Other How to Afford Moving to Another State For Grad School?

[Ascendant0]

My circumstances are different than a typical college student. I'm a non-traditional student doing this later on in life, but I know it's my calling. I'm on the second half of my 3rd year of undergrad, and things are going great. But, I'm trying to figure out how I'll be able to take the next step...

My potential dilemma is that I already know I'm not staying at my current school for grad school, as they don't have the kind of research going on here that I want to do. So, I'm going to end up having to move somewhere else for grad school. Thing is that financial aid of course gives you just barely enough to scrape by, let alone anything extra to save. I have a decent amount of possessions, so I'm going to need a moving truck (and then I have to figure out how to bring my car too, even though I'm single and know no one in this area outside of classmates).

So, my problem is figuring out how to afford the move out of state to get to the grad school. I won't see any financial aid or stipend until after I start at the college, but my current college is of course not going to help me. If I were to start at the grad school in fall, it would give me the summer to work to try to pay for it. But, with how difficult finding a job is in my area, I might not be able to save much of anything at all.

My credit score currently is about 690. Not sure if it would be good enough to get a loan for it.

Has anyone else dealt with this, or know anyone that had and how they handled it?

 

[CrysPhys]

My potential dilemma is that I already know I'm not staying at my current school for grad school, as they don't have the kind of research going on here that I want to do. So, I'm going to end up having to move somewhere else for grad school. Thing is that financial aid of course gives you just barely enough to scrape by, let alone anything extra to save. I have a decent amount of possessions, so I'm going to need a moving truck (and then I have to figure out how to bring my car too, even though I'm single and know no one in this area outside of classmates).

So, my problem is figuring out how to afford the move out of state to get to the grad school. I won't see any financial aid or stipend until after I start at the college, but my current college is of course not going to help me. If I were to start at the grad school in fall, it would give me the summer to work to try to pay for it. But, with how difficult finding a job is in my area, I might not be able to save much of anything at all.

Paying for the move is just the first expense. What are you going to do with all your stuff and your car once you get there? These constraints might also limit your choices for grad school. Do you want your choices to be limited by these constraints, instead of just choosing the schools that offer the best programs for you?

 

[WWGD]

In several schools ( at both the student end school and at the advisor end), you can work remotely with an advisor/professor from another school, through email/Internet/Zoom/phone, etc. You may have or choose to travel to their school, but most likely not too often, not more than yearly. Not that I'm suggesting you do that, just to remind you it's an option these days

 

[gmax137]

I don't think there are any magic answers. Only you can decide how important the possessions are, and if you will let them hold you back. Decide what you can afford to keep, and what you can (mentally) afford to sell or give away.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

As someone mentioned. You may need to sale possesions that are not necessary. This could be a way to fund the uhaul truck as well, and lessen the anount of items needed to store in your dwelling spaces.

Worst case scenario, start a gofundme.

 

[Choppy]

Most people solve this by working over the summer and even through the school year. If that's not going to be enough, you may have the option of deferring acceptance for a a semester, or even a year. Take that time, get the best job you can and save as much money as possible. That should pay for the move and give you a financial cushion for your time in graduate school.

 

[Ascendant0]

Paying for the move is just the first expense. What are you going to do with all your stuff and your car once you get there? These constraints might also limit your choices for grad school. Do you want your choices to be limited by these constraints, instead of just choosing the schools that offer the best programs for you?

Well, choosing the school that offers the best program for me is why I don't know where I'm going to end up. That's exactly what I'm looking to do. Maybe I explained it in a way that came off differently.

As far as once I get there, I can find a place online to move into once I get there. Most likely grad school housing, as I know those typically don't have much of a deposit. For this college, I found an apartment complex right near the college that was labeled as "off-campus student housing." VERY reasonable prices, and didn't require any deposit at all. So, finding a place won't be an issue, it's affording to get there that's the problem.

 

[Ascendant0]

In several schools ( at both the student end school and at the advisor end), you can work remotely with an advisor/professor from another school, through email/Internet/Zoom/phone, etc. You may have or choose to travel to their school, but most likely not too often, not more than yearly. Not that I'm suggesting you do that, just to remind you it's an option these days

Are you saying that some grad schools will let you do a physics grad program without even having to be there most the time??? That doesn't sound right to me at all. Every single one of my physics courses expect us to be there physically every single day, physically show up to recitations, etc. With grad level programs being even more challenging, I can't see many of them offering to do that, but I could definitely ask, and do appreciate you mentioning it

One thing that our advisor suggested to me yesterday was to talk to the grad school college about the circumstances, and they might be able to help out in some way. Some of them have "play money" they can use for situations where a student needs help in some way. That could possibly be an option as well

 

[Ascendant0]

I don't think there are any magic answers. Only you can decide how important the possessions are, and if you will let them hold you back. Decide what you can afford to keep, and what you can (mentally) afford to sell or give away.

I'm fine getting rid of some of my stuff, but I have kids (and yes, already talked to mom and worked out how we would make it work if I left the state). There are some things I have for the kids or from the kids that I will absolutely not leave behind. And I have enough other necessities or expensive items that I either need or would be inane to throw away to the point where I'm going to at least need a small moving truck. Besides, even if I did cut down to just what I could fit in my car, there's no way I'd drive my car across country. It already has over 200k miles on it. I don't want to risk breaking down along the way, as I'd be screwed. My only affordable, feasible option is finding a way to afford a moving truck to bring everything that way.

I've found that with moving trucks, you can get a tow dolly or vehicle trailer for a vehicle that isn't too expensive. That's what would make the most sense financially. But still, depending on the distance of the move, it could cost anywhere from around $800 up to $3,000.

 

[Ascendant0]

Most people solve this by working over the summer and even through the school year. If that's not going to be enough, you may have the option of deferring acceptance for a a semester, or even a year. Take that time, get the best job you can and save as much money as possible. That should pay for the move and give you a financial cushion for your time in graduate school.

Thank you, and that is one thing I considered. As I stated in my previous post though, it is VERY difficult to find a job in this area these days. I am highly qualified for multiple positions, but after a company I was working for shut down, I was unemployed for nearly 3mos early 2024. And I spent literally all day and night applying non-stop to jobs, talked to multiple employment agencies, reached out to employers and business owners directly, etc. Even with all that, it took 3mos. By then, I'd be evicted by my apartment complex, as I no longer have backup funds (very long story involving my ex-wife).

Jobs requiring lower qualifications (ex. Walmart, Target, etc.) wouldn't hire me because I was way overqualified, so they knew I wouldn't stay long-term. And I found out the positions I was well suited for would get 100s of applicants for what was usually one single position. Most the time, my resume wasn't even looked at.

But who knows, maybe it will be better next year when all this happens.

As far as working during the semester, it would be even harder to find someone willing to employ me with the flexibility necessary for college. Work study could be an option, but the problem is I don't have enough hours in the day as it is with all I have going on. It would be very difficult for me to fit in work study on top of that (unless I was able to study and do homework the majority of that time).

Someone also suggested the notion of offering to be a TA, RA, or help someone at the college I'd be moving to in some other way during the summer prior to the semester I'd start, and in return, have them help cover the travel expenses. Someone at my college said he had a friend that did that with Stanford, and they told him to just give them all the info for the moving company, and they'd take care of it for him. I doubt many schools would be willing to throw money at you like that in advance, but couldn't hurt for me to ask.

 

[WWGD]

Are you saying that some grad schools will let you do a physics grad program without even having to be there most the time??? That doesn't sound right to me at all. Every single one of my physics courses expect us to be there physically every single day, physically show up to recitations, etc. With grad level programs being even more challenging, I can't see many of them offering to do that, but I could definitely ask, and do appreciate you mentioning it

One thing that our advisor suggested to me yesterday was to talk to the grad school college about the circumstances, and they might be able to help out in some way. Some of them have "play money" they can use for situations where a student needs help in some way. That could possibly be an option as well

Ah, sorry, you may have a point in that this many not apply if/when you're required doing labs. I knew this applied, applies for people doing Math Phds. Still, it may not be idea to ask if your area is mostly theoretical.

 

[WWGD]

Here are some such options:
At John's Hopkins : https://ep.jhu.edu/programs/applied-physics/?form=MG0AV3
Or,
https://www.collegehippo.com/gradua...s-physics-masters-online-programs?form=MG0AV3

 

[gmax137]

Ah, I didn't realize you have a family. That changes everything. Many of my coworkers took night classes after working days. Depending on the position and the classes, the employer may even pay the tuition. Not ideal but it can be done.

 

[gleem]

@Ascendant0 Do you intend to takey your children with you, eventually or notl?

 

[CrysPhys]

Well, choosing the school that offers the best program for me is why I don't know where I'm going to end up. That's exactly what I'm looking to do. Maybe I explained it in a way that came off differently.

As far as once I get there, I can find a place online to move into once I get there. Most likely grad school housing, as I know those typically don't have much of a deposit. For this college, I found an apartment complex right near the college that was labeled as "off-campus student housing." VERY reasonable prices, and didn't require any deposit at all. So, finding a place won't be an issue, it's affording to get there that's the problem.

OK. Your family situation changes things. But you still need to consider geographic constraints. One is obviously how far are you willing to drive your car to the new location? The other is finding affordable housing (and parking). If you're in a major urban area (e.g., Boston/Cambridge, NYC, Chicago), it's going to be a lot harder to find than, e.g., in a Midwestern college town. Good Luck!

 

[Choppy]

As I stated in my previous post though, it is VERY difficult to find a job in this area these days. I am highly qualified for multiple positions, but after a company I was working for shut down, I was unemployed for nearly 3mos early 2024. And I spent literally all day and night applying non-stop to jobs, talked to multiple employment agencies, reached out to employers and business owners directly, etc. Even with all that, it took 3mos. By then, I'd be evicted by my apartment complex, as I no longer have backup funds (very long story involving my ex-wife).

Jobs requiring lower qualifications (ex. Walmart, Target, etc.) wouldn't hire me because I was way overqualified, so they knew I wouldn't stay long-term. And I found out the positions I was well suited for would get 100s of applicants for what was usually one single position. Most the time, my resume wasn't even looked at.

Yeah, I get it. I've experienced a situation where it was quite challenging to get work despite long hours of trying. It's easy for us to give advice on a forum. I had success working on campus at my school. In the summer between my third and fourth year, I got work as a TA for first year labs. But there may be other non-physics-ish options too... security, groundskeeping, campus pubs/restaurants, library, etc. If there's active research going on, sometimes you can volunteer to be a reimbursed subject, although be sure to read through any documentation closely. Another option I've seen work is canvassing neighborhoods and setting up contracts to mow laws or do other yard work or other jobs.

 

[WWGD]

@Ascendant0 , have you considered remote jobs?