I'm really hoping I can get some practical advice about this. I've finally heard back from all the MA programs I applied to and was accepted to a few but ultimately denied funding from all of them. I'm seriously considering accepting an unfunded offer from University of Houston, though. Here's why:
- My entire family lives in Houston, I grew up there, and so I at least have a place to live for a while until I can earn enough money to get my own place. No stipend won't be as big of a deal if I'm not having to pay rent throughout my first semester or so.
- Tuition at U of H is pretty affordable, especially since I will be able to re-establish residency (I currently still live in Missouri where I got my BA but plan on moving back to TX in a month or so) - I'm probably looking at about $15,000 a year in tuition and fees, but I'm thinking I might have to use some extra loan money to get me into an apartment since I probably won't have time for a 40 hr/week job. Is it really that bad to use loan money to cover living expenses while in grad school?
- Here is the really important part. In a sense, I have no debt from my undergrad education - well, I do, but my parents have agreed to pay that off if as long as I take care of all my grad school debt. I'm very lucky for this, I know, but this also makes the thought of taking out 30-40K in student loans a little less scary. At least I wouldn't have undergrad loans to worry about on top of that.
Is it foolish to think that this plan might work? Without a TAship, won't I be able to find a job that I can work, say, 20 hours a week at? That would at least be enough to cover some living expenses. Ultimately, I plan to get my PhD elsewhere in a couple years, once I've proved that I can excel in graduate level work. That is when I will REALLY be concerned about funding. But for now, I'm hoping this plan works. I really have my heart set on starting grad school, and I really like U of H.
Anybody else in a similar situation? Let me know what you guys think. I need help!!