By NotCollegeBound - 20/08/2015 07:21 - United States - Butler

Today, after working incredibly hard to get into college without having to take out loans, classes started. I was told we'll need a $200 piece of software, and we'll fail without it. There's no way I can afford it. FML
I agree, your life sucks 26 899
You deserved it 2 190

NotCollegeBound tells us more.

NotCollegeBound 17

Hey guys, OP here! I did consider pirating the software but I know there's a good chance of running into buggy software if I do so, and I'd rather not have to scramble to find something else if it quits on me in the middle of a lesson. The instructor's looking to see if there are any computers on-campus that already have the software installed, but that ruins the point of taking online classes, and there's no guarantee that even if she finds some, they'll be available on the days that I can get there. It turns out I'm going to need the software again for two more classes, though I can take them both in the same semester to make it easier on myself. I can also rent it for about $20/month, which is probably going to be the option we take once we can shift some of the bills around. I'm going to need it this semester (my first) and in my third semester, so it'll help save some of the cost. On the upside, though, it means we'll be using the same textbook for all three classes, so there's a little money saved there as well. I really think that the biggest suck was not telling us beforehand, because my husband and I had the money a few weeks ago. When we discovered that it was extra money, we decided to drop our 1-year-old off at my grandparents' and take ourselves out on a long-awaited (as in, we hadn't been out since before our daughter was born) date night. If I had known that I would need that money for the software, you can guarantee that we would have saved it!

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Top comments

jjmack34 15

Loans might be needed in this situation.

256 6
hiitisbrooke 28

Don't actually listen to me I give terrible advice

138 1

Comments

corky1992 33

I hate how professors wait to give info like that..give students fair warning so they can figure something out before hand.

4 1
nitemastr15 17

So get the loan. At least it would only be for $200. Better than spending all that work for nothing.

2 2
mrlawlor7777 26

I hate the people that say the professor waited so long to tell you. The first day (week?) of class was too long? Most professors have extra items/costs on the syllabus. In my experience, about 90% of students don't read it.

1 12
corky1992 33

It's nice to know before the class actually starts. Not everyone has the extra money laying around to go out and get what they need. Now this person has to scramble around to come up with the money to avoid failing the class.

6 0
mrlawlor7777 26

As a professor, I put my syllabus online about a week before class. I know a lot of others do the same. If someone was that worried about money, they can always ask his/her teachers about expenses. I have 0 sympathy for OP because she boasted about not needing loans, yet she did. Just go get a student loan. You could pay it off in the next few months if you really don't want it.

1 13
corky1992 33

You may do that and a lot of other professors you know, but not all of them do. I've personally never had that much of an issue. If I did it was always something cheap, but I've heard of others having issues. I do agree though that if they don't bother to read the syllabus then it's their own fault.

3 0
mrlawlor7777 26

Your points are all fair. My main disagreement is with OP, not you. There are lots of "hidden expenses" in college. If she couldn't swing $200, then she wasn't prepared and needed loans. It's no big deal. I have loans, and so do most people.

3 2
HPCullen251 21

At my school we can't see any of our classes or their content until the first day of classes. There is no way to see the syllabus ahead of time. It's possible that something similar happened in OP's situation.

0 0
NotCollegeBound 17

That's exactly what happened. Because I'm taking online courses, we weren't able to log in to the online program until the day classes started (it would give you an error message if you tried). We weren't given any printouts about the classes beforehand either, except the class schedule.

5 0
JKPwnage 27

This is why I don't want to go to college unless I move to Sweden, Switzerland, UK, or any other good country

6 8
snazzymcwho 21

I don't get how this is down voted. It's true. US education system benefits the privileged.

3 1
DrFood 8

It really should benefit the smartest ones, I think it's terrible when some of the smartest people are either killed by debt or can't go to college because they don't have the money

2 1
phreaker913 21

perhaps one should look into what classes one is taking, and the tools needed for said classess, before one enrolls in said class

1 0
worldclassrager 39

Some torrents are clean but it is true that some may have viruses attached to them... Maybe a small loan from your parents would establish it instead of renting...many things I had to download I still enjoy playing around with

0 0
smoothies14 32

Small loans are excellent for your credit and easy to get for school. I was fortunate to get scholarships that covered most the cost of my schooling and didn't have to take out loans. Unfortunately, this also means I'm about to graduate and I have no credit while trying to get an apartment and start a life.

0 2
vb68_fml 28

Come on don't give up! You seem to be living in the U.S. So with a part time job you will earn 200$ in no time. In some country it would take you a year. After what you went through I can't believe you would give up college for 200$, NEVER GIVE UP kid! You can do it

2 1