Comment

Comment by Wendy on June 1, 2009 at 3:04pm

oh not about that...investing early makes all the difference. But the "go to school no matter what...I did and have a mountain of debt" thing

I think that's what she wants/is doing. But honestly, going to school one class a semester? While it will get you to your goal, it'll take a hella long time to do it. What do you do in the meantime?

Comment by Angie Jackson on June 1, 2009 at 2:56pm

Uh, again I refer to the Forbes.com link a couple comments down (from 2009 - in THIS economy, not several years old assuming it "still applies). I didn't make this stuff up you know. And while trying to do the "right thing" and go to college (my mom's got a PhD and valued that a LOT more than spending any time with us as kids) my kid and I lived in my station wagon. Wanna talk again about wills and ways people?

Comment by Wendy on June 1, 2009 at 2:50pm

Bryan, my sarcast-o-meter is being repaired. Are being teh sarcastic?

Comment by Angie Jackson on June 1, 2009 at 2:02pm

Where there's a will there might be a way, but it could cost more than it's worth or take longer than you ever imagined.

Comment by Angie Jackson on June 1, 2009 at 1:58pm

In response to "parents in college". I did one semester at 21, got pregnant, spent 2 years as a WAHM (scrubbing toilets and bringing my toddler along with me) and then re-enrolled. Finances got too tight, we were briefly homeless. I'm now unemployed again. I'm waiting on response from FAFSA and if I can go back this fall I will. If my son wasn't in the EELP program (public school for pre-kindgertenars with special needs) there's no way I could afford it, as child care during class time was what made us so poor before. I have NO family help, receive NO child support, and WILL get my college degree, but accept that it may take me a decade or more to do so. Oh, for the years 2005-2007 I made a TOTAL of $10K and had to support both of us off of that and Pell Grants.

Middle class single moms and waaaaaaaay below poverty single moms just aren't in the same boat. And you really can't comprehend how beneficial family help with childcare and expenses is unless you don't have it.

Comment by Robyn on June 1, 2009 at 1:45pm

First off, does anyone besides me see the irony of the spouse of an IRS employee doing work "off the books?" LOL

You know Syndi, I think you're sincere in what you believe to be true about financial aid, but do you really think all these people on here telling you they can't get aid are just making it up? Do you think one anecdote from you trumps the experience of the people on here posting their own experience?

I truly don't think you realize just how offensive some of your wording is. And I say this with respect and from personal experience because I have the same problem. Sometimes I'm accused of being a bitch simply because I speak bluntly and don't mince words. But other times I am just being a bitch and/or judgmental.

I tend agree with you that "When there's a will, there's a way." But along life's path, I've learned that very little is black and white, because to say nothing is black and white would be irony at it's finest. ;) So I've revised my own belief to be "When there's a will, there's almost always a way." Sometimes there just isn't.

Comment by Wendy on June 1, 2009 at 1:20pm

good FSM you're basing your entire opinion on ONE anecdote? The "off the books" business probably helps/

One story doesn't cut it for me. Sweet weeping jebus you're the type of person that would probably say "any mother could be a SAHM if she REALLY wanted to"

whatever there's no making you believe that just because one, two or even THREE people could do that doesn't mean that ALL can. There are so many extenuating circumstances it's hard to start.

and AGAIN since this is a PARENTING FORUM, one would assume we're talking about PARENTS going to school. Got a story about THAT one?

Comment by Angie Jackson on June 1, 2009 at 12:41pm

Here's a great factually-based article from Forbes.com on the decreasing ROI (return on investment for the non-business folks out there) of a college education. It was published earlier this year and I read it in the paper edition in my former job as the #3 executive within my company (with no college degree, funnily enough).
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/060.html

Comment by Robyn on June 1, 2009 at 9:17am

Wendy, you're spot on with the EFC. I couldn't get any financial aid (including loans) because my family owned land for farming. My parents' income was too high for grants and the land was a huge asset on the balance sheet. A financial aid counselor from my state university actually told my dad to sell land to pay for college. Nevermind that by selling land and therefore decreasing income, I'd be more likely to qualify for free aid. (talk about mind boggling) I was fortunate to come from a family that could and would contribute to my college education and didn't have to rely on loans or grants. But I have nothing buy sympathy for those that have the desire to go to college, but not the means. It's tough. I wish there was an easier way.

Comment by Wendy on June 1, 2009 at 9:00am

I thought we were talking about people who are parents?

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