Duke Grad Student Secretly Lived In a Van to Escape Loan Debt

[REDVAN]

Actually that van's my cousin, REDBLACKsVAN. He is hoping to become the mascot for the new Ottawa CFL team.

[Table 5]

There's something nice about living in this type of situation. I remember when I moved to NY for grad school, I had no furniture apart from a little table I found on the street, and slept on the floor in a sleeping bag for the first year. The second year, I bought an air mattress. It was kind of liberating.....but I sure appreciated the futon that I got in year 3!

Student debt in the US can get out of control really quickly. I remember my grad school tuition was something like 35k a year....but was fortunate enough to have parental help. I have more than a few friends who have debts that go into the 6 digits. A good friend of mine is in her 40s now and still has something like 120k to pay off....that's what 6 years of private-college and an average income gets you. If you're not in a field that pays great, I'm not sure it's really worth it to most people.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I just don't think they want 1,000 other students getting the same idea and setting up a village of squatters on the campus.

They could market their University as 'Van Village Friendly.'

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

There's something nice about living in this type of situation. I remember when I moved to NY for grad school, I had no furniture apart from a little table I found on the street, and slept on the floor in a sleeping bag for the first year. The second year, I bought an air mattress. It was kind of liberating.....but I sure appreciated the futon that I got in year 3!

Student debt in the US can get out of control really quickly. I remember my grad school tuition was something like 35k a year....but was fortunate enough to have parental help. I have more than a few friends who have debts that go into the 6 digits. A good friend of mine is in her 40s now and still has something like 120k to pay off....that's what 6 years of private-college and an average income gets you. If you're not in a field that pays great, I'm not sure it's really worth it to most people.

One of the things I like about this story is that once again; 'Necessity is the mother of invention.'

When you're a broke student, you get really creative and I like those stories because I've been there. That gifted futon or box of KD is like winning the lottery.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Table 5

There's something nice about living in this type of situation. I remember when I moved to NY for grad school, I had no furniture apart from a little table I found on the street, and slept on the floor in a sleeping bag for the first year. The second year, I bought an air mattress. It was kind of liberating.....but I sure appreciated the futon that I got in year 3!

Student debt in the US can get out of control really quickly. I remember my grad school tuition was something like 35k a year....but was fortunate enough to have parental help. I have more than a few friends who have debts that go into the 6 digits. A good friend of mine is in her 40s now and still has something like 120k to pay off....that's what 6 years of private-college and an average income gets you. If you're not in a field that pays great, I'm not sure it's really worth it to most people.

How often did you awake to a roach crawling across your face?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Locke

One of the things I like about this story is that once again; 'Necessity is the mother of invention.'

When you're a broke student, you get really creative and I like those stories because I've been there. That gifted futon or box of KD is like winning the lottery.

Yeah, you definitely appreciate the small victories much more. At that age, you don't really know better, and even if you do, you don't care that much because you're too busy having the time of your life. I would never trade those first few years in NY for anything. But having said that...I'm glad to be past that part of my life.

I feel like the ones who get hit hard are the kids who drive a Land Rover around in high school and have already lived the good life because of their parents. There's no place for them to go but down or sideways.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by valo403

How often did you awake to a roach crawling across your face?

None that I can recall....although it doesn't mean it didn't happen. My roommate woke up once with a roach in his ear, ha.

We did have a a ton of mice though. They were easy to catch though because we had no furniture so they had no place to hide. So it was just me running around with a bucket, trapping them, and then throwing them down the garbage chute.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

great and tuition is...

From the article in the OP:

He was determined to find a liberal arts program affordable enough to pay his way as he went. He settled on Duke, which charged about $2,500/semester.

I was surprised to read that tuition was so cheap. I thought the cost of higher education in the US was completely out of control, but that's comparable (or perhaps slightly less) than what I was paying when I was an undergrad at a Canadian university over a decade ago.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, you definitely appreciate the small victories much more. At that age, you don't really know better, and even if you do, you don't care that much because you're too busy having the time of your life. I would never trade those first few years in NY for anything. But having said that...I'm glad to be past that part of my life.

I feel like the ones who get hit hard are the kids who drive a Land Rover around in high school and have already lived the good life because of their parents. There's no place for them to go but down or sideways.

Hahaha! Exactly! When I went to High School a kid got an Escalade as a graduation present. For graduating HIGH SCHOOL! Honestly one of the easiest things you will ever accomplish.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

From the article in the OP:



I was surprised to read that tuition was so cheap. I thought the cost of higher education in the US was completely out of control, but that's comparable (or perhaps slightly less) than what I was paying when I was an undergrad at a Canadian university over a decade ago.

He must have been getting quite a bit of financial assistance via grants, etc. Ungergrad tuition & fees for the upcoming academic year is over $43k. Grad school is likely more than that.

Duke Tuition & Fees

[Temporary_User]

During my university days I always thought about giving this a go. Unfortunately I went to school up here in Alberta where living in your car throughout the winter months is not too feasible.

[GGG]

There were always a few people in my engineering program you were pretty sure were living on campus. Between tHe lounges, empty class rooms, study rooms, steam tunnels etc I am surprised there isnt more of a homeless student culture.