HELP!
Ready for some big news...?
If I haven't already told you in person, I have applied to extend my stay in Japan a second semester. Sounds great, right? Maybe... I would love to stay, but I don't know how the heck I can afford it.
I am currently budgeted to graduate in May 2006 - staying an additional semester would postpone my graduation Until December 2006... OK, extra time in school is no biggie, right? Wrong - I loose ALL SMC financial aid for that little 9th semester. I only MIGHT be able to get one unsubsidized student loan in the amount of $1,750.00. Tuition alone is almost $9,000.00 per semester, include a barrage of hidden fees, books, living expenses, graduation fees, etc... Every student knows that number can EASILY double. Without even so much as a student loan, it's my understanding that I would have pay difference (that's at least $8,000.00 magically appearing dollars) before the first day of class my last semester. I make minimum wage (and often less than that) on campus as a peer tutor, RCL counselor, senator, and (yup) janitor - And way less than minimum wage in the summer time as a camp counselor (the best job IN THE WORLD, by the way).
So I had a tricky little plan up my sleeve; Dad is a teacher at Carroll College in Helena, MT - a beautiful school that I could easily transfer to. What's better, is that I get free tuition at this school for as many semesters as I want, before the age of 25. Awesome, we found a loophole! Wait! Unless Carroll has a transfer credit limit... Which could mean having 4 semesters upon my return rather than 2. And it would mean losing my Women's Studies minor, which has been one of the gemstone of my college career. And it would mean living in MON-freaking-TANA for 2 years. OK, six months or a year, I could handle... but two years? If you thought I had culture shock living in a city where every nuance of language and culture was different than anything I'd ever know - try moving me to an isolated mountain town where NASCAR fans and Wal-Mart shoppers (that's a subtle reference an archived rant by Porkbone) outnumber any person of any ethnic/cultural diversity. With the travel itch I've now earned - I don't know that I could stomach it.
Sooo... Why don't I just bite the bullet and take a high interest "gotcha-by-the-balls" private loan? I don't know. I'm scared. I don't even know my options in this area. Also, I know this sounds silly and immature of me, but ever since I began looking into Colleges when I was 16 or 17, my Mother just kept saying "Our goal and financial plan has been to get you and Sean through school without debt." Catholic guilt rears it's ugly head. Yeah, I know it's my life, my loan, my decision. But it means a lot to her, really. And family means a lot to me, really!
I want to stay in Japan. It would mean exponentially increasing the linguistic and cultural base I've built. It would mean 2 months in Asia without classes or a job where I could travel - with a modest living stipend! I want to do this now, not when I've graduated, not when I'm 25, or even 30. Now I have community, friends, private lessons! Right now I am young and free of the burdens that later life brings. I also think that being proficient in three languages (Ok, so Spanish could use some brushing up...) would look stellar on grad school apps.
So, what would you do? Leave a comment, I beg, implore, demand it. I know that there are a lot of you reading this - you email me and tell me in person about how much you enjoy the blog. Well, please help a sistah' out and just take the 5 minutes necessary to create an account- then tell me what you think!
If you get seriously technologically fouled, or require privacy, you can email me. Runfreedanceplay@yahoo.com. And if you use my address to send me spam, chain mail, or Christian inspirational thoughts, I will...! I will...! Ok, so I won't do anything bad to you personally - but your karma will REALLY suck because I've been visiting A LOT of temples and shrines lately, so Buddha and I are in tight.
posted by Mo @ 8:52 AM
4 Comments:
Dear Mo,
It sounds like you are doing everything you need to be doing in order to follow your dream of staying in Japan another six months. Any suggestions I could offer would depend on how you answer the following question... Why do you want to stay another semester? Is it for the experience or because your Japanese language ability is just now starting to rise?
If the reason for staying is the former, I would suggest returning to St. Martin's now and then coming back to Japan at some other time. If the reason is the latter, by all means do what you must to stay another semester.
Do you want to stay as a student specifically? It seems to me that your biggest financial burden is your fees. I don't how it works visa-wise but I might look at other options - finding work or switching to something like JET or another organisation.
If studying is the only way then I'd start searching like mad for other scholarships. Do you have any contacts there on the financial side of the college who might have some ideas?
Personally, I'd avoid getting myself into debt.
Momo,
Studying abroad for 6 months. It sounds like a long time, but it is not---if you really want to learn both the culture and language. I can also say, even one year is not long enough. How far do you want to go in this culture and language? Living in Japan for one year, you will develop your understanding in Japanese language culture, but it is not going to be perfect in one year, you know. I'm sure this experience wil l be a valuable one in your life, though. Also think about this. Is one year in Japan going to be worth spoiling your college career at SMC?
Financial problems which makes you difficult to stay here.... It costs you a lot to be a student in Japan, but it is hard to get a job in here without college degree. To work in Japan, maybe as an English teacher, you will need a degree otherwise companies won't hire you. I don't know if you can work for a part-time. Japanese college doesn't have on-campus job....
If you are staying longer, I will be so happy because I can hang out with you for a whole year! However, I really want you to make a better decision for you.
If there is anything I can do, ask me for help anytime. I will ask you for help sometime. We are "exchange" students in many ways!!!! Studying abroad changes a person a lot. I just wrote down what I think, and this is not a helpful comment....
I will see you on Wednesday and discuss our plans.
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