odugrad2011 Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 hey guys! as a last resort i figured i would get some much needed advice from everyone! i was accepted to the masters in social work program at both nyu and vcu (richmond, va). i am really torn choosing between each school because there are pros and cons to each. while i would really love to move to nyc and start a new adventure in my life, the debt i accrue from my education (around 50k) mixed with the outrageous price of living is so off putting. at vcu, i will only pay around 20k for two years, they have a certificate program for my concentration, and it is close to my family and boyfriend of 5 years. from current or past grad students, do you think that going into extreme debt is worth the experience to study social work at nyu? please help!
lyonessrampant Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 I don't know anything about how much you can expect to make in social work, but my guess is that generally the income potential is not super high (I may be wrong!) so going into a lot of debt for the MA might really affect your quality of life later. With a $50K student loan debt, your monthly payments will be around $700 a month for around 20 years (there are debt calculators out there that will give you more exact numbers). Is that a number you feel comfortable spending each month on loans? Best of luck with whatever you decide!
erinl Posted April 22, 2011 Posted April 22, 2011 This is going to sound so corny and you've probably heard it before, but it's really a choice you'll have to make on your own based on your own factors. It is a lot of debt to take on -- could you see yourself enjoying your time at VCU? Is NYU a school you think is worth all that debt? Could you have your academic and career needs fulfilled going to either school? If that's the case, VCU may be the better choice. If you absolutely can't see yourself having a fulfilling experience anywhere else but at NYU, you know what to do. Again, it's a personal choice of yours to take on that much debt and you're going to have to explore your own options and be absolutely 100% okay with what you end up choosing. It looks like I will be going into heavy debt by entering Columbia School of Social Work in the fall to pursue my MSW, but I'm hoping to make the most out of that experience by involving myself in research projects, taking advantage of my field placement opportunities and making meaningful network connections with professors so I will be a shoe-in for PhD programs in the future. If you have a decent plan mapped out for yourself and you know well what you want to get out of your program, you'll be fine.
okkoflo Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 hey guys! as a last resort i figured i would get some much needed advice from everyone! i was accepted to the masters in social work program at both nyu and vcu (richmond, va). i am really torn choosing between each school because there are pros and cons to each. while i would really love to move to nyc and start a new adventure in my life, the debt i accrue from my education (around 50k) mixed with the outrageous price of living is so off putting. at vcu, i will only pay around 20k for two years, they have a certificate program for my concentration, and it is close to my family and boyfriend of 5 years. from current or past grad students, do you think that going into extreme debt is worth the experience to study social work at nyu? please help! You can qualify for income-based repayment and public loan forgiveness if you decide to work in the public or non-profit sector. Since you're in social work, I'm guessing you won't have a problem with the program. Just be sure to take out federal loans that qualify for this program. Hope this helps in your decision.
odugrad2011 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Posted April 25, 2011 thank you all very much for your input, i really appreciate it! i have decided to attend vcu because i realized that i am more interested in living in new york than actually attending vcu. i am completely confident with my decision because vcu's program is ranked slightly higher than nyu, it is loads cheaper, and it has a specialized program for the sector of the population i want to work for. thanks again for the help in choosing a school! best to you all! XOwlfan and SlickMcFavorite 2
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