[CosmicRose]

Ideally I would be going after my bachelor's degree but I simply cannot afford it even with financial aid or grants. I'm 22 and a "dependent" on my father who lives on his retirement only and he struggles just to pay the bills every month.
You have to be 24 and living away from parents to be offered anymore financial aid (that or have a baby, no thank you).
An associates degree in allied health sciences (my preferred field) costs $7,000 total, financial aid might cut that number down by a couple thousand but its still more money than I have just laying around. I drive a 1999 volkswagen that is on it's last leg, so even if I had that kind of money I'd use it to buy a more reliable car that doesn't need a trip to the repair shop every 6 months.
A bachelor's degree is out of the question right now because its something like over $30,000. Are you kidding me? That's a down payment on a house!

I'm 22 and I'm a high school graduate. I live in California, unfortunately (thanks taxes and obscene cost of daily living).
I want to go to college but I can't even afford to help my dad out most months. I have a job but it's basically slightly higher than min. wage and as an independent contractor I get torn apart by yearly taxes way more than the average employee.
This job was a god-send, but its not a secure job and I fear losing it constantly. Then what? I'd have to go work at walmart or mcdonalds for 8 dollars an hour, never affording to leave my dad's house? Is this the future I have to look forward to? I don't understand what I'm supposed to do.
I guess just keep working this job, hope for the best, save up as much as humanely possible and go to community college for an associates degree that I can't afford? Then hope to land a job with minimal experience in this economy where every employer either wants a bachelor's degree or 2-5 years experience in their field? What?
I don't understand how other people are doing it.
I have tons of friends in the military right now just because they knew they couldn't get a civilian job or pay for college.
I have another friend who just got lucky and had his step-dad pay for his master's degree in full!
Then you have other people who are willingly taking out loans for upwards of $30k or more easily per year, and once they graduate their either have a job or not but they still have to pay $300 a month or more in loan fees.

I thought the answer was technical colleges, so my mom and dad scraped up their last penny and paid for a phlebotomy course that cost at least $3,000. I graduated about 6 months later with a certificate and I was unable to find a job without 2 years of paid phlebotomy experience. I learned the hard way that many technical colleges churn out students in hoards and there aren't enough jobs for the amount of graduates in a very specific skilled field.

I did the math and I need a job that pays at least $13-$15 dollars an hour to live on my own and move out of my parent's house. Minimum wage is $8 and I have very little work experience, my resume is mostly filled up with volunteer positions not paid ones.
My plan right now is to keep the job I have now which is based purely on commission sales, no real safety net, and save up enough to either afford college, a new car, or even a down payment on a cheap house - whichever comes first or whichever becomes the most important in the near future.

I'm at a loss right now with my options. I guess I'll be looking at a long career of sales, clerical secretary work, admin jobs, low paying office jobs, or other easy entry level jobs until I can get my foot in the door with college - if that ever happens.

[IceCreamKid]

I hope this helps. I have never heard of a 4 year college requiring all the tuition up front. So while it may be 30 thou for 4 years, what is more important to know for your purposes is how much is it for 1 semester? And how is it to be paid? Monthly? 4 payments spaced over the semester? I suggest you identify where you want to go and then ask that school for help figuring out how to pay for it. Go part time, if you have to. I took one class at a time because that was all I could afford. It took me a long time to get a degree, but I got it.

As for the phlebotomy course; can you volunteer with the Red Cross? Wouldn't that get you experience? Can you volunteer at another place that offers free clinics to poor people? This would get you experience and contacts.

Please make sure you are searching high and low for scholarship monies too. Not at one of those scholarship websites that might be a scam, but through every association and organization you can think of. This is an example of what I mean: CNCDA Now that one might not be relevant to you, but maybe one for some other field is. There are scholarships and grants for specific ethnicities, people from specific parts of the country, women, left-handed people, etc. And have you looked at Federal Work Study? http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fws/index.html
I hope this helps you or someone else. When there is a will, there is a way. Courage!

[avlady]

Good luck

[Little Lulu]

IceCreamKid - you have some very good thoughts on this topic.

In my area, there is such a nursing shortage that some hospitals will pay part of your tuition in agreement to work for a specified time for them after graduation.

And what about the military? My brother-in-law got a degree in IT through the military, landed a great civilian job after he got out, then retired young with good benefits.

I agree with IceCreamKid - things are tougher than they used to be but not impossible.

[IceCreamKid]

Oh, good point! I forgot about that--but you are right and nursing might be a good fit for someone who already has phlebotomy training! And schools are interested in helping veterans succeed after their military service, so that is a good idea, too.

[cool09]

An associates degree in allied health sciences (my preferred field) costs $7,000 total,

An associates degree would be two years (or more if you are going part-time). Most associates degrees can be taken at Community Colleges. I don't know what the fees in CA are for Community Colleges but in the East they are not as expensive as State colleges (and State Colleges are much less expensive than private colleges). Some large companies will put you through school if you wish to gain knowledge and move upwards. I'm sure if you were affiliated with a Hospital or other practice they would help get you education in the proper field. My brother and his wife received their Masters Business Admin. with help of their employer (eg. large bank). The Military will do the same.

[Strive4health]

Cosmic Rose, don't give up hope. The idea of everyone seamlessly going from high school to college, then to a job is a strategy that worked for half the Millennials and left the rest high and dry. Focus on what you CAN do right now.

What you CAN do is take a job in admin where you can utilize your phlebotomy knowledge. Does a clinic or hospital need someone to do an admin job and have knowledge of medical terminology?

Is there a way to apply for a temp agency and take an admin or clerical job that comes along?

Would you be willing to take on a customer service type job in an office, utilizing the customer service experience from your sales job?

I know it does suck and it is hard right now. One thing to remember is this is NOT forever. This is temporary. It's just a hurdle to get through for the next handful of years until you are able to afford the things you want.

One thing I can remember from being around your age, and from being in one's 20's is the assumption if life isn't following an expected path it means it must be awful. It's not. It's becoming very rare for people to find they can go from hs to college graduate to fancy corporate job with no debt or problems. It's just life.

Also, I wouldn't bother with the military unless it's what you want to do. Veteran's Affairs is overwhelmed, and many employers won't hire vets. No sense in possibly putting yourself in a more complicated situation, 4 years from now.

[CosmicRose]

Thanks Strive4health, so far the entirety of my early 20s is just one huge "I DONT KNOW" moment.