Is Public Service Loan Forgiveness a gamble?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone up thread gave you some good advice, Have your DD contact the department she is interested in. Ask what she can do to make herself a more competitive applicant. Do whatever it takes and reapply.

OP here. So she actually did this and here is the email she forwarded on to me from one of the schools:

“Dear Larla,
Thank you for your message. We were very impressed with your application and thought that overall, you had a strong interview. We received 120 applications and chose to interview approximately 50 candidates. Given staffing requirements and capacity limits, we are only able to accept between 13 and 16 individuals each year to join the cohort. Please understand that the admissions process is highly competitive and based on program fit. It is not a reflection of any perceived weakness on the part of any applicant.”

Sounds like she was perhaps just a victim of sheer numbers. She did email the other program as well but they haven’t gotten back to her yet.

She's not a "victim of sheer numbers." She should reframe and ask what the accepted students had that made them stand out. Try to do it in person or by phone, as some people won't want to put things in writing. Or track down current or recent students to s3 their credentials or ask them directly.

In the meantime, have her work in allied jobs -- social services, substitute teaching, etc.

[Anonymous]

Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

She’s an aide at an elementary school in the special ed department right now and loves it! Actually what inspired her to pursue the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

She’s an aide at an elementary school in the special ed department right now and loves it! Actually what inspired her to pursue the field.

Which district? Some will provide significant tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to the district, typically 3-5 years

[Anonymous]

Get a job, wait a year, and reapply. Also, PSLF is a gamble. The process is convoluted and the loan companies stonewall. If the Republicans
stay in power then I am sure it will be cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

She’s an aide at an elementary school in the special ed department right now and loves it! Actually what inspired her to pursue the field.

Which district? Some will provide significant tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to the district, typically 3-5 years

That is what I was thinking...if school district would pay. However she may need to be a special ed teacher for a few years ( not aide) and then apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

She’s an aide at an elementary school in the special ed department right now and loves it! Actually what inspired her to pursue the field.

Which district? Some will provide significant tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to the district, typically 3-5 years

That is what I was thinking...if school district would pay. However she may need to be a special ed teacher for a few years ( not aide) and then apply.

No, the programs I’m referring to are for assistants. Your daughter should contact HR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she gain some work experience in a school? A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Special Ed (particularly Middle/High school) might show interest in the career field.

She’s an aide at an elementary school in the special ed department right now and loves it! Actually what inspired her to pursue the field.

Which district? Some will provide significant tuition assistance in exchange for a commitment to the district, typically 3-5 years

That is what I was thinking...if school district would pay. However she may need to be a special ed teacher for a few years ( not aide) and then apply.

No, the programs I’m referring to are for assistants. Your daughter should contact HR

Op here, that comment was not mine. But it’s definitely something to look into!

[Anonymous]

She could look into Teach for America (which is hard to get into) or other accelerated routes to teaching. Teach special ed for a couple years and reapply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like anti PLSF trolls here. There are no legal issues with PLSF today only horror stories about people who did not understand the program.

That said it sounds like your child should improve her app and apply again. Maybe get a job and in state tuition somewhere less competitive.

99% rejection rate says what they didn’t understand was that the loan service rs are crooks and that ED is complicit.

[Anonymous]

Your DD needs to have a conversation with someone at the school. I realize it's a millennial thing to send an email, but a face to face conversation would have more impact. Another thought, talk to people who is actually in the field. What was their experience in securing a spot in grad school? In this case, a younger mentor would have the most realistic pathways. Finally, if she was accepted to an out of state state school, what are the requirements for residency? If it's to work a year in that state and pay taxes, that would be worth it in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone up thread gave you some good advice, Have your DD contact the department she is interested in. Ask what she can do to make herself a more competitive applicant. Do whatever it takes and reapply.

OP here. So she actually did this and here is the email she forwarded on to me from one of the schools:

“Dear Larla,
Thank you for your message. We were very impressed with your application and thought that overall, you had a strong interview. We received 120 applications and chose to interview approximately 50 candidates. Given staffing requirements and capacity limits, we are only able to accept between 13 and 16 individuals each year to join the cohort. Please understand that the admissions process is highly competitive and based on program fit. It is not a reflection of any perceived weakness on the part of any applicant.”

Sounds like she was perhaps just a victim of sheer numbers. She did email the other program as well but they haven’t gotten back to her yet.

She's not a "victim of sheer numbers." She should reframe and ask what the accepted students had that made them stand out. Try to do it in person or by phone, as some people won't want to put things in writing. Or track down current or recent students to s3 their credentials or ask them directly.

In the meantime, have her work in allied jobs -- social services, substitute teaching, etc.

It might be diversity...which the applicant can’t change.

Is it possible to take classes elsewhere and transfer in? Get work experience and reapply?

Is this particular degree worth it?

My husband had his heart on a certain grad program, but he didn’t get into it at the state university. He did get into two nearby private colleges/OOS. He enrolled in one to take classes with the goal of transferring. He also was working at the time, did the numbers, and realized it was financially better to skip grad school and focus on his career. His govt job and benefits exceed what he would have earned in the other career (not to mention student debt).

Re: pslf - it’s been under attack for years (starting under Obama). I don’t know anyone who has successfully received it (and my peer group is public interest lawyers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like anti PLSF trolls here. There are no legal issues with PLSF today only horror stories about people who did not understand the program.

That said it sounds like your child should improve her app and apply again. Maybe get a job and in state tuition somewhere less competitive.

Setting aside the multiple class action lawsuits, PHEAA didn’t get sued by Massachusetts and New York just because some borrowers didn’t understand the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone up thread gave you some good advice, Have your DD contact the department she is interested in. Ask what she can do to make herself a more competitive applicant. Do whatever it takes and reapply.

OP here. So she actually did this and here is the email she forwarded on to me from one of the schools:

“Dear Larla,
Thank you for your message. We were very impressed with your application and thought that overall, you had a strong interview. We received 120 applications and chose to interview approximately 50 candidates. Given staffing requirements and capacity limits, we are only able to accept between 13 and 16 individuals each year to join the cohort. Please understand that the admissions process is highly competitive and based on program fit. It is not a reflection of any perceived weakness on the part of any applicant.”

Sounds like she was perhaps just a victim of sheer numbers. She did email the other program as well but they haven’t gotten back to her yet.

She's not a "victim of sheer numbers." She should reframe and ask what the accepted students had that made them stand out. Try to do it in person or by phone, as some people won't want to put things in writing. Or track down current or recent students to s3 their credentials or ask them directly.

In the meantime, have her work in allied jobs -- social services, substitute teaching, etc.

It might be diversity...which the applicant can’t change.

Is it possible to take classes elsewhere and transfer in? Get work experience and reapply?

Is this particular degree worth it?

My husband had his heart on a certain grad program, but he didn’t get into it at the state university. He did get into two nearby private colleges/OOS. He enrolled in one to take classes with the goal of transferring. He also was working at the time, did the numbers, and realized it was financially better to skip grad school and focus on his career. His govt job and benefits exceed what he would have earned in the other career (not to mention student debt).

Re: pslf - it’s been under attack for years (starting under Obama). I don’t know anyone who has successfully received it (and my peer group is public interest lawyers).

She’ll need grad school if she wants to be a school psychologist. She could also look in to LCSW programs as many schools have social workers and psychologists. (My small title I school has a full time counselor, social worker and psychologist) I would encourage her to talk to people in both settings. In this case an LCSW might be more versatile. Another thing she should think about is the fact that many school mental health jobs are itenerant or part-time. That can be stressful for some people. Job postings and talking to local principals can help her get a sense of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone up thread gave you some good advice, Have your DD contact the department she is interested in. Ask what she can do to make herself a more competitive applicant. Do whatever it takes and reapply.

OP here. So she actually did this and here is the email she forwarded on to me from one of the schools:

“Dear Larla,
Thank you for your message. We were very impressed with your application and thought that overall, you had a strong interview. We received 120 applications and chose to interview approximately 50 candidates. Given staffing requirements and capacity limits, we are only able to accept between 13 and 16 individuals each year to join the cohort. Please understand that the admissions process is highly competitive and based on program fit. It is not a reflection of any perceived weakness on the part of any applicant.”

Sounds like she was perhaps just a victim of sheer numbers. She did email the other program as well but they haven’t gotten back to her yet.

She's not a "victim of sheer numbers." She should reframe and ask what the accepted students had that made them stand out. Try to do it in person or by phone, as some people won't want to put things in writing. Or track down current or recent students to s3 their credentials or ask them directly.

In the meantime, have her work in allied jobs -- social services, substitute teaching, etc.

It might be diversity...which the applicant can’t change.

Is it possible to take classes elsewhere and transfer in? Get work experience and reapply?

Is this particular degree worth it?

My husband had his heart on a certain grad program, but he didn’t get into it at the state university. He did get into two nearby private colleges/OOS. He enrolled in one to take classes with the goal of transferring. He also was working at the time, did the numbers, and realized it was financially better to skip grad school and focus on his career. His govt job and benefits exceed what he would have earned in the other career (not to mention student debt).

Re: pslf - it’s been under attack for years (starting under Obama). I don’t know anyone who has successfully received it (and my peer group is public interest lawyers).

She’ll need grad school if she wants to be a school psychologist. She could also look in to LCSW programs as many schools have social workers and psychologists. (My small title I school has a full time counselor, social worker and psychologist) I would encourage her to talk to people in both settings. In this case an LCSW might be more versatile. Another thing she should think about is the fact that many school mental health jobs are itenerant or part-time. That can be stressful for some people. Job postings and talking to local principals can help her get a sense of that.

This.

The grad programs are limited because ultimately the jobs are limited.