OT: University discussion

[iluvmyVersa08]

I'm out of college 33 years, still don't make that and am paying off about $60k of my two kids' college loans. (One bought a Versa right out of college. She probably wouldn't have been able to get it if I had made pay her own way in school!)

Modified by kc5f at 1:52 PM 5/8/2009

Your daughter is pretty lucky that you paid for her tuition. My parents made me and my brothers pay for our own education to learn the value of money. I paid for my own university education and am paying for my college tuition now. AND I bought my V myself. I'm just making the payments every month.

[Red Devil]

Make good money at three mile island? A co-worker of mine worked there a few weeks and made prevailing wages and IIRC it was a nice hourly wage. I would love to get on at a nuke plant.

It's decent pay. In training you make $14 per hour and once you start out you make $17 per hour. Good benefits as well.

[frankoV]

My parents made me and my brothers pay for our own education to learn the value of money. I paid for my own university education and am paying for my college tuition now. AND I bought my V myself. I'm just making the payments every month.

Good on them. Did it work?

I'm making my son pay for his own education [though he's been living at home for free the last 6 years] and he hasn't learned to do anything but complain. He has a job that pays . . . well . . . lets just say well [$25 an hour, part time, puts in 20 hours a week on his own schedule] and all he does is complain that he has no money [but you should see his toys!] and that we never have enough food in the house.

Some days I think about putting his stuff on the front lawn . . .

[ADOversa]

Hey, classes are only 2 days a week. I share the ride with a couple other girls and will do that again once our next semester starts in June. We will alternate driving since we all live close to each other here at home. We drive up on the Monday (early morning) and stay over until Tuesday after class. We are usually home by Tuesday evening. So we just stay there the one night. We split the cost of a hotel and we alternate driving so we don't each have to drive our own cars every week. At least I won't be putting too much mileage on the V this summer.

Cool that sounds like a smart idea. 3 guys I have class with all come from the same area of hamilton, yet all of them drive seperately every day... I don't know why they don't carpool, it seems like it would be the sensible thing to do .

[iluvmyVersa08]

Good on them. Did it work?

I'm making my son pay for his own education [though he's been living at home for free the last 6 years] and he hasn't learned to do anything but complain. He has a job that pays . . . well . . . lets just say well [$25 an hour, part time, puts in 20 hours a week on his own schedule] and all he does is complain that he has no money [but you should see his toys!] and that we never have enough food in the house.

Some days I think about putting his stuff on the front lawn . . .

Lol. Yes it worked. We all learned to get a part-time job once we turned 16 and help pay our way through school. I think students should learn the value of money. I know friends who have everything paid for them - house, car, school and they turn around and end up either failing school or ditching school. They simply do not care because they know that whatever they want or need, mommy and daddy will pay for it. When you have to work hard to pay for something yourself, you learn how to appreciate it and take care of it.

[ADOversa]

I dont understand, 3 years in the union I'm in at the shop I'm at and your at 55-60k a year, and you dont have 80k in college debt. Why would anyone go to school and end up with that much debt if they did'nt plan to make 80-100k a year?

Some people like learning and being in school. Or maybe they like the job they will get. Or just have an interest in something so they pursue it through university. I'm not one of those people, but I can see why they would do it. And besides, we need teachers, dr.s, lawyers, engineers and so on.

I just like working with my hands, so after doing a bunch of random labour/construction/general contracting jobs, I decided to get a "skilled trade" that won't take much schooling but the payout will be healthy. Not looking to be rich, just have enough to live comfortably.

Which company do you work for Logan76? My father works for US Steel Canada.

[ADOversa]

Lol. Yes it worked. We all learned to get a part-time job once we turned 16 and help pay our way through school. I think students should learn the value of money. I know friends who have everything paid for them - house, car, school and they turn around and end up either failing school or ditching school. They simply do not care because they know that whatever they want or need, mommy and daddy will pay for it. When you have to work hard to pay for something yourself, you learn how to appreciate it and take care of it.

Although that may be the case for some people, not all people whose parents pay for things are like that. I am fortunate to have parents who have money to pay for things like my car and schooling and really, all my needs and some wants. And I am the complete opposite of the people you described. My parents do this so I can save my money to buy a house someday. They also know that I am smart with my money and appreciate what I get and what I have, and don't take things for granted. They did make it clear that the cash flow would stop if my attitude changed. But, thats just not who I am. My sister on the other hand... didn't work so great on her, but shes starting to come around. She started abusing the privileged position she was in and now she works at a hardware store.

[kc5f]

We told our kids up front that we'd pay for school beyond scholarships so that they wouldn't feel like they had to settle for state or other cheap schools. Everything else they pay for, and each worked even before college. Both seem to have ended up alright after being able to attend very good schools.

As for our daughter buying a Versa, she had saved money, got the Nissan college grad incentive and a good deal and needed a reliable car for her commute. She worked out the payments with her rent, etc, and we're both happy with it. She's got a great car and good credit, besides!

[iluvmyVersa08]

Although that may be the case for some people, not all people whose parents pay for things are like that. I am fortunate to have parents who have money to pay for things like my car and schooling and really, all my needs and some wants. And I am the complete opposite of the people you described. My parents do this so I can save my money to buy a house someday. They also know that I am smart with my money and appreciate what I get and what I have, and don't take things for granted. They did make it clear that the cash flow would stop if my attitude changed. But, thats just not who I am. My sister on the other hand... didn't work so great on her, but shes starting to come around. She started abusing the privileged position she was in and now she works at a hardware store.

Lol. Ya not everyone is like that. That's good to hear that you appreciate everything they have done for you. My parents had the money to pay for us, they just wanted us to learn how to work for something. But my parents do help us out a lot so I can't complain. My dad pays for my car insurance. Without his help I wouldn't be able to afford the V.

[Logan76]

I work for Daman Industrial, were a small company out of western PA (25 union men, 10 company men) that rebuild all kinda of pump's, for all kinds of plants.

[frankoV]

We told our kids up front that we'd pay for school beyond scholarships so that they wouldn't feel like they had to settle for state or other cheap schools.

The benefit of living in Canada.

On another matter, after xx years, my wife has returned to school and is finishing her BPsych [would have prefered interisciplinary studies but it wasn't to be] part time. While she loves her job, she is looking forward to her final work years in administration. I'm cheering her on -- if she can get in with the government I can start living life the way I'd like to become accustomed to.

[fjwagner]

The benefit of living in Canada. if she can get in with the government I can start living life the way I'd like to become accustomed to.

That is a scary thought. The best job being with the government rather than the private sector. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

[frankoV]

That is a scary thought. The best job being with the government rather than the private sector. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

An explanation may be necessary.

Right now she is self-employed in a poorly regulated industry -- actually, barely regulated. She works long days and hard hours [though a lot of people would see her as not doing much at all -- what do they know?] and does a great job. Low paying, for even though people want her services -- say they need her services -- they don't want to pay, complain if there is a thought of an increase in cost, and demand more and more but think it should be thrown in.

Wages low, benefits non-existent, retirement fund a joke -- what she can squirrel away.

She was first asked to give input for others who are struggling iwth the job, now has been asked to train others, and is acknowledged as knowledgeable professional -- has had articles published, and has been interviewed as [well, as I see it anyway ] a leader in the field in town here . . . and when she has her degree [30 years of experience does nothing; someone fresh out of university will be offered a job before her even though all they have is some "book larnin'"] will be doing hte same province-wide.

The best job with the government? Not necessarily. A better paying job? Yes. I'll leave it at that [for now].

[ADOversa]

I work for Daman Industrial, were a small company out of western PA (25 union men, 10 company men) that rebuild all kinda of pump's, for all kinds of plants.

Oh ok from your avatar I was thinking a steel company.

[Rockhound]

Why would anyone go to school and end up with that much debt if they did'nt plan to make 80-100k a year?

Not to brag, but I fall in the earnings bracket you speak of and I'm not saddled with much school debt at all, even after 5 1/2 years total for a Bachelor's (3.5 yrs) and Master's (2 yrs) in geology. I should have it paid off in about a year (I finished up a year and a half ago). I earned multiple scholarships for my undergrad due to my ACT score, one in particular that paid for tuition for 4 years. Of course, there were still room/board & "fees", so I took out a small federal student loan so I could defer payment till I was earning real money (the debate as to whether this was the 'right' thing to do is another topic in and of itself). I earned a graduate fellowship due to my undergrad GPA, so grad school was essentially paid in full, despite the elevated tuition.

I went to college because the fields that interested me absolutely required a degree, and when it came to choosing my major in (petroleum) geology, most oil/gas companies currently require master's degrees for new-hire college grads. I try not to be a "degree snob", as I just see it as the training that was required to enter the line of work I wanted to pursue. Many of the senior guys in the industry, my boss included, do not have a master's degree as a) they weren't "required" by some companies at the time he came out of school, and b) the bachelor's level curriculum was likely more challenging then than it is now.

[Logan76]

Good for you man, im glad to see people who actually use the degree's they get and make a good living from it. School never was for me though lol.

AOD, I work as a member of the United Steel Workers union, not US Steel company. We do work at powerplants and steelmills though, More powerplants than mills anymore though.

[Rockhound]

Good for you man, im glad to see people who actually use the degree's they get and make a good living from it. School never was for me though lol.

Oh, I know what you mean, though. Definitely some folks use college to stall from entering the 'real world' - after just a year and a half in the 'real world', the 8 to 5 grind has me thinking I could have stalled a while, too. I'm only half kidding. A buddy of mine seems destined to stay in college the rest of his life - he's a brilliant dude, but he uses it as an excuse to study everything (while applying nothing, unfortunately). The mountain of debt he's building scares the crap out of me, but he doesn't seem to care.

[ADOversa]

I kinda stalled from entering the "real world"... as in out of high school I had no idea what I was going to do. In grade 12 I lost my best friend in death and sustained a serious and life altering injury myself. So I couldn't pursue the career I had been building towards and had no back up, and wasn't really motivated to do anything. So I stalled by working at a grocery store for a year, then through family contacts got into some construction and similar labour jobs, and finally, 4 years later, I am in trade school, back on track.

I have been giving this some thought lately, and I think it may have been a good thing I didn't pursue any further education, as I don't think I would have taken it as seriously as I do now.

[Logan76]

If you don't mind me asking, were you in a car accident?

What trade did you end up pursuing?

[grogman]

anyone here knowing anything about the federal re-education program would be helpful.............something about if you are unemployed and needing to be re-trained for another field, the unemployment insurance isn't affected......this is different for the main reason that, before, if you were in school and unemployed, you'd be disqualified for unemployment benefits.......so if anyone out there can steer me in the right direction that would be very helpful.........

[biggie]

anyone here knowing anything about the federal re-education program would be helpful.............something about if you are unemployed and needing to be re-trained for another field, the unemployment insurance isn't affected......this is different for the main reason that, before, if you were in school and unemployed, you'd be disqualified for unemployment benefits.......so if anyone out there can steer me in the right direction that would be very helpful.........

Yes, if you are eligible for unemployment pay and go back to school you are supposed to be able to still draw unemployment. I"m unsure of the details though, would ask the unemployment office or officials of the college you are looking at.

[ADOversa]

were you in a car accident?

No.

What trade did you end up pursuing?

HVAC/Refrigeration


Modified by ADOversa at 6:35 PM 5/12/2009

[Rockhound]

I kinda stalled from entering the "real world"...

Hey man, I hope you didn't take what I said about 'stalling' the wrong way - I wasn't meaning to be snide if I came across that way. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to wait to pursue a career or to wait to go to college or to take extra time to complete a degree. Although I had a major picked out prior to entering college, I ended up changing majors my soph. year and at the time had little idea as to what I was going to do for a career. It just kind of all fell in place.

And I can't imagine the situation you were in, which would surely present an obstacle to overcome. There were many 'nontraditional' students in my college classes (as in those that didn't come to college directly out of high school) and they tended to be the best students around - they understood the importance of their coursework and didn't just take it for granted like so many folks do.

[ADOversa]

Hey man, I hope you didn't take what I said about 'stalling' the wrong way - I wasn't meaning to be snide if I came across that way. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to wait to pursue a career or to wait to go to college or to take extra time to complete a degree. Although I had a major picked out prior to entering college, I ended up changing majors my soph. year and at the time had little idea as to what I was going to do for a career. It just kind of all fell in place.

And I can't imagine the situation you were in, which would surely present an obstacle to overcome. There were many 'nontraditional' students in my college classes (as in those that didn't come to college directly out of high school) and they tended to be the best students around - they understood the importance of their coursework and didn't just take it for granted like so many folks do.

No worries! I didn't think anything of it at all. While obviously I wish my reasons for holding off from pursuing this further education were different, I still think it is better that I did it later rather than sooner. In highschool I didn't take learning very seriously, and I have changed alot since then. I was going to college to be a paramedic, but can no longer pass the vision test to get the required licence. And after working shifts for awhile... and HATING it... I am so glad I didn't go that route. I got going into working with my hands and some trade type stuff, and loved it. So I think this is better because its something I know I like doing and I take the schooling very seriously. I see the guys in my class that just came out of high school last year and they just clown around and are out drinking every night and stuff not doing their homework and some of them failing, and I am so glad I waited until I was more mature to do it.

[grogman]

Yes, if you are eligible for unemployment pay and go back to school you are supposed to be able to still draw unemployment. I"m unsure of the details though, would ask the unemployment office or officials of the college you are looking at.

thanks mod.........

[piratefan]

I am a financial aid administrator for a small school in NC. I can answer most questions anyone has about federal aid. Shoot 'em if you've got 'em.

I graduated in 2005 with more than $25K. Will be paying that off until 2015. Getting a grad degree very soon in Vocational/Adult Education (community college teaching) which will only cost about $10K.