid 12,000 dollars for my first year out of my own pocket. Parents paid remaining 4 undergraduate years. Didn't pay a cent for graduate school - 1st year of grad school I was a graduate assistant, 2nd year I was a teaching assistant. Don't owe anything... Two weeks before finishing my masters I dropped out of college due to some really ugly office politics (very good friend of mine, tenured professor, was bascially fired because he was unpopular with several other professors...)and the realization that I hated what I was doing, and always had. Haven't looked back. Much happier now than I ever was in college. Struggled with depression for a while, not knowing exactly what I was going to do. Drank a lot, spent a lot of time on my computer hiding from everyone, including my fiance (almost lost her for good...). This actually lasted almost two years, until about last October or November. Thankfully I had about 20K bucks saved away so I was able to help her pay the bills, since I've been unemployed since 1999, except for some odd work here and there. Now, after much soul-searching and conversing with my better half, I've set my sights on writing a novel, something I've always felt I should do. Have set myself a limit of 6 months to do it, and if I am unable to do it in that amount of time, the dream dies and I find some more traditional employment, probably something that doesn't pay much over minimum wage since my emplyment history for two years is nil, and prior to that it consists only of a few years working full-time in motels as either a clerk or a maintenance man. I have her blessing, however, and I believe I will succeed, which isn't something I've ever believed before now (long, long story). Supposed I've exceeded the bounds of the question, but hell, we're all friends here in a bulletin-boardish sort of way, and I don't have anything to hide. The moral of the story, I suppose, is that 7 years of college have absolutely no bearing on my future. For those of you who haven't gotten to college yet, if anyone is willing to listen, don't go because it's what is expected of you, or what you should do, go because you want to go, and study something you love. Will work out much better for you in the end. Trust me, I know... [img]http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/3dlil/wink.gif[/img]
Posts: 58,682

02-21-2001, 02:01 PM	#13
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Good Luck, Kyle. hope you're the next Grisham. I also hope that wasn't an insult!
Posts: 47,314

02-21-2001, 03:10 PM	#14
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $50194	Full ride undergrad. GTA for grad tuition plus stipend GA for phd. By the way, there ARE people who shouldn't be in college!!! __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
Posts: 47,330

02-21-2001, 03:33 PM	#15
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9283645	Kyle best of luck to you with your book. You can be successful without college, neither of my parents went to school, and my dad had a very good paying job before his illness, and my mom lives very comfortably as well. I'm currently still attending college. My dad is disabled, and part of his disability plan pays for my college tuition. I'm in the middle of switching to a state school in Pennsylvania (Kutztown, where John Mobley graduated from!)from a private and that will save me roughly $11,000 a semester. The private school cost me $19,000 to go there and live at home and the state school will cost me $8,000 (not including financial aide) and I will be dorming there. I have about $6,000 in loans right now, and the job I'm working in now helps pay for some of that. Hopefully all of this will pay off someday when I'm a successful print journalist, or working in front of a television. The skys the limit, I just need to reach my potential.
Posts: 23,216