Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tuition Update...

So, we got the news... it looks like my niece didn't get the job as a Resident Advisor (RA) for the upcoming year at college. Ugh, this was really disappointing to me, as I was hoping we could put the almost $600 a month towards our debt repayment. After taking a few days to cool off and wrap my head around another year of payments, I'm in a much better place.

I'll need to tweak our spreadsheet again to fit those payments back into the budget. Unfortunately this may mess up one of our goals in 2011 of paying $20K towards our debt. That's okay though. If there's one thing this year has already taught me it's been to "roll with the punches!" We didn't plan on having to come up with $7K by mid-April for taxes, but somehow we're doing that and we'll do this too!

On a side note, there is still a small chance that she'll get the job. They offered her an "alternate RA position" so she could officially be a back-up RA if someone resigns or gets fired. She has a week to think about this and decide if she wants it. Right now her feelings are hurt and she doesn't think she wants to accept the role and I get that, I totally do. I'm just trying to have her look at the big picture and understand that it may be in everyone's best interest if she accepts the back up position. They told her the odds are very good that this could work out in her favor and she may get a real position in the new school year. We'll see though, until then, I have a spreadsheet to update!

7 comments:

  1. Oh, I really hope she takes the back-up position!! Hopefully in a day or two she'll be able to think less emotionally about it - sounds like she has a really good chance!

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  2. I was an RA through most of university. Most people that they hired as "alternates" ended up as RAs by the start of the school year. I would recommend that she take the spot. :-)

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  3. I think I remember reading that you pay for some of your niece's tuition costs, that is a pretty amazing thing to do. I hope she does reconsider, for her sake and yours.

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  4. As a recent college grad-she would be crazy not to take the backup RA position. I personally wish that I had been brave enough to take an RA position. I didn't because I was scared that I wouldn't be good at it. Free room and board? I can't even imagine how nice that would be! The fact that you are paying for her tuition-if I were your niece I'd be chomping at the bit to accept the position. My parents couldn't afford to pay for my siblings and my tuition...so I'm best friends with Sallie Mae.
    You should tell her that everything happens for a reason. Just because she wasn't given a position right away doesn't mean that there isn't something out there for her. I wish her good luck. If she doesn't RA maybe she could find a job on campus to help with some expenses?
    Good luck to both of you!

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  5. She needs to accept the back up offer, but after she has a day or two to mull it over she probably will.

    I have changed my budget so often this year already that my head is spinning.

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  6. Pls help me understand why you are paying her tuition given your financial situation. Your niece could take out loans, work for a couple of semesters, etc. I just don't get it. That money would make such a difference for you.

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    1. Hi, thanks for your recent comment. We don't help her any longer. Those days are long gone. That extra cash did help us pay off things faster. Thanks for commenting.

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