I am officially a college student!

United States
January 4, 2011 12:27pm CST
I did it! All my financial aid has been approved! I'm recieving 2 government grants to pay for my schooling, and 2 student loans. I do not have to pay back the grants (nearly $10,000 worth) but I will have to begin paying back the loans 6 months after I graduate ($5,000 worth plus interest). I'll be getting my class schedule and book forms today or tomorrow and my classes will begin on January 12th! I am so excited! I am going to love being able to say I'm a college student! I just want to tell the whole world.. this is one of the greatest accomplishments for me in a long time! (Aside from potty training my toddler, LOL). What have you accomplished lately? What are you proud of?
5 people like this
18 responses
@laglen (19759)
• United States
4 Jan 11
Kat - first let me say.....CONGRATS!!! That is great. Keep in mind that it is VERY hard taking classes and taking care of a family, so make sure you take time for yourself! Are you still looking for a part time job? What have I accomplished? well I started my own soup business about two months ago. I am now up to selling close to thirty bowls a day. And am getting ready to add a light dinner on Tuesday nights. I got the Christmas decorations up..... oh crap, I guess thats old news, now I have to get them down....
@laglen (19759)
• United States
4 Jan 11
That sounds great! All the best of luck to you! I know you can do it!
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 11
LOL.. I got my Christmas decorations up and down already.. way on top of that! Congrats on the soup business! Yes I am still looking for a part time job. I'm now wishing I'd put the college down in my education information.. I think having that on an application will make me look just a little better, even though I haven't graduated yet. Even though I'm considered a full time student, I technically will not be taking more than 2 classes a semester. I've been told by my admissions rep it is equal to about 7-10 hours of class work per week.. depending on how well the student understands the materials and how quickly they learn. Well, I'm a rather fast learner. I could probably do all my school work in one day a week if the kids give me the time! I can't wait!
2 people like this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
4 Jan 11
Way to go! That's so exciting! I'm glad you got some grants to help pay for it. I'm actually hoping to start school in March if all goes well. Are you going to do an online school or an actual school? I know you told me but I can't remember. The one I'm considering is a actual business school. They offer about 10 different degrees. I would be done in 18 months and they help place you in a job. I'm trying to talk my sister into doing it also because neither of us went to college and our families could use the extra income that would come with having a degree. I'm still trying to work out what would be done with my kids also.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 11
I'm doing it online. I'm getting my Associates degree as an Administrative Assistant (basically a secretary). I will graduate in 20 months.. right around the time my youngest will be in school. That will make life a little easier. According to some of the job postings I've seen for that field, I'll start off making more than my husband does right now! He's even thinking about maybe going to school too.. maybe I'll talk to my financial advisor to see what sort of grants and stuff he can get.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
4 Jan 11
So, what classes are you taking, and what are you studying. You have probably said, and I just forgot. I am pleased with the amount of junk I am cleaning out and organizing this week.
• United States
4 Jan 11
I'm going for my associates degree as an administrative assistant. I haven't gotten my schedule yet, so I don't know exactly what classes I'm taking, but I do know I'll have to take math and english as well as some computer application type classes. I should have my schedule and book list no later than tomorrow.
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
4 Jan 11
This is so very exciting for you, and I think you will be glad you did it. I think I missed some posts over the holidays, did you ever get moved into your fil house?
• United States
4 Jan 11
No, we haven't.. and I never posted that we've changed our minds.. again. It's really just too much work. We haven't told him that we're not moving, as we may eventually change our minds back, or not be given another option (ie: evicted). For now, we're staying put.
1 person likes this
@Elixiress (3878)
4 Jan 11
Well done on getting into college. I am assuming that you are American since you have to pay for college. In the UK, college is free and University is the one that requires students to get into ridiculous amounts of debt :P Lately, I do not feel like I have accomplished anything. I am hoping to get onto the management training at work in the next couple of months. Wish me luck :)
@Elixiress (3878)
5 Jan 11
It is much more expensive here, I have converted it into dollars for a straight comparison. I did one year of University, which is two semesters and walked away with $9500 debt from the loans, however I did get $6200 free in the form of grants and scholarships. And in the UK they are increasing the tuition fee (which is covered by your loan) from $5600 to $14000.
• United States
4 Jan 11
Yes, I'm American. We have small colleges and big universities too. I know university is extremely expensive, but community college is not. There are a lot of options. I'm going to a small college, obviously because it does not cost too much money. The grants and loans I talked about are covering 2 full semesters. I think I'll have 3 or 4 more semesters after that.
@mdorki (125)
• Germany
4 Jan 11
Congratulations. I hope you get a good job when you finish your studies so that you can afford to pay that loan back. Funny as it may sound, my only recent accomplishment is choosing the right Christmas present for my dad. I am very proud of the fact that it made him both happy and surprised. It was a pretty bottle of bourbon in nice decorative box.
• United States
4 Jan 11
That is something to be proud of! I was proud of a gift I gave my mother, until she got another just like it a few days before she opened mine :(
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 11
Congratulations! I am an online student and it does feel good to say that I am a college student. I wish you the best of luck in your college journey! Some accomplishments I have reached are: starting back to school and giving birth to my first child.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 11
I will be an online student too. I can't go to a campus with 5 kids at home! But by the time I graduate my youngest will be in school.. so the timing is perfect!
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
19 Jan 11
Congratulations!! All the best! I completed my college a few months back! That is my accomplishment. Having done it while I had 2 kids...and homeschooling them, I really feel proud. More importantly, my DAD feels proud of me! :) and that means a lot to me. What I now need to accomplish to start driving on the roads....lol. I've got my license but I still have a phobia of driving on the crazy roads in India.
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
5 Jan 11
Congratulations!.. What a way to start a new year.. I've been wanting to go back to school (for my Masters Degree).. but cant possibly do that right now - too much commitments - priority to children.. but i always happy to hear about friends who have succeeded in getting to further their studies... and hope that one day - i will still have that chance...
• United States
5 Jan 11
Well I am just going for my associates degree.. this will be my first time going back to college.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
4 Jan 11
Good for you! What are you taking? I haven't done anything like that lately so haven't had an accomplishment that big! I am working on a few things though around here that I think are tasks that will be great once they are done.....like cleaning and redoing a few things...I am proud of though what I have accomplished in the past...like writing three books.
• United States
4 Jan 11
I'm going for my associates degree as an administrative assistant.. basically a secretary. I am super excited!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
5 Jan 11
lol You're starting on my birthday. Anyway, congratulations! That's very cool. Do you know what you will be majoring in?
• United States
5 Jan 11
I'm getting my associates degree as an administrative assistant. Happy Almost Birthday.. my brother's birthday is the 11th and my youngest son's is the 16th.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Jan 11
I am so happy for you and proud of you too. It will not be a piece of cake but get yourself on a schedule for study and you can do this. What am I proud of lately? I think not losing my rag with my sister and staying calm - sort of.
• United States
4 Jan 11
Good for you! I know you'd be really mad at yourself if you did lash out at her.. it's just not the type of person you are. Keep it up, not much longer!
• United States
5 Jan 11
Congrats!!! That's awesome! What are you going to study? I would love to go back to school,but I can't get any more grants. I already have a degree, but I love studying and learning and would really enjoy going back to get more creditials.
• United States
5 Jan 11
I'm getting my associates degree as an administrative assistant.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 Jan 11
Many congratulations to you on getting to be a college student. Going back to school is something that I would like to be able to do at some point in my life. I went through three years of undergraduate right after high school but quit after three years because we couldn't afford it despite the scholarship that I had. What is your intended course of study? I know that if I go back to school that I would like to go into education now.
• United States
7 Jan 11
I'm studying to be an administrative assistant. I've also decided to start applying for secretarial type jobs at the moment. Why not have some experience in the field before I graduate.. that will allow me to get an even better job and hopefully a higher salary!
• United States
4 Jan 11
Congratulations, I wish you the best of luck. I myself am a college student, I am currently enrolled in online courses. Unfortunately with my busy life and tight schedule I don't have the time to actually attend the campus. But I am proud to say, that I will be graduating with my Associates in Business in January and moving forward in order to obtain my Bachelor's hopefully I should be done within the next two years. It's taken me a while, but I am glad that I made the effort. It is definitely worth it. Stick with it and don't give up even if you think it's getting difficult. Again, I wish you the best of luck!!!
• United States
4 Jan 11
Thanks, you too! I'm taking online classes too.. I'm a stay at home mom, so can't afford child care to "go" to school.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 11
I have been finishing school myself. So I have the same payback schedule: 6 months after I finish I must begin paying back.. but I understand the rate is suppose to be pretty reasonable. What college are you going to? What School you going through?
@AmbiePam (93883)
• United States
7 Jan 11
That's wonderful!
• United States
5 Jan 11
Congrats! But don't slack, because I'm in my 4th year in college and I think college has gotten a lot harder nowadays. People are more productive, smart, and competitive than they were 10 years ago.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
4 Jan 11
I got nothing proud of myself, although I graduated from college. I didn't do much better after it. So, I congratulate you here. Take your opportunity, and study more and do it better in college. You can work on your debt when you make money.