Has anyone gone back to school after filing/coming out of bankruptcy?

[HAP]

Maybe worked a part-time job and gone back to a community college for their degree?

I need a career change. I'm not working now but I am soooo tired of working for attorneys. I was thinking of going to school for early child care and maybe teaching at a pre-school (since you don't need a four year degree for that).

Any advice?

[One Half Full]

After BK and Foreclosure, I plan to go back to school to get my MFA in writing, which will allow me to teach at a college level. I'll go to school part time if need be. Getting it done in 4 years (as opposed to 2) is better than never getting it done at all. I don't believe they are allowed to discriminate against people who have had BKs. I know that I could not do it without getting rid of the bills and the house. The house in particular has kept me from furthering my eduction, and that's sad because I have wasted nearly ten years on a hundred year old pile of sticks. I don't see why you can't go off and get a 4 year degree. If you are interested in children, a Child Psychology, or Teaching degree might be a better value to you than a community college degree. With good grades, you can really float on grants, the whole time. My first BA only cost me about $4000.00 out of pocket expenses because I maintained a high GPA 3.89-4.0. And got free grants every semester. Older students find it easy to get top grades-- and college is not difficult at all, you just need to get the knack of study and understand what "standards" are acceptable.

Oh, my sister went back to school after I did, getting her first degree (BA) at about 46 years old and now she is finishing her Masters. She did it "on a wing and a prayer," not knowing where the money was coming from. Her house is totally paid off, so all she had to deal with were taxes, groceries, and car, so it was easier to take only part time work.

[HAP]

Thanks for your response I may have to look into getting a 4 year degree.

[One Half Full]

Many 4 year college students take "basic" classes at community college-- it's cheaper. If you are a working adult, you can also take college part time. There is a certain amount of credits you need to take per semester in order to qualify for student aid (grants). Online classes are often offered also. I would really think twice though about certain on-line schools. They are overpriced, and I question the teacher/student connection. I prefer live classes, or at least teachers who respond to questions. For years, I have been stuck in a town where higher education was unavailable, in this case, internet classes might be worth it. Financial Aid covers on-line schools that have the correct credentials.

Avoid bank loans for school.

You may have to take some tests, the SAT, or ACT. If you are curious, bookstores have guides with sample questions. Believe me, I got into college, and did terrible with the math portions. If you are an older adult you also might try "life experience" credentials.

Speak with a college recruiter.

Oh, and if you are seeking a new job, try to get one at the college you want to go to.

Employees usually get substantial discounts on their education costs.

[HAP]

I took the SAT's in high school. Hopefully once was enough. Thanks again for all the great tips!

[Runnin on empty]

HAP, congrats on deciding to go back, it is exactly what I'm doing. Here's my thread on it:

http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?p=110961#post110961

[HAP]

Runnin' - best of luck to you - I can tell you are very excited about this opportunity.

Now, I just have to figure out what I truly want to do with my life (career wise).

[One Half Full]

Hey, Running on Empty, I see you wrote that post in November. How far along have your plans gone? I feel as a person with a masters going for a Doctorate, the little part time job might be teaching a few classes, don't you? My MFA is a terminal degree (for ART) and I will be allowed to teach. I want to write, and teach community college. Did you have any problems with the FAFSA? Admissions to the program I want to go to is based nearly exclusively on 30-40 pages of writing. This has to be brilliant, so I am working on it till about June. It has been rather hard to work though because of the stress.

[jane taylor]

I am seriously considering going back to school and getting my PhD in Clinical Psychology. I would LOVE to teach or work as a counselor at a college or university. I've taught before and absolutely loved it!

Although I always did very well in school, it scares me to go back as a middle aged person. I know that older students tend to do better, but when I was in school I had ZERO responsibility. Now I have a house, husband, kids, bills, sick and aging parents, etc!

jane

[BankruptPinoy]

Hi HAP. I don't know if you are male or female, or your age, or your state. And yes, I am a female from the Philippines and I'm not a stalker (lol). In my state, lottery funds are allocated for residents who have been here for 1 year or more. One is a scholarship and the other is a grant. So perhaps your state has something similar or you could consider moving to another state that uses lottery funds, for example.

The "Occupational Outlook Handbook" put out by the BLS (on the web) is a great resource.

HAP, I'm not selling anything. If you want, please feel free to private message me or even set up a free email account and we can chat online sometime.

Let's agree that we can disagree on what success is. It certainly means different things to different people.

For some of us, we may be able to agree more easily on the opposites of success, on what we do not want our lives to become.

-Not having enough money to pay bills
-Living paycheck to paycheck
-No money to save, invest, make a down-payment on a house
-Worry about the future in general

And so on and on...and please don't think that my husband and I have these things. So please, because I'm new here, do not think that I am setting myself up higher than others. I'm not. I am also not a troll, spammer, or tin foil wearing paranoid person.

Diagnostic medical sonography is not so stressful from what I have been told and read. Pay is about $50,000 a year supposedly.

X-ray techs are in need also, but then there is the concern about radiation.

Pre-school and early child care do not pay much. I have done those jobs and been an economics teacher as well. Those jobs can be very stressful as well.

A college diploma is not what it used to be. “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
—Actor Jim Carrey

The late Edward H. Romney wrote a book entitled "Living Well on Practically Nothing." My husband and I have several copies. But of course, we were in financial and health trouble before we got the books. I wish that we had his book earlier. Please note, I am not recieving any money for writing this post. I am not recieving any money or goods or services for any books, by any author, that are sold. I'm just making this post, okay?

If I told you guys about the book and ideas, perhaps some would say bad things to me. So, I say, research on the web, the title and author. You can read reviews. You can read an interview with the late author. Also, you can ask your favorite bookseller to order the book then you can look through it, and not buy it if you don't like it. But I really, honestly, and truly, do recommend the book. It is useful for life before and after a bankruptcy. Maybe even to prevent a bankruptcy. He also writes about schooling.

Romney wrote, on pages 159-160, "Local 2 year and technical colleges are highly recommended. Unlike college professors, the instructors are required to teach so the understand them and their courses must meet an expressed need of business and industry for trained workers so the student can be guaranteed a job upon graduation."

I might add, the state technical college I am currently studying at, where the tuition is free (paid for by lottery funds...and yes, I know free is a relative word, for those that like to argue on Internet forums) but my books cost almost $300, has a warranty on its graduates. For 2 years after graduation, if the employer says the worker didn't learn what was needed, the student/worker can go back for free and learn the new skills. My first college degree was in liberal studies and history. Yes, I won't even comment...lol.

Anyway, I'm currently taking medical terminology and anatomy and physiology.

Romney also writes on the same pages, "Only degrees in law, medicine, accounting, engineering, computer science, and the physical and biological sciences are worthwhile these days. People who go to graduate programs think a master's degree will help them. Often instead of a stepping stone, a graduate degree is apt to be a millstone. It is ill advised to borrow money for any advanced education except medical school."

I would like to write that education is not the same as learning. Also, there are short seminars that are not scams that can help one learn some skills to open up a business, to go into a niche field.

I know someone, my neighbor at one time, who bought a chair, and took it apart, and builds rustic furniture. Him and his family sell worldwide.

Flea market business, sales, welding, motorcycle repair, tutoring kids, LPN, prison guards...I mean, it just depends on what a person wants and want their view of life is.

So, whatever you're gonna do for your new career, don't let any naysayers get you down. You can do, you can be whatever you desire to be.

Also, if you are healthy, have you considered teaching English in Korea or SE Asia? Or being a caretaker for someone's property? There are magazines and web pages for both of those. Just search online.

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES."
-- Nike ad

Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful."
-- Mark Victor Hansen

The truth of the matter is that there's nothing you can't accomplish if: (1) You clearly decide what it is that you're absolutely committed to achieving, (2) You're willing to take massive action, (3) You notice what's working or not, and (4) You continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way."
-- Anthony Robbins

"You may be whatever you resolve to be" -General Thomas Jackson

[BKcrazy]

I'm planning to get a bachelors in History. I got my associates in May 2007. But, being I'm in a new state, I have to qualify for residency and the apply for student loans.

[One Half Full]

I'll have to do that too. Since you can only go the year you are accepted (in the case of a masters) then I'll need to suck up and pay out of state tuition. Schools make a killing off of that, but you only pay it for one year if you establish residency.

[Cali]

Maybe worked a part-time job and gone back to a community college for their degree?

I need a career change. I'm not working now but I am soooo tired of working for attorneys. I was thinking of going to school for early child care and maybe teaching at a pre-school (since you don't need a four year degree for that).

Any advice?

Are you a paralegal?

I think going back to school is a great thing to do. I am working on my bachelor's in accounting.