Wake Forest 2010 Forum

[moandersen]

damn $425 for a 1 bedroom apartment??? I pay $500 to share a room in a 3BR Duplex in which all rooms are shared (Total Rent $3000/mo). ive never had enough money to afford my own room here, not even when i was on my parent's $

While cheaper housing is awesome (I live in Chicago), Im worried how much of a pay cut my fiance will take if we decide on WF. Currently our combined income is comfortable at over 100k, and with me obviously not working while in ls, it will be her job supporting us during those three years. Not going to lie, Im a little scared at how little the going rate is in the winston-salem area.

[kalvano]

What does she do?

[moandersen]

What does she do?

Shes a high school chem/biochem teacher (also certified in bio), has her masters, and has 3 years teaching experience at a top chicago hs. So shes definitely marketable anywhere in the country considering her credentials, but we quickly glanced at teacher salaries in NC and saw 37k huge pay cut if thats the case - though we are praying its wrong.

[S de Garmeaux]

What does she do?

Shes a high school chem/biochem teacher (also certified in bio), has her masters, and has 3 years teaching experience at a top chicago hs. So shes definitely marketable anywhere in the country considering her credentials, but we quickly glanced at teacher salaries in NC and saw 37k huge pay cut if thats the case - though we are praying its wrong.

I imagine the Chicago teachers unions are much better for teachers than those in NC

[kalvano]

What does she do?

Shes a high school chem/biochem teacher (also certified in bio), has her masters, and has 3 years teaching experience at a top chicago hs. So shes definitely marketable anywhere in the country considering her credentials, but we quickly glanced at teacher salaries in NC and saw 37k huge pay cut if thats the case - though we are praying its wrong.

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

[moandersen]

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

wow, thats incredibly depressing......

[missvik218]

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

wow, thats incredibly depressing......

I think that's what it's like in most medium sized towns in America no?! Teachers where I grew up made about 35k - 40k I believe.

[sotomayor]

what's the deal with administrative/committee review? i was in committee review on 1/22 and i just switched to committee review today.

[moandersen]

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

wow, thats incredibly depressing......

I think that's what it's like in most medium sized towns in America no?! Teachers where I grew up made about 35k - 40k I believe.

I think 35k-40k starting out (read: fresh out of ug) is reasonable, no doubt. If you go to the burbs to teach, its ridiculous how much more they make than those teaching in the city though.

Im just trying to wrap my brain around how to make ends meet for two people on just 40k/year and its just not computing at the moment because Im thinking of Chicago's CoL. Maybe after our visit, ill understand a little better.

[84Sunbird2000]

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

wow, thats incredibly depressing......

I think that's what it's like in most medium sized towns in America no?! Teachers where I grew up made about 35k - 40k I believe.

I think 35k-40k starting out (read: fresh out of ug) is reasonable, no doubt. If you go to the burbs to teach, its ridiculous how much more they make than those teaching in the city though.

Im just trying to wrap my brain around how to make ends meet for two people on just 40k/year and its just not computing at the moment because Im thinking of Chicago's CoL. Maybe after our visit, ill understand a little better.

I'll try to throw you a monthly budget really quick (and, of course, I assume you aren't including tuition as part of that):

2 BR Apartment - $400-$600 (Random Sample) --LinkRemoved--
Cable/Internet/Utils- $150
Food - $300
Car Insurance - $50
Renter's Insurance - $20 (?)
Gasoline - $100
Personal Expenses - $150
Health Insurance - $250 (I'd assume you could get it through the student plan somehow for cheap if the union had a crappy plan)

That would be $1420-$1620. I'd assume she would take home about $2200/month after taxes. I think you could do it very comfortably.

[kalvano]

Im thinking of Chicago's CoL.

That's your problem.

[mytwocents]

No, my wife is a teacher. It's around $35K - $40K.

But it's much cheaper to live in NC than in Chicago.

wow, thats incredibly depressing......

I think that's what it's like in most medium sized towns in America no?! Teachers where I grew up made about 35k - 40k I believe.

I think 35k-40k starting out (read: fresh out of ug) is reasonable, no doubt. If you go to the burbs to teach, its ridiculous how much more they make than those teaching in the city though.

Im just trying to wrap my brain around how to make ends meet for two people on just 40k/year and its just not computing at the moment because Im thinking of Chicago's CoL. Maybe after our visit, ill understand a little better.

It's much, much cheaper to live here, trust me. My parents (with me included, as I'm staying with them temporarily) live on ~$40,000 a year, maybe slightly less...and while they're by no means rich, they're also not in the poor house either. They're able to pay their bills just fine without living incredibly cheaply. We live about an hour from Winston-Salem. That salary would be a little rough if you're used to +$100,000 a year, but it'd only be for three years, right?

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

[LSATfromNC]

My wife is also a highschool science teacher. Looks like they may possibly be each others competition

[d-cannon]

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

Private schools pay significantly less than public schools.

[moandersen]

My wife is also a highschool science teacher. Looks like they may possibly be each others competition

or friends? Looks like you have committed to wf already. I still have 6 schools to hear from, but if i get some $ from wf, its shooting to the top (or almost the top) of my list.

[mytwocents]

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

Private schools pay significantly less than public schools.

For some reason, that's really surprising. But also, I obviously didn't know what I was talking about...haha

[Muddy]

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

Private schools pay significantly less than public schools.

what? i cannot figure that one. maybe after benefits are included to the public teachers' salaries?

You’ll find many private school teachers also have their children enrolled there. The private schools pay less than the public schools, but they allow the teachers’ children to enroll with drastically reduced tuition. Many families find this to be worth it.

[d-cannon]

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

Private schools pay significantly less than public schools.

what? i cannot figure that one. maybe after benefits are included to the public teachers' salaries?

Many private schools were started with a large endowment. Tuition may cover 60-70% of a school's overhead. The most important job of most private school Presidents is fund raising. If a public school in a certain locale is paying $35K plus benefits to recent college grads, a private school in the same area MIGHT pay $25K, with inferior benefits.

I purchased a 40,000 sq ft school for a steal and looked into options for it. I interviewed the admin leaders at various private, charter, and public schools. I was rather surprised at the deficit faced by private schools with $10K/yr tuition x several hundred students.

[d-cannon]

Also, maybe your wife could teach at a private school? I know public school teachers here in NC don't make much, but I have no idea about private school teachers. I could see them making more. With her credentials, I say she'd have at least a decent shot at getting a job at a private school, but I don't know much about teaching/the education system, so take that with a grain of salt.

Private schools pay significantly less than public schools.

what? i cannot figure that one. maybe after benefits are included to the public teachers' salaries?

You’ll find many private school teachers also have their children enrolled there. The private schools pay less than the public schools, but they allow the teachers’ children to enroll with drastically reduced tuition. Many families find this to be worth it.

Also, teachers at a private school may deal with a more engaged (dare I say, enjoyable?) audience. Money is not the only motivator for some people. Many private school teachers report a higher job satisfaction than public school teachers... similar to public service vs a firm job for JD holders, maybe?

[sticknbindle]

who's comin on friday?

[kalvano]

who's comin on friday?

That'd be me. We leave D/FW tomorrow afternoon, fly in to Raleigh.

Up to Lexington, VA on Thursday, WF on Friday. See the town and whatnot in between.

[tstyler98]

who's comin on friday?

I'll be there. I'm driving over Thursday afternoon and will come home on Saturday. Can't wait!

[d-cannon]

Anyone going on the 15th?

[Nicholasnickynic]

I'm going on the 15th. Me and the fiancee plan on bumming around downtown afterwards. Should be a fun day =)

[sotomayor]

what's the deal with administrative/committee review? i was in committee review on 1/22 and i just switched to committee review today.

?