jky007 said:
hi all of you who are in pharm schools,
i am currently applying for fall 2006 admission and am a bit worried about how i am going to support myself through pharm. school. i don't know much about loans but was wondering how people are getting themselves through financially? the schools that i'm applying to have high costs of living (sf, sd in california), and i don't know if there are funds i can get to cover that... pls help! any suggestions?
thanks!
Well I am in San Francisco, so I am feeling it right now. I know this is bad, but I maxed out my loans last year bc I was truly afraid of the cost of living. If I did not factor in my out of state tuition (which was a 12 grand price tag), all my school loans were covered by subsidized staffords (interest free, federal loans) and unsubsidized stafford (which is the interest type of federal loans through a lender). I believe I had 8500 from sub stafford and 22500 from unsub staff with Pel grants and some aid from UCSF contributing to a total coast of around 34,000. All my living expenses and tuition was paid for by these loans (with no private loan assistance which are those that have higher interest, I believe, correct me if I am wrong).
Right now, during the summer after my 1st year, it has been hard, I must say. You gotta live simply and work as many hours as you can at the pharmacy as an intern to pay the bills. I recommend, now that CA law has changed, to start working as an intern immediately after matriculation, you get good money and accrue hours, as well (duh).
For the future, I decided this school year to work about 13-15 hours a week. This is ideal as I can use the money and directly put it in savings for next summer.
It's feasible, so don't worry. The debt is also daunting, but don't fret, your salary can take care of it all. But at the UC's loans are going up every year (due to that bozo Gray Davis not changing tuition during his term as govenor), bad sign.
Good luck, hope that helps!
