Trials & Tribulations....

Never mind the financial worries I have, I now have my official "checklist" of things I need to do before entering onto the island of St-Kitt.


"Welcome to our upcoming January semester for 2011. Here is a checklist of next steps to help with your matriculation to St. Kitts.":

*Welcome packet received

*Submit seat deposit payment to secure your seat

*FAFSA online complete? (Our school code is: G 22779)

*Assign Financial Aid Counselor (via alphabet)

*Contact housing department:

 On campus: xxxxx@Rossvet.Edu. kn

 Off campus: xxxxxx@Rossvet.Edu.kn

(Children and pets off campus living only)

 To visit campus we need 3 week notice in advance. Contact MAC off campus at xxxx@rossvet.edu.kn

*Obtain good code of conduct letter or police report:  (local, county or state)

*Please book flight and forward information to NSC and Housing Directors ASAP 

*Book doctor’s appointment for Health Certificate:

 Hepatitis A and B (more than ten years a titer should be done)

 Tetanus (or booster dose for serious injury)

 Rabies (after two years a titer should be done)

 TB

 RPR

 Contact Nursing once completed

*Make sure passport is valid and won’t expire while on St. Kitts

*Make sure all official transcripts are received in NJ

So initially, I was going to say, I still have not received their so called "Welcome Packet" but as I got up to make some coffee, what did the Postman bring me? Of course, the Welcome Packet.  Obviously I have not had a chance to go through it yet, but I will!

Next step was to submit my seat payment to secure my seat for the 2011 semester, this was the two time $500 fee mentioned in my personal finances.  Half of my seat has been secured, just need one more payment but that is not due till September, so it gives me some time.

Unfortunately for FAFSA, as I am a canandian student, I cannot apply for that, so i will have to apply via a local canadian bank that does business in the states.  This is one of my minor dilemmas, as after looking into it, there are four main banks that will offer financial aide of some form to veterinarian students.  Those four banks are: BMO (Bank of Montreal), NBC (National Bank of Canada), RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) & TD bank.  
*BMO is offers the lowest interest rate at Canadiam Prime + 0.5%, with a maximum limit of $80K.
*NBC offers the best regarding the amount I can borrow, which is at about $120K, but it would be at an interest of Canadian Prime + 1.75%, unless I could get a co-signer, which at that point they would lower the interest to 1%.
*RBC is a bank I have done business with before in the past, and I feel comfortable with.  They offer canadian prime + 1% with most likely a limit of about $80K, unfortunately repayment of the principal begins 6 months after graduation, where all the other schools is year.  Another advantage to RBC is that they have an ATM machine near the school, so I wouldnt have to bother with any extra ATM fees if I needed to withdraw money.
*TD who everyone knows, they offer a limit of $80K at a variable interest rate, and they offer they expert advice free of charge.  Although I do not which bank that would not you advice.

The only other bank on island near the school that has an ATM machine, is Scotiabank.  All other withdrawals need to be done at one of the few local banks, which means there would be a fee associated with withdrawing from a different bank.  So a bit of dilemma on which bank to apply to.  Can I apply to all four and take the best offer? Do I go with convenience and access, total amount or lowest interest? Anyone have any advice?

With all these question, I thought having a Financial Aid Counselor would be the thing to have before applying for financial aid.  As i found out at the end of last week, apparently one was assigned to me already and she will contact me shortly.  So i guess Ill have to wait on that :S

Next is probably one of the more important things on this checklist, housing!!!!  Where am I going to live for the next three years :)  Unfortunately, as I am bringing my cats with me, I have to live off campus.  I contacted the off campus housing arrangements, and they told me, right now we are only dealing with September students, so please call back in September to discuss such matters.  Some more waiting, rah!  Yet they tell me send them my housing information and flight information ASAP.  I guess as soon as possible will be in 2-3 months :P

Some minor things have already been taken cared of, such my official transcripts being sent to NJ offices, as well as my passport being valid and up to date.  Considering I just got it in March of this year, I think i will be ok for a bit :)

Lastly then are the things i need to do to be allowed onto the island.  Which is send them a criminal police report of myself to make sure I havent been convicted for anything, especially if it involves any sort of drug trafficking.  Since I am an angel as my mother always say, I am in the clear ;)  

All that remains then, is my health certificate before I leave the country, which means getting a bunch of vaccines (rabies, tetanus, hepatitis A/B).  I already booked my appointment for the first set of vaccines along with my TB test.  Luckily I already took care of my RPR blood test when I was at the hospital last week visiting my nephrologist (overdue checkup for my kidneys).  I figure why not kill to birds with one stone, and asked him to add the sexually transmitted disease panel to the blood profile he wanted to do.   With one check mark, it was done :P  

I have to say I am a little apprehensive about getting so many vaccines, as I havent really gotten any in awhile.   Plus it is going to cost me close to $300 for that first visit; considering my finances are very tight at the moment, that is a lot of money.  My appointment date is for this coming Monday :S

These are only the things Ross U needs me to take care of before I can get in.  Never mind all the other things I personally have to worry about before leaving Montreal for the next four years.  My primary concern are my cats, wondering whether or not to bring all three with me.  If i do choose not to, for a multitude of reasons, included finances and stress involved, then how many would I leave behind?  I know I need atleast one of my cats with me for my own personal sanity while living away.  So if I only take one, then I need to find a temporary home for the other two.  One is a big submissive and will do well anywhere, the other is a bit dominant and might be more difficult.  So would I want to bring her with me as well?

Next on my list of concerns is my apartment, I have a lease signed till June 30th 2011.  Meaning I need to find someone to sublet my apartment to starting as of January.  It is my responsibility to find someone, and since my landlord has all post dated checks for the year, i would need to find someone who would be reliabel and I would sure that his payments to me would not bounce.

Then there is all the STUFF in my place, I have a pretty much brand new washer, dryer and fridge, with a perfectly functioning stove that is no where past is prime.  I have a tv, computer, couches, massive movie collection, large book collection, bunch of plants and animal supplies.  What to do with all my stuff and junk?  Some of it I could store, but storage costs money, I was thinking of having a garage sale and trying to sell most of it.  Living in Canada, it puts a little more stress because i would have to have my sale before winter hits, or before it gets to cold for people to come outside to rummage.  I doubt anyone could buy my appliances for the price i want, so then its a matter of putting into storage or trying to sell it on Craigslist or similar site and see if someone if willing to take it off my hands for a reasonable price.

Im sure there will be more things for me to worry about as the deadline comes closer, but hopefully by then I will be a little more informed and prepared for everything I have to do.  At the moment, I just feel a bit over whelmed with everything as I am still dealing with my full time job and the stress it provides on a weekly basis.

So that's it, the trials and tribulations of my little adventure that has begun.  Hope you enjoyed reading :)

Jonathan =D