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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Student loans?
#18893751 - 09/26/13 12:11 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Well shoot.
My therapist just pointed out that my well-intentioned parents can, more or less, never fuck things up for me college-wise again if I just got student loans.
If I go into Computer Science, 50-70 grand isn't that big of a deal (but think how much that would be by the time I retired? Then again, professors don't retire... they/we go emeritus and then go die in a hospital).
If I go into Philosophy like I really wanted to (or thought I did), the best thing this could possibly be is a death sentence. My uni is in the top 50 for PhD programs in Philo and the average starting salary for their PhDs for last year was $27,000 a year.
Plus, if they're gonna keep shelling out money and I can keep them from going berserk again, it would be nice to stay on the "lucky little bastard" side of the college financial situation rather than take on loans. 
Did you take out loans/are you living on them now?
Do you regret getting loans, for those of you who've graduated?
What would you do if you were me?
BTW little to no commentary on my parents please; I'm not perfect at all and precipitated a lot of it, but they've fucked up bad enough I don't know if I can trust them and that's not what this thread's about.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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grower182
Stranger


Registered: 01/11/13
Posts: 388
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18893806 - 09/26/13 12:26 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Im in my 5th year out of college with an engineering degree. Had ~40k in student loans and my wife had about the same when we got married. It was totally worth it for me. My wife stays home with the kids so her degree is useless.
You will never pay off your student loan only making 27k. Dont be another moron who gets a useless degree and the cries about not getting a job or not making enough. Paying for a useless degree really sucks.
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Magicman69
All About the Benjamins



Registered: 05/29/13
Posts: 6,876
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18893807 - 09/26/13 12:28 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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My grandparents on my Dads side had college trust funds for the four grandchildren. I've been blessed to have my college completely paid for. The majority of students aren't as fortunate and have to take out some sort of loan. I think its smart to have a job through college if your taking the loan route. This way you can pay for your living expenses out of pocket
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Quote:
Magicman69 said: My grandparents on my Dads side had college trust funds for the four grandchildren. I've been blessed to have my college completely paid for. The majority of students aren't as fortunate and have to take out some sort of loan. I think its smart to have a job through college if your taking the loan route. This way you can pay for your living expenses out of pocket
Uuughhh I'm so disinclined to use student loans. I can have mine completely paid for (sort of) if I just play nice and kiss ass just a little bit.
I'm trying to remember how that therapist was making this sound so awesome.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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Nova

Registered: 10/16/02
Posts: 1,365
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18893977 - 09/26/13 01:16 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Is computer science something you have looked into thoroughly? Is it something that you enjoy doing and can see yourself doing the rest of your life?
If so, then loans are worth it. Its not one of those all to common bullshit degrees that get you nowhere. There are plenty of programming jobs out there and they pay very decent wages.
If you aren't sure or aren't passionate about programming/math/logic then you probably won't make it through the program and you'll just be wasting thousands of dollars.
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Student loans? [Re: Nova]
#18893992 - 09/26/13 01:21 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Computer science is awesome and it is probably the hottest industry in the world right now. Starting pay at a shitty company is ~$65 000, starting pay at a good company is $90 000+, all with full benefits. If you enjoy it, definitely do it. It's not for the faint of heart though - it's a lot of work.
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said: Computer science is awesome and it is probably the hottest industry in the world right now. Starting pay at a shitty company is ~$65 000, starting pay at a good company is $90 000+, all with full benefits. If you enjoy it, definitely do it. It's not for the faint of heart though - it's a lot of work.
I'm already mostly done with it and it comes easy, plus I've done a ton of internships and crap so getting a job wouldn't be an issue. Besides a couple more internships, I plan never to be in industry again... teaching it/research all the way 
Your figures are a little high, but would be about right for top 10 programs' graduates.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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volcomstoner
I'll have just one more xanax



Registered: 07/20/09
Posts: 11,231
Loc: Minnesnowta
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If you cam go through college without having to take loans out then do it. Honestly i dont see why you would even ask this, thats so much money that couod be put towards better things. Think of all that cough syrup!
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HAIL SATAN Vas donc jouer dans le traffic
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Quote:
volcomstoner said: If you cam go through college without having to take loans out then do it. Honestly i dont see why you would even ask this, thats so much money that couod be put towards better things. Think of all that cough syrup!
I'm starting to wonder why I asked. If my parents pull some sort of "You can't go back to [your real] university" crap, I'll consider this but my therapist had just made a pretty good point that if I had taken out student loans, then when my parents wanted to run things for me I could just say "fuck off".
I think I'll just stick to having everything completely paid for for the next couple years, now that you mention it. And man... cough syrup... you're makin' me thirsty!
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894066 - 09/26/13 01:36 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Oh, BTW... this therapist is around 65 years old and is still paying on her student loans.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,373
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894130 - 09/26/13 01:53 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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So you're considering a computer science BS, versus a philosophy PhD?
First thing to do is see if the philosophy PhD is paid for.
If so, while you're finishing the computer science BS, load up on philosophy electives. Then you can just finish the BS, and apply to graduate school for the philosophy PhD. Especially if the PhD is paid for.
Alternatively, you can bank some cash with the computer science BS and go back for philosophy at a later date.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Re: Student loans? [Re: badchad]
#18894209 - 09/26/13 02:11 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: So you're considering a computer science BS, versus a philosophy PhD?
First thing to do is see if the philosophy PhD is paid for.
If so, while you're finishing the computer science BS, load up on philosophy electives. Then you can just finish the BS, and apply to graduate school for the philosophy PhD. Especially if the PhD is paid for.
Alternatively, you can bank some cash with the computer science BS and go back for philosophy at a later date.
Ahh, you're sorta right on what I'm doing but you've juxtaposed it.
I'm doing a simulatneous BS in Computer Science/BA in Philosophy.
It's kind of still up for debate if a Humanities PhD is ever worth paying for. The poeple who've advised me to go for the best one you get into even if you have to pay with loans ("It's the rest of your life, after all") are from an era before the college debt bubble and happen to be sitting in faculty positions at a flagship state uni. I wonder how the Yale Phiosophy PhD that graduated with my aunt and never got tenure would feel though. She sews for a livng.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894248 - 09/26/13 02:17 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
st1llnox said:
Quote:
pwnasaurus said: Computer science is awesome and it is probably the hottest industry in the world right now. Starting pay at a shitty company is ~$65 000, starting pay at a good company is $90 000+, all with full benefits. If you enjoy it, definitely do it. It's not for the faint of heart though - it's a lot of work.
I'm already mostly done with it and it comes easy, plus I've done a ton of internships and crap so getting a job wouldn't be an issue. Besides a couple more internships, I plan never to be in industry again... teaching it/research all the way 
Your figures are a little high, but would be about right for top 10 programs' graduates.
Not at all. 50% of my friends who graduated from comp sci started at > $75 000. Some people are just not competent, but if you are generally competent, you should easily be able to secure a high-paying job. If you have already done some internships you should easily be able to get a job with someone like Amazon, and their base pay is $90 000 + stock options + benefits.
Top 10 in the program pay is closer to $110 000+. I have friends making > $150 000 after 1 or 2 years of work.
Edited by pwnasaurus (09/26/13 02:53 PM)
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unknown1123
Experimental

Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 5,813
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894255 - 09/26/13 02:18 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Philosophy degree is worthless.
Go with a double math/ comp sci major
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Everlong
King of the Neckbeards


Registered: 03/24/08
Posts: 9,087
Loc: Poconos
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I thought parents had to cosign on your student loans? 
I should probably know this, considering I got about 10k in student loans. And I only have an associate's degree and went to community college. I would sit around all summer unemployed and then would take out the loan that was offered even though the pell grant covered the entire expenses that semester. Sooo stupid.
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
Quote:
st1llnox said:
Quote:
pwnasaurus said: Computer science is awesome and it is probably the hottest industry in the world right now. Starting pay at a shitty company is ~$65 000, starting pay at a good company is $90 000+, all with full benefits. If you enjoy it, definitely do it. It's not for the faint of heart though - it's a lot of work.
I'm already mostly done with it and it comes easy, plus I've done a ton of internships and crap so getting a job wouldn't be an issue. Besides a couple more internships, I plan never to be in industry again... teaching it/research all the way 
Your figures are a little high, but would be about right for top 10 programs' graduates.
Not at all. 50% of my friends who graduated from comp sci started at > $75 000. Some people are just not competent, but if you are generally competent, you should easily be able to secure a high-paying job. If you have already done some internships you should easily be able to get a job with someone like Amazon, and their base pay is $90 000 + stock options + benefits.
Top 10 in the program pay is closer to $110 000+. I have friends making > $150 000 after 1 or 2 years of work.
Then again... the *average* starting salary is like 50k and I've seen some students that... well, they were lucky they had me as a TA since I'd actually explain things and be patient.
They're still not going to ever be at Amazon.com
Holy shit though... I'm (sorry, st1ll haters, it's relevant--not ego stroking) definitely way above average in the program (in UPE and such) and little as I care for money... I'm looking at that 90,000$ figure grinning like a banshee in starbucks right now.
The golden handcuffs though... too many would-be PhDs.
BTW Philosophy is the more useful of my degrees. I got to college having already written first person shooters so if you need to start programming from the ground up, CS will be more useful and tends to be more practical.
But Philo majors spank the GRE on average and while we start low, we have rebounded to very high mid-career salaries.
Philo makes you good at thinking and at arguing. These are much more important and directly applicable than programming.
That said, if I have to drop one of the degrees it will be Philosophy.
I think I fucked my shot at the life I wanted already, but NO SELF FULFILLING PROPHECIES FOR THIS PSYCHONAUT!!!
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894648 - 09/26/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
st1llnox said:
Quote:
pwnasaurus said: Not at all. 50% of my friends who graduated from comp sci started at > $75 000. Some people are just not competent, but if you are generally competent, you should easily be able to secure a high-paying job. If you have already done some internships you should easily be able to get a job with someone like Amazon, and their base pay is $90 000 + stock options + benefits.
Top 10 in the program pay is closer to $110 000+. I have friends making > $150 000 after 1 or 2 years of work.
Then again... the *average* starting salary is like 50k and I've seen some students that... well, they were lucky they had me as a TA since I'd actually explain things and be patient.
They're still not going to ever be at Amazon.com
Holy shit though... I'm (sorry, st1ll haters, it's relevant--not ego stroking) definitely way above average in the program (in UPE and such) and little as I care for money... I'm looking at that 90,000$ figure grinning like a banshee in starbucks right now.
The golden handcuffs though... too many would-be PhDs.
You'll note that I said "if you're generally competent". Of course not everyone is capable of working at Amazon, but if you are you are competent you can certainly get a job there. They are HURTING for talented developers more so than any other tech company.
The average salary is certainly not $50 000 - that is an embarrassing offer in the industry right now. You would not be able to hire anybody half-decent for that amount.
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unknown1123
Experimental

Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 5,813
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Makes me want to go back to school and get a comp sci degree along with my bio.
But I'm most likely going for biomedical tech or bio engineering but long term goal is MD. So we shall see
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st1llnox
dx'd PTSD/ADHD--please don't ask



Registered: 11/27/12
Posts: 7,312
Loc: 913 KANSAS CITY 816
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Pwnasaurus, come to think of it those figures where when I started at my uni originally in 2009 (have has about 2 years off). So that was old and recession-era 
Gonna get rich! If I want lol... 
Unknown that's pretty cool. CS will be kinda useless for your MD unless you want to do research. Too many bio and biomed researchers (worked alongside plenty) cannot do the simplest scripting task that could save them tons of time, or they have to wait on other people to get around to doing it for them.
-------------------- Back, bitches. st1lln0x: so i'm on weed, temazepam, adderall, dexedrine, dxm, dph, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, tryptophan, GABA, and kratom Cavemen_savemen: st1lln0x, do you feel like a robot yet? st1lln0x: I feel like a fucking Gundam Click to friend me on Steam for Counter-Strike
IS LIFE SKULLFUCKING YOU!? HAVE SOME FREE MORALE! Click if you want to feel you alone can do it! Click if you want to feel confident and beastly! Click if you want courage to let go and move on! And click the message if you need someone to talk to -- I'll understand, even if we "hate" each other on here
  
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volcomstoner
I'll have just one more xanax



Registered: 07/20/09
Posts: 11,231
Loc: Minnesnowta
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Re: Student loans? [Re: st1llnox]
#18894740 - 09/26/13 04:02 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
st1llnox said:
Quote:
volcomstoner said: If you cam go through college without having to take loans out then do it. Honestly i dont see why you would even ask this, thats so much money that couod be put towards better things. Think of all that cough syrup!
I'm starting to wonder why I asked. If my parents pull some sort of "You can't go back to [your real] university" crap, I'll consider this but my therapist had just made a pretty good point that if I had taken out student loans, then when my parents wanted to run things for me I could just say "fuck off".
I think I'll just stick to having everything completely paid for for the next couple years, now that you mention it. And man... cough syrup... you're makin' me thirsty!
 I mean yeah, if your parents start becoming a huge issue then take them out. But I'd would milk that as long as I possibly could.
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HAIL SATAN Vas donc jouer dans le traffic
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