Should I continue trying to apply for grad school?

[Interrobang]

If you were me:

A little more than a month ago, I got laid off. I just got nuked by Prometric for the GRE, due to lack of proper ID -- my passport won't be in until 2 November -- you'd be *stunned* at how hard it is to get ID in this country if you don't already have it (driver's license, credit card!). I have $1000 worth of bills to pay, and $700 in my chequing account. My unemployment hasn't started yet, and I still don't know how much I'm getting, or for how long. Right now, I'm so worried about the next two or three months, and then beyond that (I figure my money will probably run out mid-February), that I can't concentrate on anything else.

My original plan was to apply to US grad schools for a PhD, but the application process is so time- and money-consuming, not to mention bloody Byzantine, that I don't know whether it'll be worth it to continue or not. If I go ahead and do it, I don't know if I'll get in (and if I don't, then I'm out all that money), and even if I do, if I don't get absolutely full funding and then some, I can't go anyway, for financial reasons. The deadline is coming up, though, for making the applications.

If you were me, would you continue with the application process anyway, and try to find the money to do it from somewhere, and then just try to hold out until next September, or would you concentrate all your efforts on finding a job to take care of *now* and worry about grad school for some other time, like maybe when I have a little more money?

I'm so depressed about this right now I can't even do *anything*. I feel like it's all a waste of time... I can just sort of see another year of unemployment and misery heading in my direction, and I don't like that at all... Sigh...

[seventhson]

1. Get into grad school

there is no time like now and it will only get harder. Worse that can happen is that you won't get iun or won't get the money -- if you try. If yoo don't try there's no hope at all of doing it.

My motto when times are tough: Forge Ahead!

[kcwayne]

2. Do you need a PHD to work at Wal-Mart ?

Since they will soon be the only company left in the USA....

[midnight armadillo]

3. what's your field?

The sciences and engineering typically cover all tuition and pay a stipend.

[primavera]

4. Why here?

I think grad school is a great idea, but why not go someplace where the tuition rates are more reasonable, say, for instance, at McGill? I hear it's an excellent school and the tuition is a fraction of what it would be here in the US.

[Interrobang]

6. Because of the field I'm interested in...

I'm looking at rhetoric or linguistics programmes with a heavy overlap into things computational (not the computer science field called computational linguistics, but close), and the only places I can find with programmes like that are either in the US or in the UK. As to tuition rates, well, I suppose I could go for linguistics at U of T (I don't know McGill's programmes very well), but I was kind of hoping that I could do this without racking up any more student loans -- the US schools are pricier, but seem to be more generous with funding to those who qualify.

I couldn't get a job at Wal-Mart even if I wanted one, (un)fortunately... Since I'm physically handicapped, it's desk/brain jobs or no jobs for me!

On edit: Typo. Tolja I'm depressed!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. i feel your pain

I'm in a similar situation. I've just experienced 6 months of unemployment while being a student, and I have not been able to receive unemployment checks because I worked at the school (how f'd up is that?) Anyway, I am looking for a job = I've found that most people who go to grad school are generally well financially backed - which I am not.

[mlawson]

7. Grad school can be brutal. If you will have to worry

about money constantly, at the same time, it *could* be too much for you. But I do not know if you are able to 'compartmentalize' your worries (ignore them), or not. My point is, you will need your mind clear of distractions for several years!!

[jiacinto]

11. Well

most graduate students "worry about money constantly".

[dfong63]

8. my 2c: defer grad school, go for the interim job

based on your description of your situation, grad school sounds like a long shot at this time. don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[JVS]

9. Preach it Sister!

I've been printing up envelopes for my professors to send the reccomendations. This is a pain in the ass. Everyone has different rules, I tried to get ahold of one Misty Cummings (great moniker, eh?) in Indiana to find out what the postal address of their Department is. Hang in there, but time is getting tight. Top programs generally have earlier deadlines and the deadline season starts on Dec. 15th.

[jiacinto]

10. It depends

I have an MA myself and am strugglin mightily in the job market here. I also have a lot of student loans to pay back. Here are some questions/tiops:

1) What field are you trying to get a degree in?

2) Are you willing to undertake large sums of student loan debt? That is something that I am facing.

3) Have you spoken to the admissions offices at the schools you are interested in and explained your situation? They might be willing to waive it for you.

4) Also the GRE does give free waivers to those with financial hardship.

[Interrobang]

12. Well...

1) Field: Hm, difficult to say. Rhetoric or linguistics most broadly, but again, as I said, with a large overlap into computer science.

2) Student loans: No, I am not willing to get any more, really, unless I absolutely have to. I already have about $11 000 left on my original $17 000 or so, and the payments are killing me.

3) Admissions: I spoke to the admissions officer at CMU regarding the GRE, and she seemed annoyed that I would even ask the question, let alone think that I could get out of it. That said, I haven't spoken to anyone else.

[jiacinto]

13. Okay

Thanks. Based on what I've read maybe now's not the time since you will probably have to take out loans.