Snarky Brides

Career, school, life advice for FI

My FI is starting grad school in the fall. He's working toward his master's in social work and ultimately wants to counsel returning veterans.

Right now he works in the VA hospital basically doing clerical work. The pay is decent, the benefits are GREAT, but he absolutely hates it. But the federal experience he's gaining is great because he liked to continue to work with the VA in a different capacity.

With the grad school program, he also needs to complete 20 hours per week of clinical work and the clinic he was assigned to operates 8-5 Mon.-Fri., which of course is what he works now.

He was lucky enough to have all his tuition paid, along with a living stipend. So he wants to be successful in school and make it his top priority, which is impossible with his current job.

So he's likely going to quit and find a part-time job or do work-study. We come from extremely blue-collar backgrounds and everyone is going to think he's completely insane for leaving that job. But we think it's the best decision for our future. I'm really just kinda looking for reassurance here because I support him and his decision to leave, but I'm incredibly nervous. Thoughts? Especially from grad students?

Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker

Re: Career, school, life advice for FI

  • raynesraynes member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary
    I wish that I'd had the oppourtunity to do my grad schooling full time.  Working full time and doing school part time has been tough.  I think that moving to a p/t job is a great idea.  Would he be able to get p/t work at the VA?
    image
    We'll just not tell H about this little fact, m'kay?
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • NebbNebb member
    10000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    not related but im still curious, why does your madmenyourself pic have no nose?
  • He's going to try to have his position changed to part-time first. His job really isn't that demanding and he can easily work the same job in half the time. They aren't ANY federal part time jobs open right now in our area.

    The MSW track is only available full-time, it's a pretty small, intensive program.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • Do eeeet. I'm working towards hopefully doing grad school full time at one point as well. As long as your paycheck and the stipend can comfortably cover your bills, you'll be fine and he'll be able tog et a great job later! It's no one else's business.
    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
  • If he only has to do 20 hours of clinic work would it be possible to work at the Va the additional 20 hours and maybe pick up an easy part time? Why does he hate the VA job he has now?

    Part of me is a little worried about the idea of quitting the job without having something else lined up. Do you guys enough savings/you make enough to survive without an incoming paycheck if he can't find additional work for a few months?
  • Nebb, I didn't like any of the noses!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • I did grad school full time and at times I wasn't very busy, but at others I would not have had the time and energy to work.

    If he's getting a stipend, I'd consider studying and doing clinical hours his job during grad school.
  • If you can do this financially, it seems like the best option.

     I'm in grad school now, and grad school plus teaching is so rough.  Losing my summer job was a blessing in disguise, because I'm taking three classes at once in order to jump ahead for fall and it's non-stop work. 

    For me, the balance isn't an option (I have to work during the school year), but I'm glad I waited until I had five years of teahcing experience.  Otherwise, it would have been impossible.

    Does your FI like schoool?  Will he be able to prioritize school while still working?

    FWIW, I wouldn't worry about fam opinions--if they're not paying for it, they really have no say.  You need to make the best decision for your household.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_career-school-life-advice-fi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:ea2ca33c-6d8a-49ef-b1d4-e9cb03fcf385Post:48940f0d-ea97-4cc6-8312-72894e571997">Re: Career, school, life advice for FI</a>:
    [QUOTE]If he only has to do 20 hours of clinic work would it be possible to work at the Va the additional 20 hours and maybe pick up an easy part time? Why does he hate the VA job he has now? Part of me is a little worried about the idea of quitting the job without having something else lined up. Do you guys enough savings/you make enough to survive without an incoming paycheck if he can't find additional work for a few months?
    Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

    He's definitely going to work part-time somewhere. He's going to try to stay at the VA PT, but it's not likely because they don't have any PT work available right now. Not to sound like an ass, but his biggest problem is that he's overqualified for his job right now. He's assistant to the cheif in a department and the chief doesn't know how to work a computer, be organized, get anything done, etc. It's just constantly frustrating for him and he ends up doing a lot more work than he should be.

    The living stipend would cover our mortage and I pay the utility bills. We definitely have enough savings. It is nerve-racking. We'd also be losing benefits like, insurance for me.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_career-school-life-advice-fi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:ea2ca33c-6d8a-49ef-b1d4-e9cb03fcf385Post:3fa2fb71-458d-4f36-8884-66d212c99657">Re: Career, school, life advice for FI</a>:
    [QUOTE]If you can do this financially, it seems like the best option.  I'm in grad school now, and grad school plus teaching is so rough.  Losing my summer job was a blessing in disguise, because I'm taking three classes at once in order to jump ahead for fall and it's non-stop work.  For me, the balance isn't an option (I have to work during the school year), but I'm glad I waited until I had five years of teahcing experience.  Otherwise, it would have been impossible. <strong>Does your FI like schoool?  Will he be able to prioritize school while still working? </strong>FWIW, I wouldn't worry about fam opinions--if they're not paying for it, they really have no say.  You need to make the best decision for your household.
    Posted by npasquale16[/QUOTE]

    He does and he could, but only if he works part-time. With the clinical hours, he just can't work full-time. Also the whole free tuition factor is a huge opportunity so he really needs to focus on school as much as possible.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • Ouch no benefits :( Could he get any through school?
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_career-school-life-advice-fi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:ea2ca33c-6d8a-49ef-b1d4-e9cb03fcf385Post:7d05a4c7-5200-4596-b49a-e63fcdaf8022">Re: Career, school, life advice for FI</a>:
    [QUOTE]Ouch no benefits :( Could he get any through school?
    Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

    Just no benefits for me <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" /> I work on a freelance basis, so I don't have benefits. If/when he leaves his job, he can still get insurance through another sector of the VA. But I can't. So I would have to get individual insurance, which is doable, but much more expensive.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • I'm a full time grad student, and after watching my roommate struggle his first year to be a full-time grad student and work a part-time job, I can't recommend he try it. Grad school is at best a 50-60 hr a week job, and is all-consuming to boot.
    AMA over 40
    Massive uterine fibroids removed 3/06
    BFP 1/11; MM/C discovered @ 10w, loss at 6w; Cytotec
    B/W 7/11 = normal CD3, FSH 8.9; 7DPO progesterone 1.7
    Three Clomid cycles, all BFN, Off to an RE for me...
    FSH=8.7 E2=30 AMH=1.8 HSG clear, SA=great
    Inj. IUI #1 12/9/11 BFN, Inj. IUI #2 1/6/12 BFN
    Inj. IUI #3 1/30/12 BFP!, HCG doubled through 6w, 7w u/s mm/c twins
    Lost our known donor to unplanned pregnancy
    Factor V Leiden, Hetero, symptomatic
    Op Hysteroscopy 5/12, removed scar tissue and uterine septum
    Doing Cryo-DE IVF and older child adoption (Home visit- Check!)
    Beautiful hatching 5-blast transfered 8/30
    BFP 9/7/12 EDD May 19, 2013, beta #1=291 beta #2=762 beta #3=7306
    Sneek peak u/s shows HB at 6w1d!!! 123bpm!
    Still have a HB at 18w0d!!! 142bpm! Grow, baby, grow!
    Great NT scan, but, placenta previa. Resolving!
    Labile Hypertension, placed on HBP meds to try to avoid pre-e
    A/S on 12/21/12, Petra's having a baby, it's the end of the world!
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
    PGAL Siggy Challenge- Animal Hangovers!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    "Petra, you are an obese 40+ year old. Stop jumping through these hoops. Just adopt already. There is no shame in that." -Deethebee
  • So, you think it's best to not even work part-time, Petra?
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • It does depend in the program, but I wouldn't. He will likely be required to hold a full-time course load, teach and grade papers 15-20 hours a week, do his 20 hours of clinic work weekly, plus work on his own research/thesis. In grad school, other than occasional weekends, you spend every waking minute working on your program. If you two can survive on you income and his stipend, go for it. But I would avoid putting any more on top of his new work load. 

    That being said, grad school is great, and I hope to hear that he signed up for the program!
    AMA over 40
    Massive uterine fibroids removed 3/06
    BFP 1/11; MM/C discovered @ 10w, loss at 6w; Cytotec
    B/W 7/11 = normal CD3, FSH 8.9; 7DPO progesterone 1.7
    Three Clomid cycles, all BFN, Off to an RE for me...
    FSH=8.7 E2=30 AMH=1.8 HSG clear, SA=great
    Inj. IUI #1 12/9/11 BFN, Inj. IUI #2 1/6/12 BFN
    Inj. IUI #3 1/30/12 BFP!, HCG doubled through 6w, 7w u/s mm/c twins
    Lost our known donor to unplanned pregnancy
    Factor V Leiden, Hetero, symptomatic
    Op Hysteroscopy 5/12, removed scar tissue and uterine septum
    Doing Cryo-DE IVF and older child adoption (Home visit- Check!)
    Beautiful hatching 5-blast transfered 8/30
    BFP 9/7/12 EDD May 19, 2013, beta #1=291 beta #2=762 beta #3=7306
    Sneek peak u/s shows HB at 6w1d!!! 123bpm!
    Still have a HB at 18w0d!!! 142bpm! Grow, baby, grow!
    Great NT scan, but, placenta previa. Resolving!
    Labile Hypertension, placed on HBP meds to try to avoid pre-e
    A/S on 12/21/12, Petra's having a baby, it's the end of the world!
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
    PGAL Siggy Challenge- Animal Hangovers!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    "Petra, you are an obese 40+ year old. Stop jumping through these hoops. Just adopt already. There is no shame in that." -Deethebee
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_career-school-life-advice-fi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:ea2ca33c-6d8a-49ef-b1d4-e9cb03fcf385Post:0ee6e6a0-a87d-43af-bbf7-a4d38d18e2d9">Re: Career, school, life advice for FI</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Career, school, life advice for FI : Just no benefits for me  I work on a freelance basis, so I don't have benefits. If/when he leaves his job, he can still get insurance through another sector of the VA. But I can't. So I would have to get individual insurance, which is doable, but much more expensive.
    Posted by MarriedInAFever[/QUOTE]

    Could he add you onto his school ones? I'm assuming no :(
  • Hmm, maybe he shouldn't work at all then.

    Thanks for the advice, everyone!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
  • edited July 2010
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_career-school-life-advice-fi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:ea2ca33c-6d8a-49ef-b1d4-e9cb03fcf385Post:90d387a0-0fb4-4ab5-80bf-883f286b0875">Re: Career, school, life advice for FI</a>:
    [QUOTE]I did grad school full time and at times I wasn't very busy, but at others I would not have had the time and energy to work. <strong>If he's getting a stipend, I'd consider studying and doing clinical hours his job during grad school.</strong>
    Posted by gottahavashorti[/QUOTE]

    This is true. It's also likely he's getting a stipend because the program considers itself to be full time work. They might look down upon a student attempting to work full time. I know the PhD programs I'm looking at will not allow it.
    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
  • No, Katie. He can't. It is crap.

    That's a good point, mery. I'm sure he'll have his hands full with the school and clinical combo.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic BabyFruit Ticker
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards