I’m a senior in high school and am balancing a job and a sick mother on top of trying to apply for college and I have no idea what to do. I missed a lot of school last year, and I know that it messed up my GPA and opportunities since I’ve never had the best attendance to begin with, and all I do is stress. I have absolutely no one to talk to and no one to help me, not at school or home. I have no idea how to find a good college and I feel like I’m drowning. Any advice for finding a college? 😓

wtfteaching:

I’m really sorry you’re in this unfortunate situation and I hope things can improve with your mother. You didn’t say which country you’re in, but since most other countries call it “uni(versity)” rather than “college”, and because you are a “senior in high school”, I am thinking you’re in the USA. If anyone has similar advice for other countries, please reblog and reply.

It’s totally okay for you to talk with me when you feel alone. That’s like 80% of why I run this blog, and like 95% of why I’m a teacher as a profession. I do it to help others, especially teenagers since I needed help as a teen. I want to be available as the “good adult” I didn’t have much access to growing up. You can DM me here any time.

I’m not sure about your exact GPA situation, but if it’s quite bad it may be better to attend a local community college first. This gives you time to improve your GPA while staying close to home to take care of your mother. While there, you can ask for help finding universities that are right for you. I know they tell you how important high school is and yeah, that’s true, but you can absolutely improve your GPA situation even if you did poorly in high school. 

Now, how to choose?

1. You need to figure out what you want to major in, and then if you can find a school with accreditation. Basically, the accreditation process is either required or optional depending on your major, both of which you need to know.

Mandatory accreditation happens for degrees such as those in the engineering field. A group called the ABET (engineering-specific) reviews college and university engineering programs. If they meet the requirements needed for that field of engineering, they receive ABET Accredited status. Other schools absolutely can and do offer programs for, to use the same example, engineering without the appropriate accreditation. They absolutely will take your money and they absolutely will give you a degree after completing their engineering program. And that degree is basically toilet paper. Without the accreditation,  you cannot use that degree. It is useless.

Voluntary accreditation happens when a school, or a degree program within the school, wishes to have their degree program(s) accredited to add extra weight to their degree program(s). Because the degree program doesn’t require accreditation, a degree from a non-accredited school is totally valid; however, should you get a degree from an accredited school, your degree looks better. It means the school you chose is teaching you things that are very relevant to a field. In these cases, the actual school you end up going to isn’t important, so you don’t want to choose a big name school without accreditation when you can have a smaller name school with accreditation. That’s the route I went. I lived in the same city as a very big-name university, but their program for my degree was not accredited. In the nearby town, they had a much smaller school but an accredited program for my degree, so that’s what I opted for.

2. You need to figure out how you’ll pay. If you are in the US, paying for school is incredibly difficult. Some choices to help you pay include:
-looking online for scholarships given in that degree program
-asking the school which scholarships they offer
-using a talent of yours, such as music, to get a scholarship (bassoon is basically a guaranteed scholarship…hint hint)
-contacting a local government office for social programs and asking if they have any contact numbers for government-sponsored school money
-work full-time while going to school part-time, using the money you make while working to pay off your school fees…this takes longer but also means you won’t have to deal with debt
-if you’re able, enlist in a military branch and stay in for 3 years, which qualifies you for 100% of the GI Bill. Having military service in your background also does help with employment because it looks good, and if you are looking for government jobs you will be given extra points on your application. You can take online courses while you’re in the military, and this is paid for through a different program called TA (Tuition Assistance). So you can make money in the military while attending school, then use your GI Bill when you get out…if you need some advice on military service you can ask me via my ask feature or DM me directly. I do not work for the military, I do not get any benefits or kickbacks if you join, I’m not one of those glory-hound people that suck military cock because WOOO MARINE CORPS USA USA USA USA. I just want to answer questions if you have them, and because half of my studies were paid this way it’s the way I have the most experience to help you directly
-find out the program at a university that you like, then find a community college near the university. Tell them you want to take that degree program at that university, but want to take as many courses as you can at the nearby community college. Have the course list with you for the university’s degree program and then ask the community college, “Which of your courses will transfer over to [University Name] so I don’t have to take those courses at [University Name]?” This way, you will still be completing the same degree program (including if it’s accredited) at the university level, but because you’re taking many transfer credits at the community college (which is WAY cheaper), you’ll be able to spend less money on the exact same degree

Of course, you can just straight up take out student loans but damn that’s some hard shit.

3. You need to figure out how you will live. If you’re in a situation where your ailing mother receives some kind of government assistance, it might be a good idea to stay with her while you get your degree. Of course, that’s not always possible. You’ll need to figure out resources to help you live.

HOUSING
-if you go the GI Bill route, you will get money for housing based (this is a PDF link) on the housing costs in the city where your university or community college is located
-live with roommates…it’s not as great as having your total privacy, but it is great on the wallet. Visit the university and ask where students post roommate requests, then view the posts…though this may be online now, so you can contact the university and ask if there’s any way to view them without visiting the campus (if the campus is too far)
-look on apartment finding websites/apps for apartments near the school
–check into state-run housing, such as “Section 8 Housing”, to see if you can qualify
-see if living on campus is a realistic option for you
–some questions to ask include (bring a notebook or use the notebook app on your phone to copy-paste these questions and write down the answers you’re given):
–When is the rent due? Who do I talk to if an emergency comes up and I need an extension? If I get paid extra, can I pay rent in advance?
–How is trash picked up? How about recycling?
–Where can I park my car? Are there disabled parking spots I need to be aware of?
–If something breaks, who do I contact?
–Is the area noisy?
–How many break-ins, either into cars or homes, have happened in the past five years?
–Is there a security guard?
–How close is the nearest store? Nearest bus stop? Nearest convenience store? (if you have other concerns, such as if you are religious and looking for a place of worship, don’t forget to ask)
–Where is laundry done? (a question for dorm living or if you don’t have a washer in your home)
–What’s the average cost of heating in the winter each month? How about cooling in the summer?
–How many times have pests been reported in this unit? What types of pests are they? What do I do if I have a pest problem?
–Are there any issues with sewage, such as bad smells coming from the drains or toilets being slow to flush?
–If you are a smoker: Am I allowed to smoke in the unit? How about outside, are there designated smoking areas?
–Is there an “all quiet” time, such as after 10:00pm?
–Did the last tenant have any complaints about the building or the neighbors?
–Do police patrol this area? How far is the nearest police precinct?

TRANSPORTATION
-if possible, use public transportation to save money on having a car
-if living with a roommate who is attending the same university, ask them if you can carpool
-find a university in a walkable area, then buy a bike with a cart (you’ll use this for grocery shopping)
-if you absolutely need a car, find a used vehicle and don’t be afraid to do some work on it if you need to. Car manuals such as Chilton’s can be found online and help you with simple maintenance, such as replacing your engine’s starter. It’s much faster and MUCH cheaper to do it on your own. Don’t be scared to get your hands dirty, and don’t be afraid to ask a friend for help. If you don’t really have any friends in the area, ask someone in your class or even your professor if they know a bit about cars, then offer to buy them some coffee or lunch for their help (lunches are cheaper to buy than dinners)

FOOD
Contrary to popular belief, you absolutely can eat a healthy, well-rounded diet on a very, very low budget. I had extra money leftover at the end of each month while eating a healthy diet on government food assistance. To see if you qualify for food assistance, click here.
-basic supplies:
–one pot
–one pan
–rice cooker (you can get these cheaply at second-hand shops)
–chef’s knife (this isn’t expensive, it’s just the name of the knife type, they look like this:

–wooden tongs
–plastic bowls with lids
–at least one plate
–basic set of forks and spoons
–one large wooden spoon
–one ladel
-“advanced” supplies:
–convection oven (check second-hand shops, also known as “air fryer”…you can find these new for about $40-50 on Amazon or at places like Target)
–microwave + oven combo
–vegetable spiralizer (helps to make hard root veggies into “pasta”)
-where to shop:
–nearby ethnic markets, such as a Mexican market, Asian market, Arabic market, Indian market, etc. Food here is much, much cheaper than in the chain grocery stores
–discount grocery stores, such as Aldi
–a standard grocery store that’s open late, but only shop there close to closing (if they’re open 24 hours, shop there around 10:30pm or so). Fresh items will be put on sale around this time, which is a great way to snap things up. Chop and freeze fresh vegetables for easy cooking later
–discount shops with a refrigerated/freezer section, such as Dollar Tree. They also sell plenty of seasonings for very cheap
-basic staples to buy:
–dry brown rice
–dry lentils
–dry pasta of your choice
–vegetables (fresh or frozen)
–fruit (fresh or frozen)
–tofu
–make your own tempeh using a tempeh starter and cooked lentils…SUPER CHEAP way to get protein in your diet, holy shit…you cook 2 cups of lentils, add 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar before it’s finished, let cool to still-warm-but-not-piping-hot, add 1 teaspoon of tempeh starter, spoon into plastic baggies that have holes poked in, wait 2 days for spores to grow, you’re done.
–various seasonings of your choosing
–vinegar
–oil, such as canola oil or sesame oil (olive oil is not good for high heat cooking and coconut oil is not healthy)
–bouillon of your choosing to make soup stock
–canned tomatoes (one of the few products where the canned version is actually healthier)
–sauces of your choosing…for these, utilize your local ethnic markets
–meat, dairy, and eggs are rather expensive compared to the rest of this, so that’s why I left it off. You don’t need it for your health (and it can be bad for your health), it’s pricey, takes longer to cook from frozen, I think it’s kind of a waste personally but if you choose to buy it then buy it either frozen or apply the same rule to fresh meats (including seafood) as you do to fresh produce: only buy on sale late at night. Due to the mercury content of seafood, it is best to buy farmed…but if you’re worried about bacteria and hormones, buy wild-caught but only eat one serving once a week or less (because of the mercury).
–these are listed as “basic staples” because they’re what you should always have on-hand to make a simple, inexpensive, healthy meal. If you want to buy different stuff, that’s totally up to you :3
-basic meals:
–stir fry meals: protein (like tofu or tempeh) + veggies + sauce (try oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or Pad Thai sauce (optional: add cooked and drained pasta)
–soup/stew: water + bouillon to taste + veggies + protein (+rice, pasta, and/or lentils for a heartier meal)
–rice meals: rice + water + seasoning + lentils + protein + veggies, cook together in your rice cooker (water should cover the rice and if you put your index finger on the top of the rice the water should come up to the first line on your closest finger joint)
–all of the above meals can absolutely be cooked in bulk and stored in your plastic bowls with lids for later eating

WORK
I was always employed as a student. We all know about the standard student jobs, like working in fast food or sales, and there’s nothing wrong with those jobs. Here are some other options, though:
-Paid Internship. Unpaid internships are thankfully on their way out because it’s basically voluntary slavery. Get a paid internship at a local company, or even the local government, by contacting them and explaining you are currently getting a degree in X field and would like to start a job in X work if there is one available. Specify if you are looking for full-time, part-time, or if it doesn’t really matter. A good point of contact to look for online is that company’s Human Resources Department. Even better: ask a professor in your degree field if they have any local contacts so they can recommend you as an intern. It doesn’t have to be your professor, it can be a department head that you haven’t yet had classes with. Professors talk to each other, so say something like, “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’ve been doing the [degree program name] since [starting month and year]. We haven’t had classes together but I’ve taken classes from [list the professors who work in this degree department] and I know you are the department head and also a professor for this [degree program name]. I was hoping to get a better feel for the profession by starting a paid internship. Do you know anyone in the local area that would be interested in hiring an intern?”
-Similar Work. In a similar vein as above, ask professors and your department head for recommendations in similar work you can do. For example, if your degree is in biomedical engineering with a plan to later help develop new prosthetic devices, you might not be able to find an internship position for that specific desire…but a bunch of other jobs may be helpful and your professors might have some recommendations. Listen to their recommendations. They know this shit better than you do. So if you want to do prosthetic engineering and your professor says, “Well, no one I know needs an assistant…oh, but you know what? My husband’s friend is an artist. He does sculpting of human bodies and he’s looking for someone to clean up after each sculpting session and to drive to pick up new materials,” then take that job. It might not seem related, but there is absolutely an art to engineering and you absolutely can learn more about the human body from artists who study the body. Movement of the body can also help you with your desired profession. Additionally, if you take this job and do well, your professor now knows you are a go-getter, reliable, and someone who does good work…which means if they later hear about a biomedical engineer needing an assistant, you’ll be the first person they think to recommend.
-Campus Work. You don’t have to leave the campus to find work. Jobs for on-campus work, temporary or long-term, is available. If you can’t find it, ask someone in your department; if they don’t know, ask them to refer you to someone who might know. Even if it’s totally unrelated to your degree program, it’s on campus so how convenient is that!
-Crime Scene Cleanup. After an accidental, intentional, or malicious death, the body is removed from the area and now the bodily fluids and leftover pieces need to be cleaned. Companies like Aftermath (I’m not affiliated with them, I only link them because they appear to serve nationwide) are the people that deal with this process. These types of jobs are HARD on you, physically and mentally/emotionally, but they are NECESSARY jobs. Because they’re both terribly difficult and terribly necessary, the pay tends to be higher than for other entry-level positions. If Aftermath doesn’t have job offerings in your area, try looking up your state and “crime scene cleanup company” or “biohazard cleanup company” on Google. The name is a misnomer because they do not only clean up after crimes, but after accidental deaths, deaths by suicide, and other situations where bodily fluids/organs have been released, such as a very severe, but not deadly, accident. If you take this line of work, be prepared to work on holidays because that’s when many deaths and accidents take place, unfortunately. If you want to learn more about this job, here are some resources:
–How Stuff Works – How Crime Scene Cleanup Works
–Aftermath – Who Removes Dead Bodies from Homes?
–ECOBEAR – Who Removes Dead Bodies from Homes? (not a typo, it’s the same title as above)
–Mental Floss – 13 Secrets of Crime Scene Cleaners
–Business Insider – The Daily Life Of A Crime Scene Cleaner: Triple Murders, Dead Hoarders, And Nasty Smells

I think I’m going to make the above as stand-alone posts for future reference, but wanted to leave them in here for you to have everything together. Please let me know if you need more help, and if you’re reading this and can recommend other things, please do by replying, reblogging, or if it doesn’t fit your blog theme you can DM me directly and I’ll reblog an update.