Getting worried about my job.

[Special K]

Originally posted by: pontifex
how do student loans work if you're only taking like 2 classes a semester? do you take a loan for the projected cost of your degree or what?

That or the maximum amount they will let you borrow, in which case you may have to borrow from more than one lender.

I am not sure what restrictions they place on how many classes you must be enrolled in at a time.

Government-backed loans usually offer the most favorable terms. Here are a couple of places to start reading about those:

link1
link2

You can also take out private loans from a bank, but they should only be used as a last resort, as the terms are not going to be as favorable (i.e. - higher interest rates).

Also any loan payments are typically deferred until 6 months after you graduate.

 

[pontifex]

I can't go to school full time, because I have too many other bills to pay. in the long run, going to school would help me, but not in the short term. if i went for a full bachelor's degree going part time is going to take forever.

 

[Deeko]

What bills...like rent and that sort of thing? Generally you are authorized to take out student loans for that, too, or you could work part time to offset the cost. When I was in school, they had an "estimated cost of enrollment" which included tuition, fees, estimates for books, materials, transportation, housing, etc, and that's the max you could borrow.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I can't go to school full time, because I have too many other bills to pay. in the long run, going to school would help me, but not in the short term. if i went for a full bachelor's degree going part time is going to take forever.

I don't know how they work now but back in the dark ages when I was in your situation and was seriously considering going back to school it was my understanding that once I started school again my student loan payments would go on hold, I would be able to add my new student loan into my existing one at the same interest rate. Once I finished school there would be the same time period I had after I finished the first time before I would start making my new higher payments.

 

[funboy6942]

Yeah I remember when one of the companies I worked for got bought out, and there were rumors running around. The company had meeting and promised nothing was going to happen, all the rumors were just that, a rumor, then they laid off all the lower end people on Christmas eve and I was one of them.

I been laid off enough job to learn one thing, DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THE COMPANY SAYS. BACK UP PLAN NOW!!!!! Of course they are going to say there is nothing going on or going to happen, they need your ass there to the very end. They dont want to say, "Yup, were going to be laying you all off at XXXX" and then have 3/4ths the people up and leave for something else. They will lie and make all kinds of promises to keep you there and then without warning say, opps sorry, fingers were crossed, your laid off, bad things happen, our bad for not telling you the truth 2 months ago to you, but we needed you around so we can finish up what needed to get done so we can can your asses. Cant do that all too well if they say the truth and you all leave right away for something else can they?

Id say if the rumors are there take them to be 80% true and work on a back up plan right away, and no matter what the higher ups say, dont believe a word of it, they are doing their job to be sure your ass stays put and do get up and walk out for they need you there till the end. I been laid off of 8+ jobs, I know what I am talking about, and they all did the same damn thing. Said it was all rumors, and then later on canned a shit load of us. Just keep in mind that they will always say this to the very end that there will not be any lay offs, its not going to happen, you have nothing to worry about, its a transitional phase the company is going through. You hear that, its time to look for another job right away before the company shuts down and a ton of you and your co-workers are all out there fighting for the same jobs that are open and far and few between. Fuck them, no company, NO COMPANY, unless you are the very higher up, has your back, no matter what they tell or promise to you.

Sorry, I just cant sugar coat it for you.

 

[RichUK]

If worst comes to worst, you could always sit at home and play WoW all day long.

 

[pontifex]

I've been mulling over this going back to school thing for awhile and I'm still not sure what I want to do. For awhile I thought maybe an English degree and do editing or work for a publisher or something, but even that is like, meh.