Why our Government stinks!
 

:mad: I have a friend that recieved a full ride to school from federal aid. He was fired from his last two jobs. He didn't graduate from college the first time. He hasn't worked full time in 5 years. I started working when I turned 16. I've been working at least 1 job since. Most the time two jobs. I have never been fired from a company. I've been hired back to two different companys twice. Graduated from college with a computer degree. Have always wanted to fly, but for obvious reasons it's VERY expensive. I now have a son and wife who I love more than anything. So, I won't take out loans to pursue my dream. Today my dream was stomped on by financial aid. I recieved my letter from my fafsa. I was denied federal grants because of my income. I am going to still try and achieve my dream, but it's going to take a very long time to do. I did apply for scholarships, but they wouldn't even add up to enough if I did recieve them. That's a big IF in that I would be competing with hundreds of others. I will just have to save my hundred bucks a month until I can afford it myself. This isn't a sympathy post! I just need to rant a bit about how unfair the award system is. I hope that when I'm gone from the earth that I can have enough of an account built up that I can help with someone else's dreams.

Yep - I worked full-time straight through high-school. My income was added to my Parents(by our govt), and because I HAD to work, the addt'l income killed my Financial Aid package. Love it!

yeah that's complete bull! I had to work also to help my mom out.

The reason for my denial this time isn't because I had my mother's income, but because I had my wife's. Told the wife that we're getting divorced for a few years till I get out of school. She let me know that wasn't happening, she didn't want to be seen in the dress again when we remarried :p !

If that is the reason the government stinks, you need to open your eyes...

so you want us, the taxpayers, to pay for your flying because you don't want to take out loans and pay for it yourself. get over yourself. I'd say other things but I'm sure I'd get banned. by the way it was a sympathy post, otherwise you wouldn't have written it.

Be careful, most of our wives would never marry us again!!!!!!!:D

Bet if....
 

you were here illegally you could get the financing..... Hell, you could even get instate tuition to a few great schools as well..... Man, what the heck was I thinking...

Uh oh! Did the other "less PC" thread disappear? So much for FREEDOM of speech!

Bro, I'm with ya! We already pay for the losers of the country. We might as well pay for people that want to be contributing members of society. Our government enables losers and punishes hard workers. It's sad but true.

No it wasn't a sympathy post sir. I've been chatting with alot of people on here the last few months that I've been filing paper work. Making sure that I take the right classes and none of the wrong ones. I was merely letting everyone I've been chatting with know that I didn't get the grants, plus venting to the rest of you I guess. I'm guessing by the hostility in your post that you're one of the ones with high bills from loans that you had to take out. For that I'm sorry. I would have them as well if it was just a few years earlier (before I met my wife and had my son). And I'm a taxpayer just as you are. I work for a warehouse distribution center. I'd say my wages are pretty fair for the area I live in. I have to, for legal reasons, claim every bit of it on taxes. My company, being that it's Wal-Mart, has to take extra precaution. They now tax us for EVERY item/award they give us. Pins/plaques/mugs/lunches/safety money... So not only do I pay taxes on my income, but also on my plaque for Associate of the Month. So, as I'm happy you responded to my thread, please direct your anger to your banker not to me.


Thank you all for your kind words. I hope to keep in contact with alot of you!

No, it's not the only reason by any means. They need to have a tear off calendar with a new reason every day.

Randalis I agree 100%. I've worked my butt off with my bachelors, did the whole several job thing, blah blah blah. And like yourself, because I'm married I don't get anything in the way of help for vet school. Most DVM programs run between 45-60K/year...on top of what everyone owes from undergrad. I'm not complaining, because I know it's my choice to go...but it does seem kinda odd that someone in the situation that you mentioned will get a full ride, while others get no help. I don't know if anyone should get full rides without earning it through academics, sports, whatever. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having to work your way through college, and put out money on your own...however giving someone a full ride because they screwed around, and not helping out someone who has worked hard tends to bug me a bit. It happens a lot.

Have you look into grants and such? There are programs, even scholarships that can help out at least some. There are scholarships for just about everything out there, and since you already have a degree you may qualify for more than you think. You never know which ones you'll receive...and tae whatever you can get. It may not be enough for a full 15-21 credit semester, but it could get you a few classes at least. It's better than nothing. I'm sure I could help lead you in a few directions with this...Lord knows I've done it enough with my own education. Often times employers will put people through school if they agree to work for so many years afterwards...the medical community is well known for that. I know of a few companies who'll do that with computer related jobs as well. I've worked with marine mammals for a little over three years now, and they are hooking me up with an internship in marine mammal medicine. It's not helping to cut the cost, but often times employers will try their best to help you out. It's worth looking around. Let me know what I can do to help.

You can still do this...it'll just take a little longer than planned. It'll make your degree or flight training (not sure what your going for here?) worth that much more.

You already have a degree...and you're upset about not getting free money for FLIGHT TRAINING??!??!??!?!?! Sorry, but the government doesn't owe you a pilot career.

count your blessings
 

This thread invokes an ambivalent response in me. As a scholarship student, twice in two different majors, I had very good access to college and am now able to cash in with a good job. The US gov't in the form of federal loans and grants, plus the states in the form of scholarships paved my way in college. But I owe a lot of money on federal loans used for living expenses, which puts a damper on my life of luxury. It also forces the question of whether I can afford to fly for a living. I am responsible for paying back my loans for college. No new car and no airline job for me.

On the other hand, the government gets a fat monthly installment from me on my student loan each month, and it gleefully takes another 25% of my paycheck as taxes. Ouch, that's 43%. You can't live very well on what's left although it's more than I had in college. At present, my college education is hardly worth it from a financial perspective as I will live for years at a very lower middle class level for having invested a total of 8 years in education. This, on top of the same quantity of time lost from the workforce while going to school. It adds up to about 13 years of financial hardship. It does end eventually, and I will live.

I paid for my flight training by driving trucks mostly. Parents chipped a little, but it was mostly my effort. I really wanted the ratings and to eventually be able to fly for a living. I did not take any loans out to learn to fly. I therefore do not have a lot of sympathy for taking out huge loans knowing it doesn't pay very well and you are signing on for a financial disaster to do so.

The American government tries to be fair, and mostly is fair from my perspective. It sets up guidelines to sort the needy from the not so needy. It helps those who are weak and taxes those who are strong. It is here to stay, no getting around it. I feel a lot of gratitude for what the government has done for me, and I think our country has the greatest government on Earth. But life is hard, and it always will be. No government can change that. If you think government is here to make life easy it's not, it is not a realistic expectation. We all have to pay our taxes, loans, and debts. That's the long and short of it.

My complaint and aggravation is that my "friend" got a full ride with nothing wrong with him. He also has a degree... well he's 1 class away, but dropped out. Him and his wife together blew through her inheritance money. He called in sick alot at his jobs which ended up him getting fired. He wasn't sick at all... he was taking vacations with his wife. The government then gave him full grants to go to school.

Yes I have a computer repair degree. I graduated just a few months before 9/11. I relocated to a larger city to get a job in my field, but they couldn't afford to give me the raise increase that was promised. With cost of living so high in larger cities (which I'm sure alot of you know). I moved back home to my small town living. Not much need for a computer tech around here. Starting pay for a computer tech is 9 bucks an hour. So forgive me for not jumping at the chance to give up my warehouse job where I make 16 to sit in an office.

I applied for grants/student loans/ and Scholarships. I was approved for 1500 dollars in student loans per year. That isn't near enough to pay for the Aviation Flight degree. Scholarships I applied for were only a few thousand dollars total. That's if I was awarded all of them I applied for.

As shady as it sounds there are ways to make yourself look poor on paper so you can get a ton of financial aid. The FAFSA form is obviously based upon your taxable earnings from the previous year. There are legal deductions you can make to reduce your taxable income and get more financial aid. One of them being investment property. The interest and expenses are tax deductable. Now you may be saying "I can' afford investment property and if I could I wouldn't need the financial aid." Wrong, you can afford it. There are plenty of private lenders out there that will loan money out specifically for this kind of thing, you just have to know where to look. Anything you can do to reduce your taxable income on your return will help you get more financial aid. Another way to get some cash to just pay for school is flipping houses. My dad and I started fixing and flipping houses last year. The key is to buy something for about 70 cents on the dollar and spend up to $15K to get it in turn key condition and get out from under it by selling for about 95 cents on the dollar. If you keep rolling the money into a new project you won't pay taxes on it either. When you get enough to pay for school pull the money out, put away what you need to for the taxes and use the rest for school. Great thing is you can do it in your spare time even once you get that airline job, if that is your goal. Not too hard to do and not that time consuming, you just have to know where to look and who to talk to. Everything in this world is all about networking.

Can't you refuse the gifts that don't really add any value to you? Why do I have to accept a $5 pin or $20 plaque that adds no value to my life but I will be taxed on? I can understand the supplemental cash payments, but the gifts is somewhat bs. My company will actually provide additional "tax assistance" to balance out what you would pay in taxes. After its all figured out, you end up with the original value of the payment as after tax dollars. Only sucks when it drives you above the cutoff for certain tax deductions, like student loan interest.

HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!! This is funny shiite! If you believe this, you need to get your head out of the sand. The government tries to be fair! Hilarious! Me paying my taxes while someone else spits out kids and gets a paycheck from Uncle Sam every month is not my idea of fair.

You mean it helps those who are lazy and taxes those that are not.

:rolleyes:

I wouldn't quite go so far and keep bashing government assistance programs. The idea behind them is to give people something to live off of while they get back on their feet. The problem is that once people are on them it isn't highly regulated and people have the "Well, I'll just skate by on what I'm getting from the government" type of attitude. Is it unfair, absolutely but it isn't the program, it is the people in the program. You should also see the kind of conditions those people live in. It isn't anything you or I would want to live in. My dad had a couple a apartment buildings awhile back that were in the section 8 program. Not in the nicest or safest part of town, but everybody has to live somewhere. Just happens that we are the kind of people that work hard so we won't have to be in that kind of situation.

Ya our government sucks! It sucks that we are allowed to say such at thing of our leaders. It is terrible that we have a choice to vote and take part in our government :D

http://www.parade.com/articles/editi...2006/Dictators

It's a start...use it, then see where you can go from there. Don't sit back and complain...make it happen! I know it's frustrating, been there done that...still paying back the student loans. I also managed to pay hour by hour to get all my ratings and such, like several others have mentioned.

Just curious...If you already have a BS, why are you going back for an aviation degree anyway? Work on the flight portion.

Ha ha! Whatever :rolleyes: I've worked in an inner city ER and I don't have any sympathy for these fools.

I've only gotten the AAS so far. The main reason I was going to attend college was for the government assistance. I'm going to turn down the assistance and just pay hour by hour as you mentioned. I have a co-worker starting on his second year at college. The second year is when he gets his instructor cert. Might just hire him when he completes.

I worked at a grocery store for 7 years and seen plenty of government freeloaders. There would be people who would get their monthly food allowance and buy whole ribeyes and beef tenderloins. I wasn't saying that I was wanting a free ride. Okay, I guess maybe I was hoping that I would. It just angers me that there are so many people abusing it, and so many people who "deserve" it are turned down.

Oh do I understand...trust me. Problem is...there's really nothing you can do about it. If I were you, I'd take whatever free money you can get...some is better than none correct? I was under the assumption that you had a BS, not just the AAS...my apologies...definitely get that BS complete.

Life in todays world isn't exactly easy. Ask anyone who's had to work for their dreams. Almost every pilot on here has lived the broke life...and many still do. While I'm not a professional pilot, I am in a field that takes just as much out of you emotionally, mentally and even more so financially. It's hard to balance family and career, while trying to advance your education. Many have done it through hard work and determination. There are those who will say your crazy, or you shouldn't do this or that...many speak out of jealousy, some out of ignorance. Whatever their reasoning, ignore them. While it's a hard road, it's more often than not that hard road that makes your dreams worth so much more when they finally come true...because you will know that YOU earned them. Your children will realize this when they are older. It may seem so far off now, but eventually it will happen. I never could have dreamed that I'd oneday be so close to being a Dr. There are people in my class who had a vet clinic pay their way...or because mom/dad were vets they are here on their parents money. I did this because it's what I wanted to do, and I know I've earned it. It feels much better.

Admiration
 

Jenn,

Hang in there! You've chosen a career that's as tough as they come. I was surprised to learn that Vet school is harder to get into and finish than medical school, how little the average Vet earns, and how physically demanding the job is. Despite all that, my girlfriend loves her career. No one should even start down the road of commercial flying OR veterinary medicine unless their heart is really in it.

Just save anyone from getting in trouble.

Tom...I'm so glad I decided to pursue the career I did. To be honest, I wasn't going to use veterinary medicine as my main career, I wanted to go airlines. However, today...after months of medical problems they finally gave me a diagnosis...and it's one of the 15 medical killers. I may be able to fight for a third, but I'll never hold a first or second. It's the one thing a pilot never wants to hear...but I'm blessed. I had a back up plan, and I married one hell of a man. He's stuck by me every second of the way...and even if I can't hold a medical, he's a pilot...if I can keep one, I'll never fly by myself. Thanks so much for the support Tom...best of luck to your girlfriend. It's so incredibly rewarding.

"Yes I have a computer repair degree. I graduated just a few months before 9/11. I relocated to a larger city to get a job in my field, but they couldn't afford to give me the raise increase that was promised. With cost of living so high in larger cities (which I'm sure alot of you know). I moved back home to my small town living. Not much need for a computer tech around here. Starting pay for a computer tech is 9 bucks an hour. So forgive me for not jumping at the chance to give up my warehouse job where I make 16 to sit in an office."


Hey there, if your married and have a son and make $16/hr. with a degree then there is something wrong here. If you are looking for better income go work construction! Dont laugh, you'll make much more and you can probably get some money under the table to make your income look lower than actual if thats part of your problem. I am from the Boston area and average pay is around $25/hr. I humped shinlges up ladders, framed houses in the winter and banged nails for 10 years and made great money with no degree while paying a mortgage, supporting my wife and having a baby girl while working my way through the aviation ratings. I knew carpentry was not my passion, but is paid the bills and kept me in great shape too. Dont waste your time with your current position, sounds like your treading water. If you really want to be a pilot youll find a way and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it. Its hard work but it pays! If you own a house, get an equity line of credit. Best rates available. If your afraid of hard work then just ignore this post.