So, to start this on a good note. Not only have I been tentatively hired at a small chain store nearby, another place has called and shown an interest in hiring me. I'm really interested because the first job can only have me work 24 hours a week so another job (or somewhere full time) would be a blessing. However, I had to temporarily stay with my in laws to even find these opportunities. This fall, I will HAVE to move so I could be closer to my school and also have to either give up one job (if I get both jobs) or severely cut into my hours.

I've been in school for a few semesters and only need a couple more to get my associates, which is what I've been trying to get. I foolishly took out loans because the wife and I were unemployed/needed money to care for the family. So, I already know that if I even try to "take a break" for a semester so I can stabilize my life will cause the school to demand money immediately and I will have to keep paying consistently even when I go back to school. So I'm stuck. The pay is ok but it's a job that actually will give me SOMETHING.

I'm just so worried about the whole thing. I have maybe 3 months to figure it out. Sigh, what should I do?

Is it possible for you to go school part time?  If you already are, maybe just take one class a semester.  Also, try to take an online course if you can't sacrifice the time to sit in class.  It will make things a lot more manageable.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 05, 2013, 11:35:13 PM
Is it possible for you to go school part time?  If you already are, maybe just take one class a semester.  Also, try to take an online course if you can't sacrifice the time to sit in class.  It will make things a lot more manageable.

I would LOVE to take just one class. Unfortunately, my academic grants bar me from just taking one class. Apparently, people who had no intentions of actually getting a degree would just take the one class so they could milk the grant money. It ruined it for the rest of us who WANT a degree but can't take a full-time class load.

I've looked into online classes (actually took one last semester) but it seems the classes I actually need are either: not online or still require coming to campus 2-3x a week. It's mostly math and science that I have left which requires lab time or taking tests in the testing center since most of our math dept. thinks online students will easily cheat.

I might have to see what strings I can pull to either take a smaller class load or find a way to get to/from campus without eating my entire bank account for gas. I do appreciate those suggestions, I will look into it more because I might've missed something in my "worry haze".

Quote from: wolfduality on June 05, 2013, 08:19:19 PM
So, to start this on a good note. Not only have I been tentatively hired at a small chain store nearby, another place has called and shown an interest in hiring me. I'm really interested because the first job can only have me work 24 hours a week so another job (or somewhere full time) would be a blessing. However, I had to temporarily stay with my in laws to even find these opportunities. This fall, I will HAVE to move so I could be closer to my school and also have to either give up one job (if I get both jobs) or severely cut into my hours.

I've been in school for a few semesters and only need a couple more to get my associates, which is what I've been trying to get. I foolishly took out loans because the wife and I were unemployed/needed money to care for the family. So, I already know that if I even try to "take a break" for a semester so I can stabilize my life will cause the school to demand money immediately and I will have to keep paying consistently even when I go back to school. So I'm stuck. The pay is ok but it's a job that actually will give me SOMETHING.

I'm just so worried about the whole thing. I have maybe 3 months to figure it out. Sigh, what should I do?

You should be able to take a semester off, I have before! I think you can take like 6 months off before they consider you dropping out. They'll work with you.

School is getting harder and harder for me lately. I'm not exactly in the right state of mind.

Quote from: CalmRage on June 06, 2013, 04:53:49 PM
School is getting harder and harder for me lately. I'm not exactly in the right state of mind.

Trust me, take some time off. It will be beneficial

Quote from: Michelle S. on June 06, 2013, 04:59:54 PM
Trust me, take some time off. It will be beneficial

If i do, my idiot teachers will feel justified in their games.

Until tomorrow then. Have to be up in five and a half hours and dressed in six. At school in eight. Fun, isn't it?

Quote from: CalmRage on June 06, 2013, 05:02:05 PM
If i do, my idiot teachers will feel justified in their games.

Don't let people play games with your life. Who cares what teachers think?!?! As long as their not flunking you for being you, screw em! Let 'em play games! It's your life so do what's best for you

Quote from: Michelle S. on June 06, 2013, 04:50:29 PM
You should be able to take a semester off, I have before! I think you can take like 6 months off before they consider you dropping out. They'll work with you.

I've called the academic office a couple times to ask about this and even got redirected TWICE to financial aid. I've been told taking even ONE semester off (even with the school's blessing) will cause the loan companies to go after me even AFTER I get back into school. However, the other time I called, they said if I pay a minimum until I get back into school, I wouldn't have the loan companies breathing down my neck and they'd back off when I got back in. I would also have to be put on academic suspension either way which means I can't do anything like this again for a full year.

Quote from: CalmRage on June 06, 2013, 05:02:05 PM
If i do, my idiot teachers will feel justified in their games.

Never listen into the opinion of those that can't at least respect you. Even if they don't LIKE you, they have to respect you. Does this mean you have to be a jerk in return? No and I'm not even saying you have to "kill them with kindness". Just don't react, keep calm and focus on your studies. That's how I survived my last semester of Earth Science with a verbally abusive teacher. (Yes, I did report her but they take forever to do anything.)

Quote from: wolfduality on June 06, 2013, 05:16:42 PM
I've called the academic office a couple times to ask about this and even got redirected TWICE to financial aid. I've been told taking even ONE semester off (even with the school's blessing) will cause the loan companies to go after me even AFTER I get back into school. However, the other time I called, they said if I pay a minimum until I get back into school, I wouldn't have the loan companies breathing down my neck and they'd back off when I got back in. I would also have to be put on academic suspension either way which means I can't do anything like this again for a full year.

I have no idea why they're saying that! If it's FASFA it should be the same across the country. I've taken 2 semesters off, non-sequentially, and my girlfriend has taken 2 semesters off back-to-back. I think my girlfriend received one letter and when she went back to school they got off her case. You should contact whoever the loans are through because your school sounds like they have no idea what they're talking about. Think about how many kids take summer off too.

Quote from: Michelle S. on June 06, 2013, 05:21:55 PM
I have no idea why they're saying that! If it's FASFA it should be the same across the country. I've taken 2 semesters off, non-sequentially, and my girlfriend has taken 2 semesters off back-to-back. I think my girlfriend received one letter and when she went back to school they got off her case. You should contact whoever the loans are through because your school sounds like they have no idea what they're talking about. Think about how many kids take summer off too.

It IS FASFA so yeah, I have no idea why I'm getting so many different answers. *facepalm* I think it has to do with the fact most of our offices are run by hired/work study students that just have a basic "run down" on how their office functions. I've even gotten a "strongly worded" letter from my school once for not taking enough classes. (I was taking 5 classes but had to drop to 2 in the first week because of life issues.) I got another one before that for only enrolling in 2 classes and they told me I HAD to enroll in more classes next semester or risk my financial aid being taken away. I'm still in good academic standing so I would think taking one semester off wouldn't kill my FASFA help, right?

I'm going to a community college so I don't understand why they are so up my butt about this. I took classes at a university and they were less temperamental than that.