<p>Hey, Kane, just wanted to let you know we understand wanting to “get off the rock” for a bit, and how tough it can be. My son is leaving (Kauai) for Denver in the fall and those airfares can be killer, but sometimes you just gotta do it. Folks on the mainland just don’t get it sometimes. Like, college visits, summer orientation - yeah, right, good thing DU doesn’t have that or we’d be screwed - wanting to know if you can stay on campus over breaks and what it will be like, needing a whole new wardrobe (with shoes), and can you get spam musubi at the 7-11? (JK about that last one!)</p>
<p>Hope your FA works out. </p>
<p>Thanks @calmom and @ Erin’sDad Waiting things out until I’m 24 is certainly a good option to think about. Should I make that decision this summer, I will definitely make informed decisions–making sure I consider the future and how it will all fit in.</p>
<p>@Sweetbeet, your comments made me smile, thanks for your message. Your comment about air fare and overall costs/changes sums my thoughts up exactly. Wish your son the best in CO. I remember DU on my college list last year, awesome college! Food will definitely be a change for him there too if he’s used to “local grinds” :)</p>
<p>@kane808 It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are well on your way to accomplishing great things.</p>
<p>I can fully understand wanting to experience areas other than HI. HI is a great place - one of the very few states that has tempted us to move there - but our drawback was how far away it is from everything - so, it’s an occasional vacation spot for us (one that we love). It’s well worth it for you to experience elsewhere for a few years, then decide where you want to live based upon how you feel about it (and your spouse if applicable).</p>
<p>Definitely watch high debt and definitely consider options with various majors. Should you stay pre-med, your major won’t matter (as you know, I’m sure).</p>
<p>If you do opt to go to Rochester, know that not all students go home on breaks. You wouldn’t be along staying on campus or staying with friends when they go elsewhere. My guy brought a nice young man home for spring break one year…</p>
<p>I’m definitely of the belief that some debt is worth the opportunity cost. Exactly where that line in the sand is depends upon many factors though. You’ve got a good, thinking, brain so I suspect you’ll come up with a best option for your circumstances.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you!</p>
<p>I would be concerned about the amount of loans you will have when you are done regardless of which major you choose. Is there any other major that you are interested in that you could see yourself doing? Maybe you could double major in PS with something else? That way you would have more job choices for however long you work before med school. </p>
<p>You can get experience that can often lead to a job after you get a poli sci degree by volunteering in local or state or political campaigns. You will have valuable experience to bring to any future internship in the legislative arena as well. </p>
<p>Thanks @Creekland 
My brain has been thinking about this situation non-stop for the past couple days and it’s getting very tired. lol Very tough decision as I consider all the pros and cons but I’ll need to make one soon! </p>
<p>@MichiganGeorgia, I can’t think of another major that I could see myself doing. If I had to choose one, it would probably be business related because of its perceived practicality. However, tacking on another major will likely also mean more semesters/years (which also translates to more debt). It’s something I have in mind but will need to put things down on paper to see how it would look and mean for me in the future (things such as length of time left till graduation, course load per semester, etc).</p>
<p>Thanks for your post @Bromfield. I’ve been reading up on past threads and articles for “how to make a PS degree marketable.” Very similar advice to yours!</p>
<p>Right now you are $20K in debt with two years of college. If you continue at current school, you will graduate $40K in debt plus accrued interest. Those are the amounts and the schedule you want to “beat”. Transferring anywhere that inolves taking out more loans than that is not going to improve your debt situation. For junior and senior years, you can take out $7500 in Direct loans at a decent interest rate (none if you have need) and if a parent applies for a PLUS and is denied you can take out an additional $5K on your own. Those co loans are usually a bad deal as it shackles all parties involved and never lets go. When you take out the Direct loans yourself, including with parental denial of PLUS, they are you loans only, qualify for tax deduction on your part, deferrals based on what you do and also loan forgiveness in certain programs for you. When you involve parents and others as co signers that is not the case. </p>
<p>So that’s what you can get with the status quo. What can you do better? Any room to get that Poly Sci degree or any degree in two years and tuck in some useful courses that can help you improve job prospects and income levels? You don’t need to major in something in order to get enough proficiency to be in the market for a job in it. </p>
<p>Unless you get aid packages from mainland schools that put you into a better financial situation–less you have to borrow to make it to your degree, I suggest you finish up where you are. </p>
<p>.Edit: Sorry, didn’t mean to bump this up! Meant to reply to another thread. :)</p>