What families qualify for financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am happy to work at a job beneath me. Please tell me how I can, as a teacher, find a job as a legal secretary or admin assistant? I am being serious b/c I am in desperate need of a job and don't know where to start. The only work experience I have is as a teacher so I never considered much else seeing as how many people view teachers. I don't mind making copies all day at all. Just a decent paycheck.

I'm a teacher, too, PP, who's on leave. Look into training. The Fed. Gov. has positions, as do many nonprofits. It may take some time to research and apply, but it may be worth it in the long run.

Revise your resume to enhance your training skills - lesson planning = training plan, for example. Do you have experience writing curriculum for the county? That's also a plus. Computer skills? dbase? You'd be amazed just how much we do that can indeed transfer into other areas. Personally, I believe it's easier to shift into a government job, and with this economy, those jobs offer more security.

I have a friend who hired a head hunter. She was hired in a a few days and has since moved on and up. Because teachers are so efficient with every minute of their time (hell - when is there even time to use the bathroom when you have to???), when they change careers, they are viewed as more efficient workers b/c they often complete tasks way ahead of their colleagues.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did read what you wrote, believe me. But please realize that there are alternatives to 40-50K nonprofit jobs. And realize that many of us are professors like me, or K-12 teachers who don't earn a great deal, but we still pay full freight to send our kids to private school. I'm sorry to single you out, and sorry if you felt maligned. But if you read back through the thread, you'll see some truly ridiculous things. You don't, in fact, seem to see private school as an entitlement. But it's clear that some other posters here do. At any rate, I stand by my view that financial aid generally shouldn't go to a household such as yours. I'm sorry if that troubles you. Please understand, though, that families like mine subsidize our school's financial aid through our contributions. Given that fact, surely you can understand why I would feel the way I do.

OK, please tell us what your maximum cutoff is. If you were in charge of financial aid disbursement at your school, what would the criteria be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My point exactly. You are making the assumption that the only job you can get is as a certified teacher. One of the best, and worst, things to happen to corporate america is that once women were no longer limited to being secretaries, those support positions became devalued by bright, college-educated women. I've hired, I've seen the resumes and trust me---it is not easy to find bright, competent people who can write coherently to fill those positions. No 23 year old is going to get hired at $40K as an admin, but someone with more maturity (e.g., 35+), with a BA, who has a resume from a field like teaching---might be surprised at how she could be compensated for an admin position in downtown DC (I'm not presuming to know what outlying areas pay). The average salary for a legal secretary in the Washington DC area is $55K. The average paralegal salary is between $60K-$70K. A paralegal with experience can command $90-$100K at a downtown DC law firm. But a lot of highly educated women would never contemplate making the switch to an admin or paralegal position, because teaching ---or working in non-profit management--is a lot more challenging and rewarding that making copies, sending federal express packages, filing corporate paperwork and writing cover letters.

So yeah, after reading the comments in this thread from SAHM who live in the rarified world of DC and its inner suburbs---and who desire to send their kids to $25K/yr private schools--- and obtain financial aid, I do think there is a definite attitude of not wanting to work at a job "beneath" them.

I think the salary figures you're quoting probably include weekend and evening overtime -- which is expected of paralegals and legal secretaries in downtown DC law firms. Not an optimal choice for someone whose family schedule demands pick-up from school aftercare or daycare at an appointed hour. I know my paralegal used to work longer hours than I did as a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:22:20: Start with the legal temp agencies---Special Counsel is a good one---and tell them you are looking for an admin or project assistant position (project assistant is a term commonly used to describe a quasi-paralegal position). A legal temp job is a great way to get your foot in the door. Trust me, if you can type, have basic Microsoft word skills, can follow directions and are reasonably intelligent---your temporary employers will LOVE you. A few months working for a legal temp agency will give you the background to start applying for permanent positions--one of your temporary positions may even morph into a permanent job offer if they like you.

Writing ability is a big plus. The organizational skills that teachers must have in order to develop and follow through on lesson plans is very transferable to the paralegal/project assistant field---as paralegals are often given large tasks (e.g., organize a large number of documents or summarize lengthy depositions) and are expected to self-manage their time efficiently. Teachers are also usually good at self-directed research. Legal admins and paralegals often need to be able to do on-line research--anything from tracking down addresses to doing background "google" research.

Teaching has provided you with more transferable job skills than you might initially think. Anyone who can face down a roomful of restive children/teenagers for 8 hours a day can easily handle corporate america.

Thanks for the info. I am a single parent so like a PP said, I may not be able to do the night/weekend thing, but anything is better than nothing right now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point exactly. You are making the assumption that the only job you can get is as a certified teacher. One of the best, and worst, things to happen to corporate america is that once women were no longer limited to being secretaries, those support positions became devalued by bright, college-educated women. I've hired, I've seen the resumes and trust me---it is not easy to find bright, competent people who can write coherently to fill those positions. No 23 year old is going to get hired at $40K as an admin, but someone with more maturity (e.g., 35+), with a BA, who has a resume from a field like teaching---might be surprised at how she could be compensated for an admin position in downtown DC (I'm not presuming to know what outlying areas pay). The average salary for a legal secretary in the Washington DC area is $55K. The average paralegal salary is between $60K-$70K. A paralegal with experience can command $90-$100K at a downtown DC law firm. But a lot of highly educated women would never contemplate making the switch to an admin or paralegal position, because teaching ---or working in non-profit management--is a lot more challenging and rewarding that making copies, sending federal express packages, filing corporate paperwork and writing cover letters.

So yeah, after reading the comments in this thread from SAHM who live in the rarified world of DC and its inner suburbs---and who desire to send their kids to $25K/yr private schools--- and obtain financial aid, I do think there is a definite attitude of not wanting to work at a job "beneath" them.

I think the salary figures you're quoting probably include weekend and evening overtime -- which is expected of paralegals and legal secretaries in downtown DC law firms. Not an optimal choice for someone whose family schedule demands pick-up from school aftercare or daycare at an appointed hour. I know my paralegal used to work longer hours than I did as a lawyer.

Is it possible for paralegals to do any of this after hours work from home? Or is it commonly expected that a paralegal must accept overtime as required by their boss? And they must perform it at the office?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did read what you wrote, believe me. But please realize that there are alternatives to 40-50K nonprofit jobs. And realize that many of us are professors like me, or K-12 teachers who don't earn a great deal, but we still pay full freight to send our kids to private school. I'm sorry to single you out, and sorry if you felt maligned. But if you read back through the thread, you'll see some truly ridiculous things. You don't, in fact, seem to see private school as an entitlement. But it's clear that some other posters here do. At any rate, I stand by my view that financial aid generally shouldn't go to a household such as yours. I'm sorry if that troubles you. Please understand, though, that families like mine subsidize our school's financial aid through our contributions. Given that fact, surely you can understand why I would feel the way I do.

OK, please tell us what your maximum cutoff is. If you were in charge of financial aid disbursement at your school, what would the criteria be?

I have no idea what the criteria should be. I can give you an example of what I would consider a good financial aid candidate, though.

As a tenure-track assistant professor, with a Ph.D. from a top program, I earn considerably less than my husband's administrative assistant, who has no college degree. She makes $80,000 and my husband believes she's worth every penny. She does not for one minute consider herself "very poor," as some DCUMs would, but if she were to apply to our school for her daughter, I'd want someone like her to get financial aid. She works hard, she doesn't have a good neighborhood school option, and she is a single parent. Her daughter is bright, hardworking, and highly motivated. That's the kind of family and student I would like to see my contributions support. Sounds like my thinking is similar to that of the PP with the $75K-a-year secretary.

[Anonymous]

Another thing to remember about financial aid is that is often includes staff remissions ... that is, a discount for one or more of their kids to attend the school where they work. This policy is not need-based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to remember about financial aid is that is often includes staff remissions ... that is, a discount for one or more of their kids to attend the school where they work. This policy is not need-based.

no, not need-based but definitely fair! I'd agree to that.

[Anonymous]

I don't get this bias in favor of administrative assistants. Frankly, I want smart people to be teachers and work at non-profts, etc., etc., even if they get paid less. Why should parents sacrifice what they see as a rewarding career that utilizes their education just to send their kids to private school? I understand sacrificing for college but not private school. I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this bias in favor of administrative assistants. Frankly, I want smart people to be teachers and work at non-profts, etc., etc., even if they get paid less. Why should parents sacrifice what they see as a rewarding career that utilizes their education just to send their kids to private school? I understand sacrificing for college but not private school. I don't get it.

great point, PP - But unfortunately people are so impressed by these private (elite) schools that they'll do anything to get their kids in - even sacrifice careers.

I said earlier that I was in favor of a balanced lifestyle - that we'd never take handouts in cases such as these. Additionally, we (husband and I) both believe that other schools offer programs just as strong, and they don't break the bank. There's always public education, too, which often creates well rounded individuals who can take on the obstacles of the real world.

For some reason, these elite schools attract people - even those who really can't afford them. I don't know how much the general public really knows about educational programs and what's good for kids. (Flame away, people; it's the truth.) But if you put all of the programs on a table and examined what each had to offer, your main difference would be in population - in the types of students who are enrolled - NOT in the programs. I'm sure, for example, "real life experiences" come into play quite often! So if you're studying the ecosystem, you can walk around the beautiful grounds to examine it in action! very montessori-like, too

I think the high price tag is impressive to many. Those who flaunt their schools - and how much they donate - often flaunt their homes and their cars. Real millionaires, however, blend in with "the peeps."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point exactly. You are making the assumption that the only job you can get is as a certified teacher. One of the best, and worst, things to happen to corporate america is that once women were no longer limited to being secretaries, those support positions became devalued by bright, college-educated women. I've hired, I've seen the resumes and trust me---it is not easy to find bright, competent people who can write coherently to fill those positions. No 23 year old is going to get hired at $40K as an admin, but someone with more maturity (e.g., 35+), with a BA, who has a resume from a field like teaching---might be surprised at how she could be compensated for an admin position in downtown DC (I'm not presuming to know what outlying areas pay). The average salary for a legal secretary in the Washington DC area is $55K. The average paralegal salary is between $60K-$70K. A paralegal with experience can command $90-$100K at a downtown DC law firm. But a lot of highly educated women would never contemplate making the switch to an admin or paralegal position, because teaching ---or working in non-profit management--is a lot more challenging and rewarding that making copies, sending federal express packages, filing corporate paperwork and writing cover letters.

So yeah, after reading the comments in this thread from SAHM who live in the rarified world of DC and its inner suburbs---and who desire to send their kids to $25K/yr private schools--- and obtain financial aid, I do think there is a definite attitude of not wanting to work at a job "beneath" them.

I think the salary figures you're quoting probably include weekend and evening overtime -- which is expected of paralegals and legal secretaries in downtown DC law firms. Not an optimal choice for someone whose family schedule demands pick-up from school aftercare or daycare at an appointed hour. I know my paralegal used to work longer hours than I did as a lawyer.

Is it possible for paralegals to do any of this after hours work from home? Or is it commonly expected that a paralegal must accept overtime as required by their boss? And they must perform it at the office?

It would depend. On the culture of the firm, the type of practice, the personalities of the people you're working with (including not only your supervising attornies but also the client, opposing parties and judges) and their organizational skills as well. Too many variables to answer your questions precisely. Which I guess just fleshes out the point I should have made in my initial post: I don't think its fair to refer to legal sec'y and paralegal positions as a general panacea for bright, skillful SAHMs looking for a good pay check. Because in my experience, both as a paralegal and a lawyer, it's not that cut and dried. And IMO, likely to be nearly as family-unfriendly as being a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

I fail to see how the situation of a single parent earning in the $75-100K range differs significantly from that of a family in which both parents work and earn a total of $150-200K, which is how this thread started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools that can afford it give financial aid to middle class families because they want those families at the schools. Imagine if Top 3 were filled with only the super-rich and the very poor. They need kids in between.

I can imagine it, and it's a nightmare. It's the "in between" families that give the Top 3 schools the grounding and semblance of reality that our family seeks for our 2 children.

Agreed!

Thank you parents and schools who make financial aid available to the "in betweeners"!!!

We are not from the so called "in between" group, as we make over 400k. But being a parent at a Big Three, we give generously to the annual fund and at the auction. Yes, I recognize that most of the money goes to those who need 75% or more of a grant to make attendance possible. At the same time, I hope and expect that other amounts, from as little as 10 to 20 % are given to those in between families for whom the extra few thousand dollar can make all the difference. The in betweeners are the group with whom I most identify, provide such a great reality check for other parents as well as, most importantly, the student body.

For those schools who can provide grants to such families, please do know that it is appreciated and valued not only from those who receive the grants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fail to see how the situation of a single parent earning in the $75-100K range differs significantly from that of a family in which both parents work and earn a total of $150-200K, which is how this thread started.

You can't? It's double the salary, and when you factor in ONE person covering health insurance for an entire family, take home pay decreases significantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say that you have no idea what allows a family to do extra things if they are on financial aid. My family is on partial aid (which is offsetting 10% of tuition, a help but we still pay over 20K) and we do take vacations to fun places. Any fun place where everything is free, that is. A relative's vacation home, a friend's apartment on NYC, a neighbor's house in the Outer Banks, for example.

We are in the same boat, and have mastered the art of a cheap vacation.

We pay 80% of our DCs tuition, which is still over 20K. Even though it is only a few thousand dollars of aid, it is the difference between being able to attend private school and not. Almost all of it goes to aftercare, as both DH and I work full time. Most of my income goes towards tuition. Yes, we know, private school is not an entitlement. At the same time, I believe that the school´s willingness to provide some aid to in between families like ours says alot of wonderful things about the school and it´s values.