College loan advice and Career Help

[Rob Taggs]

Sometime in the future I would like to go back to college to get a degree in something but, I have an excess of $11,000 in default college loans that I'm paying on currently. I have nearly three years towards a degree in Criminal Justice but, after a short stint as a Deputy/Detention Officer I got sick of this field very quick. It is just depressing. I like science, engineering among other things. Being at a crossroads at 38 years old with three kids and a wife is frightening to say the least. Does anyone know in my situation if I can get sources for college loan money? The government is out till I pay off my loans. As for a new career I'm stumped. I do great in every subject except for mathematics. I just want to better my families life and mine, earn better pay, and have a job that I enjoy going to everyday. No job is perfect but, I just have more talent and ability than to operate road construction machinary for the rest of my life. There are guys and gals that just love operating this stuff but, I'm burned out. I want to use my brain and abilities. Do I have any options? Please help me in my hour of need!

Thanks!

 

[Jelly]

Although you're seventeen years my senior, I'd like to offer any help/assistance I can. I just went through the process of "getting serious" with my life and I'm currently helping a friend out who is very much lost but has the desire to start getting serious about all this stuff (school, career, etc...) as well. Also, when I worked at Cummins, I helped out a co-worker who was about your age and wanted to get back out in the field instead of being couped-up in an office all day..

I'm currently a 3rd-year junior majoring in justice administration pursing a career with the state police.

Do you want to avoid this field altogether?

What I initially did was write out on paper any career that I seriously could see myself doing...and that ranged the gamut from diesel mechanic, state police, and the Army, to dentist and oral & maxillofacial surgery with many others thrown in as well.

From this "list" of possible career fields, get online and start researching them. Find out if they require anything that will be prohibitive to you.

At this point, I still had several choices left and found the biggest help was to go experience what the job is like.

Ex:
Police - Spend time at post and/or do ridealongs.
Mechanic - Go to shop and spend a day there.
Army - Talk to those that have been there.
etc, etc, etc...

The largest hurdle here is just getting up the guts to get in contact with people, but it's well worth it. Kinda like reading about how to ride a motorcycle...you can read books about it all day long, but until you get out there and experience it, you'll never have a true idea of what it's really like.

Mathematics isn't my strong suit either, but even in JA, you have to take college algebra and statistics.

The issue here with you is financially supporting your family (or maybe your wife makes enough to do this?) if you choose to go back to school...but if you have previous college experience, and are currently employed, you can take six credit hours a semester (two classes, as you know) while still working full time.

I'm sorry for my poor writing here...I loathe discussing things through typing that can be hashed out over the phone. On top of this, I just couldn't sleep and had to check BiTOG out, so I'm a bit "off" at the moment.

I'm sure others will follow with much more coherent advice, but if you'd like to talk more, feel free to PM me.

Jelly.

 

[The_Jeff]

Isn't there some way to defer student loans so they're not in default? All you need to qualify is to say you're not making ends meet. If it's a government job you're looking for go visit the student loan people, get on your knees, and work out a repayment schedule. Even if it's $10 a month for 2 years then up to $300 a month when you get a good job, they'll get off your back. Your rating with the government will get better.

Try them, there is nothing worse than hiding in the corner.

Maybe you can get a second job with variable, yet decent, income-- like a bartender/waiter or even car salesman? You'd get tips/commission, wouldn't work enough hours to drive you crazy, and be in a different frame of mind/body than pounding pavement. Plus your 40hrs/week main job will give you the steady pay and benefits.

 

[Drew99GT]

Robb, what do you like? It's as simple as that! I like crunching numbers all day (I'm screwed in the head or something), so I'm getting a degree in accounting, and I love it. You have to look at other things as well, like the environment and culture in which you'll work in; I wanted to be a mechanic like Jelly, but when I do mechanical work, I do it slow and PERFECT (OCD). I wouldn't last 1 day as a mechanic I don't think, cause they want speed, even if that means not using a torque wrench for EVERYTHING.

As far as math goes, if you simply put 100% effort into it, even if that means getting help every week from a professor or tutor, you'll succeed. I'm haaving to do that now with this crazy stats class I have to take. What the **** is a T-test anyway?

 

[doitmyself]

Hi Rob,

I don't know how things are in Lansing, Kansas, but here in Lansing, Michigan we have a totally awesome community college that really caters to people in your situation.

They have some great (free) tests that will help identify your strengths, interests, and potential careers. Do you enjoy working with information, people, or things - that kind of stuff.

Easy class schedules at all hours of the day. Cheap tuition. Small class sizes. Maybe a certificate program or an Associate Degree is more in order for you. A lot of your classes would already transfer, especially the prerequisites (english, etc.)

Our community college has tons of scholarships begging to be given away. You need to put some effort into finding the info. The $ are there - all three of my kids received scholarships. The health care field is so desperate that financial aid for these occupations is almost a given in our state.

So....check out the alternatives to the 4 year degree university.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Rob, I would look into a company that has a tuition assistance program. One paid for my MBA. I never would have gone without this.

You have my best wishes my friend. Another thought is that if you work for a college or university, they generally let you go for free.

I can only hope this helps.

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Taggs:
Sometime in the future I would like to go back to college to get a degree in something but, I have an excess of $11,000 in default college loans that I'm paying on currently. It is just depressing. Being at a crossroads at 38 years old with three kids and a wife is frightening to say the least. Does anyone know in my situation if I can get sources for college loan money? I want to use my brain and abilities. Do I have any options? Please help me in my hour of need!

Thanks!

---

Rob,

Going into debt to pay for college should not be an option at this point in your life. As a youger person, the "investment" should easily pay for itself in the long run.

My advice to you is to become debt free first and foremost. Then with all the freed up cash, you some of that to attend school part time. Maybe get a technical degree in computers or something.

I would also take care of the government loan, I'm not sure but I think this default could affect your kids education when they try to go to school.

Lastly, you say you want something better. Have you ever thought of starting a business? Self-employment could be a rewarding career if you are suited for it. (You have to have dicipline, motivation, organization, and a people friendly attititude)

 

[msparks]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob Taggs:
I do great in every subject except for mathematics. I just want to better my families life and mine, earn better pay, and have a job that I enjoy going to everyday. No job is perfect but, I just have more talent and ability than to operate road construction machinary for the rest of my life. Thanks!

---

On the math part. You would be surprised about yourself, you probably suck in "school" type math, algebra or calculus that has no application or meaning. But if you were to have to apply it to something with meaning you would proabably understand it better.

This is the way I am. I sucked in school math, but when I applied it (trig for instance) I was taking machining classes and it fit right in, got all A's. Same with algebra, I was taking buisness algebra and leaned how to figure tables for interst, depreciation, and investments. It was very interesting. Though I couldn't tell you how to do it now, the online calculators work just fine.

 

[SKUNKY]

Rob...think Nursing..there is a big shortage..some hospitals will pick up the tab if you agree to work for them for a couple of years when you graduate...2 year probram with very little math...make sure your marrage is tight cause there are a lot of fine females in the program..go see your local hospital administrator ...if they don't have a program he may know of a hospital that does...he will know all the administrators in the state...

 

[msparks]

My last bit of advice.

Work on yourself more than you would work on a career/job.

Find some mind expanding books that will help you grow intellectually. One of my personal favorites is Dale Carnegie's "how to win friends and influence other"

The other is "The richest man in Babylon" by George S. Cleason.

Lastly I listen to a lot of motivation tapes. I have one called the Art of exceptional living by Jim Rohn. If you follow some of the advice in there, it doesn't matter what you do for a career you will be successful.