SOAS said Yes! … Now what do I do?
My request for a deferral has been accepted. Now, I need to find £10,500 (US$18,313.05) by 25 September of next year in order to pay for school. I do not, as yet, have a real plan. The most obvious thing to do is go to the San Francisco Public Library’s So-Ya-Wanna-Be-A-College-Student room (I can’t recall its actual title) to look at grant and scholarship info, but I really have no idea what I’m doing.
If anyone reading this has any advice at all for how to afford grad school — especially how to afford grad school overseas — please let me know, either as a comment or via e-mail. And don’t be afraid to talk down to me or to give even the most obvious advice: I really don’t know what I’m doing. (Although, ‘Get a real job, ya damned hippy.’ isn’t strictly necessary — I’m aware; I’m on it.)
14 November 2005 at 20:59
If it was anyone else I would probably say, don’t go. Simply because a degree in Anthropology isn’t worth much on the job market, so taking out a loan (see below) isn’t particularly reasonable. However, having read your blog for some time I know you are passionate about the field and so my advice is quite different: don’t worry about it. Beg, borrow, steal (well, ok, maybe not steal) - do whatever it takes to get your degree and worry about the consequences later.
I don’t know if you can get US loans for British schools, but student loans are a good deal. Low interest, and easy repayment plans. Grants are great, and you should definately apply, but you shouldn’t count on them. Most important is to speak to current SOAS students to find out how they pay for it. More important than tuition will be paying for room and board (and books). Personally, I got TAships after my first year in school, and so I was lucky enough not to end up with a gigantic debt. There might be similar opportunities at SOAS - even working for the school - which you will might be able to get after you are already there. For instance, you might be able to work as a research assistant for someone there, but they won’t hire you until they know you a bit better.
I think if you can make it through the first year, it should become easier.
14 November 2005 at 21:49
Talking to current SOAS students is good advice, and something I ought to’ve thought of, but hadn’t. Thanks, Kerim.
15 November 2005 at 16:45
Yeah. I agree with the above comments: Go. Work now here (save like mad). Work then there (while attending school). Lobby heavy for T.A. spots (aka Professor’s Test Marking Slave). Ask for support. I did all of the above (am still doing the last tail end of it). You will be poor (and I mean poverty) but it is worth it to get what you have set as an important goal. I found family and other close ones gave me massive moral support and some of them found it possible to pony up some financial gifting.
I think there is no question: you have to do it.
You had to put it off once. I’d worry if I put if off a 2nd time that I’d never go for it. I planned / plotted it out a lot but when the time came: I went for it. No regrets. Great so far. I think something even greater lies ahead for me … same for you. Goferit