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Thread: Can't afford my dreams

  1. #1
    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Can't afford my dreams

    I'm 26 years old and am at a loss for ideas on how to make my goal of becoming a dental hygienist before I turn 30 come true. My main issue is cost... my credit is not good enough to qualify for a loan and I do not make enough money to pay for the classes beforehand.
    Has anyone else been in this kind of situation? What did you do?



    Thank you


  2. #2
    Featured Member AmazingKat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Where are you looking at going to school? Lots of public community colleges offer hygenist degress. Have you filled out a FAFSA? Anyone can find a way to afford two years of a jc.

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    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    I already know which school I'll go to, it's the only one that offers the program in my town.

    How much does a FAFSA usually cover? more than half?


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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    sell that car for a start

    find a sugar daddy ..
    write a plan!!!!!
    and maybe it will take you a little longer than 39

  5. #5
    Peanut_Butter
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    First, fill out the FASA How much they cover depends on your school. . check on grants that your school offers.
    Then apply for a stafford loan.. it's a federal student loan, and they will only give the funds to the school directly, and based on what the school tells them the tuition is.

    Then if you still have a gap ( you shouldn't) Apply for private student loans. These you do ned credit OR a co signer. If you have no credit or no job, that's ok as long as you have a good so signer. A private loan will give you any amount up to the maximum your school says tuition will cost for a year. They give the money directly to you t ouse for whatever yuo want. books/housing/supplies whatever.

    My credit is very very bad. But it doesnt matter. I still get all the money I need for school. they dont check your credit. I just get grants/loans and then private loans to cover the gaps.

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    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    ^Thanks for that info, that's very helpful!


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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    not wanting to step on anyone's dream, but these days it is a basic requirement to do the math in regard to any college degree ...

    Starting pay for a fully accredited dental hygenist is somewhere around $25 per hour or $52,000 per year. Given typical federal and state tax rates this equals an after tax income of about $40,000 per year. Available pay rate for a less skilled job is somewhere around $12 per hour or $25,000 per year. Given typical federal and state tax rates this equals an after tax income of about $24,000 per year. Thus the basic dental hygenist degree is actually worth somewhere around $16,000 per year in terms of extra money.

    However, obtaining that dental hygenist degree has a cost. Direct cost for two years worth of tuition i.e. a community college program is likely to cost something on the order of $10,000. Additionally, trading off two years worth of income at an unskilled job in order to pursue the degree actually costs $48,000 in lost opportunity. Thus the actual cost of the dental hygenist degree is on the order of $58,000. This is the risk taken by people who pursue 'specialized' medical degrees ( I have a degree as a respiratory therapist myself) ... that unlike a nursing degree the available employment options are limited to a fairly narrow field thus the 'employers' are in the driver's seat in regard to setting pay rates.

    In terms of 'payback on investment', with a $16,000 annual earnings differential available after you graduate, versus a $58,000 cost, and the two years spent pursuing the degree, it would appear that you would 'break even' on your investment 6 years after you began your first college courses.

    Of course this assumes that you have not borrowed any money for your tuition or living expenses, and also assumes that the government does not make any major changes in incremental tax brackets. It also assumes that your unskilled pay rate would never increase from the initial $12 per hour.

    All in all, a six year 'payback' on your invesment isn't too bad. Many professions / fields of study result in paybacks that are far worse ... partly because of higher tuition costs, partly because some degrees require 4 years of study versus 2 years, and partly because of lower starting pay rates for new graduates.

    Actually, the biggest risk to your potential 6 year 'payback' might be the introduction of National Health Care. If the Gov't winds up paying for dental cleanings instead of insurance companies, the Gov't may decide that the present cost of dental cleanings is too high for them to pay / reimburse. If that were to happen, today's $25 per hour pay rate for dental hygenists could quickly turn into $21 per hour or $18 per hour.
    Last edited by Melonie; 05-10-2008 at 05:31 AM.

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    If you end up living your dream, that could be worth any amount of money to you, emotionally.

    I've seen heaps of people chase a certain career without actually knowing what it's like, though, and finding out they don't really like the profession or day to day reality of the work that much after having the job for a year or two. Can you do some unpaid internship / temp work just to get a peek at the job before committing to anything?
    Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor
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  9. #9
    Vivacious
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeska View Post
    I'm 26 years old and am at a loss for ideas on how to make my goal of becoming a dental hygienist before I turn 30 come true. My main issue is cost... my credit is not good enough to qualify for a loan and I do not make enough money to pay for the classes beforehand.
    Has anyone else been in this kind of situation? What did you do?

    Thank you

    You can totally do this. Go to the school and talk to their financial aid counselor. They want you to enroll in the school, they want your tuition, and they will find a way to help you fund the tuition. The further you advance in school, your aid will increase. So even if you have to pay a little out of pocket in the beginning, that might only be for the first year.

    The question is, can you pay your living expenses yourself while in school? This way you will only graduate with the tuition debt. Of course this would be ideal.

    It's good you're thinking about a career track that you can do well into the future. Remember: if you get started on this now, by 30 you'll be doing your dream. If you put it off, at 30 you'll look back and go, "I could have reached my dream by now."

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    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Quote Originally Posted by person View Post
    If you end up living your dream, that could be worth any amount of money to you, emotionally.

    I've seen heaps of people chase a certain career without actually knowing what it's like, though, and finding out they don't really like the profession or day to day reality of the work that much after having the job for a year or two. Can you do some unpaid internship / temp work just to get a peek at the job before committing to anything?

    I agree. If it's what you want to do, figure out a way to do it. And it's a career you can stay in for a very long time in the future, long past paying off any loans you might have.

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Oh darling. I'm in a situation like this myself right now...the only difference is that we have the cash to do it but we'd sacrifice so much to do it and at the end of the day, it would be for nothing.

    Where there's a will, there's a way. You're still young. You have lots of time. If you don't tighten your belt now and just go for it you'll regret it later. You can do this. YOU CAN.
    \

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Hi Jeska,

    Here's a site that seems to have a lot of information on college financial aid:

    http://www.finaid.org/

    Also, some colleges have work-study programs where they provide you with a job on campus to help you pay your way through school.

    There is also a way for you to to school for free. You can join the military and let them pay for your education. Of course you will have to serve in the military to do this. Here's a link to a program in the Navy for dental hygienists:

    http://navmedmpte.med.navy.mil/OE/DE...newsletter.pdf

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    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Thanks for the all the positive replies people And thanks Melonie for your perspective, I like the way you think.

    I would consider the military option if I knew I'd never have to leave the country to go fight in Iraq


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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Go for your dream, regardless of your age! I'm a nurse, and I chose to do that after a four-year degree. As Melonie mentioned, there are a lot of financial aspects to consider. I worried about similar things. The worry was wasted energy, it turns out. A degree that offers you a solid career is SO worth it. My debt is paid, I have job security, I have benefits, and I'm starting my Masters', which will be paid for by my employer, mainly. Most importantly, I like what I do, and I make a difference every day. Unlike dancing (or any sex-related industry), my benefits and value increase with time. That's a feeling a MILLION times better than any amount of money made in one day as a dancer can give you, let me tell you (and the dancer $ DOES feel good)! Dental hygiene would offer the same kinds of benefits. What's one year, two years, or even three beyond thirty compared to years of a rewarding career of decades? I'd seriously reconsider age as being your determinator of whether you get a dental hygiene degree!

    Also, can't help but wonder, if it's so unwise financially to invest in college, why is it that those with college educations statistically fare so much better throughout life than those without a degree? I'm no economist, I'll be the first to admit, but to even look at poor cities vs. wealthy, etc.,-tends to reflect whether citizens with degrees/educated, etc.

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    I made 18000 last year at my regular job and still got 600 of student aid. Back when my pay was about half that, student aid (fafsa) and the state of florida gave me nearly 3000 "EACH SEMESTER". This paid for three 4-6 semester hour classes plus books AND I got to keep the 700 left over....it was mailed out a month or so later.
    Because of my trips overseas between semester breaks, I now make too much to qualify. School really isn't that expensive though if you opt for a community college and in my opinion, community colleges are better not only because they are cheaper, but because they are smaller and it is easier to make the grade.
    You can do it! I balance school and two jobs and still have a 4.0 gpa!

    I also need to add that I have a similar goal. I want to be living and working as a nurse in the UK by the time I'm 30. I started back at college at 26. I've now decided to get my bachelors degree as welll, since it will pretty much guarantee me a Nursing job anywhere I choose.

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Yes. Fill out the fafsa. That is the most important thing. Be truthful on the fafsa as the school could ask you to verify certain things on the fafsa. On the fafsa paperwork (and you could do this on line www.fafsa.ed.gov, just apply for a pin number first which you can also do via the website)it will ask you if are interested in loans as well. Just say that you are, and you will get all the info. This may or may not be enough to cover you expenses, but the student loans you get through you fafsa does NOT check your credit.
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    My daughter "started her career" as a now well-paid dental hygenist by working PT in Dr's office.

    He helped her go to school(paid for like 1/2 of it and she has since paid him back)as he knew he'd have a "banakable asset" in what is a high-burnout rate profession!

    I'd probably also look into seeing if the "local" dental offices would be willing to start training you or letting you work,even PT.

    Might be an un-tapped source of possible schooling benefits?

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Do you have to be accepted at a school first in order to get financial aid info from FAFSA?
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Yeah I actually had a meeting with a local school yesterday and my dreams were raised and shattered in a matter of an hour. Initially I wasn't convinced I wanted to go to this school because it's not a university, it's just a school to get accredited for medical assisting or pharmacy tech or entry level positions like that. I was incredibly impressed with the campus and labs, and the instructors I met. And then came the financial issue. I don't qualify for FAFSA because my parents make too much money. I haven't even spoken to them in years, but it doesn't matter. If I had a kid or was married, I would get almost all the money I need for school so I can have a good start to my ultimate career goals. But no. No chance. The financial aid director is meeting with a board of directors to see if they can waive the FAFSA dependency status, but it's not looking good.
    So yeah, I'm there.

  20. #20
    Peanut_Butter
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    ^ I filed a dependant status when I was 18. I had to show proof that I was on my own, I sent copies of my rent lease, my gas and electric bill, stuff like that. I also had my mother write a letter saying that she never has and never will support me or my college education. I got the dependant status easily and qualified for all sorts of grants and then a few small loans to cover the difference.

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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Quote Originally Posted by Peanut_Butter View Post
    ^ I filed a dependant status when I was 18. I had to show proof that I was on my own, I sent copies of my rent lease, my gas and electric bill, stuff like that. I also had my mother write a letter saying that she never has and never will support me or my college education. I got the dependant status easily and qualified for all sorts of grants and then a few small loans to cover the difference.
    Problem is I can't get in touch with my parents for them to give proof. And even if I could get in touch with them, they'd lie so I couldn't get into school. They are bad people, they used my name and ssn to get credit cards and loans that they never paid back. And they fought tooth and nail to keep official legal custody of me even though I wasn't with them so they could continue to recieve child support for me.
    I'm fucked I think. But I've been on Fastweb or whatever it's called looking for essays to write and stuff.

  22. #22
    Peanut_Butter
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    Default Re: Can't afford my dreams

    Proof that your on your own should be sufficient, along with a letter stating yuo never have contact with them, and if possible proof that they used your SS to get loans...If you werent with them, who were you with? Could that person write a letter verifyign thatyou have no contact with your parents?

    i dunno. For me, it was very simple, but at that school, everything was easy in regards to financial aid. Where I'm at now, I also cannot getany grants or federal loans, and have to use all private student loans. Different state, different school, diffrent rules, I guess.....

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