January 28, 2022 marked my one year anniversary of paying off my student loans . Reflecting back on choosing to pay off my student loans leaves me with several take a ways that I want to share with you! In September 2020 I decided to become debt free by utilizing the debt snowball method to pay off all my debt. Before this I had struggled to save and really understand basic financial principles. As a first-generation college student, I received a scholarship to attend undergrad for free, but the scholarship did not cover summers. During the summers I took out student loans to cover costs without paying interest rates or how much I was taking out. By the end of undergrad I had amassed a little under $17K. Fast forward to graduate school I received another scholarship that covered my education. At the time I was a teacher in a new very expensive city and I had missed the cutoff to have my paycheck last me throughout the summer. So, I decided to take out a loan for two summers to keep
Did you know that some universities offer free courses? COVID really did a number on higher education with declining numbers and students choosing other pathways to success. As a result, colleges had to pivot to keep numbers afloat, so they did not lose funding. One of the ways they did this was by allowing students to take free courses. I’m not sure where the funding came from (it may have been HEERF Funding), but it was a great opportunity for students to get what they needed at zero cost. I'm sure many of our free college for all folks would argue that this should be a permanent option.
Figure
1: This is a thumbnail of my latest YouTube video “Get University Courses for
Free” where I am smiling with my hand under my chin. My hair is styled in long
twists.
Since the start of my doctoral program in August 2020 I have taken two free courses and will take another one in May. These courses have helped me to finish my coursework very quickly! While the first free course that I took was a core class the other ones have/will be electives only. I should also note that I was only able to take one in the fall of my first semester, the winter mini, and the upcoming May mini. In case you didn’t know semester mini’s are shortened 6 week courses typically taken online during the winter and summer break.
Figure
2: This is a GIF of Dave Chapelle yelling “free!”. He is in a blue jumpsuit
throwing his hands in the air.
Now I do have a word of advice for folks who may want
to take a free course. First things first this may not be offered at all
colleges but there is no harm in asking. Second, in regards to free courses
taken during the mini semester if you are someone who does not do well with
online shortened courses then you may want to pass this up. The point of these
courses is to increase your GPA and get you to graduation quicker. Has your university
done something like this? If so, what courses have you taken? Drop down in the
comments and let me know! Be sure to head over to YouTube to as well to check out latest
video. Don’t forget to subscribe!
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