Methods to Earn Money for School (before you leave)

Here are suggestions you may consider as you reach deep into your pockets for that extra loose change.  International education is not cheap, but you may be able to give yourself a financial cushion if you...

1. Sell items on Ebay.

• Search your drawers, closets, and cabinets for name-brand clothing, desirable dishes, electronics and anything that will bring a profit even after you ship it.  http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sell-getstarted.html  For easy shipping options, check out Ebay's flat rate shipping boxes; although you can often save more $ (and make more $) if you take the time to recycle cardboard boxes from around your house. 
• Above all, advertise honestly to ensure good customer reviews and future business.

2. Sell old Textbooks.

• Use sites such as http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.half.com/, and http://www.chegg.com/.  If you are attending school in the states, you can also save money by renting books on Chegg.com.

3. Host a Yard Sale.

• Gather everything you have not used in the last 1 or 2 years, and put a price on it.  Clean items and organize by type, place in boxes, and have them ready to put out on yard sale day.  Choose a date that you think people would attend (payday, non-holiday, etc.).  Combine with another family if possible (mark items in different colored price stickers to ensure you get credit for your items). 
• Advertise on http://www.craigslist.com/ with pictures.  Make brightly-colored poster board signs to post along nearby roads and bring people in!
• Go to the bank and get cash and change in several denominations, so you can make change for customers.
• Make a deal as you see customers considering multiple items (ie. "If you would like all of those Cd's I'll throw in the tapes for free.")  It's a win-win situation for you both.

4. Sell your Vehicle.

• It may sound out of the question, but if you are going overseas you will not be driving your car. Consider that if you leave your car in a garage it will decrease in value and probably be in worse shape when you return.  Why not use the money toward your education while the vehicle is worth more?  By doing this you should not have to take out as large of a loan, or you can set this money aside to purchase a newer car with better mileage or efficiency when you return. 
• If you are attached to your car, consider this question, "What will last longer, your car or your education?"

5. Do Odd Jobs for Friends and Family.

• Have a weeknight or weekend free?  Offer to mow a lawn, wash a car, landscape or plant flowers, clean a house, organize a kitchen, or babysit for extra cash.  These jobs are not just for teens.  The cash can help you with groceries, and you can put more of your paycheck into savings.

6. Search Online for Scholarships or Scholarship Contests

• Check your prospective school's financial aid page on their website.
• Scroll through this list of scholarships for one that may fit you. http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx
• Do a Google search, and you will come across many very specific scholarships, but be cautious of sites that require your personal information upfront. 
• If you have a little extra time, one unconventional method is to use http://www.scholarshippoints.com/.  I would recommend you use a junk mail e-mail address, and be careful what personal information you give out to participating web sites.

7. Seek Loans Carefully

• First of all, be careful not to take out a loan beyond your ability to pay back.  One piece of advice I heard in a recent interview was, "If you borrow more than your expected starting salary after you graduate, you're going to struggle to repay your loans."  This does not mean that you pay it back in one year, but that your salary will be sufficient to keep up with regular payments.  I recommend listening to the following interview.  It is very valuable.
• If a loan is your last option, compare several carefully on a website such as http://www.gradloans.com/grad/.
• Sallie Mae/http://www.salliemae.com/ also offers federal loans, but the interest rate can begin from 2.00% (2.25% APR) to 9.875% (9.37% APR).    They provide a helpful Loan Repayment Calculator to estimate your ability to pay back your loan. http://smartoption.salliemae.com/Entry.aspx

Please add your ideas or comments below, and I may add them to my list above.

The Beginning: Applications & Visa

Over the last year, Kirk and I have seriously pursued getting him into school in Scotland.    His longterm goal is to teach history at a university, which often requires a PhD.  Scotland has not always been on our radar, but in the last yearit has truly seemed that God has led us there for school.  We are excited to say that we are on our way this September! 

Application Advice:

We learned a few things about school applications over our process, and while it may take a bit of effort it is worth it in the end.

1. Choose several schools. 
   Do not limit yourself by applying to only one school.  The process itself will eliminate some schools as you go. 
2. Decide on one or a few ideas for your dissertation.
   It is helpful have a topic that pertains to your school, city, or nation of interest.  Research your topic for your own benefit, to decide if you can study this topic extensively, and to sound knowledgeable as you pursue different schools.
3. Research the schools' websites for instructors in your field of interest.  Prepare an initial e-mail to one instructor or department head at each school. 
   Inform them of your interest, and perhaps request advice about the relevancy of your topic to their program.
4. Once you have an involved instructor (this may take a while), follow their advice and request, download, or print an application. 
   In addition, you will be required to give most or all of the following: statement of purpose, writing sample, and prospectus.  Many provide you application in PDF, so that you can neatly type your information.  Again, do this for each prospective school.
5. Send your application as soon as you can! 
   The earlier you send it, the earlier you will get a response.
6. Upon acceptance, respond to the school with your acceptance of their terms.
7. Apply for scholarships and grants. 
   Some of these may have been included in the application process, but the schools may have listed other funding opportunities including loans. 
8. Apply for your visa*.
9. Search for housing (sometimes provided at the universities). 
   Often schools may have lists of reliable landlords, and if you find a flat or apartment you like try to call the landlord in person.  You do not want to take chances if moving to a place you have never seen. 
10. Find your arrival date, and give yourself a few days to settle in or to attend orientation/matriculation.
11. Once your visa is accepted, buy your plane tickets!
12. Have fun, work hard, take pictures, and keep a journal (or blog)!

*Visa Advice:

Our current project is visa applications, finding a job for me, and finding a decent flat.  The technical visa information will be on the nation's visa website.  For example, the UK's visa site is http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/  One of the best websites we have found for visa information is World Bridge.  You can begin at the homepage https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/dest_org.aspx, choosing destination country and country of origin.  With that information, follow the menu on the left of the page.  It is self-explanatory from there.