Seeking Advice on Increasing Financial Aid and Finding Competency-Based Marketing or

[asdfasd78]

Hi everyone, I just graduated this summer from the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) and have been accepted into their master's program as well. While I’m excited to continue my education at UMPI, they’ve only offered me $15,200 per year, which unfortunately isn’t enough to cover my living expenses. My goal is to focus fully on my studies without working much, so I’m looking for ways to increase this financial aid amount.

Additionally, I’m exploring other master’s programs, especially those in marketing or business, that offer better financial aid packages or scholarships. Ideally, I’m looking for a competency-based program with a strong emphasis on practical learning rather than excessive writing. Does anyone know of such programs that are particularly generous with financial aid and scholarships?

Thank you in advance for any advice or recommendations!

Thanks so much

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Grad programs have a great deal of writing and research. There's no way around that. Do you believe it will take you a full year to complete the MAOL? I ask because most people I see on Discord are completing it in 2-3 terms. This means you won't get that full amount in financial aid. In grad school, financial aid is all loans. Scholarships aren't super common unless you're on campus conducting research, running the lab, being a TA, being an RA, etc.

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You aren’t getting a scholarship to do a CBE online masters, period.

Taking out cost of living loans to complete MAOL full time is a terrible decision.

Grad school by nature has a ton of writing. 

I think you need to research what grad school is and isn’t to be honest. Sounds like you don’t really understand what it entails.

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These are good questions. You're going to have to apply for scholarships if your goal is not to work while doing your studies or personal loans. I don't know if there are ways to increase your financial aid other than scholarships and personal loans. I think personal loans have to be paid back immediately and do not have the same safeguards as federal financial aid.

There are schools that do provide grants and scholarships and living stipends to graduate students but you usually see that in in-person doctoral programs.

This will not happen for what OP wants and even research stipends for PhDs are reallllllly low.

No one going to hand you free money to do an online masters lol…

Thank you for your responses. However, the information you shared is something I’ve known since I came to the USA in 2008. Additionally, there are schools that do offer scholarships specifically for competency-based degrees (CBD). We’re all here to help each other, so I hope we can stay focused on providing useful advice rather than making personal comments like, "It seems like you don’t really understand what it entails.

[Jonathan Whatley]

CBE schools sometimes offer scholarships in the sense of discounts on tuition where the students still are responsible for paying some tuition. Occasionally a full-tuition scholarship might be offered on a competitive basis to an exceptional student, typically from a specific affinity group, eg., a scholarship for a working early childhood education paraprofessional in Missouri seeking to become a licensed teacher.

But you seem to be looking for something categorically different: not only full tuition but also a living expenses stipend. These are unheard of in CBE. When they’re offered in graduate programs, they’re competitive awards for academic stars, and excluding some professional degree programs (e.g., law school), the packages typically include work commitments as research assistants or teaching assistants making them part-time jobs.

[bjcheung77]

It gets confusing... The main thing I don't understand is this, UMPI is giving you $15K for a program that can be done in 1-2 sessions and that would be $2300 to $4600. People on the board have family, jobs, other commitments and are still able to complete the degree in the mentioned time. These individuals have many things on their plate, they take whatever aid they can. Why do you need the extra cash? Please explain.

Basically, I've reviewed your previous threads, you've been courteous but you don't answer some inquiries... It's like asking for some help but not providing the entire details for others to help you. As I mentioned in the addendum/template, it's best to share as much as possible so others can help you further, no personal details are needed. It's good to start the process to get assistance, but without details, it's hard to answer.

[asdfasd78]

Grad programs have a great deal of writing and research. There's no way around that. Do you believe it will take you a full year to complete the MAOL? I ask because most people I see on Discord are completing it in 2-3 terms. This means you won't get that full amount in financial aid. In grad school, financial aid is all loans. Scholarships aren't super common unless you're on campus conducting research, running the lab, being a TA, being an RA, etc.

Thank you for your responses. However, the information you shared is something I’ve known since I came to the USA in 2008. Additionally, there are schools that do offer scholarships specifically for competency-based degrees (CBD). We’re all here to help each other, so I hope we can stay focused on providing useful advice rather than making personal comments like, "It seems like you don’t really understand what it entails.

List them. If you knew of a substantial amount you wouldn't be asking here. Id also LOVE to here about how many of these scholarships they hand out that would make things cheaper than UMPI.

What you are asking for is unreasonable and frankly not a good plan. The whole point of doing a CBE degree is to do it while working. Taking out loans (which you WILL have to do) for a degree with a meh/questionable ROI and not working is a bad plan. Taking out cost-of-living loans on top of that is an even worse plan. 

In addition, trying to find a masters that doesn't involve heavy writing tells me you don't know what you are talking about. "Practical learning" is a meaningless term. With a business masters, you will write and do projects, accept that or don't'.

Cost of living loans are based on school zip code, its set. You CAN delve into private loan territory if you want more, which is also a horrible idea.

It seems you're being unnecessarily rude. I'm here to get extra information , not to engage in unpleasant exchanges. For your information, I hold a master’s degree in law from my country, a bachelor’s degree from the USA, along with professional certificates and a diploma in online business. I’ve also learned English, which was not my first language. It's important to remember that modesty is a virtue, and treating others with respect goes a long way.

[wow]

You have said you are here to get extra information, but in order to get information on this forum, you must also be willing to give information. Although duneranger may not have phrased it in the most diplomatic way, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask you to share the information you have found so far about scholarships. At the very least, that would let us know what options you have already rejected so that none of us suggest them to you. And at best, it would contribute new information that none of us had before.
That's what this forum is for--sharing information to help each other pursue higher education.If you want people to answer your questions, it's only fair that you answer theirs as well.

[Hotdogman1]

I don't always agree with Duneranger's opinions, but I always seen them more blunt and honest than rude. 

I honestly perceive the OP’s replies to be more rude than courteous. If I went to my best friend and requested information while providing vague and very confusing details, then condescendingly state “the information you shared is something I’ve known since I came to the USA in 2008”, and then don’t reply to multiple requests to provide additional details while lecturing about manners and etiquette, he would have knocked me out with a shovel and buried me alive.

Why do you need more than years worth ($15,200) of financial aid for a masters that could be completed in 4 months? If you have a masters in your country, why are you pursing another master's degree in the US? Why did you pursue a bachelor's in the US if you had a masters in your country? Are you able to get a job in the US that offers a tuition reimbursement benefit? Can’t you directly get a job at a University and get the tuition waived?

You don’t have to answer any of these questions, but we are in this strange situation where you are requesting information and refusing to provide details.