College graduate moving to Philly (soon to be)

[Flyers420]

very true, damn. i still have a year to go and im already gettin nervous, cause i have no idea what im expecting

[OffenseTaken]

I actually work at perkins, a restaurant here in johnstown and there actually is one of them at drexel hill. I been trained to prep/bake/dish and a bit of manager skills. So if i can transfer i would have a job to hold for a while while i look into sociology jobs. im pretty open right now to get into maybe a welfare job or something for a while until i find a higher paying job. but we will see how it goes, id like to move to washington square. so it would be a short bus ride to drexel.

I don't quite understand what you mean by "welfare job," although whatever it is it must be the pits. As for "sociology job," this could mean either of two things, neither one really a "job" (yet, at least):

• Graduate school. Jesus. Don't even think of doing this.
  
  
• Professional school. Probably an MSW, although there are sosh majors who go into law and management. MSW programs are by far the easiest to get into of these three, but the job you get afterward is, shall we say, less glamorous (required yearly TB testing says it all).

It sounds like what you're doing at Perkins isn't what you want to be doing until retirement, so it's good to set your sights on something more ambitious, and have a fallback. I'm not a career counselor (and in any case, a career counselor is not a random schmuck on the internet), but it's pretty clear that your ambitious plan should involve your Bachelor's degree in some way, and the fallback could draw on your experience in the restaurant business. So for example you might aim for a Clinical Social Work license, which has its own opportunities for advancement, and if that falls through you could still end up, say, managing a Starbucks. It's probably not what you dreamed of being as a little kid, but there are worse jobs.

Again, I have no idea whether you want to do either of those things: the important thing is that you should come here with some kind of plan, even a tentative one, for where you'll be five and ten years hence. People who move to the city right after graduating with a few K in savings just to "see what happens" often end up moving back to their hometown with nothing to show for it but bitterness. You don't want that happening!

[Flyers420]

I meant a welfare job as, maybe working at a welfare office to help people who live in poverty. i could do something along children youth services, about placing kids in foster homes.. but that is a bit more dangerous to say the least, that is what my mother does. Apparently people dont enjoy there kids being taken away lol. There are a few other areas of sociology i would be interested in becoming a clinical social worker like you suggested, maybe making sure the elderly or people who are hospitalized, find homes. Ya know, family social work stuff

[thoth]

People who move to the city right after graduating with a few K in savings just to "see what happens" often end up moving back to their hometown with nothing to show for it but bitterness. You don't want that happening!

Yeah but at the same time if you can set up even a crappy restaurant job and get a cheap apartment you can live perfectly reasonably without having to worry about the wolf at the door. If you don't mind roommates and living in a fringe neighborhood (like PB, East Kensington, West Powelton, my neighborhood) you can easily pay $250-350, or maybe even less, in rent. You could sell water on a highway ramp and scratch that together in a month. I agree with 3rd that the benefit of moving closer to major job centers as a recent grad will more than pay for itself in the long run through connections made and the ease of interviewing for multiple positions in a short time.

[redpinstripes]

i guess that didnt make sense, haha. Its like 75%private

You will have about 6 months after graduation before you need to start paying back the federal loans. You can arrange to defer them if you have to as well. You can also arrange for graduated repayment - you pay less at first and increased amounts later.

This will not likely be possible with your private loans. How badly do you need your car right now? It might be worth selling it now to avoid having to borrow more for your education.

[3rd&Brown]

You really just need to move out here. I have a feeling you're making career choices based on what you're exposed to, and you're really not exposed to all that much.

Get out here, get a good job waiting tables (this will let you network/interview during the day), get a cheap apartment with roommates so you can save some dough, then let the world be your oyster. I can think of a myriad of jobs in this region that you'd be eligible for at an entry level even with a Sociology degree. You're putting yourself into a box, for sure. I mean, you could work for a cultural organization, work in fundraising at any numerous of our bajillion universities and cultural institutions (these jobs are awesome, btw), work in sales in virtually any industry (pharma, medical devices, media, etc), in the media, entry level in advertising, PR, and communications, and yes, social work. I mean, virtually every big company has "project coordinators" who work as liasons between functional and IT departments to move IT projects along. Do you think those people majored in "Project Coordination"? No, they majored in something completely random. But it's still a good stepping stone to something. I'm not saying it's easy to get ANY job, but you shouldn't preclude yourself because of your degree. At an entry level, companies are willing to train regardless of background, unless it's something very applied like engineering, computer science, or accounting.

You need to get out here, pound the pavement (which involves just as much socializing as it does formal networking) and do something.

You have TWO options in Johnstown. 1. County Work 2. Walmart. Seriously.

[Naveen]

You really just need to move out here. I have a feeling you're making career choices based on what you're exposed to, and you're really not exposed to all that much.

Get out here, get a good job waiting tables (this will let you network/interview during the day), get a cheap apartment with roommates so you can save some dough, then let the world be your oyster. I can think of a myriad of jobs in this region that you'd be eligible for at an entry level even with a Sociology degree. You're putting yourself into a box, for sure. I mean, you could work for a cultural organization, work in fundraising at any numerous of our bajillion universities and cultural institutions (these jobs are awesome, btw), work in sales in virtually any industry (pharma, medical devices, media, etc), in the media, entry level in advertising, PR, and communications, and yes, social work. I mean, virtually every big company has "project coordinators" who work as liasons between functional and IT departments to move IT projects along. Do you think those people majored in "Project Coordination"? No, they majored in something completely random. But it's still a good stepping stone to something. I'm not saying it's easy to get ANY job, but you shouldn't preclude yourself because of your degree. At an entry level, companies are willing to train regardless of background, unless it's something very applied like engineering, computer science, or accounting.

You need to get out here, pound the pavement (which involves just as much socializing as it does formal networking) and do something.

You have TWO options in Johnstown. 1. County Work 2. Walmart. Seriously.

This.

I know too many people who move home to save money and then gut stuck for a lot longer than expected. Some may move out of their parents' place but then never get out of the general area of "home".

Philly is ridiculously affordable for a cool, big city with lots of young people and a lot of things to do, espcially if you have a roommate. In fact, I'd seek out a roommate if you're not going to know many people in the city to begin with. Also, again speaking anecdotally, I have friends who are bartenders who own homes in decent neighborhoods. I'm not saying buy a house, I'm just point out, as many others have, how super-affordable this city is.

The advice from others is right, too, about looking for more than Perkins. Find a job in town at a good bar or restaurant where the bar/wait staff is young like-minded. You'll have way more fun than working at a family restaurant in the suburbs.

And no matter what you decide, do not go back to Johnstown.

[Flyers420]

I'm so glad I made a forum on here, you guys are inspirational ! I do have a very(small) network of friends, they dont live downtown, per se, Most live in west grove/avondale. but they go to flyers/phillies games frequently and lived close to philly all there lives, so at least i have something!

[OffenseTaken]

Yeah but at the same time if you can set up even a crappy restaurant job and get a cheap apartment you can live perfectly reasonably without having to worry about the wolf at the door. If you don't mind roommates and living in a fringe neighborhood (like PB, East Kensington, West Powelton, my neighborhood) you can easily pay $250-350, or maybe even less, in rent. You could sell water on a highway ramp and scratch that together in a month. I agree with 3rd that the benefit of moving closer to major job centers as a recent grad will more than pay for itself in the long run through connections made and the ease of interviewing for multiple positions in a short time.

Well, sure: right off, you've got to have something that pays the bills. I just mean that you've got to ask yourself, "What am I doing a year from now? Five years from now?" Because you don't want to get too complacent living in a studio on $5/hr plus tips, until one day you realize you're getting grey hair and you can't live as an ex-grad forever. There's got to be a long-term plan as well as an immediate one.

You will have about 6 months after graduation before you need to start paying back the federal loans. You can arrange to defer them if you have to as well.

You can't defer the payments after graduation unless you're enrolled at least half-time in a postgraduate program. You can forbear them, which means the interest still accrues. This distinction sounds trifling, but it can mean a difference of thousands.

Get out here, get a good job waiting tables (this will let you network/interview during the day), get a cheap apartment with roommates so you can save some dough, then let the world be your oyster. I can think of a myriad of jobs in this region that you'd be eligible for at an entry level even with a Sociology degree. You're putting yourself into a box, for sure. I mean, you could work for a cultural organization, work in fundraising at any numerous of our bajillion universities and cultural institutions (these jobs are awesome, btw), work in sales in virtually any industry (pharma, medical devices, media, etc), in the media, entry level in advertising, PR, and communications, and yes, social work. I mean, virtually every big company has "project coordinators" who work as liasons between functional and IT departments to move IT projects along. Do you think those people majored in "Project Coordination"? No, they majored in something completely random. But it's still a good stepping stone to something. I'm not saying it's easy to get ANY job, but you shouldn't preclude yourself because of your degree. At an entry level, companies are willing to train regardless of background, unless it's something very applied like engineering, computer science, or accounting.

You need to get out here, pound the pavement (which involves just as much socializing as it does formal networking) and do something.

I don't want to be the doom-and-gloom guy, but keep in mind that there's not a shortage of people with Bachelors degrees in sociology. Many of them will come from schools with exalted reputations. (That reputation doesn't have to be deserved; they might just be country clubs for rich kids. That's just the way it is, unfortunately. You're a sosh major though, so you know all about that!)

I'm not discounting 3rd&Brown's advice, which is good; I'm just saying, keep it in perspective. Maybe even a three-tier plan is needed: at best, you can pivot from sociology into something exciting and risky and potentially lucrative (the kind of thing you'll really only find in a big market like this). Then if you don't like the way that turns out, you can apply for a professional-degree program that isn't so sexy, but one that will let you earn decent money and do good for society. If that fails...fallback plan.

The key thing is, don't make just living in the big city your goal, because once you pull that off, it will get old fast. Set your sights on something more lasting.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Lastly, why the hell does your mom care? Is she paying for your college or for your car? You should tell her to shut her mouth, frankly. Good luck.

Jeez, kid--whatever you do, don't say this to your mother. My guess is that you're still living at home, with her? It wasn't clear in your details.

You were smart enough to come here and ask a few questions, you probably have enough smarts to figure out how to move, and do it with the stars removed from your eyes and withOUT hurting your mother's feelings. She's concerned and has plenty to worry about--it's normal and if you take your time with the explanations, she'll be on board with your move when it's time. And by take your time, I don't mean explain it to her slowly, like she's in 5th grade. But slowly, as in over the next several months while you finish school. In your explanations you should underscore that it's because you want to explore the other job opportunities that are here and do not exist where you currently live.

[OffenseTaken]

If you are still living at home then yeah, don't be an idiot, obviously. Be diplomatic. "Shut your damn mouth" is a last resort only.

[Flyers420]

thats true offensetaken, living in philly isnt my only goal, eventually id like to maybe live in the suburbs in 10 years and have a wife and kids to support.

even so, job wise, this is technically my 5th year in college, (changed my major many times), even back since high school i never really had a desire to work at a specific place, or have a dream job, i always just went with the flow, and whatever interested me in college classes lead me on a road towards something id like to do.

and yes i do still live with my mother, and i have mentioned several times to her about philly already, she is well aware. This week she just moved my brother into his college dorm, so she is a little shaken about that, cause i went away to a different college for 3 years. And yeah, i still have 16 months before id move. So as long as she is aware of it now, shes thinking about it and it wont be a big deal when it starts coming around.

That brings up another question, when should i start looking for housing if id want to move in say Jan 2014, next summer? or more towards oct/nov?

Thanks!

[OffenseTaken]

That brings up another question, when should i start looking for housing if id want to move in say Jan 2014, next summer? or more towards oct/nov?

Thanks!

The supply of rentals is at its tightest around this time of year, and even then, my GF and I found our current place on two weeks' notice. Start seriously looking a month and a half in advance and you'll be fine.

It sounds like your mom's the sheltering type, and I'm gonna guess she's got a picture of Philadelphia that is less than accurate. Don't worry though; you'll get a chance to show her what it's really like, even if she's freaking out at first.

[Flyers420]

Ok, i just checked now, i owe a total of 28k in federal, and 34k private. not including one extra semester of loans.

Welp, i feel terrible since i actually checked the numbers. 62k seems like a lot.

[thoth]

Ok, i just checked now, i owe a total of 28k in federal, and 34k private. not including one extra semester of loans.

Welp, i feel terrible since i actually checked the numbers. 62k seems like a lot.

Well, it's probably less than some, but yeah that's a lot. You can file for an income sensitive repayment plan on most of your fed loans, and then focus on the private.

[Flyers420]

That is a great idea, I can pay just interest for Feds with that plan. Since you have to apply for it every year that can keep me in check on how I'm doing financially a year after graduation.