Dave says No loans for college, I don't see any other way.

[philchristian192]

We are a family of 6 and I was hit with a layoff in the beginning of June, two weeks later I had and aortic anyurism and spent almost 2 months in the hospital. I've recovered fully, but I've had the worst time finding a job. I've been the Telecom Industry for 10 years and cannot find anything in any field and it doesn't look too promising that I will anytime soon.

I have a strong desire to go to College (for the first time.) and get into something more lucrative like green technology or geology (something I've had a passion about for a long time)

Dave says not to take student loans out to pay for college, but I don't see any other way.

My wife's income is stable for now, but I feel guilty asking her to fork out the money to pay for college. (I feel like it will lead to another arguement about money)

I am sure that I will find a job eventually, but I want to get ahead and make more than 40k a year and have my wife stay at home to raise the kids like she wants to. I don't see that happening with my current lack of higher education.

Does anyone have any wisdom to impart on how i should approach this?

Phillip

[monkeywrangler71]

My brother is a geologist. It took 4 years of University + 2 years of specialized college + 4 years of working in remote field camps and South America for next to nothing (and sometimes actually nothing) before he was able to get a regular job in his field. He makes good money, but it took very long time to get there.

I would recommend you look into training programs that will build on the work experience you already have, rather than going to college with the expectation that you will break into some lucrative new industry when you get out.

[frugalwarrior2]

College is a good investment and should lead to better money. But not any career at any time in your life. Maybe a 2 year program at a community College would be a good place to start. My DD is going full time and it is costing about 900. plus book $200-$400. if we can get used it's less. Online is cheaper but your house sounds loud??? We are swinging it cah (barely) so far. There are a lot of financial aid prog. and returning and late in life students. It is possible to test out of some. They will assess your skill proficientcies (and deficientcies) when you apply. Certain books go for 2 classes-like her math book so you get a break$$$ that way. They even have job placement and work study programs. Most info is online incl. classes offered and fees. i hope any of this helped.

[Inkstain82]

You see other ways. You just don't like them.

Have your wife pay. Get an extra part-time job to help pay. Put it off for a couple more years to save up the money.

[MaryCarney]

I think one problem (which Inkstain alluded to) is that you see 'full-time student' as the only way to go about it.
I've gone part-time, online, done challenge exams and lots of other things to finish my degree last summer. I worked full- or nearly full-time through it all.
With your family size, you'll probably get some financial aid. Good luck!!

[krbshappy71]

My wife's income is stable for now, but I feel guilty asking her to fork out the money to pay for college. (I feel like it will lead to another arguement about money)

If you feel that will be a problem, then how is taking out a large loan going to make her any happier? I would like to suggest that you focus on the communication and arguments with her, meanwhile get a job and pay stuff down or off. Don't take on more if you two are already strained in that area. Show her you are trying and committed to the here and now, and then she may be more open to you going back to school later.

[Greebo]

Deliver pizza, sling boxes, find the best paying part time work you can, and the cheapest degree you can. Look for adult education grants and scholarships. And TALK TO YOUR WIFE, for goodness sake. She's your *PARTNER IN LIFE*. If you both agree that getting a degree is a good plan, then she shouldn't hesitate to help pay, just as you wouldn't to help pay for her to get ahead.

But borrowing money for a degree will not put you ahead - it will put you in debt for years and years - debt that undermines the success you'll achieve by getting the degree.

[VanVivCam]

I'm going back to school in the fall. I am taking out student loans to pay, but we are also going to pay monthly payments to the loans instead of starting payments when I finish my degree.

[itlw8]

six kids??? Have you appiled for pell grants yet I bet you qualify for them with that many children.

My Bil went back to school and held down a f/t job. during that time 3 children went to college. Pell grants were their friends along with scholarships. Yes it was rough but at 54 he is now a first year music teacher and has a stable job with benifits.

granted he had his basic classes done from when he was young and fooling around.

get the basics classes p/t at community college if you do not have them. evening classes are full of working adults.

And yes discuss this with your wife. a marriage is a partnership.

start now researching the money goes fast for pell grants and you need to file rtaxes to fill out the ( I do not know the letters ) the form to see if you qualify for financial aid.)

[Sara Noel]

I'd look into applying at a local large chain grocery store that offers tuition reimbursement. You'll have a low stress job so you can focus on your education and have it paid for.

[Neeley]

At age 19 DH and I got married and had a baby on the way. He had completed his first year of college and was beginning his second. I was finishing my first year. Over the next four years he finished his Bachelor's, finished his Master's, maintained a 3.95 GPA and passed the CPA exam. While in college he worked full-time M-F at a law firm at a runner. (It was good pay and provided us insurance.) After work M-Th he went to class from 6:00-10:00 - taking more than a full load of classes. On the weekends and Fridays after work he had about fifteen lawn service clients, including an apartment complex and a chain of convenience stores. Once he passed the CPA exam he was hired at a firm making over $50K a year (1995 @ age 23). Yes, he qualified for a small Pell grant but, he also took out student loans. It was $48k to be exact. Within two and a half years of graduation they were paid in full. Today his income has more than doubled, plus annual bonuses equal to 10% of his annual salary. Had he taken years and years to get through college, he would not be anywhere near where he is today.
Point to my story is student loans are not the devil. When used properly and paid back quickly, they can be a Godsend. We did not have the eight or ten years for him to work his way through college.
Also, working full-time and attending college full-time can be done. It just takes a lot of discipline and dedication. It also takes a great deal of cooperation from the entire family.

ETA: His original desire was to go to law school after obtaining his Master's. However, since he had a growing family depending solely on him he had to change his plans. Now that our children are close to college age he is now considering going back too law school. If it is going to take too long to get the degree you desire then you may need to choose an alternate field of study.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Do you have access to any type of state/federal grants?

I also agree with monkeywrangler71. I'd look into work study programs or take some part-time classes as you go.

You could get a job that gives you enough income to pay for school. If your wife has steady income, then you guys can use that as a basis for investing your cash into your plans.

[Inkstain82]

At this point in your life especially, it's very important to ask yourself and answer very honestly:

Am I going to college because I've done my due diligence and crunched the numbers and believe it will pay off for myself and my family in the long run? Or am I going to college because I'm itching to do something fun and exciting?

If your answer is A, then go nuts. If your answer is B, that's still fine, but only if you can afford it.

[kita]

Look carefully at Neely's story. Her husband had her full support. They only had three kids. He had the energy of a man in his 20's. He already had a year of college. (If you have never been to college you may not any idea of the studying required.) He was also going for a field with a certification that was and is in high demand. (CPA) He also chose a field where he could work sooner rather than later.

Make sure you have a plan and your wife is on-board. Go done to the local community college and look at various degrees offered. You might find something that is a stair-step approach. If you like nursing, you could do CNA, (6 weeks), Lpn (1 yr) and then RN (2years). Some RN programs naturally offer you your LPN at the one-year break ...you just have to take the exam.
When you go to the CC let them know you are unemployed. There may be some grants and scholarships for someone who is unemployed.
I am not completely against student loans but do NOT finance your education with them. You need to work. You need to get grants. If you need to get $2000 to stay in your program for your RN the last year, I wouldn't tell you no.

[mnmarty03]

I would second many of the posts on here. I went to college right after high school and took out loans (nearly 30K worth). I got my BS degree in Zoology/International Studies, and am now a zookeeper.

I love my field, but it took 2 years of low pay/volunteer based positions before landing my first full-time, permanent position. I still love my job, but in 2009 I only made $23,400 --> and that was including a TON of weeks where I worked 6 day weeks instead of 5.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go to college, just make sure you think long and hard about all of the details.