And Cal Poly is within driving distance from where I live, so I could stay at home and only have to work part time. That way I could still go to school and not have to worry about entirely supporting myself, which would invovle working full time in addition to going to business school, and having to contend with the fatigue of a chronic disease.
Would you want to carry on living with your mother though? I must say that I've always seen university as an opportunity to leave home — something I'll be doing in six or seven months, and to tell you the truth, I can't wait. In fact, most of the universities I've applied to are as far away from Birmingham as possible, lol. I'm not planning on getting a job when I'm there either, and I cannot imagine how anyone would possibly be able to work full time whilst they're at university.
So tell me... does the government not cover most of your university fees in the US? And do all universities not have the same fees?
Welcome to the real world, Benjamin. I worked two jobs (50-60 hours a week) while going to grad school full time. As an undergrad, I worked multiple part-time jobs -- only because I could not find full-time employment.
Hell no, the gov't doesn't pay for most of your tuition in the US, and no, tuition rates vary from one school to the next -- there are no standard rates.
If you are going to a state university, which receives state tax money for part of its operating costs, and are a resident of that state, you qualify for in-state tuition -- which is somewhat reduced. If you are not from that state, you will pay out-of-state tuition -- which can be several times what a resident would pay.
Private universities (no state tax subsidy) charge everyone the same exorbitant amounts, in-state or not.
Grants and student loans are available as well, some from the federal government -- the Pell grant and federal student loans are two examples. Loans must be paid back (with interest); grants do not.
I, too, was happy to get an opportunity to leave home -- well actually, I had no choice: my father was still stationed in Japan when I went to college in the US -- but not everyone is in a financial position to pay their own room and board (or have their parents do so) at such a young age, so it's not always practical. Especially if they aren't working! _________________ An apple a day....
Something to consider, Porthos -- I went to quarter schools and semester schools, and I vastly preferred the quarter system -- you get to take more classes in the same amount of time, because there are 3 quarters to a year (4 if you go to the summer session), but only 2 semesters (plus summer sessions).
Of course, you do cover the same amount of material in a 12-week quarter-long class that you cover in a 20-week semester-long class -- they're more intense, and you can't screw around or skip class too much, or you will fall hopelessly behind.
And unfortunately, if you transfer quarter credits to a semester school, they dock them -- what should be a 3 credit class will only count as 2.7 credits or so, even though they really are comparable in real life. _________________ An apple a day....
Welcome to the real world, Benjamin. I worked two jobs (50-60 hours a week) while going to grad school full time. As an undergrad, I worked multiple part-time jobs -- only because I could not find full-time employment.
Wow... well it seems that university education is a very different experience in the US than here! How did you find time to work 50-60 hours a week whilst you were at university? I don't think my parents even work that amount now! Actually, many universities here actively discourage their students from having jobs, and some even forbid it completely.
Uriel wrote:
Hell no, the gov't doesn't pay for most of your tuition in the US, and no, tuition rates vary from one school to the next -- there are no standard rates.
Hmm... here, tuition fees can never be more than £3,070 (about $5,500) per year, and it's usually much lower. And if you're Scottish at the time of application, and you go to a university in Scotland, then you don't actually have to pay any tuition fees at all. We're basically given a 'loan' to cover these fees (if applicable) and our living costs, so we don't have to produce any money before we go or whilst we're there. It's not very much, but it should be sufficient for what will be my relatively non-extravagant lifestyle in Scotland. I write 'loan' in inverted commas because it's not really about what you owe, but about what you're able to pay afterwards. You don't 'pay it back' as such; it's just automatically deducted from your salary at about 9% when you've finished university. And if you haven't paid it all back within 30 years, then it just gets written off. And you don't have to pay anything back at all if you're earning less than £15,000 (about $27,000) a year — which would be about average for the general population, although below average for a graduate.
Uriel wrote:
I, too, was happy to get an opportunity to leave home -- well actually, I had no choice: my father was still stationed in Japan when I went to college in the US -- but not everyone is in a financial position to pay their own room and board (or have their parents do so) at such a young age, so it's not always practical. Especially if they aren't working!
So do most people leave home to go to university in the US? I know only very few people who are staying in Birmingham to go to university, so it seems as though most people here do.
If I wanted to leave home at my age, with absolutely zero financial support from my mother, I would have to pay for a vehicle, which involves car insurance in the range of $200-300 a month, plus gas for the car, along with any maintenance expenses. I would have to pay about $1,000 a month for rent, along with expenses for food, laundry, etc. And in the U.S., you have to pay for all of this yourself. Plus you would have to pay for tuition, lab fees, books, and all other school related expenses. So to support myself, I would have to come up with about at least $2500 bucks a month, which would involve working full time while still attending university full time. It's not an easy task.
A lot of middle class families are able to save up for their children's college costs, and they will help put their kids through college. For those of us who are less fortunate, the best our parents can do is provide free board and food at home, so that we only have to pay for our education expenses, spending money, and car related expenses.
Sure I would love to get out of the house and be on my own, but sometimes the woes of such a move for a person in my position outweighs the benefits enjoyed as a result of independence.
If I go to a university near home, I can be around a support network of friends and at least one family member, and still be able to live at home.
Benjamin, Loic, you don't know how lucky you are if you can live away from home and not have to work! That seems like a dream to me... _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
I'm actually preparing for future expenses right now. I just got a job again, and I'm planning on getting a second one. I ride my bike about 6 miles round trip to work, like the wicked witch of the west, from the Wizard of Oz, and I've even adopted her theme song. "Do du do do, do du do du do........" _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
I'm gonna be going to college somewhere in Worcester, which is only about half an hour from where I live. I'll live there (commuting would be undesirable for a number of reasons), but I think I'll come back home on the weekends. There are three good universities here (I've been accepted to 2), and I'm really close to my family (and especially my cat, don't laugh).
Last edited by Lazar on Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
If I wanted to leave home at my age, with absolutely zero financial support from my mother, I would have to pay for a vehicle, which involves car insurance in the range of $200-300 a month, plus gas for the car, along with any maintenance expenses.
And you'd definitely need a car, right? I suppose one needs a car to get around in the US because it's so big. This contrasts with Scotland, where a third of the population don't even have access to a car.
Yeah, Benjamin, public transportation in America sucks royally. You really need a car to get around town, go to school, go to work etc. It's very difficult to depend on bus schedules, and I can only get so far in life with my bike, lol! _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Although I live in England, I'm still going to have to get a job whilst I'm at university, or I'll never be able to afford ANYTHING that I want. I can't understand how you're going to live at university without a job, Benjamin - are your parents just going to send you money for 4 whole years, despite you being in a different country?
Out of my main group of friends, two work for their parents, two work at a local store, one works at a restaurant, one is a caretaker, and the last one is rich and therefore sees no need to get a job yet. So I'm the only one in my group of friends that hasn't landed a job yet. I don't get any money except on my birthday and at Christmas, so I'm in desperate need of a job, and fast...
You're lucky Benjamin, to get pocket money, and to not have to work until you're in your mid-20s.
Although I live in England, I'm still going to have to get a job whilst I'm at university, or I'll never be able to afford ANYTHING that I want. I can't understand how you're going to live at university without a job, Benjamin - are your parents just going to send you money for 4 whole years, despite you being in a different country?
They'll probably send me enough money to make up for the fact that I'm not entitled to a full student loan since my parents apparently earn too much money. That wouldn't be very much though. I'm just not planning on spending very much — there wouldn't be that much to buy in somewhere like St Andrews anyway.
Shouga wrote:
You're lucky Benjamin, to get pocket money,
Yes, although I almost never spend it, so it wouldn't make much difference if they did or not, in all honesty.
You'll probably be surprised at how quickly the costs start to mount up.
You're right. However, plenty of people do manage to survive at university without having to get a job whilst they're there. Cambridge, for example, actually forbid their students from working during term time.
I should admit though that I'm actually inheriting some money from one of my deceased great-great-aunts. I don't know how much it is yet though. But you're right, I'm very fortunate that I won't really have to worry very much about money whilst I'm at university.
Perhaps more to the point, if I go to St Andrews, there simply won't be any jobs there for me to have. That is a significant part of the reason for why I'm not planning on being in employment whilst I'm there (if I go there, which I hope I will).
You know I noticed Benjamin that you use the word "whilst" quite a bit. You use the word in place of "while", which is the word I would use. Is this a standard feature of British English, or is it just an aspect of your own personal wordage? _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
You know I noticed Benjamin that you use the word "whilst" quite a bit. You use the word in place of "while", which is the word I would use. Is this a standard feature of British English, or is it just an aspect of your own personal wordage?
Both 'while' and 'whilst' are common in British English, but their usage may vary according to dialect and sociolect. I tend to use 'whilst' and 'amongst' more often than 'while' and 'among'.
Why do you prefer those alternatives? Any particular reason? Does it sound more intellectual among elitists in the UK? _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Why do you prefer those alternatives? Any particular reason? Does it sound more intellectual among elitists in the UK?
It's not so much that I 'prefer' them — it's just what I say. I suppose that 'whilst' and 'amongst' might seem more formal to some people depending on the context, but that is not why I tend to use them.
Whilst, amidst and amongst are all in common use in English, although rare and considered old-fashioned by Americans. 'Whilst' is taught in my English class as being the correct substitute for 'while' in most situations, and to be honest, I've never really questioned its use.
So to support myself, I would have to come up with about at least $2500 bucks a month, which would involve working full time while still attending university full time. It's not an easy task.
Honeychile, I don't even make that kind of cash -- I bring home less than $1500 a month!
Why on earth would car insurance cost you $200-300 a month? Are you planning on driving a Dodge Viper? I have a brand-new car with full comprehensive & collision on it, and that only costs me $70 a month! I know young males get charged more than the average driver because they're considered riskier drivers, but that sounds a bit steep!
Quote:
Whilst, amidst and amongst are all in common use in English, although rare and considered old-fashioned by Americans.
No -- it is not used at all by Americans. And it goes beyond old-fashioned -- I had no idea, until I went to England, that it had survived Shakespeare!
I didn't even have any idea how it was pronounced -- in print it looks like it should have a short I. I was surprised to find it had a long I. (Well, I was surprised to find it, period....or full stop, as you would say!)
Benjamin, I hate to say it, but I was able to work overtime and still handle grad school because I honestly found grad school to be a breeze. I speed-read, I memorize easily, I test well, and I can pretty much pull papers out of my ass. I've always aced school, from grade school to college. I'm a natural student. In fact I had to force myself to drop out because I realized that going to grad school was just my way of staying in a comfortable environment in which I knew I would excel -- when I really needed to go out there, find a job, and become a "real" adult, and quit messing around. I was 26 or 27 -- time to grow up, already. My coursework wasn't preparing me for a good job, or opening any opportunities for me -- it was just vanity and a good way to have to sell a car every semester to pay my tuition.
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I'm not planning on getting a job when I'm there either, and I cannot imagine how anyone would possibly be able to work 
