OCCUPY STUDENT DEBT

Student debtor stories submitted by the 99%

I started undergrad in 2004, finished in 4 years with my bachelors. I had scholarships and Florida bright futures so fortunately I didn’t have to take out too significant of a loan…at least my first 2 years of school. But once I started in my major (Athletic Training) I wasn’t able to work enough to support myself so had to take out loans to help with cost of living. Didn’t spend outside of my means, used the loans wisely. Overall I left undergrad with about $15,000 in loans. I immediately started a graduate school following graduation, I fortunately had a sports medicine graduate assistantship so my tuition was waived. However, since I worked in a Division I athletics program, I generally worked about 60 hours a week plus had full time classes. My “stipend” was only $8500 per year (for 2 years), which after books/parking passes didn’t leave much left for things like paying rent or buying food….definitely didn’t leave anything to pay towards under loans. Needless to say they stayed in deferment for the 2 years of grad school. I was living in “poverty” level….however, since I was considered a “work-study” student, I didn’t qualify for any type of assistance. I took out two small loans totaling $3000 to help with basic costs of living, since I worked too many hours and was unable to pick up part-time jobs. Now, a year and half following graduation from grad school I’m working an average job. I make $34,000 with a masters degree, which is a somewhat normal salary for an athletic trainer. My husband finished school this past March and is unemployed, avidly seeking work in the Civil engineering field. I borrowed an initial $18,000…..only a year and a half out of school, with accrued interest I owe approximately $26,000. My husband borrowed an initial $40,000…..6 months out of school and he owes $56,000. We currently cannot afford to pay “interest only payments” on our loans…..needless to say, Sallie Mae is not very eager to assist in any way. I’ve had several phone calls end by them telling me that “if I’m not calling to make a payment then there is no point in continuing further conversations”. The term loan shark comes to mind……I’m waiting for any day now a guy with slicked-back hair in a leather jacket to come to our door with a baseball bat and demand we pay in full or else……any day now…. WE NEED REFORM!!!!!!!

I started undergrad in 2004, finished in 4 years with my bachelors. I had scholarships and Florida bright futures so fortunately I didn’t have to take out too significant of a loan…at least my first 2 years of school. But once I started in my major (Athletic Training) I wasn’t able to work enough to support myself so had to take out loans to help with cost of living. Didn’t spend outside of my means, used the loans wisely. Overall I left undergrad with about $15,000 in loans.

I immediately started a graduate school following graduation, I fortunately had a sports medicine graduate assistantship so my tuition was waived. However, since I worked in a Division I athletics program, I generally worked about 60 hours a week plus had full time classes. My “stipend” was only $8500 per year (for 2 years), which after books/parking passes didn’t leave much left for things like paying rent or buying food….definitely didn’t leave anything to pay towards under loans. Needless to say they stayed in deferment for the 2 years of grad school. I was living in “poverty” level….however, since I was considered a “work-study” student, I didn’t qualify for any type of assistance. I took out two small loans totaling $3000 to help with basic costs of living, since I worked too many hours and was unable to pick up part-time jobs.

Now, a year and half following graduation from grad school I’m working an average job. I make $34,000 with a masters degree, which is a somewhat normal salary for an athletic trainer. My husband finished school this past March and is unemployed, avidly seeking work in the Civil engineering field. I borrowed an initial $18,000…..only a year and a half out of school, with accrued interest I owe approximately $26,000. My husband borrowed an initial $40,000…..6 months out of school and he owes $56,000. We currently cannot afford to pay “interest only payments” on our loans…..needless to say, Sallie Mae is not very eager to assist in any way. I’ve had several phone calls end by them telling me that “if I’m not calling to make a payment then there is no point in continuing further conversations”. The term loan shark comes to mind……I’m waiting for any day now a guy with slicked-back hair in a leather jacket to come to our door with a baseball bat and demand we pay in full or else……any day now….

WE NEED REFORM!!!!!!!