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Beginning college/career choice

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Money Talk > Personal Finance

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Freightliner
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Beginning college/career choice  Reply with quote  

Hello everyone, I am a 19yo living in Las Vegas, NV. I am currently, and have been for a few years working. I recently acquired my first full time job as a trucker.

I've been living on my own for a few years also. I am interested in starting college to get a degree in criminal justice, and eventually become a detective. I am just about ready to pay for classes (2 this semester) but a friend brought to my attention the fact I can go directly to a university instead of a community college.

I've got about 1000$ saved, car paid for, no rent at the moment, etc... I've heard of things called grants and loans but don't know anything about them. I'm not in any debt at the moment, and my work schedule really only lets me squeeze 2-3 classes a semester.

In order to pursue my degree/career, what can you reccomend me doing? I don't know anything about how loans, or even college works but my hobby is hunting so my possessions rule out living in a dorm or something like that. My friend is saying to take out a loan and go directly to a university, and not to go to a community college this semester, or at all, and to invest money in mutual funds. What are my options, and what should I do? Are loans financial suicide? Or are they a viable option, and have they worked for you? I make 12$ an hour full time right now, and don't have any prior college classes under my belt. Changing jobs to make more time for school is an option, but I need to stay afloat with things like car maintanence and rent when the time comes.
Post Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:20 am
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oldguy
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Before online college, for most of us the better way is to go to a community college for 2 years, then transfer your credits to a 4-yr university, and get your degree from the university. The reasons are cost/convenience. The community college tuition is much cheaper, and for most of us, it means living at home, no dorm/meal costs.

Trucker - that's what I did in college too, drove 10-wheeler gravel trucks at first, then a bulk cement 18-wheeler when I was age 21. (In those days you had to be 21 to get your straight-truck restriction removed from your CDL).
As for your possessions - when you live in the dorm you can store them in the trunk of your car. Or, alternately, keep them at work, maybe in the bosses office closet.
Post Wed Jul 08, 2015 3:08 am
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littleroc02us
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I'm impressed with your thought process thus far. The majority of college kids are broke and are buried in student loans. I wouldn't listen to your friend who is advising to just go to a University, skip community college and take out massive loans. He's going to end up like most college kids that are heavily in debt when they graduate, no job in their related field and living with their parents.
Your best bet is to investigate if your trade is possible at a commuinity college and what the costs are versus taking your pre-requisites at a community college and then transferring to a State college for your Major classes.
I was stupid when I was young and I took all of my classes at a Private school and luckily walked out with only 40k in student loan debt and a Liberal Arts degree that was worthless. I worked 3 jobs and used the GI Montgomery bill to help pay rent, food, car and school expenses.

What's crazy is I no longer work in the Liberal Arts field. I went back to a technical school and got my Computer Administration degree and was hired before I even graduated. I only paid 5k a year for tuition and graduated in 2 years. Not bad considering the salary I make now 15 years later. So don't listen to your broke friends and do what's best for you.

Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing. (Warren Buffet)
Post Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:09 pm
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Freightliner
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quote:
Originally posted by littleroc02us
I'm impressed with your thought process thus far. The majority of college kids are broke and are buried in student loans. I wouldn't listen to your friend who is advising to just go to a University, skip community college and take out massive loans. He's going to end up like most college kids that are heavily in debt when they graduate, no job in their related field and living with their parents.
Your best bet is to investigate if your trade is possible at a commuinity college and what the costs are versus taking your pre-requisites at a community college and then transferring to a State college for your Major classes.
I was stupid when I was young and I took all of my classes at a Private school and luckily walked out with only 40k in student loan debt and a Liberal Arts degree that was worthless. I worked 3 jobs and used the GI Montgomery bill to help pay rent, food, car and school expenses.

What's crazy is I no longer work in the Liberal Arts field. I went back to a technical school and got my Computer Administration degree and was hired before I even graduated. I only paid 5k a year for tuition and graduated in 2 years. Not bad considering the salary I make now 15 years later. So don't listen to your broke friends and do what's best for you.


I wanted to get a bachelors/masters, but I thought community college only goes to associates?
Post Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:04 pm
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oldguy
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I wanted to get a bachelors/masters, but I thought community college only goes to associates?
quote:


That's correct. You go to CC for 2 years, then transfer your records to a 4-year college, and finish your Bachelors/Masters there. Your degree will be from the 4-year college.
The big advantage is that the student lives at home for the CC years, rather than pay the dorm/food costs of an out-of-town college. Plus the tuition costs are about half price.
Post Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:58 pm
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