Johns Hopkins Funding Poll

[IR Dude]

For those of you paying with loans, are you nervous about the massive amount of debt?

[IR Dude]

bump.

I feel better seeing fellow loaners out there, but that definitely sucks for us. That e-mail saying, "Hey IR Dude, congratulations on your graduation! Now that you're out of school, please pay $1400 by the 1st of every month for the next 10 years or we'll destroy your life!" is really gonna cramp my style.

[Lonestar99]

without the intention to spark debate, you can join JHU ROTC for two years, become an officer, and they'll cover most of it.

http://www.jhu.edu/rotc/

[IR Dude]

without the intention to spark debate, you can join JHU ROTC for two years, become an officer, and they'll cover most of it.

http://www.jhu.edu/rotc/

Really? Does that apply for SAIS?

[La Voz]

without the intention to spark debate, you can join JHU ROTC for two years, become an officer, and they'll cover most of it.

http://www.jhu.edu/rotc/

I'd be on it if it applies to SAIS.

As it stands, because of the massive debt I'd be incurring by going to JHU or GWU (both cost of living and tuition), I'm considering delaying matriculation and going into the armed services now for the GI Bill and Enlistment bonus. On top of my undergrad debt, coming out of a MA program with $100k - $120k in debt is terrifying.

[IR Dude]

These sound like unrealistic expectations. There's no way the Army is going to pay you $120,000 to do some push-ups on the weekends... And I have no idea, but I highly doubt the GI bill will cover $120,000 after enlisting for only a year. You guys might wanna do a little more research on that. I mean hey, if it's true, hell, I'll see ya at officer training this summer. But I'm willing to bet this is some grade A misinformation.

[Lonestar99]

Yes, it goes for SAIS, or any of the other schools. I'd call the ROTC office on Monday and see what they have to say. I think you can even join the reserves afterwards instead of active duty and just do the one weekend a month, two weeks a year thing.

[La Voz]

These sound like unrealistic expectations. There's no way the Army is going to pay you $120,000 to do some push-ups on the weekends... And I have no idea, but I highly doubt the GI bill will cover $120,000 after enlisting for only a year. You guys might wanna do a little more research on that. I mean hey, if it's true, hell, I'll see ya at officer training this summer. But I'm willing to bet this is some grade A misinformation.

Hmmm, it seems like you're drawing some assumptions from information I didn't post. Please let me clarify:

The minimum commitment to the Armed Services is, in most cases, 4 years. With that, you are eligible for the GI Bill ($70k in tuition expenses, I believe) and perhaps an Enlistment Bonus (up to $40k). That could cover most or all of my expected $100k - $120k student loan debt, hence the temptation.

[IR Dude]

Gotcha La Voz. I'm gonna look into what Lonestar99 has mentioned. If ROTC will pay for my grad school, I'll do it in a heartbeat, especially if I can fulfill my service obligation via Reserves. Lonestar99, thank you for the info!

Edited March 20, 2010 by IR Dude