Hey everyone,
So I am new to this forum but have poured over these pages in the last few weeks; I appreciate all of your advice! I have some questions that I would appreciate your advice on. This will be kind of a long post, please bear with me
Today I found out that I did not win a scholarship that would amount to about $40,000 toward my graduate education (I am currently an undergrad). I have been pretty bummed out all day (crying, actually) because that would have been a major help. Now I don't know what to do.
1. Is it really true that it's hard to find a job outside of where you went to school? I have a health condition that makes living in a cold climate extremely painful/difficult, but that is where the cheapest school is for me (UConn, my state school). I am willing to suffer for two more years if I can get out ASAP (I am almost done suffering at an Ivy school in a cold climate due to the financial aid they gave me).
2. Does anyone have any experience with aid from the following schools:
-UConn
-UIllinois-Chicago
-UTexas-Austin
-UPittsburgh
-WUSTL
-UHouston
-Smith (I heard their aid is terrible and the nature of the program doesn't really allow for you to work to pay living expenses)
I am out of state for all of these except the first one. Numbers-wise these are the cheapest for me, save WUSTL but I heard they give good FA.
Part of me just wants to apply to UConn and that's it, because I know it will be cheapest for me. However, I will be applying by Pittsburgh's priority deadline; I will meet the minimum GPA requirement for an auto-acceptance and auto-scholarship. I would like a program with a more psychodynamic approach, but that does not really matter to me. I am interested in clinical social work/casework (I know the specific names vary by program).
3. On the above note, does anyone know how much the auto-scholarship is, or does it vary?
I have $12,400 in undergraduate loans, so that is something to consider. I do not want to take out more than $30,000 for graduate school, however when adding that to my existing loans, that is more than I am comfortable with.
As a first generation college student, this is uncharted territory for me, and I am pretty overwhelmed. All the things people are saying (especially my mom) about the low salary is starting to get to me.
Basically, I am looking for advice (on anything, not just the questions I asked) and reassurance that following my heart is the right thing. I can provide some statistics about me (GPA, GRE, major, experience) if anyone needs that to recommend schools with good scholarships or something.
Thanks in advance!