>I think the more people I tell my plan to – the better the chance it will work.

I am not so sure about the time frames, however — school starts before I can collect, I can’t file the “education extension” until after I’m already registered for bennefits. I can’t start classes before I file the “education extension” or they take all bennefits away (I found this out first hand in late 2001). I was in school, getting unemployment, hadn’t cleared it with them… wasn’t started yet when I received my first 2 checks. On the 3rd “check up” mailer that I had to send back, I noted I was going to school — they hadn’t OK’d it (I didn’t know I had to clear it with them first) so they revoked my payments. I went 2 months w/o money before finding my current job, racked up a lot of credit card bills (mainly for gas) and did as much freelance computer work as I could find.

I made it… but only after finding this job. I don’t want to do it again… so I really need to check with both the MA D.E.T. and STCC to see if I can pull off the timing thing, otherwise it’s cutting it close with going to STCC next semester. .:sigh:. A semester off is what I was looking forward to – but would much rather be secure.