can I afford life

There are many good comments here from many perspectives. However you seem to be well ahead on the game by being very self aware. Not everyone is.

Big/well known-vs-small/lesser known college. I went to both and believe based on the classes I took there is a reason those colleges are big and well known. The classes were far more challenging and I reaped the benefits upon graduation. That being said the college you go to, or don't go to, does not define you. Your work ethic will.

Do your best to avoid debt-not just with college, but with life

With PT I would just think you would want some crossover into elderly care. That is the biggest boom business to be in in the next 20 years

Work hard,honest and smart, life will happen in ways you never planned
 
You mentioned maturity & 4yr college. Many are not ready for university out of high school. I know I wasn't ready, after finishing military more mature, I used the GI Bill & attended the Cal State system. Great tool to gain maturity & help control cost of education.

It's a sad commentary comparing state universities of the past to today. States used to FUND heavily on state universities. Now with changing economics, states do not chip in as they did, making colleges fend for themselves. Hence the cost is way up, & the loan sharks moved into, fill the gap.
 
asianisafish said:
ECC has a PTA program for 2 years as my anatomy teachers daughter went there and got a PTA from tECC and says it's a great community college. Both medical science teachers at my school also went to ECC so it can't be that bad. They tell me it's great option for students like me who didn't do the greatest in highschool but want to further their education.
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I'm currently in the last year at ECC's pta program. I have my reasons why I decided PTA over DPT. If you ever have any particular questions about the program, please let me know. I can send you a pm with my number if you'd like. My name is Tim btw. As far as your other question of affording life, not sure I nor anyone else can answer that. To me, it's a really subjective question. What I will say is I know both PT's and PTA's, some of who have families, who live just fine. I wish you the best of luck!
 
I'm going to preface this by saying I read your beginning post, and I can directly relate. I have not read through the past 5 pages, but I feel like I can chime in.


Asianisafish, I was in the same boat in 2012. Senior in high school, wanted to pursue Finance, but parents wanted me in healthcare. So I do what they ask since they're my parents and I want to please them.

Bottom line? I failed myself out of college.
I've since gone back to a wonderful community college, getting a 2 year degree in Business, then going on to another school for finance.

You do what YOU want. Yes, I work. Yes, I go to school. Yes, it's difficult. I'm seeing a much brighter future for myself now than 3 years ago.

If you need any help/advice/pep talk, PM me! Good luck :)
 
If you live within your means you can survive on anything. No offense but your mom is delusional if she thinks you'll walk out of college and make that much. It takes a long time and experience to get to that pay scale. And if you're in an area that does pay that much (New York city for instance) the cost of living eats that up.

Most think money is the answer to life, once you have money you'll see how very wrong everyone is.

You're an adult and you need to make your own decisions. Get out there and do what makes you happy
 
This is a good post, lots of perspectives here. As stated, always do something you like, makes life much more enjoyable. That said, from a financial point of view, I think the world has changed from the traditional American model of go to college get a good job, etc.

Debt is a huge issue. There are a lot of articles in financial publications about the skyrocketing cots of higher eduction in recent years due to the availability of government loans. I read that many grads graduate with over $50k in debt from undergrad. That is a huge loan for someone looking for an entry level first job out of college.

I did the traditional thing, went to college, then grad school. I went to a public university so I managed to have almost no debt from that, but it was 20 years ago. Job market was bad then, so I went to law school, and lacking rich parents my loans from that were just over $100k. I heard its much more now for a decent school. I am still paying student loans. Did it allow a good income? Yes, but it comes with stress and long hours, and the student loans which come from after tax income mitigate against the salary.

If I had to do it again, in today's market, I wouldn't have done it the way I did. I would counsel anyone young today to get the best job you can get with minimal eduction expense and begin saving early. The Dave Ramsey book mentioned above is excellent advice. Trust me, you want to have money when you are middle aged and can enjoy it. Once you get to that point in life you don't want to be working your ass off for paycheck to paycheck; especially if you want to support a family.

I think the best gig out there is to be a cop or fireman. I believe it only requires a two year degree which can be obtained from a community college relatively cheaply. Starting salary may not be super high, but income grows, excellent benefits, and the best part is a pension that kicks in after 20-25 years, at least around this part of the country. Excellent job security, as well, those professions will always be necessary. Not sure if its the same around the country, but I have known some retired cops in CA in their 50's drawing pretty generous incomes without working. Nice gig. At least here in CA, public sector can provide a nice life over time. YMMV depending on where you live.
 
Ricorocks said:
You mentioned maturity & 4yr college. Many are not ready for university out of high school. I know I wasn't ready, after finishing military more mature, I used the GI Bill & attended the Cal State system. Great tool to gain maturity & help control cost of education...
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ABSOLUTLY!

I too did the same.

After I 'got out' I was 34, married and working full time BUT the want to do the 'party stuff' never entered the picture. It was school, work...actually made 'school' a whole lot easier to complete.

Bill
 
FinishingTouchA said:
my goal is to launch and build multiple multi-million dollar businesses. I plan to retire before 40 with a 30 million dollar nest egg. My dream is to live in an amazing house and have the time to spend with my wife and children and to have the ability to buy any toy I want. I will not settle for putting in hours for money. I want to do what I want when I want. Everyone's goals are different. And they change. My goal now isn't even what it was just one year ago. I wish you the best on your journey.
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LOL at this guy. 40 Million dollars, amazing house, buy any toy and retire at 40......all that by detailing cars

Big dreams lol good luck though hahaha
 
For sure look in to community college and taking credits that transfer.
It's a great way to get started in school and is less expensive than a 4 year university right away.

It took me 4 years after high school to figure out what I wanted to go to school for and working in construction for those 4 years made me understand why I needed to go back to school.
I enjoyed the work, but working outside in the winter or hot summers gets old and takes it toll.

You might need to put car things aside for awhile too when you go to school until you can dedicate time and $ to your hobby again.
It is tough to fully focus on school and getting your career going when you are distracted by other gotta do's.

Good luck.
 
The field you want requires college. So, if that is really what you want to do you have to figure our how to accomplish it.

You can start looking for jobs within the field and take night courses. Now, you won't be able to start as a PT but rehabilitation facilities have all sorts of jobs. Perhaps you can start as a check in person or as an insurance coder. All medical codes in the US have to make the switch from ICD9 to ICD10 this year and they are in a panic. (Warren Buffett says when people run away from something in a panic you can find opportunity)

This could teach you the verbiage of the clinics and also help you make contacts in the field. Another possibility is that some of the clinics offer tuition assistance.

You don't have to limit to the clinics either. Rehab clinics have to buy supplies from durable medical equipment suppliers. Again, same situation applies. You can be close to the field you are workin towards, earning money to pay for the education, making contacts, and maybe having your company help with tuition.
 
Let me give you some much need advice,I've been detailing for 23 years I currently reside in south fla.Im 44 now still detailing everyday ,this is for everyone go to school 50 k is nothing now wife is sick have a nine year old to raise .you have to look down the road things are gonna be twice as much 10 years now . I wanted to make a career change 2 years ago now I can't that ship has sailed.If you want to do detailing that's fine at least get a degree partime so when you get the detail vibe out of your system you will have something to fall back on.To make 50 k detailing you are gonna work ur but off then you have deductions on top of that . Don't be trapped into this profession I see this all the time yes we make our own destiny in life.but if I can knock some sense into u I will.
 
Passion can always be turned into profit but, the cost of education can take most of your profit yet, never lead you to passion.:)
 
Yeah dude, I'm forty and am detailing as a last resort because I was too lazy to go to school. Trust me detailing is twice as hard when you get older when your body starts to hurt. You can make ok money but it's not glamorous work for most of us. You should bust your ass in school and land a cush job that can provide you with all the nice things a lot of us can't have. That's what I wish I did looking back on my life.
 
Hello everyone. Almost a month since the last post here and I'd like to thank everyone again.

As an update I've applied to NIU and currently in the process of applying to UIC SIU and north central college in Naperville and butler university in indiana. I've also contacted some coaches in some colleges to possibly get recruited into a school that has my major that I want to study while doing sports for them to help pay for costs. I've looked into financial aid a little bit but the FAFSA applications don't begin until Jan 1st. After applying to more places I'll start doing those essay scholarships and hopefully they'll add up and help me out.


I've talked to my brother a bit who currently goes to ECC and wants to go into accounting about the financial aid process. He didn't know too much >:( (he wants to be an accountant omg) but he told me that when he applied for FAFSA that they didn't offer enough money to make a difference because our parents make a certain amount of money that falls into a bracket. He said they make around 250-300k a year? They are pushing us to pay for university ourself. My brothers very smart, he got a 33 on his act? Went to UIUC but left because it was too expensive and now goes to ECC.

My parents are always working and I'm busy with school sports and work and I've tried researching how financial aid works but If anyone could give me some insight on how it works I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
FAFSA does have a financial "need" component. This need is calculated by taking average costs of yearly tuition against your available assets. Your parents income are counted as your available assets if you still live at home or get over half of your support from your parents. A rather complicated formula exists for the amount of support your parents actually provide, the easiest way to look at it is to take away everything the pay for. If they pay for your car insurance you would lose your car, if they pay for your car but not your insurance you would lose your car, if you pay rent to live at home but the amount of rent is not equal to the amount of rent in your area-you are not paying rent, you are paying for a bed and would be on the street. Once done list what you actually have without your parents "assets" if you have no food, no house, no car, no clothes - you will be counted based on your parents income. However, if you are one of the very few who actually are supporting themselves you can challenge the accounting and possibly gain FAFSA on your income.

In addition look for scholorships that are not financial based.

You can also redesign your plan. Go to a community college to get your Associates degree. Community College is typically lower cost. Articulate your 2 year into a 4 year College or University. Your chance of acceptance as a junior is higher.

Yet another way to redesign the plan is to go part time but continue courses over summer breaks. This can make a 4 year degree take 5-6 years but allows you to work while attending school.

Best of luck.
 
Life here on Earth is expensive, but it does
include a free trip around the Sun every year.


Bob
 
Interesting... One of my best friends was in the same place as you about 10 years back. He left his nest and his parents didn't give him a dime. He worked very hard (full-time job and school) and eventually got his Doctorate and became a Kinesiologist and he now treats famous athletes daily.

It did cost him 4-6 years of his life, but now he's set for the rest of it. While I went to a 2-year private college and make the same as he does off just off of investments (My grand father taught me differently).

It's hard to compare as University in Canada because it's subsidized here and costs 1/20th of what American University do (a lot of Americans come to Montreal to study at Mc Gill for that reason). Mc Gill is also one of the top Universities in North America at the fraction of the price (ranks 24th in the world).

If cost is the issue thing of possibly studying abroad. You won't have friends to distract you at first and you'll get to experience a different culture.

Good luck!
 
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