HELP! Deciding whether to go back to school

jean1103

i graduated from high school and decided to take this semester off to work, save up money, and plan the wedding. I was just working full time at Walgreens when they promoted me to be a pharmacy technition. I absolutely LOVE that job and its well paying for my age, the problem is i dont want to stop working that job to go to school to do something i dont really want to do. I have considered going to pharmacy school, but 6 years of my life in school is sooo long, and would be a lot of student loans to pay back. My FI and i are doing pretty good money-wise now but i dont think we would after we had kids. I really cant decide what to do!

 Sorry for the rant lol

catrb89

You should probably go to school. If you're just graduating from high school, you're too young to be planning a wedding on a Walgreens budget. Don't base your education and career around your wedding.

jean1103

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_help-deciding-whether-to-go-back-to-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:0c3b118c-5e9e-46b9-bdb6-e26d95cb4c07Post:9533580a-28f5-4a7a-814e-94be16a9ca38">Re: HELP! Deciding whether to go back to school</a>:
[QUOTE]You should probably go to school. If you're just graduating from high school, you're too young to be planning a wedding on a Walgreens budget. Don't base your education and career around your wedding.
Posted by catrb89[/QUOTE]

Its not that im planning around my wedding, its just why go to school if i already found a job i love. THe only problem with it is not making the money i would want to be making.

Chloeagh

I'm going into pharmacy. I know a lot of people that still work their pharm tech job while in school, so you don't have to quit to go to school, just reduce your hours. And if you're financially indepedent from your parents, you should be able to get good financial aid. Plus, at least in Minnesota, the pharmacy schools have 100% job placement with starting salaries that average 100k, meaning you will be able to pay off your loans very quickly if you maintain a student lifestyle for a couple years after graduation. You can also apply to work in a rural town (some of which aren't rural the way most people would define it) and they will forgive up to 64k of your student loans (16k a year for 4 years).

I would highly recommend looking into your options. You are making enough money to sustain an 19-year-old, but not to sustain you for your whole life. Keep in mind though, that there are only a couple pharmacy schools that are actually 6 years. For most, you're better off getting your undergrad then going to pharmacy school. But 8 years of school is still a better option than working as a pharm tech forever.

Chloeagh

Here's another thing to think about: Do you want to help patients besides just putting pills in a bottle and ringing them up? Will you be happy if you learn the ropes of the pharmacy and get to know the customers, but you aren't even allowed to advise them on what OTC meds they should buy? That's the reason I want to be a pharmacist, because I want to help people learn about and manage the medications they are taking. Pharm techs are not allowed to advise the patient in any way.

s-aries8990

I think that you should go back to school. Sometimes you can hold a job with no "formal" education and be wonderful at it, better than someone with a degree, but if you move/need to find another job, you won't have that slip of paper to say you're certified in something. Go back, even if its only part time/ As PP said, you can get good financial aid if you're emancipated and just reduce your expenses. You won't regret it. 

calliopeia2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_help-deciding-whether-to-go-back-to-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:0c3b118c-5e9e-46b9-bdb6-e26d95cb4c07Post:d34d144c-5681-43ba-bb31-4ec5dc42f741">Re: HELP! Deciding whether to go back to school</a>:
[QUOTE]I think that you should go back to school. <strong>Sometimes you can hold a job with no "formal" education and be wonderful at it, better than someone with a degree, but if you move/need to find another job, you won't have that slip of paper to say you're certified in something.</strong> Go back, even if its only part time/ As PP said, you can get good financial aid if you're emancipated and just reduce your expenses. You won't regret it. 
Posted by sydaries[/QUOTE]

This.  Not having a college degree isn't a big deal in the short term...but if you'll ever want to change jobs or careers, it'll be a big deal fast.

It should be perfectly possible to attend school part time and work part time, or even to work full time and attend night school.

ETA: Also, I don't know if pharmacy school is a good choice for you or not...but six years really isn't that much time in the grand scheme of things.  Even though I know it might feel that way when you're as young as you are.  Really...the years between 18 and 25 absolutely fly by.

dande2129

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_help-deciding-whether-to-go-back-to-school?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:0c3b118c-5e9e-46b9-bdb6-e26d95cb4c07Post:9b3575cc-e243-4949-bff2-1668b7c9ece1">Re: HELP! Deciding whether to go back to school</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: HELP! Deciding whether to go back to school : Its not that im planning around my wedding, its just why go to school if i already found a job i love. THe only problem with it is not making the money i would want to be making.
Posted by Theresa1203[/QUOTE]

<div>Because that job may or may not last forever, and if someone comes along with a degree or experience that surpasses yours, and they want to replace you, they can do it with little to no problem at all on their end because you have no certification, and no degree.</div><div>
</div><div>I've been going to school on and off for 6 years. (I took time off when I got married, had a baby, got a divorce, etc etc) Looking back, I really wish that I would have finished college prior to getting married. I'm sure you get the lecture all the time, and it's probably something you don't want to hear because you're young and want to do what you want to do--- but trust me, going back to school later in life, with more responsibilities... it doesn't get easier... it gets much, much, 100x more difficult. </div><div>
</div><div>Ask Walgreens if you'd be able to work PT. Going back to school doesn't automatically = all of your time. FAFSA (financial aid) usually requires that you attend 12 credit hours per semester to remain eligible. Typically, semesters mean that you have shorter classes over a longer span of time, so there is a lot more availablity to work. </div>

annmarie714

Working and going to school are very common things that go hand in hand.  I worked full time, went to nursing school full time (BSN), and had clinicals (24 hours/week).  I did all of this while having a FI, keeping a close relationship with my family, and having fun.  No, I wasn't at the bars but I would have fun with my friends while studying and doing responsible things.

I encourage you to go back to school.  Explore your options if 6 years is too much of a commitment.  Look into medical assisting, nursing (RN or LPN), etc and find people to shadow that do these jobs.  Ask questions, pros/cons, salary, etc.

bananapants628

Going back to school is an investment in your future, so I agree with what PPs have said. A college degree/certification is never a waste of time.

My FI went to a technical school while still in high school for aviation mechanics and never finished his licence. Fast forward 7 years after graduation and everyone he went to school with has their license and working at better jobs with higher income than him. He wholeheartedly regrets not doing it when he had the chance, and finally this year (after much nagging on my part lol) he was able to get 2 FAA licences and is looking into finishing his BA.

I wish you the best of luck!!