Hard Choice to Make

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2006
Hard Choice to Make
18
Mon, 07-06-2009 - 10:15pm

I have a hard financial choice to make in next 2-3 weeks. I was accepted into Graduate School part-time starting in the fall. I work at the University I was accepted to and we have a great benefit that will cover 90% of the tuition costs. It is a private school and the tuition per semester for part-time is $8800 (INSANE I know) so my portion would be $880 (plus fees) so about $1,000.

That would be $1,000 due 8/1 for the fall semester and $1,000 due 1/1 for the spring semester.

It is an amazing benefit and I worked my butt off to get accepted and asked several co-workers to vouch for me by writing a recommendation.

That said it is $2,000 and we already owe $30,000 on credit cards. I could probably cover the fall semester with cash since July has 3 paychecks in it. But that would be money then NOT going to credit cards.

The January payment might need to be by credit card. I am just so afraid to do this. It doesn't feel right to spend any money even for this great and amazing opportunity that would better my resume and possibly lead to a better paying job.

But if I don't do it I feel like I am failing before I start. I feel like I have asked people of importance that I work with to take time to write a meaningful resume and my not going my be perceived as I wasn't taking it seriously.

I have an email into the Admissions office to see if I can defer for a year, but honestly if I don't do it now I am not sure I will do it next year.

As always I am afraid of making the wrong choice. I feel like if I do it and figure it out later - I will regret it and be further in debt. If I don't do it I worry I will regret it later because I don't want to struggle a bit now.

Any suggestions, advice or thoughts?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Tue, 07-07-2009 - 12:16pm

Go to school. My dad always said, once you get an education, no one can every take that away from you. You will be so busy, you will not have time to overspend. $2000 grand is drop in the bucket and your salary may even increase that much in one year from the benefit. It sounds like you would really like to do this and I can think of a hell of a lot sillier things to do with $2000 than investing in your self. Just my opinion.

PS. OMG can I ever think of a lot of things I would love to do with $2000 that don't make near as much sense as what you are going to do with it LOL!


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Tue, 07-07-2009 - 12:29pm

I don't think the "over education" issue is as much a deal today as it was almost a decade ago when less folks had Masters degrees.




iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2004
Tue, 07-07-2009 - 2:07pm
I, too, say go for it.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2008
Wed, 07-08-2009 - 11:30am

When it comes to your education plus the portion that they are paying, I say go for it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2006
Wed, 07-08-2009 - 1:36pm

Thank you all so much! I am flattered by the support you have all offered. Very rarely do we all agree on something so uninimously. I have given it a lot of thought and talked to my family and friends - who also all say "go for it".


So....


I am going to go for it! I am going to have faith

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Wed, 07-08-2009 - 3:09pm
Congratulations on your decision and your bits of good news.




iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Wed, 07-08-2009 - 4:01pm

What can you do between now and the end of August for extra money?




iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Wed, 07-08-2009 - 8:49pm

I THINK YOU SHOULD GO FOR IT...DON'T PUT IT OFF...THIS IS AN INVESTMENT!!!!


Okay, so I am passionate about grabbing educational opportunities...!

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