Discussions

I don't want to go into great detail, I just need quick advice, suggestions, or even directions at this point (all personal opinions to be kept to theirselves, please and thank you)  
 
I recently discovered that I will not be receiving assistance in my tuition from Manitoba Student Aid, after I was told they would cover any and all costs associated with my final term of school. Recently, I received a letter in the mail informing me that I will not be receiving financial assistance. I'm going to make this short and sweet.  
 
-I am not eligible for student aid or a discretionary loan via the provincial building (I made too much in the prior year).  
-I am working four (4) part-time jobs to cover all personal costs being accumulated while in my full-time studies.  
-I have poor credit from poor judgement as a youth, which is still under recovery.  
-I have no parents to turn to for assistance on this. (Deceased and poor income)  
 
I am the prime candidate to work a labour inducing job the rest of my life or a job in which I will never make "good" money while retaining a sense of happiness and accomplishment. I am looking to work within the financial sector (yes, I see the hilarity and he irony within this) and eventually -once I can overcome this empire of debt I foolishly constructed- want to obtain a CPA diploma.  
 
I am past-due on prior tuition and and need to cover my final term. I am not proud to be typing this, as this is actually a massive badge of shame upon my ego, but I need advice as to how one could or would go about resolving this problem in a timely efficient manner. My focuses have shifted from 'I need to finish my homework' to 'I need to look on the yellowpages for another or a better job...'  
 
I can't sleep, or eat. I am forming resentment for others, and I am starting to grow depressed from this.  
 
Any support and advice will be incredibly welcomed and greatly accepted.

But I find it so sad that our country places more value on other ways to "increase our economy" but cannot see what is right in front of them.  
 
People like you who are trying to better yourself through education should not be going in to debt to get said education.  
 
I am a firm believer that anyone - regardless of age, race, or social status should have access to any educational goals they have without needing to work ridiculous hours, go into debt, or ruin their health to do so. I think our government has very poor ideas on how to better our economy and refuse to see what is right in front of them - if we train and educate our own citizens, they are more likely to contribute more to our entire tax base for a long term.  
 
I hope you find suggestions or help you need. Have you contacted the Manitoba government to see if there are any programs that might help you? I was able, at age 40, to get some funding to get a diploma in my chosen field. They didn't cover it all, but it certainly helped.  
 
The only thing I can think of without knowing more, is perhaps you need to find a different part time job rather than working at four different places. To me, that sounds like it is adding un necessary stress. Heck - my daughter is working at McDonalds and because of her age she is only allowed a certain amount of hours - but often she is picking up extra shifts and nearly maxing that because there are so many people needing shifts covered. McD's might not be a glamorous job, but it is a very good place with good wages if you do well.  
 
Don't give up, there has to be a way. I applaud your efforts to make a better life for yourself - even if it seems very hard right now.

I work a labour intensive job and make very good money. I actually take slight offence to people that think the trades and other labor jobs are "poor man" careers. I have provided for my family very well and enjoy the finer things in life as well.  
In fact, I have acquaintances that went the college or university route and have not succeeded as they thought they might.  
I understand that you do not wish to proceed down the path of a labor job but you could take an oilfield job (south east sask is desperate) to cover some of your costs and go back to school..... by the way, most oilfield jobs pay very well but you need to be able to work hard and long hours

That was never my intention to offend (but surprise surprise, welcome to the internet). My dad worked labour all of his life. I have for a long time too. It's not my calling however. I find no joy, satisfaction, or desire to do it. Realistically, very few do. I just don't want to do that for the rest of -my- life. I mean no offence or discrimination to those who do.

I've been close to this point, so I recognize how much stress you must be under right now! I graduated fall of 2015, and am in a much better place now financially. The problem with student loans is that if you earn income, they expect you to use it to pay for your education before letting you borrow more. That said, I have a few thoughts:  
1) What are you spending your money on? I don't need to know, just want you to look through your bank statements and get an idea where your money from your 4 jobs is going.  
2) Where can you cut costs? Are you renting an expensive place? Do you need a roommate? Do you have subscriptions to things you can do without? Can you cut down your food costs by packing lunches and just sticking to basic, less expensive foods? Do you buy new clothes? Do you drive a car? etc.  
3) Can you make more money? Serving works for a lot of students, the tip money is so helpful...  
4) If none of those work, you may have to take a semester off of school and work full time or more than full time to pay down what you already owe and save up for next year. I know you're really close to finished so it will be frustrating, but at least you'll get there.  
 
I have a couple other ideas that I may be able to help with if you PM me.  
 
Wishing you luck.

Are there bursaries you could apply for? I know that a lot of bursaries don't even get awarded because no one applies for them. Apply for EVERYTHING!!! Sometimes you win them just because you are the only applicant. They helped me a lot when I was a starving student. Good luck to you. I've been where you are.

did you try the bank? even if you have bad credit they might not say no based on your degree and how much time you have left  
 
other then that cut cut cut and increase your income as much as you can, if you can take a summer position in sk it might help you get enough cash to finish  
 
other then try for grants ect my olny other ideas would be for you to look for a job helping in your future field so your time off will at least apply to your resume

I was denied student aid in September because my husband made too much but I was told I could disbute it, I'm not sure if this is what you had done already. I agree with the post about grant money...I would go to the provincial building and talk to someone at education and training.  
 
Edited by joesmoe, 2017-02-10 22:29:43

Are you going to ACC or BU? Talk to a student advisor AND the finance department ASAP. You may have to take a break from school for a while until you get your tuition paid off, but it's not a race, don't think of it that way. Those credits take forever to expire (I've been picking away at my degree for 20 years!) and the knowledge NEVER expires! :-)  
 
If you don't mind me asking, what degree were you working on, and what's your career goal?