Related to Deni's thread...

[ebruening]

I originally wrote this in response to Deni's thread on how one affords being a full time graduate student. However, when I looked it over, I thought it might be a better fit for a new thread, rather than clog up Deni's thread with my own questions.

In summary, the situation is this: I really, really want to get my MA in English. However, when I applied as a full time student to MA programs, I wasn't accepted. After that experience, I haven't had the motivation to apply again for a position as a full time student. That said, I'm still determined to get my MA in English.

However, being a high school English teacher, I've decided to go about it in a different way: first, I'll get my MA in Curriculum and Instruction, move up on the pay scale, and move to where I'd like to attend graduate school in order to finish up my MA in English as a part time student. I'll continue to teach high school while I finish my MA in English, after hopefully having earned my MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

I have started work on my MA in Curriculum and Instruction, and still teach at the same Nebraska school where I began my teaching career.

If my class schedules go as planned, I should finish my MA in Curriculum and Instruction in the summer of 2008, in the following manner:

This semester, I took a 1 hour class that rotated Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, and was offered at my Educational Service Unit (within driving distance of my school) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This upcoming spring semester, I am taking a 3 credit Saturday class, which lasts 5 sessions and goes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for each session. I am also taking another 2 hour class - offered at my Educational Service Unit - that will rotate Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Finally, this summer, I am taking 12 credit hours, which will last from mid-May (the day after I get out of school for the summer) through the week prior to the first day of school in the 2007/2008 school year. I plan to take 3 credits in the fall of 2007, 3 credits in the spring of 2008, and finish my MA in August 2008. (Sorry for the nauseating detail.)

After I finish my MA in Curriculum and Instruction, I plan on moving to San Antonio, and teaching while I get my MA in English at UT-San Antonio. (The reasons why I decided to get my MA in Curriculum and Instruction first are: 1) from my research, it looks like teachers in San Antonio are paid according to either BA or MA, not by MA hours already accumulated, and 2) I want to learn how to become a better teacher in general.)

My MA in English should take me four years as a part time student, lasting me from ages 26 to 30. After I do that, I'll decide whether I have the energy to go on and earn my Ph.D. in English at UT-San Antonio.

I'd love to go to graduate school full time. However, I'm unhealthily worried about student loan debt - and the fact that my chosen field (education) pays peanuts (even at the college level.) In my experience, I wasn't qualified enough to receive a TAship when I applied to graduate school as a full time student. Based on that, and the fact that I worry incessantly over money, I decided to go part time.

Finally, my question for QLCers is this: how do I keep up my motivation to continue what might possibly become a 10 year plan (if I get my Ph.D. in English)?

I am notorious for having carefully planned, um, "plans," and then not following through on them, because I convince myself that "it won't work out anyway, so there's no point in even trying." I'm concerned that I'll have made these plans, and then will abandon them before my MA in English is complete. I suppose I've already taken the first step - beginning an MA program in Curriculum and Instruction - but I'm concerned that I won't follow through, and earn my MA in English. I will admit that I'm rather pessimistic about life goals, and I'm a huge worrywart about money.

Is there something you could suggest, in order to help me keep my motivation and commitment to getting my MA in English?

Thanks in advance for your help. I've been wanting to post about this situation for a while.

[winneythepooh7]

Well, I think the choice to go back to school is different for everyone.

I started out P/T myself in my Master's program, and then enrolled full-time. Just knowing that there was light at the end of the tunnel, being around others who were passionate about my profession, cool professors, and having a supportive family is what kept me motivated.

I also think that going F/T plays a part in getting the full amount of loans and such.

I am also in a profession that pays peanuts (although for some people they are misinformed and think I am rolling in it:rolleyes: ) so I totally understand your concern in that area. It probably is going to take me well into my old age to pay off my student loans.

[Deni81]

It's nice to know that I am not the only one debating going to grad school full-time vs part-time. Honestly i won't know until I fill out my FAFSA next month and play with the numbers. PM if you want to chat sometime.

[beeblebrox]

I did my Master's full time. It wasn't fun, but I got my degree in 2.5 years. I'm thinking of going back for MLS eventually and it would be part time. I know it's going to hard to do, but I hopefully won't get into huge debt like I did with my MA ($17,000 down to $13,800 in about 1.5 years)

[arrow]

Part-time is a good way to go, and if you want to stay in education, why go to an expensive school when you can go to a less expensive public one? And supplement some of that with scholarships? In education, no one cares where you earned your degree; they only care that you have one.

[leoisillon]

I work in the Graduate School at UT San Antonio! Welcome!

[CityGal]

I also have a lot of questions about loans. Since I am planning on attending school full time and in another country, I am estimating costs to be about 30-40Gs (15-18 for tuition and the rest for living costs). How do I get loans? Is it just through FAFSA? Which are the best or worst? Since I don't have any undergrad debt and my only real debt is 2gs (broker's fee which I hope to pay off by March or June), I am OK with getting a 30-40G debt. After knowing people who have over 60Gs in debt, I think a 30 G debt won't be so bad.

[cheshrcarol]

You need to contact the school and see what they suggest. Also, other people's financial situations should have no bearing on what and appropriate debt load is for YOU. Do you know what your payments on$40k will be? Do you know what your likely salary will be after grad school? Don't just say "oh my friend has $60k in loans and they manage to live, and I'll have half that so it'll be fine".

[pisces2473]

You need to contact the school and see what they suggest. Also, other people's financial situations should have no bearing on what and appropriate debt load is for YOU. Do you know what your payments on$40k will be? Do you know what your likely salary will be after grad school? Don't just say "oh my friend has $60k in loans and they manage to live, and I'll have half that so it'll be fine".
Yeah, it also depends on if you can find a job when you get out of school that will allow you to pay off these loans.

[CityGal]

Yeah, it also depends on if you can find a job when you get out of school that will allow you to pay off these loans.


Actually I don't know what I'll be doing after I graduate. I really want to continue on to my Ph.D so it will be a long time before I can have an 'appropriate' job to pay back the loans.

[NewMrs.]

Since I don't have any undergrad debt and my only real debt is 2gs (broker's fee which I hope to pay off by March or June), I am OK with getting a 30-40G debt. After knowing people who have over 60Gs in debt, I think a 30 G debt won't be so bad.


Well, my beginning undergrad debt was just under $18,000. It hasn't been too much of a struggle for me to pay this back. I am currently on year 7 of a 10-year payment plan, so I'm getting closer to the finish line in terms of paying this off.

My monthly loan payment has been like paying for a new car that I never got to drive.
My biggest concern is that I do not have nearly as much saved for retirement as I should. I sometimes view my loan payment as something that's keeping me from saving properly for retirement.

Also, as I mentioned above I am on the ten-year payment plan. One of my friends has $70K in student loans and she is on the 30-year plan. If you have friends with significant debt and this debt doesn't seem to be a great hardship to them, they may simply be taking longer to pay it off. As one of the previous posters said, you don't know all of the circumstances about somebody else's financial situation.