Last night I went on a campus tour for a vocational school that is focused on my passion, which is broadcasting. I have a BA in Communications/Media Studies but I cannot find a job in the field (and it's a competative field too). I thought it would be wise to persue further education. There are quite a few things I don't know, like editing software. I learned that the 8-week course would be 100% hands-on learning, I would learn the latest in the field, gain industry connections and they offer job assistance. At the end of the program, I would recieve an associate's degree.
Well, not only was last night a tour, it was a bit of an audition. They gave me a radio test and a television test, which involved running the equipment, doing cold readings and also reading from a teleprompter. Then, I went and had a bit of a chat with the director of the school. We discussed why I was there, what I wanted to do with my life, etc. I was honest: I told him, I'm broke. I've got nothing. The director said if I was accepted into the program, financial assistance would be discussed.
Well, I got the call today. I've been accepted. I've fallen in love with the program and I would love nothing more than to attend. I think this will give me some drive, some incentive, and most importantly, the experience to gain an edge in the job market.
Now here's where I think I f*cked myself up. FI and I are really living tight. Is it fair to add a student loan on top of all of this? Of course, once I got a job I would be 100% responsible for paying back the loan. But who's to say I will get a job after I graduate the program? My mom has already told me that she does not have the means to help me, and I don't expect her to. FI didn't sound thrilled that I was accepted. I think he was hoping I wouldn't be, and then we wouldn't have to worry about the money.
I don't really have anyone else to talk to about this...anyone got any advice?

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Re: Did I Just Screw Myself?
Bella, stop being such a worrywart. Taking on a student loan shouldn't be the reason you don't take an amazing opportunity. GO FOR IT.
Student loans are usually low-interest and deferrable for quite awhile if you don't have the money at first. I think some don't even have any bearing on your credit rating, if I'm not mistaken. But do some research. You can work it out. Even if you have to wait tables for a bit.
DOOO EEET.
Blog: A New Yorker in Duluth
Updated 8/8/11
I do think education is worth the cost. Personally, I would probably put a lot of things on hold for it. But that's just my opinion and it may not help you very much.
Any way you could get just some sort of job on the side to help with bills and all that until you have your "career job"?
That said, ultimately this is a joint decision as you both will carry responsibility for any debt once you're married (yes, you'll be paying it out of your salary, but if you didn't get a job right away, he'd have to help you as legally you would both be tied to the debt. Also, any money you spend on your loan could have been spent elsewhere, so indirectly he is helping you pay for it). I think it's important to sit down with your FI and talk about it, figure out how much you'd owe, what the payment schedule would be like, and how you'd budget it - basically, how much money you'd have to be able to make as a salary afterwards to justify it. And whether you're likely to be able to earn that much money with that experience/degree on your resume. I kinda don't like that he's not excited for you, since this is something you're clearly excited about and want. Sit down and ask him his concerns and listen to him.
We can't make this decision for you - it really should be a sit-down conversation with a calculator with your FI. Good luck!
[QUOTE]Any way you could get just some sort of job on the side to help with bills and all that until you have your "career job"?
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]
Now that I've been accepted, I've been thinking about doing that. I'll only be in school Monday through Thursday from 10am until 1:30pm, so a side job would be entirely doable.
Also, is there any possibility for grants, even to just defray a small portion of the cost?
I do think (with my measly one year spent in radio) that it's good to be familiar with all the tools. With those skills you could try to get your foot in somewhere doing production.
PS. If they cover Adobe Audition, hit me up. I use the older version of that at home (and used it back when I did production).
I haz a planning bio
A few things I would ask before accepting my position in the program:
a) get that financial assistance discussed (maybe it's not ALL loans?)
b) is there some sort of career placement assistance? it's hard in these times, but career placement can get your foot in the door...
c) what about internships? (same reason as b)
Maybe it will make you feel better if I tell you that I took out a student loan to take a couple grad level classes in library science, my BF at the time (now H) also loaned me some money to help pay, and then I decided that I really did not want to be a librarian. But it was worth the money to find that out. I still kinda feel badly about the whole thing, but the longer I work in a library at a staff level, the more convinced I am that being a librarian is not for me. I don't know what IS for me, but at least I've ruled something out and am not amassing more debt to pursue a career that I know would not make me happy.
It sucks to be almost 30 and still not really have a "career."
But I think it would suck even more to be stuck in a career I hated.
You have a chance to pursue something you love. Grab it!
Still here and still fabulous!
[QUOTE]I agree with PPs. If you think you will gain knowledge that will make you more marketable or knowledgable in your field, AND you will enjoy it, I say go for it. And go for the side job, too. Maybe it will make you feel better if I tell you that I took out a student loan to take a couple grad level classes in library science, my BF at the time (now H) also loaned me some money to help pay, and then I decided that I really did not want to be a librarian. But it was worth the money to find that out. I still kinda feel badly about the whole thing, but the longer I work in a library at a staff level, the more convinced I am that being a librarian is not for me. I don't know what IS for me, but <strong>at least I've ruled something out </strong>and am not amassing more debt to pursue a career that I know would not make me happy.<strong> It sucks to be almost 30 and still not really have a "career."</strong> <strong>But I think it would suck even more to be stuck in a career I hated.</strong> You have a chance to pursue something you love. Grab it!
Posted by desertsun[/QUOTE]
This makes me feel much better about my own life/career. Thanks, desert!. :)
Blog: A New Yorker in Duluth
Updated 8/8/11
During the Superbowl, my BF and I went to a friend's dad's house to watch it. While we were there his dad would excuse himself to go make commercials for FoxSports during the game. We even went in his room and watched him record one. I was suprised at how fast he did all of the editing and stuff. I was amazed. Just sayin. Then he told us about all of the local stuff he does. I heard him three times yesterday just on my drive to work and back.
@B&W - There is both career and internship assistance. They don't guarantee you a job, but they can get you interviews. They have connections that I would not get on my own. The broadcasting industry is competitive and small.
@cu97tiger - I feel like this would totally up my earning potential. The more I learn in the industry, the more jobs I would be qualified to do. For example, right now, I wouldn't know how to begin producing a radio show. If I did the program, I would learn how to do that.
@niknik - the entire course for the class would be about $12000 total. It's not cheap, but it's not ridiculous either.
GL
Married! May 27th, 2012
When I was trying to figure out my life plan, my mom told me I could be in school or not be in school, but either way the time was going to pass. And 4 years later, I look back at everything I've accomplished in school, and I'm very proud of myself. I say GO FOR IT!!
Sooooooo hopefully this is the start of a new outlook for me. If I get financial aid/student loans for school, I can start saving money for when I start in mid-March and then work at nights and on weekends while I'm not in class.
I'm starting to feel like 100% better about this.
As someone who has a load of education- some of it worth it, some of it not- I think PPs have a lot of really good points. It should be something you and your SO decide together because the loan will affect both of you.
My personal soapbox- not all educational costs are worth it. Do the math. E.g., is going to the expensive private school really going to increase your earning potential enough to warrant an additional DECADE of loan payments? Check out: http://www.moneyunder30.com/degree-worth-student-loan-debt or google it. There are many useful tools out there to help you make a decision.
That said, 12k is not a super-huge deal if it really helps you land the job of your dreams.
Like I said for you in particular, if you believe it will catapult your carreer, 12k and a couple of months is not that big of a deal in the long run. I'd worry a lot more if it were 12k every semester for 3 years. Just make sure to do the math. My bet is the math will actually make you feel better about taking the course.