College Woes

[x371322]

For almost a year now I've been student with an online school. Long story short I'm starting to feel quite overwhelmed with my loan situation. Even though I get full financial aid, and have taken out both subsidized and unsubsidized stafford loans, I still have a few thousand to pay out of pocket each year.

Bottom line, I'm thinking about cutting my losses and moving on, before I get too deep. I guess these kinds of schools just weren't meant for un-rich people. Anyway I've been checking out some other (more reasonable) schools, for after I get my loans paid off.

I came across a place called the National Labor College, apparently sponsored by the AFL-CIO. I'm not exactly a huge fan of the AFL or anything, but they offer degrees in Labor Studies, labor history, Union administration, etc. and it's apparently quite affordable. Anyone have an opinion on this school? Should I check them out further? Or just stay away? It sounds like something I'd be interested in for sure.

Thanks.

[TC]

For almost a year now I've been student with an online school. Long story short I'm starting to feel quite overwhelmed with my loan situation. Even though I get full financial aid, and have taken out both subsidized and unsubsidized stafford loans, I still have a few thousand to pay out of pocket each year.

Bottom line, I'm thinking about cutting my losses and moving on, before I get too deep. I guess these kinds of schools just weren't meant for un-rich people. Anyway I've been checking out some other (more reasonable) schools, for after I get my loans paid off.

I came across a place called the National Labor College, apparently sponsored by the AFL-CIO. I'm not exactly a huge fan of the AFL or anything, but they offer degrees in Labor Studies, labor history, Union administration, etc. and it's apparently quite affordable. Anyone have an opinion on this school? Should I check them out further? Or just stay away? It sounds like something I'd be interested in for sure.

Thanks.

Put simply, online schools are not for un-rich people, rich people, or any people, they mostly a way of channeling department of education loans into for-profit corporations (like the "university" of phoenix or axia "college"). Then there are some non-profit universities with a physical campus that also have online degree programs - in these cases they basically exploit their online students so they can cross-subsidize their on-campus students. Going to an online university is not a good way to spend your money.

You don't have to wait until you get your loans paid off to go to a decent school assuming you haven't hit your loan maximum for stafford loans. Try to apply as a transfer student. When you leave school your stafford loans have one non-renewable 6 month grace period before you have to repay them.

[x371322]

Thanks for the advice. I just had to learn the hard way. At any rate, I guess I'd find better answers talking to an admissions rep at the schools I'm looking into. But yeah transferring is probably the best way to go.

[ellipsis]

Also, I am not trying to persuade you either way, but I left college with a relatively low amount of federal loans (15k), and I will be paying 150 bucks a month for the next 15 years or something... kinda a drag at this point in my life...

If you are going to be in debt, you should try to find a legit school that you will enjoy. Or not.