Thread: How do students with families do it?

Hey all,
After researching the cost of living on the island with a family it seems almost imposssible to be done without the contribution of spousal income. According to the financial aid office the maximum expected cost of attendance is about 63,800 per year. Thus if one takes out tuition (approx 43,500 per year) one is left with about 1600 a month for all other expenses?!? I think I just need some feedback from other students with families...how do ya'll do it? How much on average does living on the island with a family cost per month? Do loans actually exceed the amount that the financial aid office told me? Do your spouses pull in other income to make up for the need? It seems 2 bedroom apartments are very expensive....any info will help.
Thanks...

Originally Posted by Hummelcool

Hey all,
After researching the cost of living on the island with a family it seems almost imposssible to be done without the contribution of spousal income. According to the financial aid office the maximum expected cost of attendance is about 63,800 per year. Thus if one takes out tuition (approx 43,500 per year) one is left with about 1600 a month for all other expenses?!? I think I just need some feedback from other students with families...how do ya'll do it? How much on average does living on the island with a family cost per month? Do loans actually exceed the amount that the financial aid office told me? Do your spouses pull in other income to make up for the need? It seems 2 bedroom apartments are very expensive....any info will help.
Thanks...

You can get get 63K every 2 semesters not year. 5th semester is cheap. Semesters 1-4 are 14500. You will have a ton of money left.

If you take out the maximum amount you will have about 14,500-15,000 left over per semester after tuition is taken out.

I know that a lot of students with families are on a pretty tight budget. As AUC only gives them the same allowance for federal loans as a single student (Not fair IMO), some end up taking out private loans to fill the gap.

I did perfectly fine with my family (wife, daughter, dog). Had more than enough every semester to live on, and even managed to save a good bit. If you are smart with your money, the loans you get every semester are perfectly sufficient.

Depends on whether you need to send kids to school. If not, the loans perfectly adequate to cover a reasonably comfortable lifestyle for a family of four. If you need school or day care, having some savings helps...

Take it one day at a time. Could consider home schooling. Budget groceries and other living expenses. You'll make it.

Like everyone said it is more than possible. I am a third semester here with a wife and 2 yr old son. We are able to live off only the loans provided. the spouses org here is great, you should get in touch with someone, or if you need help finding someone let me know.

I have been thinking about the same question as I'm planning to attend next summer(2011). I have two kids that will turn 11 and 6 years old. After research I've found that sending my kids to school there is very expensive. I do not even think public school is an option offered there for foreingner families who attend local schools.
The cost of living for a family with small kids(1-4 y/o) is less compare to families with school age children. I am still figuring out what to do with this siituation. My plan is to visit the island for a week in the Fall (2010) so I can assess the situation in place.

Leave your family in the states. Trust me. My grades went up 15% across the board 2nd semester when mine went home for 11 weeks. No reason to go home, so I stayed at the library more.