2/8     I'm a second year PhD students. I get funding as an RA ($1000 a month)
        but my living expense is much greater. My rent is $800/month, plus
                                \_ "PhD student".  Also, "books" below?
                                   What subject area?  Where are you living?
                                   A change in living arrangement could do it
                                   for you.  Get a roommate?  Those might be
                                   able to solve your problem without a loan
                                   and without taking more work on.
        utility, book, transportation, FOOD, etc etc. Everything just adds up.
        I'm starting to run low on my savings account and I'm wondering what
        other options I have. I missed the NSF deadline and I can't really
        count on scholarships. Can I take a low or no interest rate
        educational loan somewhere? Like Fannie Mae or Perkins or whatever?
        I've never taken a loan in my life and I don't know anything about it.
        Any pointer you can give me would be great. Thanks!
        \_ join the Cal Band and move into the band house. that will save
           rent money and food money.
           \_ wanna see him stick his flute in his pussy?
        \_ As you can see by the responses, you've come to the wrong place.
           Even UC Berkeley has counselors for its students. They are not great
           but they will be more helpful than asking on the Soda motd. Go get
           help. -- ulysses
        \_ TA'ing isn't *that* bad.  Ask around and find out which TA jobs
           have the best pay/work ratio.  Look into tutoring positions also.
           I knew a guy who was making 30k/year as a grad student from his
           TAing and tutoring plus his research stipend by the time he
           graduated.  Of course, he wasn't getting jack shit done for
           research, but he had a family to support, and he finished his
           PhD and got a good job anyway.
           \_ Plus, if you like the material and know it well, TAing can be a
              lot of fun.  Best job I ever had (aside from the pay).
              \_ It probably depends a lot on what kind of school you're at.
                 Most TA jobs I know of are mostly grading, which is not
                 particularly hard, but not exactly that exciting either.
                 \_ OP is talking about being able to *EAT*, not exciting
                    money making opportunities.
                    \_ If you're getting a graduate degree in a technical
                       field from an American university and you're seriously
                       too dumb to figure out how to feed yourself, why
                       not let evolution take its course?  Does the world
                       really need another PhD with no common sense?
                        \_ dude chill out. Everyone knows that PhDs are
                           really good at theoretical shit that no one really
                           cares about and they really suck at coding/sys
                           adm/installation/managing money and other things
                           in life. Show some pity for them, sheesh
                           \_ I *am* a PhD student.  I'm making enough
                              money from TAing to pay off my undergrad loans,
                              and have a very comfortable lifestyle.  It's
                              just not that hard.
                           \_ Heh. -- PhD student
                       \_ I agree with you in general but I'm just trying to
                          help OP since he's already breeding anyway.
        \_ talk to someone at your financial aid office. you may qualify
           for govt loans, private loans, or a combination.
        \_ Check out the sperm bank, easy couple hundred a month for not a
           lot of effort.
           \_ They'll just nail you later with paternity suits.
           \_ Don't do it.  You don't want to be screwing your own hot babe
              daughters when you're about to die very rich.
              \_ if you're about to die, what does rich and poor have to do
                 with anything?
                 \_ If you're about to die poor, you think you'll find hot
                    babes jumping onto your bed?
        \_ For the record, you want a Sallie Mae loan. Fannie Mae is for
           buying houses.