<p>Hi Everyone - </p>
<p>Woah, this is going to be long. :)</p>
<p>I am new to CC, first post. I am looking for some honest advice, without all of the "yay! just go for it" feedback that I get from my friends and family. </p>
<p>**
Here's the skinny:**</p>
<p>23 Years -Female
Hispanic
Currently working full time (40-50 hrs per week) + Full Time Student </p>
<p>Finishing up my general A.A. at a local college here in Florida</p>
<p>Plan to transfer to a University at the end of Fall 13' to finish my B.A. in Mass Comm. </p>
<p>*Background/Current Info: *</p>
<p>I dropped out of HS, my Junior year (17). This is NOT because I was a slacker, I am actually pretty smart. I had quite a bit of family/personal issues that presented some pretty big challenges in my teenage years. </p>
<p>I took my GED test within 2 weeks of leaving HS, passed with pretty much the highest score that I could get. I started to work immediately, full time and have not stopped since.</p>
<p>About 1 year later (18), I started attending a local college to kick start my general ed classes towards my B.A. This lasted 2 semesters and then I left - absolutely hated the school and I got a pretty good job that I wanted to focus my attention on. </p>
<p>Fast forward 5 years..</p>
<p>I am now 23, I started going back to school a year ago and will be finishing up my A.A. next semester. I have worked my butt off in the last year taking a full course load each semester. </p>
<p>Current GPA - 3.5 (I have a couple of classes that I will re-take next semester due to a failing grade from my first year of college) and that should get me to at least a 3.6/3.7. I am TRYING to be realistic, knowing that I am not going to get straight As, but more like a mix of As and Bs. </p>
<p>I completely support myself and have managed to get through the first two years of college with next to nothing in student loans. </p>
<p>Dilemma:</p>
<p>I was planning on transferring to a local major university once I was done with my A.A. next semester because I am guaranteed admission with the completion of my A.A. at my current college. </p>
<p>I also still work full time to support myself. I have an AMAZING job, where I have been for 5 years and counting. I started in reception and have done all the right things to where I have positioned myself as a valuable asset to the company. I currently am working in lower level management on one of our accounts, with a path to become director level within the next 3 years. I have received a promotion every year since I have started here and absolutely love coming to work everyday. I truly enjoy what I do.</p>
<p>Even more, it is in the field that I want to be in long term.</p>
<p>Recently, I am feeling a bit drained. I keep thinking about my next steps and what moves to make in my life which are smart, strategic and will make me happy. Like I said, I work a lot - too much sometimes. </p>
<p>My most recent idea is WHAT IF, I transfer to a different university in another state! This other state is where some of my other family lives and my dream location to live long term. I love it there, its GA! I've already applied to my wishlist of universities and am waiting to hear back. </p>
<p>With this move, there are 2 possible scenarios:</p>
<h1>1 - Leave my job, go to school only for the last 2 years and embrace every challenge. This would mean that I am giving up my very reliable revenue source, going only to school and supporting myself with savings and student loans. The first year of college in GA will cost me about $30K just in tuition because I will be an out of state student. My 2nd year will be about $10K.</h1>
<p>Total, I would be looking at probably about $60K in student loans. This is a very high inflated estimate. </p>
<p>I would also be giving up my current position at this company that is so great. </p>
<h1>2 - (preferred, if this happens) - Tell my job, request to keep my current position and work remotely (from home). I think the company would be okay with this, as long as my boss backed me. She is 50/50, but I could have the option of moving to another department (not on my path), for the time I am in school (just to stay with the company) and more likely to be approved to work remotely.</h1>
<p>I would still work full time in this scenario, but also get to live in my dream location and go to my dream school. This would allow me not to have as much student loans, but I would still be looking at about $40K.</p>
<p>Problem(s):</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I could tell my job, they could tell me to kick rocks and then I have no job. </p></li>
<li><p>Super high student loans, compared to going to local university and being able to gain my B.A. with less than $20K in loans. </p></li>
<li><p>No job = No super awesome fancy healthcare plan and I'll have to buy my own. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>You'll notice a lot of this is about $$. I am a super freak when it comes to financials and maintaining a balance. I am obsessed with having low debt. Currently, I only have my car and the small student loans. I have my 401K, I have a Roth IRA and also have other investment accounts that I contribute to annually. </p>
<p>I am truly struggling with leaving my job/not leaving and also doing the out of state college thing. </p>
<p>All of my friends and family continue to tell me to go for it. Their advice is that I am going to be working for the rest of my life and why not enjoy my last 2 years of college. They also note how SO many successful people have student loans and wouldn't change it - insisting that it would not put me in a bad position if I manage it correctly post college. </p>
<p>They also note that while yes, I work for a great company, that as long as I don't burn bridges I could always come back after school (this is true, they let lots of people do this). OR that I could get an even better job. This is the first major company that I have worked out, so I am unsure if it is really as good as I think or I am just not seasoned.</p>
<p>They pay me very well, great healthcare, match my 401K, paid life ins, 3 weeks paid vacay each year + personal days, sick time, all major holidays, choice of 2 other holidays, volunteer days. Great hours and don't pick when I come in late, leave early or need to work from home for a few days. They also work with my schooling, where they let be out of work 2 hours early 2 days and week and still pay me like I am working the full time. </p>
<p>I know this was super long! It was helpful to get it all out! </p>
<p>Any advice is appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks!
Me :)</p>