I need your opinion on something, guys.

[avariciousangel]

My engineering program is a wierd one. It's structured so that quite effectively, the next 5 years of my life in this miserable university are planned out. 6 months of studies and 6 months of Co-Op (Think Internship) every year for the next 5 years :P

Comments

[vampava]

I would recommend you do a mixture of hanging out with friends (relaxing and making the most of your summer), and work a bit too. But that depends on whether you will need to work during the year, cuz if you work during the summer and it benefits you such that you can devote more time to studying during the next 5 years (tho wow, you'd need one helluva paycheque to cover you for that long!) then definitely work. But dont spend your time JUST working. Be busy...have a tightly packed sched (work, play, family, sleep...do it all over again) but if you enjoy it you wont be tired.

Which is the point, because if the next 5 years are pretty gruelling - you dont want to get burnt out. But are you the type that would get burnt out? You may have a good idea. Some people, even under the greatest pressure and stress, love what theyre studying so dont burn out. You may be that one. In which case...taking the extra summer courses to make the load lighter on the following year (and yet still making time for family/friends!) may be the best option.

I dont know how plausible it would be for you to go back home. If you dont need the money (thus dont need to work), have the 2grand to get yourself the ticket there, and feel that youd still be able to make time with friends here on weekends and such, then back home may be best to squeeze in now.

I had to ask myself the exact same questions this summer too (but my program isnt as tight as yours!). I went with summer classes cuz well, one is a prereq but the other isnt. I'm working part time instead of full time because of it and still fitting time in for friends and family. Back home will have to wait tho. :/

I'm sure you'll choose the best one for you! And perhaps the 6months of co-op wont eat that much of your time up? It'll be like working right, so you ..leave your work at work? Or you may still have to study, i dunno...hehe. Good luck!