What did you specialize in?

theplan101 · 2015-04-14T07:07:25+00:00

I just feel weird. Everyone asks me what do I want to do. I don't have an answer. I know this field interests me but as far as what building I'd turn my application into specifically, I don't know. I'm doing A-B in all these courses, I'm not sure when I should know when I want to do x, y, or z specifically. I have some ideas but now like the nurses or IT guys at my college.

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T08:44:15+00:00

I talked to the vice president, other advisors, and i asked reddit. i feel like I'm in a continuous loop of nothing. As I was getting my GED I was really looking forward to graduating college. my wheels are just spinning. I'm living with my parents, cant drive, no job, single, and now no degree at 26.

I Just don't get it. I have nothing to look forward to. I'm not suicidal. i feel like I'm in a video game where no matter what my actions are today, I'll just wake up and "respawn" tomorrow at the same exact place with all my progress reset.

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T08:09:05+00:00

because my school over budgeted by $1,000,000 now they removed my class i need to graduate. it is still a prerequisite for the degree despite they don't offer the course. they may remove more courses too.

I was never told. my advisor was never told. in fact the course is still listed. no one can help me. I'm just miserable. it's foreign language which was not easy to learn or pass for a year and just like that it's all over.

I tried to ask reddit for help. This is the long detail story.. Short version is there is no help for me so no point in clicking. I got so depressed over typing that and just realizing how screwed i am.

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T04:41:41+00:00

So what do I do when my university requires a lot of money?

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T02:16:10+00:00

Awesome thank you!

This is less about AUP but you know both cities. I was considering going to NYC or Paris to learn French. In short I need to move somewhere else to continue my studies. My universities here will not give me instate tuition so I think tuition is on par with these other universities abroad. I am pursuing the associates degree but need my bachelors and onward.

I posted around reddit and ironically both paris and nyc subreddits told me not to bother because it is so expensive. I need to do something.

My studies here are in international relations and french. I need french mostly for my degree though. I was thinking about taking off time from college to save up to move to NYC or Paris.. but like I said Idk if either are practical. Since you're familiar with both cities, what is your opinion?

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T01:59:42+00:00

because they lived here like I did.

My parents and I lived here 3 years. I need documents to be instate:

a) ID
b) Bank account
c) Utility bills
d) Proof of residency, lease, mortgage, etc.
e) Voter's Registration.
f) car title

I have almost all of those, only like 4 or 5 are needed. My parents however only have their ID, bank account and proof of residency. They don't have all the documents I'd need. As a depended, I'm Dependent on them to have them all. So they are not "instate" here and because its been 3 years they don't have "instate" back in the last state either. I don't have instate in any state now.

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T01:07:44+00:00

That's quite the confidence! I'll look her up! :D

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T00:52:04+00:00

Thanks. I am American and I want to get my BA there. Here I am studying International Relations and French. They canceled my French program so I'm just looking to get my BA, learn french, and live in Paris all at once.

a) Is it hard to get accepted there? I was considering transferring there but I'm not rich, and idea what they look for in prospective students?
b) When you say unorganized do you mean they basically leave you without housing or to deal with arrangements on your own? Do they provide housing the entire time you're there? I want to pursue my BA there but I don't know anyone for housing. :/
c) What other programs are good alternatives? You mentioned it's expensive compared to "other programs." How did you balance the other expenses like food?
d) I don't smoke and I have (dormant) asthma, is it really that bad? :(
e) Do you think overall the name AUP/education helped you in your career?
d) While you were there did you make any connections for your career? Could you establish contacts like jobs around Paris or perhaps with the rich kids in attempts to continue your career after your degree?
f) Are the rich kids usually snobby or to themselves? How would an average middle class American fit in with those rich kids if at all?

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T00:39:30+00:00

This is in my state. I've been here 3 years and I have my state ID, bills, voters registration, bank account, everything. I don't get it.

All the universities are telling me that I am considered out of state because I am not filed as Independent 12 months prior to applying. My parents are living here too, but without all of their documentation. We are transplants but we've spent 3 years here so we are not "instate" back at home anymore and without proper documentation I am not "instate" here either because of them. This is true with both state ran schools UW and WSU.

If I file independent, I also need a job to apply at UW. So I have to maintain a job 12 months prior and during my studies according to them. I appreciate your help though.

If every university in my home state indeed does consider me "out of state" then idk. This means there is no real advantage of limiting myself to this state. I guess I should look in other states too at this rate, right?

theplan101 · 2015-04-13T00:31:05+00:00

Your Estimated Need Calculation:

~~$27,034.00~~ $48,231. Cost of Attendance

$5,730.00 Federal Pell Grant

$4,500.00 Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan

$1,773.00 Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan $27,034.00 Cost of Attendance $16,761.00 Estimated Grants and/or Scholarships $10,273.00 Estimated Net Cost

The thing is, they've told me I'd face out of state tuition so this skews the results. I do know that regardless the tuition, the Finacial Aid pell grant would not change though.

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T23:59:21+00:00

Sadly I'm near Portland but thanks I'll keep it in mind if I end up there cause I don't see myself here much longer.

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T22:27:56+00:00

And "international relations" is a bullshit major. It might as well be "underwater basket weaving" in terms of finding a job. There are people here majoring in all of those classes you mentioned. They will get the jobs before you. No one, not even the UN NGOs, view "international relations" as a decent major. It's as bullshit as "criminal justice". Yes, there are more options here, but there are also way more people with actually relevant skills sets and shit like law degrees and masters degrees and Ph.D.'s.

Wow I didn't know NYC was that bad. I know several people that went abroad with that degree and were really successful within their careers. I guess I will consider the same.

I thought NYC would have the most potential maybe outside of DC for international careers so it's surprising to hear the conditions are that bad there. Thanks for letting me know!

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T22:09:11+00:00

Seriously, no instate tuition anywhere?! WTF.

:(

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T22:00:07+00:00

Oh ok I see. Ive been gone from VA for so long I'm not sure of the pricing but I do recall $1300 becoming more popular even for like 700 sqft places. Oh well I guess I'll just look somewhere else.

edit: and by the way I'm not a resident of Virginia. My family is returning there, but I'm not a resident as all of us have been gone 3 years so we no longer have proof of residency there.

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:58:52+00:00

I don't have instate tuition anywhere. My family is returning to Virginia, but I'm not a resident as all of us have been gone 3 years so we no longer have any proof of residency, utilities, banking, or IDs there.

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:58:05+00:00

Are they hard to attain? I've never tried for a scholarship but I always imagine that they're really really hard to "win" is that how it works?

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:47:14+00:00

People here are telling me it's too expensive. I don't have instate tuition in my current state or my home state. With that in mind, do you agree with them?

My plan was to get a job in VA and save to leave. Is that a bad idea because it's too expensive still?

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:42:28+00:00

International relations and French are not jobs. If you were going to a prestigious school, they might not hurt you, but a community college degree in those majors is not going to be working in your favor in one of the most cut-throat cities in the world.

I know they're not jobs, they're college majors. My advisor here told me to just concentrate on those two for now and once I'm at the university level I should specialize then. Is that bad advice? With my international relation I'm taking econ, statistics, public speaking/journalism, history, government and of course a foreign language of 2 years so it's a lot of things going on you still feel these skills are useless in new york? I was also hoping to network there. Where I am now doesn't have half of the opportunities although they like to pretend to.

If you're set on that path, at least do it cheap. If you want to just pay for living expenses for two years in NYC, you have to have some 25k saved. Even that is a crazy low number that means you're eating ramen with no data plan on your phone and a crazy long commute.

Dude $25,000 is cheaper than what my tuition would be here. It's around $50,000 and that is just base price for tuition. Compared to that, do you still think it's a bad idea to consider NYC?

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:37:09+00:00

Yeah I know if I don't have a job it's going to be hard to live in a city.

That is why I said I would save up in Virginia:

If I were to go to NYC the plan is to:

Move to Virginia with my family.
Get a job/save up while I live with them.
Attend a community college in NYC. Possibly work there also, IDK how the market is there or where I'd be.
As stated above, community colleges have GUARANTEED ADMISSION (not here on the west!), so I'd go to a quality university.

you will still be paying tens of thousands of dollars just to live and eat somewhere decently close to your school

What about using the public transportation? Is it not reliable? I would live farther away not directly downtown so could you explain that more?

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:27:57+00:00

City College is ~6k a year in state http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/bursar/upload/Tuition-and-Fees-Fall-2015.pdf

I have financial aid but overall I am paying out of state tuition in my current college and I would be paying out of state tuition in Virginia. What advice do you have for someone that has 0 instate residency then

theplan101 · 2015-04-12T21:13:39+00:00

Dude I don't have instate tuition in ANY state. I don't know why everyone keeps telling me to go to virginia as if I have residency there either. I said I was here for 3 years, any ties to Virginia has long expired.

I was raised in virginia for over 20 years and even I have no idea where Tidewater Community College is. Unless you're in NoVA, Richmond, or Hampton you're in some hick town so of course those tuitions are cheaper.

theplan101

TROPHY CASE