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I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

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Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#21

Post by aadamson »

dlo wrote: post #20
bsho wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really do want to go back to Stanford. The change I was referring to was the culture. There is so much brilliance in a place like that, and I was not prepared (as someone that rode the school bus 4 hours a day for most of my public schooling) for such a huge change. I owe Stanford tuition, though, so that isn't an option until I can pay it off.

I would revisit this. Financial aid at Stanford is extremely generous... I was a beneficiary myself. Someone in that office will help you figure this out. I am still in the Bay Area, so if you need someone on the ground, let me know. To be honest, your $20K loan sounds like an error. Alumni like myself do not donate back to Stanford so that things like this happen. EDIT: Added the final paragraph.

Yeah, I'm trying to think through how that could have happened in one year.

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#22

Post by zo1 »

My best suggestion is to go back home. I'm sure you still have friends, and family that have some smidgeon of care for you. Rather than going it alone, as others have said, you need a support structure.

I know it can be tough, but suck it up (in terms of the family situation). And while you're there, take some of the remote gigs that I see the HNers here offering to give you. Until you can stand on your own two feet, and then you have to leave and remove yourself from abusive relationships (which it sounds like from what you wrote). But until you can do that safely, you're just shooting yourself in the foot.

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#24

Post by [deleted] »

damonpace wrote: post #10

I grew up in Navajo County(Holbrook & Snowflake) and now live in Downtown Palo Alto. I understand the drastic change you've experienced more than anyone on HN. These Ivy league pricks have no idea. No matter what you do...don't give up. Learn as much as you can and keep growing. I went to ASU and when I was your age I went through a similar experience. All you can do is keep innovating, keep learning and find a suppo…

[deleted]

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#25

Post by bsho »

aadamson wrote: post #16

I'm an undergrad at Stanford right now, and my understanding is that they do everything they can to meet demonstrated need. I could be wrong, but I think nearly all student loans (public and private) can be deferred indefinitely while you're in school. I'm not sure what you plan on studying. There are many fields that can put you in a position to pay your loans off rather easily, given that you put in the sweat. Is t…

Leaving mid-term was the big mistake here. I didn't understand how outside scholarships would be cancelled. There was a balance on my student account for the longest time that is now in collections. But other debts are simply medical related. It was a daily 100 mile round trip during therapy, and I let things get off track while I was getting treatment. At the time, it was the only thing I felt I could do.

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#26

Post by [deleted] »

santaclaus wrote: post #18
damonpace wrote: post #10

I grew up in Navajo County(Holbrook & Snowflake) and now live in Downtown Palo Alto. I understand the drastic change you've experienced more than anyone on HN. These Ivy league pricks have no idea. No matter what you do...don't give up. Learn as much as you can and keep growing. I went to ASU and when I was your age I went through a similar experience. All you can do is keep innovating, keep learning and find a suppo…

Nitpick... Stanford is not an Ivy, but instead part of the Pac-12.

[deleted]

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#27

Post by k-mcgrady »

If things are that bad and you don't want to go back to school your immediate concern should be a job. Forget about an IT job - you aren't in a position to choose the job you want. Apply to everything and anything that has an open position. At least that will help you get back on your feet.

Re: I took a risk leaving school and now I need help

#28

Post by aadamson »

bsho wrote: post #25
aadamson wrote: post #16

I'm an undergrad at Stanford right now, and my understanding is that they do everything they can to meet demonstrated need. I could be wrong, but I think nearly all student loans (public and private) can be deferred indefinitely while you're in school. I'm not sure what you plan on studying. There are many fields that can put you in a position to pay your loans off rather easily, given that you put in the sweat. Is t…

Leaving mid-term was the big mistake here. I didn't understand how outside scholarships would be cancelled. There was a balance on my student account for the longest time that is now in collections. But other debts are simply medical related. It was a daily 100 mile round trip during therapy, and I let things get off track while I was getting treatment. At the time, it was the only thing I felt I could do.

Oh wow, my bad, I completely let the fact that you overcame cancer slip. Again, while I've never been in the position to have to learn if this was actually the case, I think fin aid would find some way to accommodate you. You're probably aware of this, but the NA community has grown here a lot in the last few years. Sherman Alexie came and gave a talk in Cubberley this past year.
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