I havent posted here in a while, so I apologize for barging right back in. Ive been soooo busy that I simply didnt have time to post.
Backdrop to my question. I am currently working FT @ SU and going to school PT. SU pays for my tuition, mostly. I get taxed on the tuition so pretty much Im paying $1,200/sem vs $15,000. One of my "classes" is my internship which I absolutely love, however I was told by my supervisor that only being available to work at night will teach me 1/3 of what typical daytime interns are learning. Its been ok'ed by the school, but I know Im missing out on huge stuff like Admissions process and all the interviews that go along with it (I intern at an inpatient addictions rehab). She said I obviously get to know the clients well during their free time and the large groups at night, but unless Im daytime I wont have the chance to sit in on 1 on 1s and get my own client. That sucks, but Im saving soo much money!
My options as of this very moment are to:
A) Suck it up b/c Im saving a boat load and learn less than wht I could; or
Quit my job and pick up a retail job (until I can find a job in my field offering night hours...if I can) so that Im still making money (and b/c taxes are taken from my paycheck Ill be making more) but have to pick up a school loan for the next 2.5 yrs.
Honestly, I think I know what I need to do and thats get the education I need so that I feel prepared later on when I graduate, but Ive got coworkers and parents in my ear buggin out b/c it saves me so much and DH buggin b/c retail hours get flakey if I dont get into the right place. Lets keep in mind that my tuition was paid for in undergrad b/c mom works for SU so my loans currently are all of $35G for R&B and 1 sem of grad, which is a hell of a lot better than most students.
I guess I just need your opinions b/c its a big move and Im nervous.
Thanks ladies!
Re: I need some opinions! Edu vs $$
I would definitely avoid accruing any more student loans at all cost! I barely had any for my BA, but my MS payments are killer right now.
I think any experiences you are missing out on right now will be there when you start your new job in your new field someday. You just might have to play catch up a little bit.
Plus you seriously make pennies in retail!
I agree with this. If the college ok'ed this as an internship it can't be bad. I doubt you are missing out on THAT much more experience to make the loans worthwhile.
I agree with GlenLakeLove. Can you see if your job will allow you a day off once week or every other week? Or can you work an extra hour MTWT and take a half day on Fridays? I am going to grad school and working FT now as well, and I've had to shuffle my schedule around for a couple of my classes. If your boss is flexible at all, ask if you can rearrange your schedule for a few weeks or the rest of the semester.
I definitely wouldn't quit my job over it - as PPs said, the experience will be there after you graduate, and you don't need to add $30K in student loans.
Thanks ladies.
My boss was one of my letters of recc for the program, but other than that shes not very flexible. I had an all day orientation for my internship and she told me I couldnt take the day off b/c a coworker had it off (b/c she was going to a concert the night before and knew shed be hung over). I had to go one step above her and then she yelled at me for going over her head b/c "of course I was giving you the day off, its for school". So shes a bit of a pain. I do have approx 6 days right now that I have off from work (Day after T-giving, Xmas break, Martin Luther) that I plan on doing 8hr shifts at my internship to at least get to see the process.
I guess Im just a bit disappointed that I wont have the chance to work with my own client. But next yr is a manditory daytime, clinical internship so Ill have the chance then (and hopefully Ill be offered a job at my current. I believe they assist with tuition. Always nice.
Thanks again
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