STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

halleybird · Hermes

For those who are in/went to grad school...

ejc423 · Coach

Ha, good question. I have loans. I will end up with the equivalent of a small house to pay back. YIKES!!! I'm hoping I will get a portion of them cancelled by working in a high need area, which includes basically any public school for Speech Language Pathologists. Also, some companies will pay portions of student loans in order to recruit employees, which would be a HUGE incentive to me. . . So yeah, I'll be living on Top Ramen for a while.

Are you thinking of going???

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

oh halleybird are you thinking of going?? that's so amazing--if you wanna go, don't let the $ stop you--where there's a will, there's a way!

as for me, i lived at home and commuted the entire time and my parents also helped w/ tuition but i still had to borrow about 60 grand all together. yikes, it seems like a big number but tbh, i am such a proponent of student loans. the interest rate's so low and once they break it up into manageable monthly payments, it's really not that bad to pay off. they can even do plans where for the first few years after graduation where the monthly payment's are super low and then go up over time.

good luck!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I had a loan for my first semester. then I wised up and got a full-time (ie. professional staff member, not a student job) with the University- part of the benefits package is that they pay 98% of my tiution. So I pay like $250 a semester.

mckenke · BCBG

I had a half tuition scholarship and I paid the rest with loans. I went to grad school right out of college so I was used to being a poor student. I owe a lot of money with my undergrad debt in addition to grad school, but it was worth every penny.

kenzie · Chanel

ILoveChoo wrote:

I had a loan for my first semester. then I wised up and got a full-time (ie. professional staff member, not a student job) with the University- part of the benefits package is that they pay 98% of my tiution. So I pay like $250 a semester.

That's a fabulous idea! Maybe I'll try that when I go for my MFA!

halleybird · Hermes

I really, really want to go -- I want a master's in American Lit. There is NO way I can afford to quit my job and go full time, of course. But one of our state universities just started a master's program that is 1/2 night classes, 1/2 distance learning.

I am sure I could get in, and I wouldn't have to take a GRE. I talked with the program director, and I could probably finish in 3 years, since I have 2 months off every year. The problem is, I am a wuss about the expenses! Our state tuition here is cheap (about $300/credit hour), but I had a full scholarship as an undergrad and the amount just seems astronomical, even though I know it's not.

The other thing is, it's not going to really change much for me, professionally. For every 18 hours I complete, I get an $1100 raise (whoop-de-doo), so I would only make $2k more with a master's. It would mean I could teach community college if I wanted to, which would be really nice (no parents to deal with).

My husband supports me and wants me to go, but I don't think he understands why I want to go. (He's one of those people who believes education should=earning potential, when of course that's not always the case). So it's hard to justify an extra $3600 per year, especially when we have a mortgage, car payments, etc.

Argh! I need a scholarship. Or a patron (what happened to patrons? That was a good idea). Anyone know a Miss Havisham type? j/k

halleybird · Hermes

ejc423 wrote:

Ha, good question. I have loans. I will end up with the equivalent of a small house to pay back. YIKES!!! I'm hoping I will get a portion of them cancelled by working in a high need area, which includes basically any public school for Speech Language Pathologists. Also, some companies will pay portions of student loans in order to recruit employees, which would be a HUGE incentive to me. . . So yeah, I'll be living on Top Ramen for a while. Are you thinking of going???

I think SLP is a really interesting field! One of our Spanish teachers just quit to go back & get her master's in this (she wants to help bilingual kids).

Unfortunately for me, we're still paying off my husband's student loans (he put himself through part of college), and English teachers aren't really "high need." :P

Meow · Coach

I went to graduate school on a teaching assistanceship (1991 - 1994). It was enough to pay for my apartment (which was cheap) and my mother bought my food and toilitries (sp?). I did no shopping for clothes or shoes during that time other than the absolute necessities.

Halleybird, I teach in a community college and I love it!! I would get the master's if I were you. I don't have to deal with parents and if there are any discipline problems (thankfully there never are) you can remove them from the classroom.

My husband wants me to go back and get my doctorate, but it my case it is really not worth it. For one thing, I don't want to teach in a university (none of that publish or perish stuff for me) and I don't need it to teach in a community college.

It would raise my salary $10K a year, but then it would put me in a higher tax bracket and I would only bring home an extra $6000.

However, in your case, I think a Masters would be worth it for you if you are wanting to teach in a CC.

-- Edited by Meow at 17:51, 2005-08-04

halleybird · Hermes

Meow, do you mind if I ask how you got your job? I never see job postings for community college profs, and I honestly don't have any clue how much more money I would make. Did you have to start as an adjunct? Do you have to travel? I am just afraid that the market on English profs is saturated, the way the HS teacher market is.

Also, our district does concurrent enrollment, where hs students can spend up to half a day at a community college branch. Ideally, I would love to continue newspaper advising in the morning, and then teach cc classes in the afternoon.

I really want to do this. I am not even back at school yet and I am ALREADY dealing with parents. (I swear, where do they think the kids get the whining from?!?)

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Loans. Clean up your credit REALLY well before you apply, to get the best interest rate. I am now fighting with a lender over an $18 debt that I somehow didn't know I had and never paid and is still on my credit report. What the hell?

Alikat · Kate Spade

I did my MA abroad in the UK which was a full-year program, so right off it was cheaper than most US programs.

I went to a university that was accredited by the US Board of Education so was able to take out the maxium 18,500 in loans. That plus working was enough to support my year in England

I know this course isn't open to everyone, though.

Halleybird - I'm not sure if its the same where you live, but in Sacramento community colleges don't fully hire teachers, but use them on a temp pool basis. Most community college instructors work at numerous schools throughout the area. I wouldn't let that discourage you if you want to do it, though!! It might just be a local thing here.

**I actually saw some full time positions now on the websites, so things are improving! Now I just need some teaching experience to actually qualify.

-- Edited by Alikat at 21:25, 2005-08-06

-- Edited by Alikat at 11:48, 2005-08-15

Renee · Kenneth Cole

I am a grad student at UC Berkeley. I had a fellowship for my first year, and a TAship for the subsequent 3 years. I also had a 25% time job in my department as a webmaster. I work summers too. I don't earn a lot of money, but it is enough to rent a cheap one-bedroom, to eat and to shop, though on a tight budget. A friend of mine (in the same situation) lives in a co-op and has a larger shopping budget

Yes, I often think I'd rather get a real job and earn some money (sometimes I think I should become a lawyer), but for me, grad school is worth everything.

missbean · BCBG

I'm in a very similar situation as esquiress - moved back home, commute to school, and utilize school loans. Although living at home is v. tough, it's a blessing in disguise because I know I'm saving a ton of money in the long run. Only one more year to go though.

I know you're married so moving back home is not an option for you, but I would definitely encourage school loans. Initially it seems daunting, but if it's a program that you'd love, it's completely worth it. Good luck!!!

Escrime · Kate Spade

I worked during the day, and I went to school at night and on weekends. I was able to set up a monthly payment program with the school which helped a lot.

My hsuband got his master's paid through the Navy.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

I had full tuition and salary paid (scholarship, which involves getting no less than a B grade and maintaining a high GPA), plus I was TAing general chemistry and proctoring exams for ~ 50$ an hour, but still it wasn't enough in NY (actually, it was even Brooklyn!!!), and I ended up with some cc debt, nothing scary tho. It was definitely possible to leave on that, only I was spoiled and I needed my shopping fix...

poptart · Coach

halleybird wrote:

I really, really want to go -- I want a master's in American Lit. There is NO way I can afford to quit my job and go full time, of course. But one of our state universities just started a master's program that is 1/2 night classes, 1/2 distance learning. I am sure I could get in, and I wouldn't have to take a GRE. I talked with the program director, and I could probably finish in 3 years, since I have 2 months off every year. The problem is, I am a wuss about the expenses! Our state tuition here is cheap (about $300/credit hour), but I had a full scholarship as an undergrad and the amount just seems astronomical, even though I know it's not. The other thing is, it's not going to really change much for me, professionally. For every 18 hours I complete, I get an $1100 raise (whoop-de-doo), so I would only make $2k more with a master's. It would mean I could teach community college if I wanted to, which would be really nice (no parents to deal with). My husband supports me and wants me to go, but I don't think he understands why I want to go. (He's one of those people who believes education should=earning potential, when of course that's not always the case). So it's hard to justify an extra $3600 per year, especially when we have a mortgage, car payments, etc. Argh! I need a scholarship. Or a patron (what happened to patrons? That was a good idea). Anyone know a Miss Havisham type? j/k

Personally, I would go for it and get loans. I did mine while working full time (at a totally normal wage for someone who was 22 and had an English degree) so I had to take out loans. And it's completely worth it. It's the one bill that I never get bitter when I pay each month. Just my opinion! Oh, and I did mine in the evening, and it was fantastic. Go for it!

ETA: I teach for an online university - if you're curious about the process/pay, just PM me.

-- Edited by Lisa at 14:38, 2005-08-08

DC Shopper · Dooney & Bourke

when i was in grad school, i had an assistantship that took care of tuition and also paid decently, then i borrowed money for living expenses - but I kept that amount as low as possible. i had a full time assistantship but there were also part time assistantships - you get less money, but it's less time involved. it doesn't sound like that's an option for you, though.

it the master's can expand your job prospects, and you love the subject, you should do it. teaching kids can be really stressful and grinding (my mom's a teacher) - teaching community college could be a nice change.

halleybird · Hermes

I appreciate the advice, you guys! I had a long talk with my husband about it this weekend. We agreed that I will apply in the spring, and if I get in, I will start taking classes next summer. I really don't feel like loans are an option for me at this point, because we have our mortgage, cars, appliances, furniture, etc. to pay for still. But we decided we can afford 1 or 2 classes a semester, so that's where I will start.

Lisa -- thank you. I will PM you!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

My employer will pay a little of it ($6K of $23K). The rest of it will be through loans. I start in September.

-gd