u/Glittering_Head_8434

Hello everyone, I posted here not long ago regarding a workshop which provided incentives at my current workplace. I’m back this time around — this workshop doesn’t provide incentives; nonetheless, I find that this training may benefit many of you since you guys are currently pursuing academia (as am I, as a CUNY student myself). Therefore, I invite you if you are by any chance in the Flatbush/Crown Heights area (or overall Brooklyn area even beyond). I can connect you to the appropriate individual, which is my colleague who holds these mental health trainings and are going to take class at our agency.

Please feel free to DM or comment below if interested.

Hello everyone, I posted here not long ago regarding a workshop which provided incentives at my current workplace. I’m back this time around — this workshop doesn’t provide incentives; nonetheless, I find that this training may benefit many of you since you guys are currently pursuing academia (as am I, as a CUNY student myself). Therefore, I invite you if you are by any chance in the Flatbush/Crown Heights area (or overall Brooklyn area even beyond). I can connect you to the appropriate individual, which is my colleague who holds these mental health trainings.

Please feel free to DM or comment below if interested.

I’m looking for advice on how to better leverage my background into higher-paying opportunities. I have a Master of Public Health with a total of 5-6 years of experience, yet I am stuck at $70k in a very High Cost of Living (HCOL) area.
I previously received a $100k offer for a public health admin role in corrections, but I did decline due to a 4-hour daily commute and a lack of vehicle. Therefore, the possibility of reaching a six-figure salary seems doable.
For context, my professional experience includes HIV/STI/HCV programming, program operations, and health education/outreach, along with approximately 3 years in total of coordination, managerial, and director-level experience. I’ve worked for FQHCs/non-profits and a major health system in the NYC/Tri-state area. I will say, that with most jobs I’ve typically stayed for about 12 to 15 months. I’m concerned this makes me look like a flight risk for high-level positions. One of the main reasons I ended up leaving my previous position, despite being there for over a year, was because the organization did not allow employees to hold a second job, which limited my ability to increase my income. My current role has allowed me to supplement my salary nonetheless.
In all honesty, my long-term goal is to transition into a city, state, or federal government position that I can remain in for the long haul.
Thus, my question remains: For those of you who broke the $100k barrier, what shifts did you make. For example, did you find success by directly reaching out to recruiters or HR staff on LinkedIn, restructuring how you presented your resume and experience, improving interview strategy, networking more intentionally, or something else entirely? What, in your opinion, made the biggest difference? Insight welcomed!

I want to avoid these random credit score drops because I’ve been paying faithfully ever since I found out about the issue, and I’m genuinely confused about what’s causing all this volatility.
My credit score has been all over the place after a student loan-related drop, and I’m trying to understand what’s happening so I can avoid this in the future.
For context, my score dropped from 773 down to the 570–590 range, then jumped back up to 677, and then dropped again to around 640. All of this happened within about 2–3 months.
The initial drop happened because my federal student loan forbearance ended and I didn’t realize payments had restarted. That part was on me — I had moved and the notices were apparently going to my previous address. As soon as I realized what happened (early March), I immediately started paying aggressively, practically every week, and even fully paid off one of the loans since I haven’t consolidated them.
My score later improved significantly (from the 570–590 range to 677) because my partner added me as an authorized user on his long-standing credit cards, and he has an 850 credit score.
However, I then saw another noticeable drop again, and the reason listed was supposedly “unpaid loans for March,” which is confusing because March is exactly when I started paying everything aggressively. Could it be because I missed a few days before payments kicked in officially, even though I started paying as soon as I found out?
Also:
Does paying off/closing one student loan account trigger a score drop?

I recently opened a credit-builder loan through a credit union and noticed another tiny drop (2 points). Is that normal too?

This whole situation has felt incredibly volatile and stressful. For additional context:
These are federal student loans only

I don’t have other debt

I pay my credit cards in full every month

I usually pay them early to keep utilization low

Any guidance or insight would really help because I’m trying to stabilize my score long term.

Looking for some insight or to see if anyone else is dealing with this reporting nightmare.

I have been incredibly diligent about my student loans and consistently make my payments. Because of this, my Aidvantage account has shown a $0 balance for a few months now. However, I just noticed a 30-point drop in my credit score (Experian).

After some investigating, I found a major discrepancy; my Federal Student Aid (FSA) does not reflect the $0 balance that Aidvantage shows. Even though I’ve paid it down, FSA is still showing a balance, which I suspect is causing the credit hit.

From what I’ve gathered, there’s a massive backlog/legal issue affecting reporting (tied to the recent 2026 shifts in repayment plans and the SAVE plan litigation).

I work for a non-profit, and to deal with this "pending" status, I had to put my account into forbearance. Nonetheless, I’m aware that this forbearance means my ongoing payments won't count toward PSLF. I am also concerned about the fact that Experian has recently rejected any disputes regarding my student loans.

Question:

1. Has anyone else who paid their balance to $0 seen this kind of reporting lag between their servicer and the FSA dashboard? How long did it take to sync?

2. How are fellow non-profit/PSLF employees handling this? Is there a way to switch out of this "non-qualifying" forbearance while the Department of Ed fixes their data mismatch?

It genuinely feels like I’m being penalized for being responsible and paying off my debt (not to add my credit score is my greatest concern).

Any advice would be huge. Thank you

I’m an MPH grad and I’m looking to hear from anyone who has combined a CNA license with an MPH.

I’m currently in the process of applying for a free CNA program. My original plan was LPN or RN, but due to recent Department of Edu. changes and my current focus on aggressively paying off MPH loans, I’m sticking to free routes for now to save as much as possible. I’m also starting a free OSHA course today to stack my credentials.

For context: I’ve done the heavy data-cleaning/analytics roles in the past, and I’ve realized I don’t want to go back fully to a "baseline" desk role. I prefer being on the ground — at the patient/client level to a degree.

I want to gain clinical experience without adding more debt, using the CNA as a stepping stone.

1. Has anyone here used a CNA license to "bridge" into higher-paying public health or clinical leadership roles?

2. For those in NYC, are there specific pathways or programs you’d recommend for better pay once you have the MPH/CNA combo?

3. Does anyone have experience finding fully funded (paid) PhD programs in Public Health within the NYC area given that I genuinely enjoy learning and growing academically?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has taken a non-traditional path in public health!

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a free community health opportunity happening this Thursday in NYC that may be helpful for anyone in Brooklyn who has availability.

We’re hosting a women-centered HIV/STI prevention workshop called SISTA from 11 AM–2 PM. It’s a supportive, educational space open to all women, including trans women, focused on sexual health, prevention, and overall wellness.

Participants will receive:

- $50 Amazon gift card

- OMNY card for transportation

- Food will be provided

We only have 10 seats available, and full attendance is required for the session to run, so please only register if you can commit to the full time.

If you’re interested or want more details, you can register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988347862983/

Hi everyone! I’m currently a CUNY student myself, and I’m sharing something that might be helpful for anyone who has a free day this Thursday.

I work with a small nonprofit, and we’re hosting a women-centered HIV/STI prevention workshop called SISTA from 11 AM–2 PM. It’s a supportive, educational space open to all women (including trans women) focused on sexual health, prevention, and wellness.

I know as students, sometimes these small incentives can really help, so participants will receive:

- $50 Amazon gift card

- OMNY card for transportation

- Food will be provided

We only have 6 seats available, and we need full attendance for the session to run, so please only register if you can commit to the full time.

If you’re interested or want more details, feel free to check it out here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988347862983/