Ok, here it goes. I will be starting grad school this fall and it is not going to be cheap. I have been saving as much as possible and have already taken some loans out that are covering almost all of the projected expense for the upcoming year. But I will still be around 10grand short of the projected amount.
A few weeks ago I decided that I would ask my office for financial assistance since I have nothing to loose by doing so. Before asking my boss and the partners, I first decided to speak with our office manager who has been with the company for over 10 years to pick her brain and see how she felt about the matter. She told me that nobody has ever done it at our office because no one has ever worked there and gone back to school yet so she did not know how to respond but she also said that she thought it was a great idea and that I should go for it as I have nothing to loose.
The idea that I pitched to her was that I was going to propose to the partners to establish a scholarship fund that would be awarded annually to a local student at one of the two universities that have arch. programs. She thought it would be a great idea and so do I, of course me being the first to get the award.
So my little dilemma is: what other idea can I pitch or another to ask without just plain asking. I feel that since I am leaving the office and will be in another state, then they have nothing to benefit from by just giving me money other than a tax write off for a donation. Have any of you done this sort of thing before? H E L P..
tell them you hate bricks...
otherwise, just admit that when you go to grad school you'll end up never sleeping, being flat broke, your girlfriend/boyfriend will dump you, you'll lose weight (all the important stuff), you'll cease to be a human in any aspect, and no one will even care when you're done. so hopefully and fortunately your firm will take you back on when you finish.
tell them that, and that you've accepted all of that, and that you hope that all of that might make you more useful to them when you're done. between tissue/tear breaks, they'll give you all the money you need.
if they don't, then be very afraid.
because you're working for homicidal androids.
If you suspect they may be homicidal androids, trying beating them with a toaster. Whether or not they actually are androids, you can bet your job situation will have sorted it self out.
i was in a meeting once years age with my boss and some developers and we were waiting for a few other people to arrive so it was still small talk time. anyhow, after being introduce to the developer as the "bright young man who will be going to grad school in the fall" the conversation shifted to my boss's family and he was bragging about how his son had finished business school and was now working for a company that had sent him back to school and was footing the entire bill for a phd in business that he was working on. the developer smiled and suggested to my boss that something similar should be arranged for me. i didn't say anything but my boss made a very funny face, grumbled something and then changed the conversation. a priceless moment indeed. needless to say, i didn't ask them for any education expenses and i have no intent of returning to that office.
heterarchy, our orbits crossed few months ago on the same subject of grad school $urvival. finally, we're in the same situation: 10k short.
both partners at the archi firm i was working for were quite sympathetic and supportive. smiley looks, questions, raise to stay, come back anytime, chit-chat... having broken the ice, the PHASE 2 was launched; bringing it through humour, anticipating the question of $, I waited for the appropriate moment to float the potential of any assistance. Didn't get to it. Laughing pre-emptivelly, one of the bosses simply said 'Too bad we can't offer you any help'... end of the story. maybe I could have retried, but...
not many private offices seem to be willing to do that, but you don't loose much by asking.
I joined a firm on the agenda that they would support my education, though this was not Architecture. The firm were Project Managers (PM) and Quantity Surveyors (QS), and me a Psychologist/Ergonomist.
I had worked as a QS for a year, and wanted to move into PM. They signed off for a two-year part-time Masters in PM, at a premier Architecture school. Shortly after I took a roasting from a director for going PM instead of QS (the QS option that they wanted me to take was at Britain's worst university), and not long after that I was invited to resign, four months into a two year course...
They did cover my university fees for the whole of the first year, but this leaves me in limbo between new employer, fees, time off, quitting the course etc.
I wanted to take a construction cost estimating class on a Saturday at the community college (on my own time) and asked for the company to pay for it. "No."
Would they pay for half of it? "No, money's tight."
I could've footed the $100 bill myself, but was so peeved by then I didn't want to improve myself to their advantage.
Did I do the right thing? My last 3 cost estimates were not too far off, knock on wood, but it doesn't mean I know shit about cost estimating or take-offs. But what architects do?
The moral? Architecture stands in a class by itself when it comes to taking care of it's own. - Puddles, that story is classic, I love it when that "uncomfortableness" comes around, grumble then change the subject!
not to squash your hopes but it takes a tremendous amount of time, $$ and effort to set up a scholarship (it can vary depending on what kind of scholarship it is you want to set up). it's taken us 2 years + to get ours rolling.
I want to thank all of you for your words of advice..I thought about it and did not hand in the proposal on monday. I just had a bad feeling. I did however informally ask one of the partners about the company's policy on assisting students who return to school.
Well, he spoke to me today about it and told me that although they have paid for continuing ed classes and other refresher courses they have not done so for someone leaving the office and going back to school. He did offer me the opportunity to return and told me that I would be making significantly more money. That was refreshing but he could of just have been saying it to be nice. And I am not sure that I want to return and work there. So my gut feeling was right. He also told me "I don't blame you for asking, I would have done the same"..So, nothing lost and I may have avoided an uncortable situation. Thanks again all.
I had actually thought about that option in 02' But my brother is a Marine and would not let me live it down if I went to the Army and the Corp don't have a Corp of Engineers.
play online poker, it took somet time to figure it out, and you will loose money at the beginning learning, but I've averaged 50 dollars an hour for the past year doing it
I've put myself through school twice, waiting tables is the easiest way to big money. Other than that, look into other scholarships, I don't know of any company that would be cool enough to hand over a wad of money like you're proposing, though the idea is nice...
it's wildly distasteful but has anyone ever proposed corporate sponsorship. like basically, you'd put 'AOL-Timer Warner', or 'Viagra' on your presenation boards, work space, and computer monitor. sounds whore-ish, it is. but it's better than paying $1000 a month for 20 years to pay back loans.
I need some feedback/ideas.
Ok, here it goes. I will be starting grad school this fall and it is not going to be cheap. I have been saving as much as possible and have already taken some loans out that are covering almost all of the projected expense for the upcoming year. But I will still be around 10grand short of the projected amount.
A few weeks ago I decided that I would ask my office for financial assistance since I have nothing to loose by doing so. Before asking my boss and the partners, I first decided to speak with our office manager who has been with the company for over 10 years to pick her brain and see how she felt about the matter. She told me that nobody has ever done it at our office because no one has ever worked there and gone back to school yet so she did not know how to respond but she also said that she thought it was a great idea and that I should go for it as I have nothing to loose.
The idea that I pitched to her was that I was going to propose to the partners to establish a scholarship fund that would be awarded annually to a local student at one of the two universities that have arch. programs. She thought it would be a great idea and so do I, of course me being the first to get the award.
So my little dilemma is: what other idea can I pitch or another to ask without just plain asking. I feel that since I am leaving the office and will be in another state, then they have nothing to benefit from by just giving me money other than a tax write off for a donation. Have any of you done this sort of thing before? H E L P..
I thank you all in advance.
tell them you'll sign an extended contract with them when you're finished and work X amount of years with them if they help you.
tell them you hate bricks...
otherwise, just admit that when you go to grad school you'll end up never sleeping, being flat broke, your girlfriend/boyfriend will dump you, you'll lose weight (all the important stuff), you'll cease to be a human in any aspect, and no one will even care when you're done. so hopefully and fortunately your firm will take you back on when you finish.
tell them that, and that you've accepted all of that, and that you hope that all of that might make you more useful to them when you're done. between tissue/tear breaks, they'll give you all the money you need.
if they don't, then be very afraid.
because you're working for homicidal androids.
If you suspect they may be homicidal androids, trying beating them with a toaster. Whether or not they actually are androids, you can bet your job situation will have sorted it self out.
i was in a meeting once years age with my boss and some developers and we were waiting for a few other people to arrive so it was still small talk time. anyhow, after being introduce to the developer as the "bright young man who will be going to grad school in the fall" the conversation shifted to my boss's family and he was bragging about how his son had finished business school and was now working for a company that had sent him back to school and was footing the entire bill for a phd in business that he was working on. the developer smiled and suggested to my boss that something similar should be arranged for me. i didn't say anything but my boss made a very funny face, grumbled something and then changed the conversation. a priceless moment indeed. needless to say, i didn't ask them for any education expenses and i have no intent of returning to that office.
good luck.
you could suggest that you'll work for them through the summers and other breaks from school?
toaster. yes. the missing variable in the equation!!! :)
dig the anecdote puddles, very cool.
heterarchy, our orbits crossed few months ago on the same subject of grad school $urvival. finally, we're in the same situation: 10k short.
both partners at the archi firm i was working for were quite sympathetic and supportive. smiley looks, questions, raise to stay, come back anytime, chit-chat... having broken the ice, the PHASE 2 was launched; bringing it through humour, anticipating the question of $, I waited for the appropriate moment to float the potential of any assistance. Didn't get to it. Laughing pre-emptivelly, one of the bosses simply said 'Too bad we can't offer you any help'... end of the story. maybe I could have retried, but...
not many private offices seem to be willing to do that, but you don't loose much by asking.
I joined a firm on the agenda that they would support my education, though this was not Architecture. The firm were Project Managers (PM) and Quantity Surveyors (QS), and me a Psychologist/Ergonomist.
I had worked as a QS for a year, and wanted to move into PM. They signed off for a two-year part-time Masters in PM, at a premier Architecture school. Shortly after I took a roasting from a director for going PM instead of QS (the QS option that they wanted me to take was at Britain's worst university), and not long after that I was invited to resign, four months into a two year course...
They did cover my university fees for the whole of the first year, but this leaves me in limbo between new employer, fees, time off, quitting the course etc.
The moral?
Buggered if I know.
I wanted to take a construction cost estimating class on a Saturday at the community college (on my own time) and asked for the company to pay for it. "No."
Would they pay for half of it? "No, money's tight."
I could've footed the $100 bill myself, but was so peeved by then I didn't want to improve myself to their advantage.
Did I do the right thing? My last 3 cost estimates were not too far off, knock on wood, but it doesn't mean I know shit about cost estimating or take-offs. But what architects do?
The moral? Architecture stands in a class by itself when it comes to taking care of it's own. - Puddles, that story is classic, I love it when that "uncomfortableness" comes around, grumble then change the subject!
honorthebrick - sorry I don't have direct feedback. good luck. let us know how it turns out.
not to squash your hopes but it takes a tremendous amount of time, $$ and effort to set up a scholarship (it can vary depending on what kind of scholarship it is you want to set up). it's taken us 2 years + to get ours rolling.
you might just ask them for the cash out right.
I want to thank all of you for your words of advice..I thought about it and did not hand in the proposal on monday. I just had a bad feeling. I did however informally ask one of the partners about the company's policy on assisting students who return to school.
Well, he spoke to me today about it and told me that although they have paid for continuing ed classes and other refresher courses they have not done so for someone leaving the office and going back to school. He did offer me the opportunity to return and told me that I would be making significantly more money. That was refreshing but he could of just have been saying it to be nice. And I am not sure that I want to return and work there. So my gut feeling was right. He also told me "I don't blame you for asking, I would have done the same"..So, nothing lost and I may have avoided an uncortable situation. Thanks again all.
Enlist in the Arrmy fo a tour of duty. For some reason, the signing bonuses are getting up there + the college fund is da bomb.
Or, you could go drive a truck for Halliburton, just get Mom to send you some body armour.
Look at it this way, you've got a better chance of surviving Bush-War2 than you do @ getting education money from an Arch firm.
I had actually thought about that option in 02' But my brother is a Marine and would not let me live it down if I went to the Army and the Corp don't have a Corp of Engineers.
yeah, good luck. The only way I'd think they'd do it would be to sign away your life, after school, to their hands.
Just borrow the money. It's what we do. ;-)
play online poker, it took somet time to figure it out, and you will loose money at the beginning learning, but I've averaged 50 dollars an hour for the past year doing it
I've put myself through school twice, waiting tables is the easiest way to big money. Other than that, look into other scholarships, I don't know of any company that would be cool enough to hand over a wad of money like you're proposing, though the idea is nice...
it's wildly distasteful but has anyone ever proposed corporate sponsorship. like basically, you'd put 'AOL-Timer Warner', or 'Viagra' on your presenation boards, work space, and computer monitor. sounds whore-ish, it is. but it's better than paying $1000 a month for 20 years to pay back loans.
there ya go - whore yourself out for money and have fun while you are doing it!
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.