There is a BIG difference if you have a family.
For those who have commented about COA being more than enough, it is...for one person. If you are feeding, clothing and housing 4 people, the COA is spread very thin.
If its just you and spouse, no big deal. Spouse can even work and youd be even better off.
If its you and one kid, still not too bad. When you start getting into two kids, or if your one kid is older, life gets very expensive and the schools COA won't likely cover all your costs. One option that is available is Military. Yes, there are parts that suck, but you could be getting an extra 2200 a month (less after taxes) which is a lifesaver for some. Not to mention $20K signing bonus, and full pay (nearly $5000/month) for 1 1/2months a year. Along with them paying all school fees, etc.
But, like all the wise people say, know what you are getting into with the military. Some love it, some hate it. Dont take anyone else's opinion as your own, but do gather as much info on it as you can and see how the pros and cons weigh out for you.
Also, with military, you need to see how your school counts the stipend. Some schools count it as scholarship, even though its taxed so they should not. If they do count the stipend against your borrowing limit, then the whole idea changes greatly. PM me if you feel like more on that.
If you dont do military, you can try to see if your school will raise your COA. They hate to do it, but if you come to them with an itemized budget and show them legitimate expenses, they could work with you.
Lastly, dont feel bad about using government help for food, etc, during this time. You will be paying into those great programs for the rest of your life and they are best utilized when they help someone along who is helping themselves as well.
Good luck...others are have done it, and are doing it, so it can be done! Even though its stressful.
good luck
