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Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
We lived our entire lives in New York and moved to South Carolina for a change — 5 years later, it still isn't quite what we hoped for
We moved to South Carolina five years ago and still feel out of place. Our religious and social differences have made it hard to make friends. We can't leave, though, because our daughter would lose her in-state college tuition. After spending our whole lives in upstate New York, my husband and I were ready for a change. While we both enjoyed the seasonality of the northern states, the long winters were starting to grate on us, and his career in finance would flourish in a busier city. In 2019, we zeroed in on the suburbs surrounding Charlotte, North Carolina, eventually settling in a town just over the border in South Carolina. While many aspects of our new lives were positive, we couldn't help feeling a little regretful as we navigated our new surroundings. It was a feeling we assumed would improve with time, but due to a host of factors, it never really got better. Now, here we are, almost six years later, and still feeling out of place. At the time we moved, our two children were about to enter fifth and seventh grade. They were rapidly aging out of needing me to arrange their social lives, and thereby, reducing my need to talk to other moms. Gone were the days when they were little and part of a playgroup like the one I belonged to in New York, which provided a ready-made set of friends. We got here and immediately started our new jobs, the kids entered school, and along the way, we realized we weren't making very many connections. Then, the pandemic happened. Just months after we closed on our new home, the COVID-19 pandemic started. Our kids' schools shut down, and we socially distanced as required. For people who already had connections pre-pandemic, it was probably a lot easier to maintain them amid the new normal. However, for a family like ours that barely had a chance to unpack before being locked down, it was incredibly isolating. Our children were in distance learning for about a year total, so they also struggled to make friends. The upside was plenty of family time. The downside was a lack of social connections in our lives to make the difficult situation a little less lonely. The COVID-19 pandemic was just the initial reason we had trouble making friends. In the years since, we've still struggled partly because we are lapsed Catholics in a town where many people attend Baptist, Methodist, or one of the larger non-denominational mega churches. I knew if wejoined a church, we would likely make fast friends, but it felt disingenuous to us as we aren't really believers. Our children have also had some bumps in the road when it comes to making friends, as some parents here have said they really do prefer that their children socialize with other Christians. Both of our kids have encountered prospective friends who made church attendance the next morning part of a Saturday sleepover, or parents who approached us about inviting our kids to a Christian youth group. Our kids weren't raised with religion, so they said they are not comfortable taking part in these activities. Once our status was made clear, it unfortunately resulted in more than one budding friendship fading away. Our religious differences aren't the biggest obstacle to fitting in, but they definitely contribute to our overall feeling of not belonging. The simple fact is, my husband and I spent most of our lives among family, in the same area we grew up in. Now that we live in a place withno family close by, the feeling of isolation is always present, and merely compounded by the religious and social differences that come with living in a place different from what we're used to. My husband and I are both family-oriented, and I am particularly close to my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. Our close extended family was the top reason we hadn't considered leaving New York sooner. I wanted our children to have the same kind of childhood I had—full of family holiday gatherings, birthday parties, and familiar faces in the audience at their school and sporting events. Being near family was a huge plus of living in New York, but I didn't realize how much we leaned on them until we moved 800 miles away. In the time since we left, we have lost one of my grandmothers and my husband's father. My husband's mother has experienced some health struggles in the last year, and my brother got married recently and welcomed his first child. Our distance from family is never more pronounced than when we are missing out on important family events that we feel we should be present for. Being this far away makes us feel guilty and sad. It's hard to feel at home here when the people we love aren't close by, but it's expensive and disruptive for us to keep traveling home, so we miss out on a lot. We knew that would be our reality going into the move, but I guess it was something we had to experience to really know how much it would hurt. Our oldest child is about to begin her studies at an excellent university, and while we are beyond proud of her, we also know this means four more years of living down here to make sure she keeps her in-state tuition rate. Our son still has a few years of high school left, and it remains to be seen what college he will attend. In total, we could be living down here for another six years if he decides to attend a South Carolina state school, as well. Right now, we are mulling over a move further south within the state to the low-country area once our son graduates high school. It's near the coast, which is more in line with our active lifestyles, and it's near my parents, so we would have at least some family close by. I would love a chance to make our lives here feel more like home. Although we miss our families, we know deep down we had good reasons to leave New York that still stand today. My hope is that our next move might help us settle in and meet people with whom we can forge real connections. Read the original article on Business Insider
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Best private student loans for fall 2025
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Before you borrow money for college, make sure you're considering the best options for your unique needs. Getty Images College tuition costs aren't slowing down anytime soon, and neither are the financial pressures that come with earning a degree. Even with scholarships, grants and federal student loans, many students still face funding gaps that need to be filled. After all, the average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century, according to the latest data from the Education Data Initiative, and the average cost of attendance at a four-year college is now sitting at over $38,000 per year. That's a lot more than the average person can pay out of pocket, and those high costs have led many students to turn to private student loans to bridge the gaps. The good news is, though, that the student lending landscape has become more competitive, with private lenders offering increasingly flexible terms, better borrower benefits and targeted loans for specific student populations. Whether you're an undergraduate with no credit history, a graduate student pursuing a professional degree or an international student navigating U.S. education, there's likely a private loan that can meet your needs. Not all private student loans are created equal, though, and the fine print matters. From interest rate structures to cosigner requirements and repayment flexibility, choosing the right lender can have a lasting impact on your financial health. To help you do that, we've rounded up top-rated private student loan lenders below — each standing out for a particular category — to help you make a smarter borrowing decision this year. Best private student loans for fall 2025 Here are some of the top private student loan providers, categorized by their standout features, to help you identify the best fit for your needs: Best for flexible repayment options: College Ave College Ave is a standout among private student lenders for its customizable approach to repayment. The company allows borrowers to choose from a wide variety of loan terms ranging from five to 15 years and offers four repayment plans: full principal and interest payments, interest-only payments, flat payments or full deferment while in school. This flexibility is especially helpful for borrowers who may be juggling part-time work, internships or other financial responsibilities during their college years. One of the biggest advantages of College Ave is that the lender also offers a shorter-than-average application process and quick decisions on approval, making it easier to secure funds when you need them. College Ave loans come with fixed or variable interest rates and borrowers can apply with a cosigner to potentially qualify for better rates. Compare your loan options with College Ave now. Best for specialized loans: Sallie Mae Sallie Mae is one of the most well-known private student loan providers, and for good reason. The company offers a broad array of loan products that go beyond the standard undergraduate and graduate offerings. In particular, it caters to students pursuing specific programs like law school, medical school, dental school and even non-degree or certificate programs. This makes Sallie Mae a strong choice for borrowers with unique or niche educational paths that may not be covered by other lenders. In addition to its wide range of loan options, Sallie Mae offers numerous borrower perks, like free access to credit score monitoring through their partnership with Experian and a multi-year approval process, which allows returning students to secure funding for future academic years with less paperwork and fewer credit checks. With flexible repayment options and the ability to choose from fixed or variable interest rates, Sallie Mae tends to be a good match for students looking for tailored solutions. Compare your loan options with Sallie Mae now. Best for no-cosigner loans: Ascent For students who don't have access to a qualified cosigner, Ascent offers one of the few private student loan options that doesn't always require one. This is especially important for independent students or those whose parents are unable or unwilling to co-sign. Ascent's non-cosigned credit-based loans consider factors like the borrower's GPA, expected graduation date, school and future earning potential rather than relying solely on credit history or income for approval. Ascent also provides a variety of borrower incentives that set it apart from other lenders. For example, students can earn cash back when they graduate and make use of a number of interest rate reduction opportunities. This lender also offers a unique scholarship program and free financial wellness resources. In turn, Ascent may be particularly appealing to upperclassmen and graduate students who have already established some financial independence or a strong academic record. Compare your loan options with Ascent now. Best for member benefits: SoFi SoFi is more than just a lender. It's a holistic financial platform that supports borrowers beyond their student loans. When you take out a private student loan through SoFi, you gain access to a suite of member benefits that includes career coaching, resume help, financial planning and even networking events. These services can be especially valuable for recent graduates who are entering the workforce and looking for guidance on building their careers and managing their finances. SoFi's private student loans are also known for having no fees, meaning no origination fees, late fees or prepayment penalties. This can save borrowers hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Borrowers can choose from fixed or variable rates, and the company offers multiple repayment options, including deferment while in school or making interest-only payments. Compare your loan options with SoFi now. Best for international students: MPOWER Financing International students often face steep barriers when it comes to accessing private student loans in the U.S., chiefly because most lenders require a U.S.-based cosigner and established credit history. MPOWER Financing eliminates those obstacles. The company specifically caters to international students by offering loans that don't require a cosigner or credit score. Instead, MPOWER evaluates applications based on the borrower's school, academic progress and career potential. MPOWER also offers fixed interest rates on student loans, which can provide added predictability in long-term budgeting. Borrowers can further benefit from interest rate discounts by enrolling in autopay or completing free financial literacy courses offered by the company. Loans are available to students in more than 400 schools across the U.S. and Canada, and the funding can be used to cover tuition, housing and other living expenses. The bottom line Private student loans can be a valuable resource when federal aid doesn't suffice, but they come with varying terms and conditions — and certain lenders could be a better fit than others depending on your unique needs. That's why it's essential to assess your financial situation, credit history and educational goals when choosing a lender. Consider factors like the interest rates you're being offered, along with repayment flexibility and borrower benefits. And, be sure to always exhaust your federal loan options first, as they typically offer more favorable terms and protections. By carefully evaluating your options, you can select a private student loan that supports your educational journey without compromising your financial future.
