How can I combine two unrelated degrees?

A low-income student writes:

"It seems most who are interested in dual-majoring, dual-degrees, and the such usually have the duo linked. My interests, however, are in no way linked. 

If I'm interested in the BA/MA program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, but also would like to attend a college (like the Fashion Institute of Technology) for Interior Designing -- how is that doable, and how would financial aid assess this situation, as they are clearly not linked interests? 

I'm not a first-generation student, but a non-traditional unemployed and low-income student who's unable to "settle" on one interest/direction. I'm too old to be having any more regrets of not having done things when I should've, and have issues with willingness when it comes to time commitments to do with my disability. 

I'd rather do more in less time, such as overlap the degrees. I'm currently attending a community college and will be obtaining dual A.S. degrees this Spring for Commercial Art and Mental Health (haha, no, I'm not interested in "Creative Arts Therapy"). I'm very anxious to figure out transfer plans, as I will also have to arrange disability accommodation plans! I'm pretty much an unique student in every way possible, haha."

In general, it is difficult to attend two different schools while pursuing two very different degrees. But, this may ultimately depend on the schedule of classes and the policies on dual enrollment and financial aid at each school. So, you may want to start with looking into the rules at the schools that you're interested in attending. Also check out this advice on going to two schools at once.

Having wide interests, especially as a non-traditional student, is not uncommon! The key to nailing down your transfer plans is to get more clarity on what jobs you want to end up after you're done with school.

Honestly, it seems unrealistic to be both an interior decorator and work in criminal justice once you're done with school, unless you plan to maintain two jobs. So, between the two options which appeals more to you based on the day-to-day activities of the job?

Do you lean more toward one than the other and can you think of ways to do both without going to school for both full-time? For example, would you be happy with going to school for criminal justice then getting a related full-time job while you took occasional interior design classes and decorated on the side only?

It is also important to consider if school is even necessary for the careers you're interested in. Some criminal justice positions absolutely require a degree, while others do not always. In interior design, a design degree may not be necessary either if you are able to build a portfolio through volunteering or interning and without additional schooling. These are both areas where a degree is not always going to help you get a job, so look into the requirements for jobs you're interested in around your local area to help figure that out.

Practically speaking, it may also help to speak with a transfer counselor at your current community college to see if which of your associate degrees set you up the best once you transfer. Do you end up with more transferable credits in one area over the other? That alone may make one option more attractive option.

Looking at costs, is one school cheaper or more expensive? Is it financially feasible for you to afford two schools? Will you be able to pay off the debt with the jobs you're hoping to land after graduation? Does one career path pay more than the other? Financial implications are often deciding factors when you're currently unemployed and a low-income student.

You don't mention what type of disability you have, but you might also consider if one career path could potentially accommodate your needs better than the other. For example, if you have a learning disability which might make the record keeping common in criminal justice jobs difficult, it might make more sense to lean toward interior design.

So, you have a lot to think about and there is no easy answer. I hope these considerations help you think about it, but no one can really answer the root of your question. Good luck!

If you know of other resources for first-generation and low income college students, please share them with Ask An Advisor!

Can I go to a different college if I owe money to another school?

A reader writes:

"I'm looking into signing up for a class but if I owe money to a community college I went to, is there another way I can apply for another community college?"

If you currently owe money to one school, there are likely two important factors that may interfere with your plan to apply to another community college:

1. Most colleges require you to submit official transcripts with your application, but most schools will not issue you official transcripts if you owe them money (or have other holds on your account).
2. Owing money may impact your eligibility for financial aid at the new school, especially if the schools are connected in any way like being in the same district. 

Your best bet to figure out how this will effect you is to talk to both schools. You should contact the financial aid and/or Registrar or Bursar's offices at your current school to check if there are any holds on your account or even to work out a payment plan.

You should also touch base with the admissions and financial aid offices at the new school you're looking to apply to so that you understand their rules and policies on your situation as well.

Some school policies will allow you to apply and some won't, so go straight to the source. Good luck!

If you know of other resources for first-generation and low income college students, please share them with Ask An Advisor!

Understanding the financial aid process

Navigating the financial aid process can be daunting for first generation and low income college students  Check out this handy infographic from our friends at Debt.org for some guidance to make the process less intimidating.

While I think this is a great representation of the financial aid process, one thing you should be aware of is that private loans should be an ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.

Private loans are much riskier than government-backed federal loans. In fact, private loans have a history of predatory lending practices that "take advantage of a borrower’s lack of understanding about loans, terms or finances in general," according to our friends at Debt.org. With that in mind, it's no wonder that private loans have negatively impacted first generation and low income college students.

For most first generation and low income college students, you'll get enough financial aid between grants and federal loans. But for students where this is not the case, definitely apply for scholarships and talk to your financial aid office before you even consider private loans.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Under Armour Internship/Scholarship

Under Armour, the sports performance apparel, footwear, and accessories giant, is looking for the  two college undergrads to join the brand this summer as the “Under Armour Ultimate Intern Team.” If you think you can be the "ultimate intern" check out the information below!

Students may apply from April 5 - May 3 at http://ultimateintern.ua.com/ by uploading a resume and completing a handful of social challenges throughout the application process including developing a 40 second speech, interviewing an athlete, and creating a video documentary and a custom Tumblr page.

 Two interns will be chosen to work in the areas of digital and social engagement at Under Armour and will be provided exclusive access to sporting events, athlete training sessions, and the opportunity to test some of the brand’s innovative new performance technologies. The “Ultimate Intern Team” will be a part of the digital marketing team that concepts, writes, and captures content to distribute through Under Armour’s social media channels, activating around everything from product releases to athlete initiatives.  

 Developed with agency partner Red Tettemer + Partners, the “Ultimate Intern” search has grown into a successful social franchise for the brand, bringing in thousands of applicants and pieces of user generated content across the social web over two years.

 “At our core, Under Armour is about inspiring the next generation of athletes to continuously push the boundaries of performance. The Ultimate Intern search serves the same mantra as we look for the next young professional who is competitive, humble and hungry to succeed,” said Dan Mecchi, Under Armour Director, Digital Media. “The unique application process is designed to be a social combine – the strongest performers on the ‘playing field’ are the candidates that have what it takes to intern and succeed at Under Armour.”

 The internship is open to current undergraduate students who will be returning to school following the summer. Selected interns will each receive a $5,000 scholarship paid directly to his or her school and $500 in Under Armour apparel and footwear. The top ten candidates will be announced on May 3 and will participate in a Skype interview with Under Armour executives. The final selected candidates will be announced on or around May 10 and will report for their summer internship from May 28 through August 9, 2013.

 For full terms, more information, or to apply, visit: http://ultimateintern.ua.com/.  

 About Under Armour, Inc.Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand's moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products. The company's products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.UA.com.

Good luck if you're applying! 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

5 Myths About Student Debt

Student debt is a growing concern for many first generation and low income college students. And, sadly, there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there.

Instead of buying the hype, please check out 5 Myths About Student Debt from our friends over at HuffPost Education.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Obama's Student Loan Plan

Earlier this week President Obama announced a plan to help reduce college students' loan debt repayment obligation.

This could be great news for some first generation and low income college students, but what does it all mean?

Check out this article with an handy question-and-answer guide to Obama's student loan plan. IBRinfo.org is another great resource for information regarding student loan debt repayment options.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Understanding the FAFSA

Hopefully, you have already filled out and submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Realistically though, most college students have not done so yet...

If one of the reasons you haven't yet turned in your FAFSA is that you are unsure about it, check out this quick 5-minute video from FinAid.org.



If you still have questions about the FAFSA, feel free to ask me about it or talk to someone from your campus.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Happy New FAFSA application!

The New Year is here, and that probably means making resolutions, reflecting on the year gone by, and looking forward to the start of another semester or quarter of college. But that's not all it means.

More importantly for many first generation and low income college students New Year's time is Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) time.

Photo credit: http://www.classesandcareers.com/education/

The FAFSA is a vitally important application that you NEED to complete EVERY YEAR to qualify for Federal financial aid as well as most state- and school-based financial aid.

And when it comes to the FAFSA, it is always a good idea to pay attention to deadlines. The Federal deadline for online applications by midnight Central Daylight Time on June 30, 2012 for the upcoming 2011-2012 academic year. But there are different deadlines that you need to be aware of too, so check your state deadline and your school's. Generally speaking, the sooner you fill out the FAFSA, the better.

If you need help filling out your FAFSA, start with an advisor or the financial aid office at your campus. Also check out our friends over at Education Today for advice for preparing for the FAFSA and 10 mistakes to avoid making on it.

Happy New FAFSA application!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it. 

Take advantage of study abroad

I just got back from a sweet vacation in Japan, so this seems like a good time to talk about taking advantage of study abroad, which is an awesome opportunity to explore another country, experience a different culture, and earn some academic credit. Oh, and it's a chance of a lifetime!

A lot of first generation and low income college students mistakenly believe that they cannot afford to take advantage of study abroad or that it cannot fit into their academic plan. But don't be so sure!

Photo credit: http://indiascanner.com/

If you're worried about cost, chances are that if your college or university sponsors a study abroad program that your financial aid package can be used to cover the cost of study abroad. In fact, depending on what school you attend, study abroad might actually be less expensive than your home college! You can also include savings in your budget to help with the costs not covered by financial aid, if any.

If you're concerned that study abroad couldn't possibly fit into your academic plan, talk to an advisor at your college first. Study abroad programs come in summer, semester-, and year-long forms, so there is sure to be something worth your while.

Now is a great time to start researching programs for the summer or next year! I can say that not doing a study abroad program is the only regret I have about my college experience as a first generation and low income college student. Don't let that be you!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it. 

Scholarship opportunity for Chicano/Latino students!

Here is a great scholarship opportunity for all my Chicano/Latino first generation and low income college students out there:

The Hispanic College Fund announces the opening of its scholarship applications! Applications will be available online from Nov. 15, 2010 to March 1, 2011 at www.scholarships.hispanicfund.org. Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000 and will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year.

To be eligible to apply, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be of Hispanic background 
• Maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale)
• Have graduated from high school in the U.S. after attending at least 3 years 
• Reside in the U.S. or Puerto Rico (This includes undocumented students also!)
• Plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate, and in some cases graduate, program for the 2011-2012 academic year at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
• Demonstrate financial need 
• And some scholarship programs may have additional eligibility requirements, too

 If you have any questions about this scholarship opportunity, please contact Monica Raugitinane or visit the The Hispanic College Fund website.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.