How do I afford college?

How do you afford college, while going to college?

• How do you afford college, while going to college? I mean do / did you have to work full time? How did that work out for you having to work full time or high part time hours? Did your grade and lack of sleep suffer any? Just wondering how other people do it. Even with financial aid there is a HUGE CHUNK that still has to be paid.

• Answer:

  Loans, loans, and more loans. Some work-study, but you will not make enough to make a sizable dent - it's more money for food/expenses. I wouldn't recommend working full-time and studying at the same time unless you are a glutton for punishment. Figure 40 hours a week for the job, then at least 12-15 hours of class a week. Studying might take up another 20-30 hours, depending on your major. If your major is paper-heavy (I studied philosophy), then you can't work and write papers at the same time, but you could conceivably study for an exam AND work at the same time. But add it all up and there is very little time to decompress. Some people manage it, though. I can't comment on the quality of their academic work or their social life, however.