We dont have the money
So, I have been a student at a University in North Carolina for the past two years with an undecided major. I am supposed to be taking this semester and next semester off because my family can not afford it. Right now, I am living in an apartment in my university's town, working full time and watching all of my friends go to class. It's really frightening me -- my friends are getting closer and closer to graduating and I know that they are going to be gone before I finish because I am having to hold off on school. I miss school so much. And I know that sounds silly. Who misses school?
Anyways, I have been thinking of a way to for me to go to school without paying $12,000 a year. I barely get any financial aid because my family makes too much money (which is a lie -- they can barely pay their bills). Today, it dawned on me. When I was 16, I started working in an animal hospital for a year and half. I absolutely loved it. At first, I had planned on going to school to major in some type of animal biology and then transfer to a Vet School. After thinking about it a while, I decided against it. My family could never afford to put me through 8 years of school (let alone the vet schools that cost upwards of 40k a year). What I want to do now is get a degree as a Veterinary Technician. I'd virtually be doing the exact same thing as I did when I was 16, plus a few things that I wasn't allowed to do because I wasn't licensed. AND I'd be making more money. I have been looking into distance learning schools that offer a vet tech program, and today I found the one for me. It is a college in New Mexico called San Juan and I have officially decided that I am going to dedicate my time to getting a degree in their vet tech program. The problem is: I called my mom today, hoping she'd be excited that I had finally decided what I wanted to do with my life, and she gives me the exact opposite of what I was hoping for. She complains that Vet Techs make, on average, $17 an hour. To me, that's enough to make a life out of. The phone conversation ended in yelling and me being utterly heartbroken after she said she doesn't know if I can go back to school because of our financial endeavor.
So I did the only thing I knew. I went with my gut, sent in my application to the program that is pulling at my heart-strings, and now I am utterly satisfied that I acted on behalf of my own life. I applied for the Jan 2013 semester, and I will find out if I got in within 7 business days. I guess I'll have to cross the financial situation when I get there. The fees per semester are only around $3k for out-of-state students, not including books and other fees.
So, I guess my questions for you are: What advice can you offer me? Where can I get money so I can get back in school? What are some good scholarship websites?
Have you ever been through a similar financial situation?
9 Comments • Newest first
@aznseal yes you can live off $17/h.. people have lived off of much less. especially if you do have the family, you have an SO that has income too. you just have to hold off buying the new iphones when they come out and maybe buy more groceries that are on sale.
[quote=TrueAtheist]Can't you get a student loan?[/quote]
Student loans for undergrad is risky IMO because you'll never know what type of job you'll get once you graduate.
Can't you get a student loan?
Don't settle for a technician. You can't make a living off of $17 an hour if you want to eventually settle down with a family.
The best choice would be to apply for scholarships and stay at your current university until you graduate (however long it may take), and then take out loans for vet school.
Or just don't be a vet. It's harsh but true. Vets' debt is almost as high as most MDs, but they make so much less because of treatment is too expensive for animals, owners would just rather put them to sleep =/
Have a back-up plan/school to apply to, declare yourself as an independent as NoNsensical said (but as for what funding will be available to you by state and residency restrictions, who knows?) and start saving up at least 3 ~ 5k to survive off of if you end up moving. Remember if you rent out a place, even if you're sharing an apartment you're going to have to shell out some money, not including costs of travel, and food.
Cmon dude! You are asking a bunch of people that didnt even finish high school yet?
I'm declared as an independent and I get the full 5500 from the Pell Grant along with other scholarships even though my parents make over 250 grand a year. Why not do that? Scholarships love independent children that can write essays.
12k a year...i wish it was that cheap here
I have to go right now so I can't say much, but I applaud you on your decision and you taking your like into your own hands