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School, future, career.. Need Advice!!!

I just broke down in tears, I never felt so weak and vulnerable in my life. Let me start off by saying i made straight A’s in high school, im a smart girl, with a great head on my shoulders. I moved from Philly, to L.A, 2 weeks after graduating high school to attend FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). My last quarter I had to submit an appeal because my GPA was low and i risked my financial aid getting taking away

(FIDM is no joke, its very intense and our work load is intense, its not like a regular university where its mostly just power points, presentatioins, essays and book work.. theres so much more than that to FIDM..Our drop out rate is 50% just so you can get an idea)

Anyway my appeal got approved, My GPA increased above the requirement, and i was advised to take the minimum of 4 classes (12 units), how ever i failed a class, and had to submit another appeal to be approved or disapproved by the head of financial aid, when i was talking to my advisor about it she acted like a second appeal was not an option, im guessing because its rare that they approve a second appeal, which lead to my breakdown 15 minutes ago when I arrived home

I work in a fashion showroom downtown as a sales rep (managing fashion brands and getting them into boutiques and stores), which is rare because people attend school to get where im at in my career, and im only 19. I have two clients/brands as of now, the more clients I get in the showroom, the more i get paid. Since I have 2 clients i am only paid $500 a month (My 2 clients are also the ones that pay the least) this can change if i bring in more clients that is willing to pay more. This is the job i wanted coming out of college, so regardless i would be here, my boss is like an older sister to me. My ultimate goal is to own my own clothing line and sell it in my own chain of boutiques, just like bebe or bcbg, which is exactly what my major was about.

(My mom pays my rent and bills, i have roommates so its not as expensive)

Now im waiting here at home to find out if i was approved or not its been 3 hours, and im waiting for the call.

If you were me and if you didnt get approved, would you drop out, continue working at the showroom get more clients to get more money, save for the clothing line, and posibly have a second job at hooters, so i can get a place of my own and a car? or get personal loans and continue with school which is what i really do not want to do because of the personal loans part and continue with the showroom and possibly hooters.. I do want to finish my education and graduate from FIDM though :( Opinions please!!

Tags: L.A, advice, career, education, fashion, school, young

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Permalink Reply by luvsmoochez on July 11, 2012 at 5:22pm

I am so sorry to hear this, but you will land on your feet whether you win your appeal or not. You are in an excellent position since you are getting real life experience while you are in school. If you are not approved, I think you should try to pay your way through it and perhaps go to school part time and continue to build your clientele, contacts and network. Since you are doing what some people only get to do with schooling, may I ask what you feel like you will gain for continuing school if not approved? Try to stay focused on the big picture, so I am not sure if working at Hooters part time is going to help you get your line out. Having roommates and making small sacrafices now may be in your best interest. Good luck luvbug!!

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Permalink Reply by DB on July 11, 2012 at 5:47pm

If you don't mind me asking, why did your grades drop not once but twice? School and work are hard things to juggle, that's understandable so what your advisor suggested about taking fewer classes was a good idea. To be honest, if it were me, I'd continue working and take up a second job like Hooters because it's flexible and those tips definitely stack up. If you don't get approved for the appeal, just continue doing what you're doing (working) and when you're more established/stack a bit more money, and go back to school if graduating from there is that important to you. Depending on what class you failed, a second appeal may not be as farfetched as you think.

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Permalink Reply by MS. UCAN NEVA GET ENUFF!! on July 11, 2012 at 7:08pm

If you don't get approved, you will have to find a way to pay for it yourself, rahter it be through another job, side hustle, sugardaddy - whatever - Just do you and don't drop out, It will take you longer to get back in after you've taken a break.

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Permalink Reply by BabyBallerCheeks on July 11, 2012 at 7:35pm

Same happened to me. Here are your options:

Option 1: PAY FOR SCHOOL (*this is what I did)

They dropped my financial aid so I went part time the following semester and paid for it myself. I took three classes and it was a little over $3,000. I saved the money from my job and paid it. If you pay for 2 to 3 of you own classes, and PASS ALL OF THEM, they will reinstate your financial aid (at least that is what happened to me -- ask the financial aid office; not your advisor about paying for one semester)

Option 2: SWITCH SCHOOLS

You can always get financial aid elsewhere. You're in L.A. and there are several other fashion schools. However, I can understand if that isn't what you want. It can be tough changing schools.

Option 3: APPEAL TO THE DEAN OF YOUR SCHOOL

(*or to someone who sits on the board at your school)

Do this if you have a REAL reason for failing those classes like a learning disability or some extreme life circumstances (an illness, fire at your home, an abusive boyfriend...etc.)

Option 4: GET PRIVATE LOANS

Honestly, I tried to do this before I did 'Option 1' and I wasn't approved. If you can get approved, this is definitely a great option.

Best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by DdoubleD on July 11, 2012 at 7:55pm

I am so sorry you are going through this. A similar thing happened to me after my freshman year. I had to work full time (because my family was trying to teach me a lesson). When I was 19 I took a break (a year and half). I stacked some money and paid over 10K of debt(in 9 months thanks to Dave Ramsey). I had to do this ALL on my own. I am almost 23 and 2 yrs away from finishing my bachelors degree. I feel a little bit discouraged because all my friends from high have graduated from college and are well on their to getting their masters and phd’s. But I am debt free and loving it.

If I was you I would take a break maybe a year and do what you love, which is fashion. Stack some money, continue living with rooms, save everything you can. Then, pay for school yourself for one semester. Get amazing grades and get back on track with graduating.

School is NOT a rush. It is important to have a degree and be educated, but there is no reason rush. Get some life experience and learn from other’s mistakes because school doesn’t teach you everything.

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Permalink Reply by Dragon Slayer Puss on July 11, 2012 at 8:39pm

I'd like to know why your grades dropped twice too. Are you not interested in the technical side of fashion? Are you wanting to focus more on creativity than learning the traditional path? Maybe you need to change your major. If I were in your situation I'd do whatever I could to finish the degree. To be honest, just the mere fact that I have one has taken me so many places that have nothing to do with my area of study. I suggest you stay in school; even if you have take only a class at a time and pay out of pocket. I would make sure I got my degree. I would also begin to create and market my art. Design something and wear it around. Doing this can help you get extra cash on the side and may become a gateway into your boutique.

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Permalink Reply by Brown Skin Beauty on July 11, 2012 at 8:56pm

It seems like she's saying she may have took too many units. She probably should had taken the minimum amount of units since she's a first time college student.

Love is a Losing Game said:

I'd like to know why your grades dropped twice too. Are you not interested in the technical side of fashion? Are you wanting to focus more on creativity than learning the traditional path? Maybe you need to change your major. If I were in your situation I'd do whatever I could to finish the degree. To be honest, just the mere fact that I have one has taken me so many places that have nothing to do with my area of study. I suggest you stay in school; even if you have take only a class at a time and pay out of pocket. I would make sure I got my degree. I would also begin to create and market my art. Design something and wear it around. Doing this can help you get extra cash on the side and may become a gateway into your boutique.

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Permalink Reply by Brown Skin Beauty on July 11, 2012 at 9:08pm

Is this federal financial aid? Take a semester off. Work to save up to pay for your own classes for one semester and if you do well I think should you will be able to get financial aid the following semester depending on your cumulative GPA.

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Permalink Reply by Lady on July 11, 2012 at 9:21pm

Thanks everybody for your concern and your advice, the head of the financial aid, has approved me :)

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Permalink Reply by DdoubleD on July 11, 2012 at 9:25pm

Good for you! Now it's crunch time focus on school, you can do it! Get that degree and get your clothing line going!

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Permalink Reply by Lady on July 11, 2012 at 9:27pm

My GPA was low to begin with, because i was taking too many trips out of town which was the reason for my first appeal, The following quarter I managed to raise my GPA significantly, it was just the fact that I failed 1 class, and I needed to pass ALL of them since I was taking the minimum I think I might take a job at hooters, even though I did get appealed, so i can start stacking for a car and having another income for when i get an apartment of my own. But i got approved, and heading down this road again is not an option for me

DB said:

If you don't mind me asking, why did your grades drop not once but twice? School and work are hard things to juggle, that's understandable so what your advisor suggested about taking fewer classes was a good idea. To be honest, if it were me, I'd continue working and take up a second job like Hooters because it's flexible and those tips definitely stack up. If you don't get approved for the appeal, just continue doing what you're doing (working) and when you're more established/stack a bit more money, and go back to school if graduating from there is that important to you. Depending on what class you failed, a second appeal may not be as farfetched as you think.

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Permalink Reply by Lady on July 11, 2012 at 9:29pm

Thanks so much, I got approved and I will not be heading down this road again, thanks again for the encouragement

MS. UCAN NEVA GET ENUFF!! said:

If you don't get approved, you will have to find a way to pay for it yourself, rahter it be through another job, side hustle, sugardaddy - whatever - Just do you and don't drop out, It will take you longer to get back in after you've taken a break.