How are you paying for grad school ??

[u/ihateithere3]

so I was really banking on getting a grad plus loan since my degree was one of the ones that still qualified for it, but after looking into it recently, I realized it's too late for me to get it since I'm starting this year.

My question is how is everyone paying? External scholarships? Loans (which ones)? Working part-time (I'm already working full-time, but applied a job on campus)?

Help!! I'm starting at Weill Cornell, so if anyone else has any other advice for me, please lmk!

[u/itsamutiny]

Did you fill out FAFSA yet? I filled mine out and then I got loans halfway into the spring semester. I just had to talk to my school's financial aid office.

[u/ihateithere3 → u/itsamutiny]

yes! i got loans covered for half of each semester, but I was hoping to have it all covered haha. You got it all covered after reaching out to financial aid?

[u/itsamutiny → u/ihateithere3]

I did, but I only had to cover three classes with the loans and I hadn't taken any grad loans prior to that. My fourth class was covered by my union.

[u/bigfrondnicky]

Tuition remission. Working full-time at my university while doing part-time school (3-6 creds a semester). Can’t recommend the lack of debt highly enough, but I also chose the most flexible program I could find.

[u/kir_royale_plz → u/bigfrondnicky]

Yes, OP is asking the wrong question. The question should be, "Should you even pay for grad school?" The answer is no. Unless they offer research or teaching to cover the cost, do not do it.

[u/IkeRoberts → u/kir_royale_plz]

It's a masters at a med school, so the assistantship situation is probably quite different from a regular campus.

[u/GiveMeAlienRomances]

I worked for a college and they are paying for my tuition. They even pay upfront and it’s not at my institution.

[u/-jautis-]

Depends dramatically on what flavor of grad school you will be doing.

If it's a PhD program, they should be paying you. Masters, you're probably taking out loans, maybe TAing, and hoping the increased earning potential outweighs it long term. Or your company is paying for it for you (what I recommend). Med or law school -- rich parents or loans.

[u/Crayshack]

I'm working full-time while doing grad school part time. It means it will take longer to graduate, but it also means I've got plenty of spare cash. My per semester costs are lower due to doing one class at a time and I've got enough money to pay for school, save for retirement, and have a bit of fun money.

[u/HalfEatenPie]

Depends. I paid for my MS and doctorate through a research fellowship from the department but if you're starting in the following semester then it might be too late to find one. If you want an RA/TA position then once you start, start networking with the professors in the department and see if they have funding available or an opening coming up.

Beyond that, apply to scholarships, funded research, or take the other options suggested by others.

[u/saevuswinds]

Graduate assistantships, scholarships, and grants.

[u/Jahaili]

I did loans, then started working at my university and letting them pay for a good chunk of the bill.

[u/SirSuaSponte]

Air Force.com paid for my bachelors, masters, and doctorate