How can I become able to afford a masters degree?

Page 1 of 1 [ 13 posts ] 

Araial
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 22 Oct 2015
Posts: 15
Location: Texas

22 Oct 2015, 8:50 pm

I have a bachelors degree, but cannot find a good job... I work part-time, three days a week at 5 hours a day. I barely make $400 in a month.

I was thinking of going back to school and get a masters in library science, but do you know what kind of non-loan financial aid I can get? Are there any scholarships for people seeking a post-graduate degree? My family and I are not rich, but I need to get out of this rut I'm stuck in...

Thanks in advance.


_________________
"It's because I have friends that I can fight. Both darkness and light give me the guidance I need! Thus - I can turn darkness - into hallowed light! Behold!" ~Cecil Harvey (Dissidia)


Jacoby
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 14,284
Location: Permanently banned by power tripping mods lol this forum is trash

22 Oct 2015, 10:28 pm

Go massively into debt and worry about it later?



izzeme
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 Apr 2011
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,665

23 Oct 2015, 3:08 am

scholarships exist, but they are usually only awarded to exceptional students.

The way to pay for a masters is to either convince your employer, or to go into debt. no real other options there



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,737
Location: Stendec

23 Oct 2015, 6:10 am

A Master's degree in Library Science?

WHY?


_________________
 
No love for Hamas, Hezbollah, Iranian Leadership, Islamic Jihad, other Islamic terrorist groups, OR their supporters and sympathizers.


MrsMartians
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 22 Oct 2015
Age: 39
Posts: 14

23 Oct 2015, 6:48 am

Scholarship or improve your skills to land a better job so you can pay for grad school yourself.



underwater
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 10 Sep 2015
Age: 47
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,904
Location: Hibernating

23 Oct 2015, 6:54 am

Maybe do document control instead? It's a lot better paid, there are a lot more jobs, and if you live in Texas, there's the oil industry that uses document controllers a lot.



Araial
Butterfly
Butterfly

Joined: 22 Oct 2015
Posts: 15
Location: Texas

23 Oct 2015, 10:45 am

Fnord wrote:
A Master's degree in Library Science?

WHY?


I think I'd do well in that kind of job.

And to everyone else - thanks for your advice. I've got a lot to consider. I was a really good student - I graduated magna cum laude with a 3.67 GPA, so if I'm lucky, I could maybe get a scholarship. Otherwise, I guess I'm doomed. :)


_________________
"It's because I have friends that I can fight. Both darkness and light give me the guidance I need! Thus - I can turn darkness - into hallowed light! Behold!" ~Cecil Harvey (Dissidia)


frenchmanflats
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 5 Oct 2015
Age: 49
Posts: 1,052
Location: California

26 Oct 2015, 3:02 am

There is a lot of money out there. Sallie Mae has good college loans. The DOE has many scholarships but you have to pay it back.



QuantumChemist
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Oct 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,009
Location: Midwest

26 Oct 2015, 10:09 am

Before one decides to borrow for their education, one needs to weigh out the probability that they can repay the loan if certain hardships happen (ie delays in getting work, health issues, family issues, etc). Certain well paid professions can make this decision easy, but even then, life events can have an affect upon what actually happens. Sometimes you have to predict the unpredictable to be ahead in life.



BTDT
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Age: 61
Gender: Female
Posts: 7,384

26 Oct 2015, 10:18 am

Unlike normal debts, you often can't get rid of student loans via bankruptcy.
http://www.studentloanborrowerassistanc ... ankruptcy/

If you are a really good student, you can study for a MS/PhD while being a Teaching Assistant

http://gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and ... stantships



arielhawksquill
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,830
Location: Midwest

26 Oct 2015, 10:25 am

Here's a page from the American Library Association about financing your degree: http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/car ... pfinancial



SocOfAutism
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 2 Mar 2015
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,911

28 Oct 2015, 10:22 am

Fnord wrote:
A Master's degree in Library Science?

WHY?


hahaha!

You could study Education and teach for a couple years afterward. Then some of your student loans will be forgiven. I've read a couple articles that say that Masters of Education people actually make more than the rest of us with grad degrees.



piiigs
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

User avatar

Joined: 28 May 2015
Age: 38
Posts: 43
Location: Norway

28 Oct 2015, 11:13 am

I could suggest to move to european countries where higher educations are free. If you are willing to learn another language that is... here in norway there are many master programs available in english... free of charge. Living cost is damn expensive but if you fit into the category you could loan money from government with no interest. Which is how I fund my study.