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Is going to school in the fall really that good? Dilemma [feeling rushed]

Nighthawk3729 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:04:27 -0800

Isolation but saving a few thousand dollars and some time but rushing the college experience and moving on before I can figure out what I want to do or take it slow? I'm going into my 4th year at a 2 year community school, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do, I didn't want to rush through school and get a degree without trying things, but I sit here now with a decision to make.

The gist of the decision is that I can do the second half of my 4th year, or I can save $6,000. I personally don't want to start school during the spring session, I've heard that so many more people come in during the fall semester and that is when most people begin to band together. My first semester at my current school I became really isolated and unhappy to say the least, I got straight C's, that has smashed my GPA from the beginning, I'm a good student, B+ all the way.

I don't even know what school I want to go to for sure, I was assuming I could look around for the next few months and then apply, but my financial backers don't want to give me money to stay another year of what they think is a waste. I'm caught, I don't know what to do, pay the 6,000 or try and figure out a school and become isolated again, again, really wanted to come in during the fall. I want that go into college for the fall feel, it just feels important to me. I'm also really worried of having a huge debt I've got to pay off for the next few year and having that over my head, I hate the idea.

I've had alot to deal with, my dad had a hemoragic stroke and we've all been pitching in to help, my grandmother lives with us, I've been taking care of them basically. On top of that, we've been doing renovations for my kitchen. I've had to deal with these for the past 2 and a half years, I've been less then focuses, I'm still trying t figure out what I can do for a career.

I'm really lost and hoping someone can offer some advice.

So, Isolation but saving a few thousand dollars and some time but rushing the college experience and moving on before I can figure out what I want to do or take it slow?

BA vs AS and career choices

Tarumba — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:19:13 -0800

An appeal to very patient people: Please help us plan our financial/academic future! HER SITUATION:

She moved from another country to the US months ago, between the paperwork and getting married, she was just able to find a job a month and a half ago. In her country, she got a BA in Forest Science, and she fears it may be useless here, for even though her university is pretty prestigious in her country, many people here haven't even heard about Peru, let alone her school. The thing is she got to the US and her worst nightmare came true: She's working as a sales associate in a convenience store! After giving lectures in Tokyo, being part of the Students Assembly, being an assistant professor...she feels bit disappointed and bored, to say the least. So she has decided to apply for an Earth Science teaching position in middle school (38000/year plus benefits), and meanwhile go to graduate school. So:

-Since She's 25 and done with idealism, what economically gratifying Master Programs do you recommend? she is considering something along the lines of Environmental Law, but really, anything somewhat related to her major will do, as long as it brings in the cash.

- She has been promoted to shift manager at the store, (so, 21000/year) but still would die to get the job as a school teacher, which pays better and seems to be more intellectually challenging. Considering the husband makes 40.000/year, is it possible for them to live with a combined income of 60000-78000/year, when they have house payments of 500USD/month and no children, except for a very demanding kitty?

HIS SITUATION

His plans of going to school at the proper age (he's 27)were crushed when he had to move to the US as a war refugee. Although he has a somewhat decent job, he took the very impressive decision of going to school, and started this Summer. He enjoys working with computers, but has no clue about the job market, so he decided to get an Associate's degree in Web design. After a lot of considering and asking around, he got into a crisis (apparently web design is no financial panacea), and these are his doubts:

- What are the potential benefits of web design, programming, software development, and network security, when it comes to money and potential benefits?
- Even though the wife is dying for him to get a Bachelor's Degree, he has doubts and likes the idea of the Associate's degree better. What are the pros an cons of each?
-How are husband and wife to organize their academic lives and still make money to live? Should the husband got school first? the wife? should they go together and live off savings and their small business(we have a tiny record label)?

This questions were obviously written by the wife, but really represent the concerns of both of us, since the husband just left to school very, very worried about the family's future.

I have $30,000 burning a hole in my pockets.

brenton — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:11:08 -0800

Where is the best place to put my $30,000 as I slowly withdraw from it over the next 2 years to pay for Grad School. As of today, I saved exactly $30,000. I will quit my job in a month, and I'm starting classes in the Fall. I won't have any other source of income for two years, besides school loans and these savings.

I currently have them in a WAMU Online Savings account, which was paying 4% interest before, but now is paying next to nothing.

Is there anything else I can do? If not, help me let it go.

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:34:41 -0800

Is there any further action I can take to recoup the financial loss and and deal with the emotional frustration resulting from my university's swine-flu-panic decision to cancel a much-anticipated field research opportunity? For over a year, my fellow grad students and I had been planning for a month-long field research opportunity in [foreign country]. For several of us, it was part of our motivation to attend this university – research opportunities in our field for non-PhD grad students are rare, and this is a small and amazing program to benefit a community in need. The summer research has been going on successfully for several years now. Our professor works unbelievably hard to arrange this...it takes an amazing amount of coordination and resources to make it all come together.

A few days after swine flu was initially announced in the media (late April) – and almost two months before our research was to begin, this June – I received notice from our professor that our trip had been canceled by a [certain office at the university in charge of assessing risk]. Upon hearing this, we all made many attempts to salvage the situation on many fronts, to no avail. Because swine flu is no longer a major threat, the tickets are booked through online travel companies, and the flights are international, none of us are able to reschedule or refund our tickets. Even with insurance, which I bought at booking. We also can't afford to take a "forced vacation" (ie. taking our flights and spending a month playing in [foreign country]). For me, this is $600 of sunk cost. Additionally, this research would have provided us with a summer opportunity to earn a necessary 3 units towards our graduation. Without it, many of us must spend an extra unplanned semester at our university, including the cost of tuition, books, and time spent. And of course, not to mention missing out on the experience of a lifetime, which can't really be compensated for any other way.

Two weeks after the decision, I contacted the person at the university office that made the cancellation, and sent them a very professional yet personal email explaining how this negatively impacted us students, and that we are unable to resolve things. He ignored all that, and replied with a generic response and blamed the State Dept. for the decision. This prompted me to send a follow-up email, calmly expressing my frustration with his manner of communication, lack of concern, and the financial cost and emotional distress his/their decision has left us with. He remains unconcerned, and frankly, somewhat hostile with his minimal replies. This all has left me feeling bitter, disillusioned, and now angry.

My flight leaves this Friday, without me on it. As it approaches, I feel increasingly helpless and frustrated. I cannot seem to let this go. Especially if there is something more I could do to resolve the financial or emotional aspects of this unfortunate situation.

Are there any things I can do, big or small that will:
a) Make me/us feel better.
b) Get the university to acknowledge us and/or take some positive action, however small, to help us out and/or prevent their lame handling of a situation from happening again. I do not wish to start controversy or create problems however.
c) Help recoup the $600 airline cost – even if it has nothing to do with the airline, flight insurance or booking agency. I've tried calling all places, several times. There is no getting the money back. I can however dump an extra $200 + additional cost of airfare to take a flight I don't need anymore to a place I don't want to go to (and can't afford to go to) in the next six months, if I so wish.
d) Help me just let it all go, if that's where I really should be focusing my energy.

The positives from all of this are helping somewhat...I do get to do some important things and attend some events that otherwise wouldn't get to (since I would have been out of the country). However, I keep thinking about the lack of concern by the school and missing out on this amazing experience. What can I do?

Level-up, Economics.

dead_ — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:28:09 -0800

I'm looking for a good, intermediate economics textbook. I would like to get a few recommendations on intermediate/advanced economics textbooks that are well suited to self-study. I am particularly interested in macroeconomics and development economics. What are the standard books typically assigned in college courses? Which books have been particularly helpful in moving you from a beginner to intermediate understanding of macroeconomics? Also, books that have associated online content (quizzes, tests) are a plus.

Two Master's Degrees... What are my options?

msposner — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:57:38 -0800

This spring I will be finished with my second Master's degree. I've been at my current job for almost three years and while I enjoy it immensely, I am wondering about other opportunities that having two graduate degrees might open up for me. Am hoping to obtain answers especially from individuals who have multiple degrees and have gone into somewhat different career paths. My first graduate degree is a M.S. in Secondary School Education. I am qualified to teach in public school (context area: Social Studies). I also am certified to teach at schools for the deaf but that is not something I want to focus on because of how such institutions are being shut down at an alarming rate.

My second graduate degree is going to be a M.S. in Professional/Rehabilitation Counseling, which I'll be obtaining in May of 2009. I'm not going to be pursuing my Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certificate because I was recently on their advisory panel and signed a waiver stating that I promise not to take the CRC test for at least five years due to first-hand exposure to potential test questions. This is perfectly fine with me because I'm not planning on having my own independent counseling practice and I have no desire to work for any of the major insurance companies around here.

I currently work at a state agency as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and while I do enjoy this job very, very much, lately it seems as if I'm often hearing from people (respected professionals) that I should be doing something "better" and so forth.

For me, "better", would be to obtain employment as a researcher (researcher scientist?) or a professor at a college/university, which is actually my ultimate goal but I'm also open to acquiring other, relevant experience that might enhance myself as an educator. I'm a voracious reader and I'm always conducting research- I'd really like to go into education/rehabilitation policy if the opportunity ever presents itself.

For now, my intention is clearly to "stay put" because as I mentioned, I love my job and I enjoy working with my colleagues, however, I have my goals outside of this field and have oftentimes thought about returning to the classroom as a high school teacher.

In a nutshell, my inquiries are defined as follows:

(I) I've been told that having Master degrees in both education and counseling will make me very attractive to school systems. True?

(II) Will the fact that I do not have terminal degrees in either fields (education and counseling) hurt my chances in obtaining research-based positions and/or work as a college instructor?

(III) For someone with two Master's degrees, what are the other fields I could go into when I have specialization in both education and counseling?

(IV) Has anyone experienced negative pitfalls of having multiple graduate degrees such as frequent rejections on the basis of being overqualified?

--------

Caveat #1: I am profoundly deaf. This, unfortunately, creates a lot of barriers for me in the workplace. Many schools have refused to hire me because in order for me to instruct in public schools, they would have to also pay for a full-time sign language interpreter since I communicate primarily in American Sign Language. In their eyes, I'm not cost effective- I'm a budget burden. As I mentioned earlier, I do not want to work at schools for the deaf because of the lack of job security and their notoriously low salaries.

Caveat #2: I've mentioned that I love my current job. However, I am also trying to plan ahead (1-3 years) and have always been open to other opportunities.

Caveat #3: Not really looking to relocate anytime in the near/distant future. Wife loves her job and is pregnant with our first child. We also put a lot of work in our present home.

Caveat #4: I'm 27 years old.

Caveat #5: My current job is paying fully for my second graduate degree, which is really the only reason why I went back to school after I completed my first Master's.

Thanks in advance for all of your suggestions/insights.

Can I take a Stafford loan without the help of my school?

serazin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:29:07 -0800

Can I apply for a Stafford loan without going through my school? I am enrolled in a nursing program at a very disorganized and poorly funded community college. I started August 20. Due to "the new computer system isn't working" type problems, no one's financial aid paperwork has been processed for this year. So I've received no aid and neither has anyone else. The person in charge of loans is refusing to even talk to any students until "the computer system is fixed" which could be "never" as far as I can tell. I'm a broke single mama and I'm starting to get desperate.

I want to apply for subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans. Is there any way I can do this on my own - since the financial aid department will not help me or even talk to me?

Thanks folk!

PhD programs and funding

limegreenpopsicle — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:31:34 -0800

If you are a student receiving funding for a PhD program and you withdraw at the end of the year, does the department/school ever ask for the money back? My thinking might be a bit premature, but...

I entered a PhD program, thinking I wanted to get a PhD. Because I received funding (tuition, fees, stipend), am I stuck here for 5 years? What if I drop out after a year or two with a master's degree? Do they ask for all the money back?

My position right now is that I don't know if I want the PhD, but after settling into the program, I very well might. It's a bit of cold feet on my part, I suppose. So I've been weighing my options. I want to give the PhD a chance, but I also don't want to be faced with tremendous debt if I want to leave the program partway through.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation? What are your thoughts?

Help with student loan

Black_Umbrella — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:17:05 -0800

I am looking for the best general student loan company. What are your experienes with specific student loan companies? So I have managed to pay for the first 4 years of my 5 year program. But now I am completely broke so I need a student loan.

I have talked to a financial officer at my school who more or less said "most are good". What I would like from the hive are some of your experiences with specific loan providers.

Perhaps you may even know the "best of the best" loan providers if you have recently spent time researching this.

My permenent address is considered to be Maryland and my school is located in New Jersey.

I already recieve federal perkins and direct loans.

Misc. Information:
I NEED the loan to cover everything...i.e.: food, housing, books, tuition, etc

I just put myself into credit card debt by flying back to my school from Australia (study abroad). Can I increase my loan to pay off this debt and consolidate it under a better APR?

Am I allowed to increase my loan by a few grand, 3K - 4K, for my own personal use during my last year? Most will be spent on drinks, concerts and the occasional weekend trip - so not exactly a school expense, just a little NECESSARY relaxation.

Mad money looks like a terrible film

ouchitburns — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:13:55 -0800

How do I make medical school affordable? I will be attending medical school (in Canada) come September and I am already worrying about money.

I was hoping to find out:

1) What things I will need to buy and what things I can avoid (i.e. PDA or just a notebook).
2) Of the things I need, from where and what brand should I get to make it the cheapest?
3) are there any deals out there that I can take advantage of? I know that banks will give me a line of credit just because I am going to med school. Are there other deals for people entering advanced degrees, like cell phone plans or whatever?
4) other anecdotal ways of keeping costs down?

I know that there are other sources for this information but I was hoping for gems of information that only past experience can give. Thanks for any advice at all (even advice not directly related to the questions). I am petrified of debt.

Being the bright kid at 30

dcrocha — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:18:40 -0800

I would like to be the bright kid again, but I've just turned 30. What should I do? To make a very long story short: I was always the bright student, the one who'd have an amazing future, study in the best universities, get the highest paid jobs and be rich. I was also supposed to discover the cure of cancer, or at least have enough money to pay somebody to do so. Jokes aside, now.

During primary & high school, I studied in many different cities and schools but my results were the same: a perfect GPA , many compliments from teachers, many prizes, etc. In my country we must take a mandatory exam for each college you're applying to. I have applied to one of the best and got in without much effort.

During my first two years, still the bright kid: straight A's, few friends, "the one with the bright future" and all that crap. Then, in the 3rd. year of college, I decided I'd had enough of that sh*tty course and dropped out, going to work for an Internet startup instead.

Forwarding it to the present, so I won't bore you to death, I made a reasonably successful career as a software developer, working curently as a systems engineer for one of the greatest companies in the world, earning a decent (not fantastic) salary, and as I had some time to spare in the past 3 years, I finished a degree (with the same low level of interest) so I could have a diploma.

All seemed well, but a couple of weeks back I was flying to the U.S. reading my fave magazine ("Economist"), and took a more detailed look at its jobs section, which features many great jobs at the world's most prestigious companies and organizations such as the UN, European Comission, etc. Then I was struck by a lightning, having instantly realized I wasn't qualified for any of those positions. I got depressed.

The following week, I was in Boston for business and as I had a free Saturday I decided to have a look at the Harvard square. Pretty nice place, but I only got more depressed realizing I will never be part of such a community because I stopped being the bright kid the moment I dropped out of college, 10 years ago.

I am very proud of having taught myself everything I know, professionally-wise: English, Spanish, computer programming, etc. However I became very sad since this last trip, as I realized I'm just one more in the crowd, my predicted "bright future" didn't happend and I'm here having a standard corporate job, which I tolerate (but don't love), when I feel I could be doing much more with my life, had I followed the path "originally" planned for me.

I have already tasted having a normal life with a normal career. I'd like to see what my life would be if I become again the bright kid I once was.

How do I do that?

grad school in germany

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:00:03 -0800

Grad school in Germany? I'm interested in the international programs offered in Germany. The idea of getting my Master's degree in Germany in English is very appealing. I would want to study international relations, public policy, or do a program focused on Eastern Europe.

Does anyone around here have any experience with this? I'm mainly concerned about the logistics of the matter.

Would I actually be able to do this? As a US citizen, I know that I would only be able to work 90 full days a year of 180 half days and that doesn't seem to be enough to get by. How hard is it to get funding/grants/scholarships of any sort?

Also, unlike with US universities, I can't seem to find any concrete information on how competitive the programs are. I will have a Slavic Language/Literature BA with a 3.1 GPA (not awesome), so will Germany even want me?

Any other information is welcome. Thank you.

Starving Artist seeks funding

whimsicalnymph — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:40:06 -0800

How do I pay for grad school? So, I just got accepted to Columbia University for an MFA in fiction. Which is awesome. But I don't have a lot of money. Which is, well, just the way it is.

Do you know any resources for outside fellowships/scholarships that I could apply for?

Ways to get private and government loans?

I already filled out my Fafsa. That is the first step, correct? What next?

Is a job in Education sheltered from the market?

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:11:05 -0800

I have just been offered a staff position at a large University of California campus. Given that my current job is with a small (employees<15) consulting company in the technology field, and given the current national (and global) economic situation; is a UC job more likely to be stable in the next 5 years when compared to one in a small tech company? Also, what's it like to work at a UC? Is the UC system subsidized by the government enough at the state and federal level to make it as secure as a government job?
Will a big CA educational institution weather the inevitable financial storm comparatively better than other sectors?
What is it like to work for a big UC school?
The benefits are good, but is working for an academic institution as political and as slow moving as people say?
What have you experienced as a UC employee?

Not an easy task.

laughinglikemad — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:39:35 -0800

How do I help my brilliant - but broke - friend go to school? After her first day of kindergarten, her parents saw how excited she was about school, and knew they had to nip her future dreams in the bud. So they sat her down and said, "When you get older, you might hear about this thing called 'college.' You're not going." Her future has born that out.

She wants to go to school for psychology, and I'm looking for things like scholarships, programs, and paid internships that can help her get there. As is, she works as a cocktail waitress - which was a big step up from call centers before that - but she's lucky if she get enough sleep, let alone pay rent. Whenever anyone mentions school, she just gets depressed, because she sees it as totally unachievable. But she's also proud, which means that I can't chip in to a fund or anything from my meager savings.

She has a GED, having dropped out at the age of 16: she's taken a few community college courses back when she lived with her father, but she's on her own now. Her mother is mad - schizophrenic, and a horribly abusive person to boot - but has never been diagnosed. Her little brother is severely disabled, both mentally and physically - hunchback, bad heart, autistic - and my friend might one day have to care for him full-time (he's a minor, and living with his mad mother). She lives in Seattle, and has always lived in Washington.

I know that I can't solve her problems, but I still wanted to ask: a lot of opportunity comes from just knowing what's out there. Given those details, does she quality for any assistance - scholarships for children of crazy people, or family members of the disabled? Anyone out there who has overcome similar obstacles, to achieve similar goals?

...but what do you actually do?

doppleradar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:56:02 -0800

Law/ Lawyer Filter: I've decided on Law School, but am trying to decide which area of law to focus on once I get there. I've found Vault's Law Career Articles pretty helpful, and am looking for other resources/personal insight into what different practice areas are like. Pros and cons, "day-in-the-life," personal anecdotes, you get the idea.

Bonus points for what you think the perception of your practice area is among other lawyers and the general public

To answer some potential questions from the get-go:
-I'm graduating with my BA in December and am waiting for the next admission cycle to apply (Fall 2009 entrance)
-I have researched admissions (gpa, lsat, indexes) to death already
-I have ruled out criminal and patent law (although I'm not averse to litigation in general)
-I am leaning towards bankruptcy or antitrust, but am not informed enough to commit
-I have no concern for work/life balance

Finding a way out of a tangled web of financial aid

dead_ — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:05:20 -0800

I've reached the end of the road for graduate school loans. Well, I was finally accepted to a master's program at my first choice school: Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Little did I know that funding my adventure in higher education would prove so ridiculously troublesome and depressing.

My situation is easily summed up as follows: no one wants to give me a loan.

In detail, it goes something like this: I cannot receive any kind of federal loan for graduate school, as my university doesn't admit many American students and as such has no relationship with the Department of Education here in the states--this means that Stafford loans are out of the question. Also, it is an impossibility for the university to get a FAFSA number through the DOE (thus allowing for federal funds) due to the length and intensity of the process and the relatively few American students at the school. I've talked with both the university, and the DOE on that one.

I also seem to have hit a roadblock with private loans. I have found many loans that allow deferred payment and disbursement of funds directly to me, yet during the application process I always encounter the mysterious "eligibility list" of universities they approve or do not approve of--which of course Waseda is not on, excluding me from the loan. After speaking with a few financial aid officers, I realized that these lists are of universities that banks have relationships with so they can determine if the student is still enrolled at full-time (and thus still eligible for the loan). So it looks like private loans are out, too. I've checked hundreds of them, with no luck.

The university itself offers no loans to foreign students, and has no relationships with any US financial institutions.

As for scholarships, I will undoubtedly get them--and have been told as much--however they are not awarded until after matriculation and the initial tuition payments, which I would need a loan to make. I also have no way of knowing how much I'm getting yet.

So what is a foreign-enrolled US citizen to do, with no one to loan him a dollar and his dream school slipping away? That's what I'm asking you.

This has been one of the most disheartening experiences of my life: a long, detailed admissions process fraught with doubt that eventually resulted in the wonderful news of admission to my dream school, and yet now I have no way to finance it--even with the almost certain possibility of scholarship.

Are there any options I haven't tried, or haven't thought of here? Is there anything I can do?

Career in the social services, but my heart isn't in it.

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:13:19 -0800

Career in the social services, but my heart isn't in it. I am struggling with a conundrum. I just earned an MSW, but I don't feel that I'm up for the challenges of this career. While I didn't go into the profession to make money, and I do truly wish to help people, I don't feel that I will make a salary that will give me a comfortable standard of living...and the more I have learned about myself and the profession, the more I feel that this is a poor match. I understand that there is a wide range of salaries in the profession but I don't feel that I will be one of the high earners, i.e. those who manage large programs or do policy making or have a private practice.

So...what on earth else can I do with this degree? What kinds of jobs can I look for that aren't typical social work jobs...or aren't in the field at all? Would it be worthwhile to earn my LICSW and then move into a different field, or can I do something else entirely right out of school? If so, how do I spin my area of study to future employers?

Another option is going back to school. I'm willing to do so but I have no idea what would be a good profession for me.

I really don't like these headline/titles. I think it's pretty clear in the question.

greta simone — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:10:44 -0800

What can I do for a month this summer that will get me out of the country, cover my costs, and cover my bills back home? I am starting a graduate program around the middle of August in the same town where I already live. My temp job is ending June 30th. So essentially I have about a month and a half this summer to do something interesting. I could get a job waiting tables and just dick around for a little while, but that just won’t cut it.

What I really want to do is to go abroad for about a month (ideally Florence, Italy). The catch: it has to be pretty much close to free and would hopefully make me some money. I have to be able to cover about $1600 in household expenses to cover a month of my absence (I can’t sublet, I love my roommate too much to do that to her) and afford airfare and whatever expenses there will be once I get there. In an ideal world, someone would pay me $3000 to housesit in Florence for a month. But since that probably won’t happen I need to come up with ideas of somewhere I can go for a month that will give me $3000 to do it, and put set me up with a free bed in the process. Short of winning the lottery (which I have tried a few times, damn scratch-offs), there is no way I could save even 10% of that amount by the end of June. I looked into au pair programs but those seem to require more time than I have and pay very little.

I know this is a ridiculous hope, and I don’t expect anyone to have any answers, but if you have ANY off the wall ideas to get me out of town (anywhere, I’m presently in NC) for cheap (or for pay!) for a month this summer, let me know. Or if YOU need a housesitter or au pair where ever you are and have $3000 laying around….

Miserable with a future, or on hold but with less misery?

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:38:44 -0800

I have almost certainly won an eighteen thousand dollar award to do my Master's degree, but every day I find myself semi-wishing that I don't win it so that I don't have to do my Master's. Do I suck it up and advance my career, or turn down more money than I make in two years and end up working at the mall? I am a pretty smart cookie, I love school, and I love the fields that I majored in. For the past several years, though, I have been a research assistant for Dr. M, and when the time came for me to pick a supervisor, he seemed a natural fit. Smart, well-known, friendly, a good boss. Since then, though, we have had some conflict. I have had to change my topic from the area I am passionate about to the area he studies (I know, this is fairly typical) and he micromanages every step of the application process. As an example, he wrote my scholarship application for me and then seemed insulted when I made changes. He made all the decisions about who would be on my committee without consulting me. He has already decided the theoretical framework and methods for my study (as it happens to coincide with his). Anyway, bitching aside, the Cole's notes version is: I am unhappy with my supervisor, I am unhappy with my topic, I will very likely win a bunch of money to do this work.

Switching to another prof so that I can study what I want is not an option, as for various reasons I am tied to this one city (which only has this one school), and my department is quite small. There is no one here who specializes in my interest, and the department is so small that I really can't afford to step on anyone's toes, especially not Dr. M who has invested so much in training me these past years. I feel like I owe him.

If I do turn down the award, my degree is not such that I am qualified for any particular position. I would probably end up working at a call centre or something equally fulfilling. At this point, though, all I really want is to get away from the Uni. I have been there for so long that I have grown to hate it, hate research, and hate writing.

I can suck it up and do this degree, but I am sure it will not be a pleasant two years. Still, it will be two years, a short amount of time in the long run. I will have the award to put on my CV, plus some publications. All-in-all, good for my career. Do I do this, put my academic potential first and suffer through two years, or do I put my career on hold for a bit (turning down a large sum of money), and experience Life After School?

Buy/Sell books on campus

senterstyle — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:56:14 -0800

Buying and selling books on campus I go to a boarding prep school that has about 800 students, and many of us have the same classes. Thus, book bartering (for money) is popular. However, lots of the students just send all-school emails, which become annoying after awhile.

Straight to the question: How can I solve this problem? Is there perhaps a forum web app or something I can manage?

Has anyone here ever sold their old school assignments (research papers) online?

sjvilla79 — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 19:29:51 -0800

MoneyFilter: Has anyone here ever sold their old school assignments (research papers) online? I've done some minor searching, but only turned up one poorly designed website from the UK. Thus, I'm not convinced. I mean is there really a market for this stuff. If so, well, where is it? And yeah the point of this post is that I would like to sell my old assignments somewhere. Again, does such a (reputable) place exist? Links and success stories please.

How to spend $5000 of newly found money.

sirsteven — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 23:04:55 -0800

Just today our engineering students society found $5000 in a safe we didn't know we had. Now we've got to spend it, preferably in some useful and/or awesome way. Do you have any suggestions on what a students society might want to spend it on? We've got a lounge with a few old computers, a really cool fridge and a big-screen tv (so we don't need those things). We usually get 30 grand per year in student fees but this feels like we just won the lottery. Holding the rolls of bills feels like we're drug dealers or something. It would be cool if whatever we spend it on is something we could remember year down the road(or not, whatever goes).

How can I afford to stay in college?

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 12:10:43 -0800

I'm a full-time college sophomore. I'm working full time, 35 hours a week, to try and make ends meet but I'm having a hard time. I know there was another thread on loans earlier, but my situation is different.

The disbursement I get from the federal student loan programs is not enough to cover my tuition itself, and the extra cost of room, board, books and other necessities is eating in and I'm beginning to run up serious credit card debt. My parents make enough money to keep me from getting grants or financial need scholarships, but they will not help me with school, nor will they co-sign a 3rd party loan. I live in a very cheap apartment and take the bus to school, and I've cut food and entertainment expenses to the minimums. I talked to the financial aid office and they said that there was nothing they could do except offer me a position on campus (for less hours and the same money as my current job) or give me a list of 3rd party loan providers. I called the providers, but they all rejected me because I'm too young (21), single and don't have a cosigner.

What do I do? I feel like I'm being punished for trying to go to school.