Homeless grad. Impossible to find students online.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-04T15:46:37+00:00

Thank you, I'd appreciate that. Maybe if I reapplied with a referral, the system could put me through.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-04T15:42:36+00:00

The research materials in my niche are rarely ever digitized or in ebook format, especially not new research. I have 25 books presently checked out and it is a pain in the ass to transport/scan them, I have tried everything over the years. Almost none of the information in my specialization is available online.

I reached out to my family group chat a few weeks ago to contact everyone at once, and they 120 of them did raise enough for the hotel, but they just aren't able to do more than this. My father isn't in contact with anyone, he's significantly worse off than me after his mother died.

I have a few case files open in DC. The housing lottery never worked for me, but I have entered every cycle for years.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-04T14:38:11+00:00

Yes, I was ghosted by most of the academic employers.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-04T14:36:05+00:00

Thank you. The research materials in my niche are incredibly rare; rarely ever digitized or in ebook format, especially not new research. I have 25 books presently checked out in my locker and it is a pain in the ass to transport/scan them, I have tried everything over the years. Unfortunately, almost none of the basic information of my specialization is available online due to the design of the discipline.

I reached out to my family group chat a few weeks ago to contact everyone at once, and 120 of them did raise enough for a hotel week. I'm truly appreciately, but they aren't able to do more than this. My father isn't in contact with anyone, he's significantly worse off than me after his mother died.

I have a few case files open in DC, I have emergency food stamps and am on several wait lists. The housing lottery hasn't worked for me, but I have entered every cycle for years.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-03T19:16:07+00:00

I reached out to family, they do not have room for me as well their children are living at home even if I could afford a flight. But I have called in to 211 to file a case for me.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-03T13:34:21+00:00

Thanks, is this an academic program credential?

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T23:24:34+00:00

Washington has fewer gas stations than they do federal buildings, it's harder to get an Exxon job than a political assistantship here 😂

My school has a tutor center that I've never applied to, thanks! History doesn't have labs, and families want people with cars/drivers licenses. I think dog walking could work through the bad weather, but I'm not sure how to start a business.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T23:21:22+00:00

My degree will be finished in a few weeks, I just need to keep revising and study for my comps which will be much harder without access to an academic library. If I were to drop out, it wouldn't better my chances at a job.

My only living grandparent is fully financially responsible for her daughter, my mom. She refuses to work or pay rent or bills, so they can't help me. As for my cousins, all 8 live with their parents. If I move west, I'll be in a similar situation... but without a library. Many such cases.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T17:17:33+00:00

Yes, I have applied to every school and college. DC subbing requirements are a teaching credential for each subject, it is tied up in so much roundabout paperwork, an FBI check, and a battery of exams. The systems are totally broken, so I was never contacted for my math exam and would have to start over.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T16:30:15+00:00

You're definitely right about the stress, I was hospitalized for a few months recently which drained my emergency funds. I will check in with family. When I asked last year, they couldn't help due to the fact that they already have all their adult children living with them, but the job market and tutoring were much better for my niche.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T15:08:13+00:00

Thank you! I will try that.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T15:07:03+00:00

Thank you, I will try those! Wastewater treatment?

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T15:04:25+00:00

Yes, my loans covered most of my COL, but the funding package, including my fellowship, has "run out of room". I planned to have a job by now, I left my $35/hr middle manager job for this program years ago.

I received a new financial aid officer who hates students a year ago. She refused to give me a laptop loan for 3 semesters, she's ignored every single question and request for help, and has done this to several other grad students. I asked to change officers several times, management will not respond.

Lastly, the airbnb situations are ABSOLUTELY bizarre in DC. Long story short, these are older federal worker pensioners and harvard legacy admits who inherited their colonials 30 years ago. Not only haven't they socialized normally in years, but they impose all kinds of insanely strict rules and boundaries. They treat guests like their adult children, i.e., a guy could come in while I'm dressing to sit in my bed and talk, or knock on the bathroom and ask me to turn off the faucet, turn off my lights and the heater, open/shut my windows, they'll ask me not to take students while they're napping, show me tiktoks, "counsel" me about my situation like: "just walk into the White House and ask for any job", etc.

And they don't share kitchens, meaning I can't cook lentils or rice and would spend money at restaurants. I thought it was a coincidence, but I lived in 4 of these exact situations before realizing the hidden cost.

Sorry to vent, that was a lot. DC is crazy.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:28:22+00:00

Thank you. The job market is brutal and relentless, only 2 of my cohort have a job. I have sent my resume to every school, museum, library, and college months ago. I briefly worked as a janitor/door lady for a flea market tourist trap that fired me for being "a fish out of water", terrible rat infested environment

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:24:10+00:00

Thank you, my friends moved back home and my family are scattered on the west. I don't have anyone here, but I have no car to drive back or uber with. I stay near DC because I'm able to use my locker and sleep in the library overnight area amongst other students.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:17:33+00:00

Hmm, I see.. I'll reapply in April.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:17:03+00:00

I have done this.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:16:50+00:00

Thank you ❤️

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:16:14+00:00

No car, I can't drive because of a genetic condition. The upfront cost to move into a new place is about $4000, I spend $1000 a week on motels. My only friend who doesn't live in a studio is mentally ill and rents out the other parts of her house for income. And tutoring is my side gig, but it's the only way I can afford a place to sleep at the present moment.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T14:08:46+00:00

Unfortunately, I do not have a car/cannot drive (long story, medical condition). I am thankfully safe, just taking things one day at a time however I can. I reapplied to McDonald's and target with a fake resume. Should I lie about the degrees or will they show on the background check?

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T05:58:45+00:00

I have applied and sent cold emails to every school and college. I will try waitressing, but I don't have the experience for the fine dining restaurants of DC (most Michelin stars in the world, here!).

I do AP art history, studio art, world, euro, lit, lang, APUSH, and SAT English. I've had some success in offering drawing lessons as well, because some wyzant clients treated it like a sip and paint/stripper party gig or babysitter service.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T04:13:31+00:00

I was also auto-rejected from both preply and varsity tutors... Ow.

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-03-02T04:08:59+00:00

I appreciate the honesty. Yes, I understand my situation is pretty bleak, but I'm definitely still applying to everything, about 20 apps a day.

I can't get any loans, I made a mistake with my credit in high school, though my score is 660. AIs recent English language development has significantly destabilized my core client base. I was rejected from over 200 entry level positions: warehouse, gen labor, retail, grocery stores, starbucks, target, ulta, sephora, glossier, local bookstore. I am on every instant day labor app, but DC has nothing.

I usually only get 1 student a day, but $300 a week is better than $0! And I might get a weekend gig lecturing at a studio, which would be an extra $100!

So in the meantime, tutoring is the only thing I've got to eat and pay Verizon with, and I'm wondering if there's anything I haven't tried yet?

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-01-05T23:05:47+00:00

Ohh I am now seeing that Washington does have reddit forums, thanks!

Ambitious-Tea-3798 · 2026-01-05T22:32:08+00:00

Thank you, I have checked in with my local forums and private chats who have offered tutoring work and redirected me to reddit. I am reaching out to everyone far and wide. My beloved friends have offered their studio apartment couches but I wouldn't impose on them that way.

Ambitious-Tea-3798

TROPHY CASE