Just a general survey: About how much debt are ya'll, if any, looking at upon graduation?
I calculated what I think I might end up owing when I graduate, which ended up being somewhere around $35,500. I thought I was going to get by with $19k, but after summer school, Stafford loans, and pulling $8k out of somewhere after my 4 year scholarship ends, that's where it may very well end up. I would like to buy a house after I graduate and buy a car for myself (because I know I have gone long enough without one), but money is going to be stretched making loan repayments. On top of that, I would like to purse my Master degree in Public Health and Health Informatics, but if I'm not at a place that offer tuition reimbursement, then that's a shot plan. Ergh, what do ya have to do, sell your soul to pay off debt?!
There are always outside scholarships, but they aren't a sure thing and don't cover the full cost.
I know I'm not the only one, so feel free to share financial woes.
I will have 40k when I graduate in may 2012... For four years of school thats 5k a semester for an associates degree . I did not have any high school experience (dropped out in 9th) So I had to start college from scratch taking all the basics (basic math then algebra, basic Biology then my A&P's, Basic English etc.) I go to a community college which is only about 2-3k a semester but I sopped working to go to school with no distractions and we use that extra money. My hubby pays all the bills (we cut down a lot to reduce bills even sold his car -500 mo as to limit us to just one payment of 300 a month) and my left over loan money is pretty much just groceries and gas throughout each semester. FYI I get very little help in the way of grants and scholoarships and I have no kids so they say the hubby makes too much . I also plan on going right into a RN-BSN program after graduation but Im hoping my future employer will pay for my continuing education . We're going to continue living as we do now and ALL of my paychecks will go to my student loans and the Mortgage. We'll have everything payed off within 3-4 years *wine
Congratulations to those of you who have worked hard and planned well and are graduating with little debt and good plans to repay what you owe. As time goes by, you will be happy with the hard work and sacrifices you made to make that possible.
:yeah:
For those of you who either did not or could not graduate with reasonable debt loads, I urge you to make the life-style sacrifices you will need to make over the next few years to bring down the size of those loans ASAP. They can ruin your financial future in the long run if you don't get them under control. I wish you strength, self-discipline, courage, grace, and good luck in your efforts.
I do not qualify for any financial aid. My EFC vastly outnumbers my CoA regardless of the fact that my only income is from my work as a CNA. I can't even do work-study programs because I'm not eligible for the pell grant.
Even then, I will be graduating with $0 in debt because I choose to go to an inexpensive school and keep my living expenses to the minimum. I had options to go to other schools, but when the costs are up to 10 times as much it really makes you wonder if it's really worth it.
Trust me, with my 60k I know what I've gotten myself into. You are all very lucky and very fortunate to have made the sacrafices or been knowledgable enough to not take on so much debt. For me, I was dumb, and all I can do is admit my mistake. My parents are not able to help me out. Right now I am living on less than 10k a year, and I am happy, so I figure I can live like this for another 3-5 years and take a huge bite out of my debt if I hopefully get a job. Needless to say, I'm not going to be taking any huge vacations, buying a new car, buying a house, heck even buying new clothes for some time. For all my mistakes, I am making an effort to learn from them and live frugally. IT's something I wish I didn't have to do, but there's no way around it anymore, I've dug myself too deep. I only wish I could help educate people just graduating from highschool -- it many ways college, particularly private schools, is the biggest rip-off/scam of this day and age.
And trust me, I didn't get this way from spending out of my means. My credit card has a balance of $0. I have been using the same car, computer, clothes, phone, etc for five+ years. I got this way because of going to a private school and the fact that my parents make just enough for the government/my school not to offer me help, but yet my parents can't afford all that they expect them to give and they actually refuse to help. In reality, I should have gone to a public school, but when you're young and stupid, logic like that just doesn't work. I'm not like the girl who got herself into $200k debt in undergrad and who studied abroad and bought a fancy car. I am living in my small apartment eating generic brand Bran Flakes and shopping at Goodwill. I also work 24-30 hours a week during school, have a 4.0, and put my blood and guts into what I do.
This what I get for going to an expensive school with a 3 YEAR BSN program! It's like $21,000/year and steadily increasing since I've been there. I wanted to go to a Community College for my pre-reqs, but my high school counselor was like "No, you're too smart for that! Apply to a 4 year university directly!" I took her advice and although I'm in a lot less debt that my peers are, its still more than I rather have...way more. I totally avoided loans my first year, but every year after that, with the constant increase in tuition, it became undoable. One year I even had to pay $800 on top of a loan. None of the loans are in my mom's name as I don't want to to take on the debt load. Besides, her credit is dismal anyway so they wouldn't even approve it anyway. I just know that I do not want to stay in this crap hole house and ride the shoddy bus anymore. FML What's worse is that there a multiple other majors getting in the same amount of debt, or more, for degree that are hard to get into the market. How ill they fare? :shudders:
Citylights89, you have the advantage of being young. You can pick up and move to one of those rural hospitals that is hiring, pick up an extra shift every other week or so and kick the debt to the curb! When the time comes to move forward for another degree, you'll have the experience to get a position with a hospital that provides education benefits. There's nothing wrong with taking a few years to get established and be certain that you are chasing the degree that will do you the most good. I really think you will be all right!
This what I get for going to an expensive school with a 3 YEAR BSN program! It's like $21,000/year and steadily increasing since I've been there. I wanted to go to a Community College for my pre-reqs, but my high school counselor was like "No, you're too smart for that! Apply to a 4 year university directly!"
I hope you reached across that table and smacked some sense in to her. I hate this mentality.
I hope you reached across that table and smacked some sense in to her. I hate this mentality.
Exactly. How come 3 summer classes at CC can cost about $600 but at private, religious schools, it is $8000-9000? State school is less, but still more that it should. They say this school's graduates are actively seeked right out of school. Haha I hope so!
That mentality gets alotta freshman into debts they don't even begin to understand.
Exactly. How come 3 summer classes at CC can cost about $600 but at private, religious schools, it is $8000-9000? State school is less, but still more that it should. They say this school's graduates are actively seeked right out of school. Haha I hope so!
That mentality gets alotta freshman into debts they don't even begin to understand.
THREE classes for $600?!?? Wow! Around here a single CC class will run you $500-600...
I thought I was going to get by with $19k, but after summer school, Stafford loans, and pulling $8k out of somewhere after my 4 year scholarship ends, that's where it may very well end up. I would like to buy a house after I graduate and buy a car for myself (because I know I have gone long enough without one), but money is going to be stretched making loan repayments. On top of that, I would like to purse my Master degree in Public Health and Health Informatics, but if I'm not at a place that offer tuition reimbursement, then that's a shot plan. Ergh, what do ya have to do, sell your soul to pay off debt?! 
:yeah:
NursingStudent87
27 Posts
I will have 40k when I graduate in may 2012... For four years of school thats 5k a semester for an associates degree
. I did not have any high school experience (dropped out in 9th) So I had to start college from scratch taking all the basics (basic math then algebra, basic Biology then my A&P's, Basic English etc.) I go to a community college which is only about 2-3k a semester but I sopped working to go to school with no distractions and we use that extra money. My hubby pays all the bills (we cut down a lot to reduce bills even sold his car -500 mo as to limit us to just one payment of 300 a month) and my left over loan money is pretty much just groceries and gas throughout each semester. FYI I get very little help in the way of grants and scholoarships and I have no kids so they say the hubby makes too much 
. I also plan on going right into a RN-BSN program after graduation but Im hoping my future employer will pay for my continuing education 
. We're going to continue living as we do now and ALL of my paychecks will go to my student loans and the Mortgage. We'll have everything payed off within 3-4 years *wine