Paying for school out of pocket...

[LOC4ME]

So, I have my plan for a history degree through EC. I decided against TESC only because I need a GPA for grad school applications.

It's looking like it will be about $8,000 total. Which I know is a bargain!!! But, I work in the restaurant industry where things have slowed down, plus other expenses, very expensive dental work etc.

I want to finish as soon as possible, but if I budget so much a month (what I can probably afford with some flexibility if I need to do less one month), its looking like it will take me about 2 years.

For those that payed OOP, did you just do so much a month, as you got money, or were you making enough money at your day job to pay pretty much all at once?

Any advice on how to handle this would be appreciated. TIA

[bawhitsett]

Most (if not all) schools will look at all of your transcripts to determine your eligibility versus what your GPA was on 2-3 classes you take at 1 of the big 3, so don't let the GPA issue be your sole source of decision making.

I was making enough that, along with about $1300 a year in tuition assistance, I could pay for things as I went along, including all enrollment / grad fees. This typically involved dipping into savings / CC and then paying it back / off with monthly disposable income. I also paid for my first grad degree OOP. The MBA, by relocating and have less disposable income, is making me have to be more creative. I'm also taking on less costly professional certifications now in hopes of increasing my short-term earning potential.

[ryoder]

Tesc costs much less than 8k so I would think again about ruling them out.
You should be able to do your entire degree for the enrollment fee plus 100 bucks a test and twenty bucks a book. Straighter line and a leks are even cheaper if you do it right. The gpa thing isn't insurmountable. Ncu.edu for example has no gpa requirements and there are other options like amu.edu that I think don't either.

My advice is to go for the degree that costs the least and allows you to test out of as much as possible. For me that was tesc, a public state school.

Masters programs want students so if you rock the gre or GMAT they will make exceptions. Which school do you see yourself applying for? For me I liked ncu because it is at your own pace with almost no exams. You work the assignments and submit them for a grade. Its not easy and is time consuming but you don't have the hassle of sitting in a class or interacting with other students online.

[cookderosa]

So, I have my plan for a history degree through EC. I decided against TESC only because I need a GPA for grad school applications.

It's looking like it will be about $8,000 total. Which I know is a bargain!!! But, I work in the restaurant industry where things have slowed down, plus other expenses, very expensive dental work etc.

I want to finish as soon as possible, but if I budget so much a month (what I can probably afford with some flexibility if I need to do less one month), its looking like it will take me about 2 years.

For those that payed OOP, did you just do so much a month, as you got money, or were you making enough money at your day job to pay pretty much all at once?

Any advice on how to handle this would be appreciated. TIA

What do you do in the restaurant industry? Just curious, that's my field too.

[Kaz]

Here's some advice from someone who did it the worst way possible:

• avoid borrowing anything unless you absolutely have to
  
• get any free money like grants you can
  
• a big one for me: it's better to underestimate how much you could have gotten done then bite off more than you can chew. For me that meant paying for brick-&-mortar courses, having too many to keep up with, killing myself for weeks while getting unimpressive grades and then inevitably having to drop some of them without getting any money back. :ack: :puke: The worst of all possible worlds.
  
• usually doesn't need to be mentioned on this forum because of the crowd, but don't take a $1,000 class if a $140 test gets you the same result. This requires taking things like grad school into account but I see you are already thinking along those lines :coolgleam: .
  

[marianne202]

I paid out of pocket to finish my AS and both of my BS degrees at EC. I was only working part-time as we had lost our majority income, mine, before I started. I just set my test schedule and if I had a test, I had to have the money. Other things such as going out to dinner, shopping for anything that wasn't essential etc. wasn't an option. I also sold things on eBay and had a yard sale to make more money. Your dentist should allow you make payments on your services without any interest if you set it up in advance. I would try to set aside the money in a bank account where you don't have easy access, and put the money in on payday for your exams that month. Then just go for it. Once you start to see how quickly and inexpensively you can obtain your degree, you will be even more motivated to find the money you need. You should qualify for grant funds through FAFSA if you are in a tight financial situation. I encourage you to spend the 20 minutes and fill it out and have it sent to EC. Then they will contact you with your award, but you will have to be enrolled at EC which means paying the enrollment fee. That might not be feasible until you are ready to cash out your credits, so you will have to weigh those options and decide. Good luck! I'm sure you can find a way to do this.

[NAP]

Hi LOC4ME! I sent you a PM with a question on a different subject. Thanks!

[CollegeStudent7]

I'm paying out of pocket and will give you updates as I go along. The BIGGEST cost, for me, is going to to be that 3k enrollment. I am allowing myself $500/month to finish this degree...perhaps even more if it means I can finish sooner. Do I have a social life? NOPE..not for now. It's all going toward TESC.