Decisions. Sorry, it's long.

luvdncn90

So, lately I've found myself really unhappy at my school. When I first decided to go to cosmetology school I was looking at schools in Colorado Springs and found a school I loved, but the school cost around 19 thousand dollars plus rent and bills on stuff on top of that.

My parents decided that they didn't want me to have a huge amount of debt after school so there way of helping me with that is by refusing to filling out the FASFA, which I completely disagreed with. They told me that they would help me with school by making monthly payements, they would pay half of the payment and I would pay the other half, which is amazingly generous of them. But because of the monthly payments and the schools schedule (Tuesday through Saturdays 8:30 to 5:30) wouldn't allow me to work as much as I would need to pay for school and rent and bills, I decided I couldn't go to the school because there was no way I could finiancially afford it.

Now fast forward a month, there is a Cosmetology in my hometown which is a decent school so I chose to stay here, live with my parents and pay for school with my parents help and without taking out any student loans. It has allowed me to work two jobs  and not have to worry about finances. But I have always felt and been feeling more of late that this school is not the right fit for me. It's a good school but I just feel like I could be getting a better education for the money I am spending.

There is a a very nice school about thirty mintues away that I am looking at transferring to and just commuting back and forth. The only problem is it's a bit more money and we have already paid about 5000 dollars at my current school that we would lose.  My parent's think that I should just stick it out at my current school and then go to Colorado to do my apprenticeship. Although I understand why they think this is a good idea, I just feel like I would be better off at this other school. I would continue making monthly payments as I'm doing here and all of my hours that I have raked up at my current school would transfer over to the new school.

I'm stuck between just staying here and finishing up  my school (I have about a year left) or transferring and paying more money plus losing the 5000 we have already paid. Any thoughts?

bethsmiles

$5,000 is a lot of money to lose. How much research have you done on this school? Have you talk to advisors there? Sat in on a class? How would transferring effect when you would graduate? When I transferred schools I did a lot of research on the school I was transferring to and actually ended up transferring to a different one.

Honestly if you only have a year left I doubt its worth losing the $5,000 and the stress that comes from transferring schools.

Hazel_B

Aside from thinking you could get a better education elsewhere are there other reasons that you don't like the school?

When I was in school I did a co-op program as part of my degree and I moved cities every 4 months for 5 years so I barely knew my school. So, my perspective is school is for education and not much else. If it is fitting that requirement reasonably I would say you should stay, considering you have a year left and would lose $5000. If you were in your first year of a 4 year program my view might be different.

Edit - I think your parents have a good compromise about doing an apprenticeship in Colorado.

leia1979

I'm not really familiar with cosmetology school, but would you still be out the $5k if you finished this year at your current school and then transferred? Also, would you potentially have to repeat some classes if you transfer?

I agree with Beth that it's probably not worth the $5k loss to transfer.

luvdncn90

@beth-I talked to an advisor today actually and was going to go this week and sit in on a class and bring them my transcripts. Wyoming requires you to have 2100 hours to graduate with your Cosmetology license and Colorado only requires 1800 hours, so I would actually graduate earlier. But I do agree. 5,000 is a lot of money to lose expecially when it's coming straight from my pocket.

@leia- Cosmetology school is very different. We don't have semesters like regular schools. I go all year round until I have all my required hours, no summer vacation or anything. I got like a week for Christmas break. So I would be out 5k no matter what, which is why I'm unsure.

luvdncn90

@Hazel- I fell very out of place in the school. A lot of the girls that go there are single mothers, a lot have been in and out of jail, and they are just very different from me. There are girls in my class who give me crap because my family is well off and because I don't drink and things like that. I just feel slightly out of place. It sounds shallow, I know, but I just feel like I would fit in better with a different atmosphere.

I think I just need to suck it up, and deal. I only have a year left and then I can go to Colorado and get my apprenticeship at a salon that I feel fits me.

Elle1036

How long does it generally take to accumuluate that many hours?

luvdncn90

@Elle-16 to 18 months. And I already have about five months out of the way.

Elle1036

Honestly, I would just stick it out then.  If you were talking about several years, it might be different, but I think it's worth that $5000 you've already spent to stick it out for another year.

The certification is the same either way, right?  A year from now, it won't make a difference where you completed your hours.

eraver01

5K is a lot of money, but what does it come to if you factor in the other costs and savings?

How much would you be paying for the extra 300hrs where you're at now?
How much more would you have to pay for in gas commuting?
Are you more likely to start off with a higher paying position from this other school?

I would hate to have to learn in the environment you have described. Maybe it is possible to justify the greater expense. If not, maybe you just need to bite the bullet and finish up your year. If you do, you'll have an extra 5K to start your life when you move for your apprenticeship

luvdncn90

@Elle-Yeah that is a very good point. I'm doing really good in the program and have straight A's, so I might as well stick out for the year that's left. You're right, when I'm done it won't matter where I went to school. And actually because Wyoming requires the highest amount of hours for your license than any other state, my license will transfer over to another state without any problem or without me having to retake the tests to get my license in a different state.

@eraver- In the end I would be paying more to go transfer to this new school, and I will lose 5,000 dollars, plus the gas money it would cost to cummute would end up costing me even more. Money wise, it's not the smartest decision to transfer but I have just been so unhappy with the atmosphere that I think about transfering all the time.

Career-wise I would be equal at both schools, so I'm not to worried about that. But because my license will be from Wyoming and I want to work in Colorado I might have a few problems transfering from a Wyoming license to a Colorado license.

Hazel_B

That sucks that your learning environment is like that, I can understand that it would be hard.

If you choose to stay you could put a positive spin on it though. Think of it like added professional development. You can't always choose your co-workers or your clients. Just think of it as practice.

PaigeMcC

I ditto Elle on this one.  She is wise.

Elle1036

Good luck!  I understand the temptation to change if you aren't completely happy, but just ask yourself whether it's worth losing that money for a situation that will be over in a year anyway.  If it IS worth it to you, then, by all means, transfer.

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_decisions-sorry-its-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:7bcb6359-06e3-4412-97e1-c9c1faad1b42Post:0ec99c2e-df7f-486a-8957-b536a79a42fc">Re: Decisions. Sorry, it's long.</a>:
[QUOTE]I ditto Elle on this one.  She is wise.
Posted by PaigeMcC[/QUOTE]

It's about damn time I got some recognition up in here.

luvdncn90

Thank you for all the advice ladies. Now I can see that even though I am unhappy at the school, it is just another learning experience. Elle is completely right, I can't chose my coworkers or clients and this will help me prepare for what to do when I find myself in situations similar to this.

The school is decent and I am getting a good education and in the end that is all that matters. The money I would lose is not worth transfering. Sometimes you just have to make the best out of a bad situation.

desertsun

I agree that $5k is a big amount to just flush.

But...on the other hand...you hate it after 5 months and have 16-18 more to go to get all your hours?

If getting the money isn't a problem...I might think about transferring.

I wouldn't want to spend all my time with ex-cons. I would also be really uncomfortable in that kind of environment.

But it IS a lot of money.

I'm sorry. I'm absolutely no help. 

luvdncn90

@desert- Luckily the school itself is only 16-to 18 months and I have already done 5 so really I only have about a year or so left. Sadly money is an issue since I am mainly paying for school by myself with the generous help of my parents.

The atmosphere can be really uncomfortable at times. A lot of the girls are really nice and decent though and I get along with them some of the time, and more than a few most of the time.. A few of the girls in my class can be just downright rude and say things, meaning them as a joke, but that come across as disrespectful and downright trashy.

One girl even went so far as to say that my dad "got down on his knees to make so much money." I almost punched her right then and there. She meant it as a joke, but to me that's not funny. My parents are by no means rich. They are just smart with how they save and spend their money and are fortunate enough to be able to help both me and my brothers out with school. But that does not mean I am spoiled, I work two jobs and pay for almost everything besides school and my car insurance and cell phone bill by myself. I bought my own car, I buy my own clothes, my own laptop, my own cellphone. That comment made me really question if I wanted to be in that school with those type of women.

leia1979

I'm sorry that environment is so unpleasant! That really sounds hostile.

Here's something I like to do when I have a tough time making a decision: make a list (actually write it out) of all the pros/cons of transferring schools. Also do your best to figure out the true cost difference (factoring in tuition, commuting, etc). Maybe getting everything down on paper will help make it more clear.

desertsun

I'm guessing it's a small town for them to know stuff about you like how much money your parents have.

If you stay, just keep your head down and focus on the work and not the social stuff. Don't try to make friends. Just go in and do your job and go home.

tafft1

You can't change the people around you - that is real life and the experience in dealing with such now will only prepare you for what it can be like outside the walls. Though I do understand feeling out of place and awkward at times , people are assholes and will think what they want , when they want , this much is true. What you choose to do with that kind of hostility is really up to you. Channeling it into what you don't want and where you do want to go can only push you harder. I also agree that it's not that much time left and while it may feel like hell right now - you will feel better once it's done and you can move on from it and get to the point where you want to be. Try to keep your head up , seriously it could be much worse.

[Deleted User]

It is amazing that you are getting straight A's being surrounded by students like that.  I would probably get myself beat up if I had to go there.

The savings would be worth it and you would be done with school sooner than if you transfer.  You have made it through 5 months of this already with straight A's, so you definitely seem strong enough to finish at this school.

We are always here for you to vent about classmates!

Blue & White

For the record, in some states, you're required to file the FAFSA to receive any financial aid (including scholarships.)

Since you're almost done, I'd just wait it out and start applying for internships for when you're done

trebmal

I am late to this game and it seems that all PP have answered the question wonderfully, but I did want to ask what part of WY you're in, not in a creepy way, but I spent a good amount of time there over the past few years as I dated someone who was originally from there, we were in the Worland/Grey Bull/Thermopolis area however, my ex was born in Cody and lived every from there to Cheyenne. 

luvdncn90

I live in Cheyenne I'm originally from SD but moved here about ten years back because my mothers family lives here!