[–] sakuramboo ago
I worked while going and paid off 2/3 by the time I graduated. I deferred payments for 1 year because I could not find a job in my field. Then when I started working I paid it off the following year.
[–] ConceptualMan [S] ago
What field if i may ask?
Savings, loans, and employer reimbursement currently. My work schedule means I can't actually go to a standard classroom setting so I go to classes on-line (a non-profit school with a real campus as I don't want a garbage degree). It costs a little more than my kids are paying at the local college but it is the only way I can fit around my schedule.
[–] ArchibaldLacey 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
You can get a college degree for roughly 5k if you apply to one of the big 3, and get the majority of your college credits through CLEP/DSST (formerly known as Dantes). You purchase the test for like 85?, sign up at a local school that allows you to take them, and end up taking an hour test. If you pass, you get the credit. The tests are not that difficult. With the big 3, they will take like 95+% credit from CLEP/DSST.
On top of that, I think you can take FEMA tests for free, and some schools will creatively include those credits into your major.
The big 3 are like: Thomas Edison State University, Excelsior College, and Charter Oaks State College. I know Excelsior tends to be more expensive than the other 2 at like $10k. Regardless, it's the easiest way to get a degree. You can get it in less than a year, and apparently there is some people that have gotten it in a month. If you don't like the bias at schools today, and a degree is just a degree to you, then i'd recommend this method of getting your degree for ease and expense.
Edit: And Dantes/DSST was formerly a test offered to those in the military. I think if you're in the military, you get X amount per year for school studies that you could use on this testing; then after your 4 years of service, you can give the military education to someone else in your family.
[–] ConceptualMan [S] ago
Thank you for the info. I did receive the FEMA certs that I could as I'm extremely interested in emergency management. I did not know about the test out options!
[–] daskapitalist 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
For yourself: apply to a college, file a FAFSA, DO NOT MAJOR IN ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF STEM, and work through college. You'll have some loans, but it eont be terrible.
[–] tendiesonfloor ago
Chipping Playstations, duping Playstation games, programming DirectTV cards, and selling weed.
The first time I went was in the mid 90s. I used student loans, but it was only about $1500 a semester then. Of course, I was living at home with my parents during that time as well, so I didn't have the expense of staying on campus. The second time I went, was in the early 2000s. I used student loans once again. It was considerably more than the $1500 a semester, but still not ridiculous. Finally, I went to law school in 2008. I have student loans out the wazoo now. I was working full time during the last two stints. I made way too much money to get grants, although not enough to pay cash, and there are no scholarships for white guys trying to get an education.
However, for somebody starting out now trying to get their undergrad degree, I always recommend to people that they go to community college for the first two years. It is so much cheaper and more convenient. Almost all the classes will transfer to a 4 year University. Plus, the community college seems to have a much more flexible schedule for classes. One can usually work while attending to help with expenses. Then when the two years are up, transfer to where ever it is you want to get your degree from. That way you are only paying the ridiculous prices for 2 years instead of 4.
[–] ilikeskittles 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Worked full time, went to school at night.
[–] BrawBrichtNicht 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Tuition is free in Scotland, I worked part time to pay my living expenses.
[–] rIckHAMIn 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
How did you find this site? I assumed mostly Americans were here