Okay, I'm going to try and keep this orderly and concise.
Let me start by saying I was extremely fortunate to have my parents support me through my time at university so far. My dad re-financed things to help finance my education, (tuition, dorm & meal plan). My dad and I discussed that since he's looking to retire within the next few years, and is starting to cut his hours back now, that they won't be able to provide any more assistance with my university expenses. I understand that, and accept that. I'm just lost and overwhelmed at this point.
I go to a school out of state. I love it where I am, and really want to finish my degree without having to withdraw to get a full time job just yet.
I currently make ~$350/mo, (as of next week ~$550/mo, with a possibility of ~$700/mo) working part time (currently 8-10 hours a week, will be increased to 12-16). I use this to cover gas, medications, food for when the dining halls are closed, toiletries, and throw what I can into savings (lately it's been 1/2 my paycheck).
Tuition, Dorm, and Meal Plan Cost 50k a year, not including summer or winter terms.
My lease on the car I drive is up in August. I've been tracking used cars that have AWD/4WD that cost a max of 8k. Ideally looking in the 4k-6k range. Where I live, it snows a lot and ices over. Driving my current FWD is terrifying on these roads when it snows/ices over, even at 20-25 mph. Skidding everywhere. I have panic attacks while driving because of it.
I need to plan for summer housing, and summer tuition. If I leave to go back to NY over the summer, I lose my job, and I have to live in a toxic, detrimental environment. My parents helped me financially, but have been abusive and used finances as leverage against me. I spent a lot of time on r/RBN.
I most likely will not be able to afford an apartment & tuition for the summer AND a used car, let alone tuition, room & food for the 19’-20’ year (fall, winter intersession, & spring)... not to mention therapy & a psychiatrist.
I have no credit. Zero, Zilch, Nada. Where do I start with that?
A room in a shared apartment or shared house around here runs around $500 and up, not including utilities. It's expensive for someone with only a part time job.
I do file for FAFSA. I get $7k a year as a loan. I don’t know how I’d swing the rest! Do I apply for Sallie Mae? How can I do that if I have no credit?
Do I live off campus next year? I think that might save money in terms of dorm/meal plan, but I'd need a co-signer for an apartment because I have no credit, right?
For the summer, I’m considering applying to full time jobs (even out of state) that still involve horses and cover my housing. Either working student positions, camp instructor positions, show grooms, or ranch work, & just doing my summer courses online remotely from wherever I end up over the summer. This way, I'll have my housing insecurity settled, money to throw to food and savings, and doing something I love, even though it's backbreaking, exhausting work. It's so rewarding.
Getting a Full Time job right now (or during the Fall/Spring semester of next year, too) is absolutely not an option. I know what I can and cannot hande in regard to classes, mental health, work, and some semblance of a social life (usually dinner and watch the L word and drink wine with my friends once a week, and do assignments together in the library on other nights).
I am taking 17 semester hours of difficult courses, and I must get a 3.7 GPA for the next 3 semesters to graduate with a 3.1. (I’m trying to keep my options open for a possibility of a direct-entry MSN-NP program, if I don’t end up in the equine industry, which the latter is seeming more and more likely, to be fair).
I don’t know where to start. I’m scared, honestly, because I don't have a solid plan. I'll feel so much better once I have a plan in place. Any advice is welcome. Is this even feasible? Should I just drop out now? Feeling kind of hopeless.
Thank you! If y'all need any other information, let me know.
EDIT: because I can't edit titles - it should say "at an out of state university, not "in". It was 2:30am when I posted. Eek.
Submitted January 12, 2019 at 02:41AM by laurrjuless http://bit.ly/2H6HLIc
