Funding undergraduate foundation classes, and more

Aug 17, 2013 23:35

Hello. I've watched this community for a while, but I figured I'd join and ask some questions.

Under the cut. )

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Comments 5

tisiphone August 18 2013, 08:23:57 UTC
Unfortunately, the only real answer to 'how should you fund it' is self-funding, for undergraduate non-degree classes once you've already got a degree. Except for in very rare circumstances, you just have to pay for those yourself. As for whether it's worth it, no one can answer that for you. Why did you pick public health, and what are you planning to do with it? What are your realistic employment prospects? Can you afford another $500 a month or so in student loan payments if those plans don't work out? Do you have other options that might involve non-loan funding?

(Also, go for Stafford loans before the gradplus loans, even unsubsidized they're cheaper!)

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tisiphone August 18 2013, 13:59:18 UTC
I don't think they do now (they're the federal student loan program or something or other), and yes, all of them are unsubsidized - the interest rate is still almost certain to be better than the PLUS loan, though.

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also ... henare August 18 2013, 08:42:42 UTC
taking the school's word on what you might earn when you're done is just plain foolish--of course they're going to say you'll earn buckets of money! you should research the topic yourself ... and also get from the school placement information (how many graduates got a job in the field within a set time after graduation, what they're earning, etc.)

the school has no reason to paint you anything less than a rosy picture here. get your own answers.

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cfchica August 18 2013, 18:06:12 UTC
Echoing what others have said: do not rely on your school's job placement/salary statistics. Do your own research and talk to alumni if you can.

As for funding, contact the scholarship office at your school to see if there are post-Bac scholarships available. Do not waste your time with sites like Fastweb; the school's scholarship office will be the best resource if you don't want to take out loans right away.

Shop around for other schools that offer HIM programs; don't settle on one school just yet. Other schools may offer better tuition rates and/or scholarship/alternate funding options.

Regardless, never take the school's word on employment rates. Never.

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roseofjuly August 20 2013, 04:48:56 UTC
Is the median pay for HIM professionals fieldwide, or is that the median pay for their graduates? There's a difference. If it's the field median, that's probably also midcareer pay. So I don't think you can expect to make $85,000 right after your master's. You might make it after 7-10 years of work.

Either way, though, the only way to pay for those extra classes is by borrowing the money or saving and paying out of pocket, unless your state has grant programs that will pay for post-bacc classes (unlikely).

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