financial issues

[couggirl]

I have been applying to graduate school and noticed that a lot of schools are very strict about giving in state tuition. I have heard a few schools will go out of their to not allow a student to be considered in state for tuition purposes. I guess it is worth while for the school to put in the effort for the extra money, but it seems crazy to me.

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by couggirl

I have been applying to graduate school and noticed that a lot of schools are very strict about giving in state tuition. I have heard a few schools will go out of their to not allow a student to be considered in state for tuition purposes. I guess it is worth while for the school to put in the effort for the extra money, but it seems crazy to me.

I don't think this is crazy. The point of in-state tuition is to give a break to the people who have been paying the taxes that support the institution. If a student hasn't been contributing to the economy of a state I see no reason to reward him or her with in-state tuition. Additionally (and this is a broad generalization from very brief research), approximately half of people settle in the same state in which they were born. Thus, statistically, charging in-state tuition to those who are actually from the state continues to contribute to the economy and culture of a state.

[ree-Xi]

Getting back on subject, if you are just going into your senior year, now is the time to find a job. You still have 6 or 7 weeks of summer left, and during the school year, you can work after school a few days and weekends. A part time job could earn you enough over the next year to pay for sorority dues and extras.

Some job ideas:

- Part time office work. Whether it's a 3-6 gig, or an office needs someone to do the filing, etc., during any hours you are available, these jobs usually pay a few dollars above minimum wage. Ask your parents or friends' parents, at church (put your avilability in the church bulletin) to see if anyone needs ongoing office work. Also try your town hall, who might not have the $$ to pay full timers. I worked in my town rec office a few times a week during HS.
* Doctors offices are great places for this type of work bc the people at the front desk are doing 5 things at once.

- Babysitting - hit or miss, unless you get a part-time nanny-type job, where you are needed on a specific schedule. Again, ask around for people who might need you. If you live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, you could get a lot of work, but would be mostly on weekends.

- Depending on your skills, peer tutoring. Ask your school or town if they have it. The work may not be steady, though.

- If you are interested in retail, get a part time job now, before the Christmas rush. The people they hire for the holidays are usually let go in January.

- Depending on your skills or hobbies, there might be a way to make $ off that. When I was in college, one of my professors was writing his dissertation and needed help organizing, proofing, typing, resource citing, etc. along the way. I was an English major/Journalism concentration, so this was up my alley. I also typed up other students' papers (this was before everyone had computers) and charged $3.00 a page (for typing, proofing for grammatic/spelling errors, and resource citation).

I hope that you find a way to do all that you wish. Good luck in your endeavors!

[oncegreek]

www.marieclaire.com- the website that goes with the magazine- has a great article on consolidating student loan debt. (I know this because I am playing around on-line instead of working on my paper.... procrastination for on-line students.... so much more fun than posting in the discussion forum for my history class!)

[Blue Skies]

Originally Posted by lyrelyre

I don't think this is crazy. The point of in-state tuition is to give a break to the people who have been paying the taxes that support the institution. If a student hasn't been contributing to the economy of a state I see no reason to reward him or her with in-state tuition. Additionally (and this is a broad generalization from very brief research), approximately half of people settle in the same state in which they were born. Thus, statistically, charging in-state tuition to those who are actually from the state continues to contribute to the economy and culture of a state.

I hear what you're saying. I'm just cautioning prospective out-of-state students that even if they think they are following the rules for gaining in-state status, it may not happen for a number of reasons. In fact, the safest course of action would be to assume it won't happen.

One nice thing about being a G.A. or a T.A. (for grad students) is that such a job may automatically confer in-state status.

I was in my thirties, had worked and supported myself for many years, and had also worked and paid taxes in my new state for a year and a half before I applied for in-state status (the "rules" for what they were worth, stated that one year would be sufficient.) Still, no deal. In fact, I was charged more than 100% of the cost to the state of my education. (And I've been teaching the most difficult children that this state has to offer for the past dozen years.)

Which is fine. Whatever. But it ended up feeling like a business deal. When a representative from my alma mater calls and asks me for a donation, basically I just laugh at them. And I tell them that I already paid.

[Janerz222]

This is less for the original poster (but perhaps in the future?):

Have you all contacted your GLOs' foundations about undergrad and grad scholarships?

[couggirl]

Originally Posted by Blue Skies

I
One nice thing about being a G.A. or a T.A. (for grad students) is that such a job may automatically confer in-state status.

I was trying to say, with my previous post, was that I have discovered that not all schools give in state tuition. It was my understanding that this was a universal truth in the academic world. I have beeen looking into schools and Ihave found out that a number of schools do not give in state tuition Also, I have years of teaching and decent grades and test scores and did not get any T.A. or Research assistant positions, so they are not easily to come by and even if they are they don't always garantee in state tuition.

Then again, maybe I applied to the wrong schools.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by couggirl

I was trying to say, with my previous post, was that I have discovered that not all schools give in state tuition. It was my understanding that this was a universal truth in the academic world. I have beeen looking into schools and Ihave found out that a number of schools do not give in state tuition Also, I have years of teaching and decent grades and test scores and did not get any T.A. or Research assistant positions, so they are not easily to come by and even if they are they don't always garantee in state tuition.

Then again, maybe I applied to the wrong schools.

Are you talking about State schools or all? I would also be surprised if State schools didn't offer in-state tuition, but not private schools. Most private schools expect everyone to pony up the dough, regardless of where you come from.

[barnard1897]

To the OP: if being in a sorority means that much to you, there are ways to make it happen. Not saying it will be easy, just saying it's not impossible.

My roommate balanced school and a night job to cover the huge tuition bills at our private university, AND she covered all her sorority dues. She received some grants and loans, but the rest she had to make up with jobs and working a lot over the summers.

We did not have a house, but she did have to cover dorm costs and then apt rent when she moved out of the dorms 2nd year. I don't know how she did it. But she had a lucrative job managing a restaurant at night and still made it to every class. She was not ONCE late on her sorority dues. Oh, and did I mention she had a double major AND graduated with a 3.7 and scored a major investment banking job on Wall Street after graduation? It can be done. She made it to every one of our formals, was social chair and then Vice Pres. Admin of our house. Best of luck at A&M!!!!