The debt repayment discussions I all agree with, as a student who had over 50thousand bucks in undergrad loans to pay off.
I was on full TAship for my grad so I didn't have to take out loans, and began, slowly but surely, to repay--250 bucks a month....for...what seems like ever.
In terms of credit card, agreed- work to pay it off. I only use my credit card for music purchase purposes so I know what I can write off during tax season and not have to really collect receipts for every little thing I buy.
Just wanted to add a bit about MAKING some money to try and pay down the debts.
While you're still in school there are many many competitions and foundations that will fund "young careers" of "budding singers".
If you have yaptracker, take a look. Go to you school's career office and see if they have a printout of local grantgiving foundations. If they don't, start looking for local music schools, music associations, google art museums and orchestras to see where THEY have gotten their grants from, and see if those companies and organizations give individual arts grants.
Also- are there awards for grad students by music chairs or former professors or members of the community? Talk to your teacher about being nominated for those types of things.
And finally, if your semester ends before May 1st or around there, get thee to NYC and try to audition for as many competitions and foundations possible that are still left:
Career Bridges, Gari, Franchi, etc.
Even 500-1000 that you weren't expecting can go straight into the checking account to pay off a card or 3 months of a loan.
Also, I'm sure you know if you meet the requirements for Federal grants/Pell grants vs. private loans. The govt. is always a better way to go than banks who will be on your tail the second you graduate.
Good luck,
sk
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