Real Life, College, and Musings
When did a year suddenly turn into six months?
With every passing day, my decision about college just gets closer and closer. There's so much to think about, so many variables to consider, that if I try to make sense of them all it just gives me a headache. I've been waiting for this day ever since I realized what an uphill battle it was to get back into college after leaving. Where did the years go? How did it get so close to my decision time? For those of you who don't know, I've been considering four options, which all depend on which schools accept me, how much in savings I have at the time, and whether I'm willing to risk a move across the country to another state. Let me explain.
My first option is this: stay here in town where I currently live, finish my last year at the 2-year college, and then get a guaranteed transfer to any college in the Wisconsin state. This is good for many reasons. The costs are less because it's a 2-year college, I already have an apartment, I already have a good-paying job, and I'm nice and settled here in town. The downfall is that I would have to balance work and paying rent (again) and it'd take me another year before I go anywhere. But I've been through this song and dance before. This town is too small. If I don't have a car by then, how will I get to school? Carpool? Walk? And how much will I have to work to be able to afford my apartment? There are many variables with this option.
My second option: apply directly to UW-Madison. Why there? Well cause it's a 4-year, I have friends down there, I would be able to live on campus if I so chose, and while it is a move, I'd still have the option of either finding my own place or living on campus. However, there's the problem of a job. I will need a job to get through college, but it has to be part-time if I'm ever going to be able to do homework and tests and such. I learned that the first time around. And Madison is an expensive place to live. However, it has a public transportation system and housing options. The college itself is expensive but that's because it's a flagship school. Again, variables.
Third option: apply and attend MATC (Madison Area Tech College). They offer a degree in Social Work but it's just an Associate's degree and for any kind of good job, I would need a Bachelor's or Master's in my field. They also offer no housing, but it's at tech college prices. And again, public transportation so I wouldn't have to worry about needing a car. On the other hand, I'd have to find a place to live and again, I'd have to find a job to get me through. Also again, I do have friends down there and I've heard nothing but good things about Madison. I guess my biggest hang-up with this is that it's just a 2-year degree for Social Work and I need a 4-year at least.
Fourth option: apply at George Mason University in Virginia. Now, before you ask where the fuck did this come from, bear in mind...the girl I love most in the world lives in Virginia and is actually an alumnus from this university. I want to make a go at a relationship with her and I need to be in Virginia for that. Not only that, but GMU not only has a housing option, but a public transportation system, and specialized areas of the school that offer smaller classes and more personal attention. It's also a 4-year institution, which means that I can get my Bachelor's and possibly go on to complete a Master's. However, several thoughts remain: car, job, and housing. Most of all though...the cost. As an out-of-state student, I would be paying about 22k a year to attend there. Which is a little more than one year at UW-Madison. However, if I take up residency in Virginia, which only takes a year, then the costs are cut down to 8k a year.
There's also my wonderful J-chan to consider. If anything, I would be living on campus to give the two of us a chance to date and start a relationship as normal people. I certainly wouldn't be jumping right into anything. XD She's too precious to me to do anything but take my time with such a thing. Now, this is a major factor, but bear in mind another good friend of mine, Kaya, currently lives in Madison. I don't want my decision on which college to attend rest too heavily on who will be there when I go, because that's just silly. Still, it IS nice to have a support group, or some sort of security net to be there when you do remove yourself to such a different place.
One major thing factors into this though. Actually, two major things. 1) Which colleges will accept me and 2) How much financial aide I'll be receiving. Tax return season is coming up fast and while I don't know how much money I've made, I do know it's far more than what I'm used to. There's also all the application deadlines and I need to see if I have 30 credits at my old college to even qualify for transfer at GMU or 24 semester hours of work for UW-Madison. I might apply as an incoming freshman if I don't qualify for transfer status...which is yet another thing to think about, dang it.
I know I'm probably worrying too much, but this is a really big decision, one that will impact me the rest of my life. I allowed others (ahemmomahem) to make the decision for me when I was 18. This time, it's going to be my choice and I want to be sure I make the right one. And even if I don't make the right one, I want to at least be able to make the situation work for me. I really don't want this to be another Missouri...nor do I want this to be another freshman year at college, trying to work 40 hours and balance a full courseload. I need to find a happy medium. I guess it's time to start weighing the pros and cons of these things.
If you made it to the end of this rant, have a cookie. *Hands one over.*
With every passing day, my decision about college just gets closer and closer. There's so much to think about, so many variables to consider, that if I try to make sense of them all it just gives me a headache. I've been waiting for this day ever since I realized what an uphill battle it was to get back into college after leaving. Where did the years go? How did it get so close to my decision time? For those of you who don't know, I've been considering four options, which all depend on which schools accept me, how much in savings I have at the time, and whether I'm willing to risk a move across the country to another state. Let me explain.
My first option is this: stay here in town where I currently live, finish my last year at the 2-year college, and then get a guaranteed transfer to any college in the Wisconsin state. This is good for many reasons. The costs are less because it's a 2-year college, I already have an apartment, I already have a good-paying job, and I'm nice and settled here in town. The downfall is that I would have to balance work and paying rent (again) and it'd take me another year before I go anywhere. But I've been through this song and dance before. This town is too small. If I don't have a car by then, how will I get to school? Carpool? Walk? And how much will I have to work to be able to afford my apartment? There are many variables with this option.
My second option: apply directly to UW-Madison. Why there? Well cause it's a 4-year, I have friends down there, I would be able to live on campus if I so chose, and while it is a move, I'd still have the option of either finding my own place or living on campus. However, there's the problem of a job. I will need a job to get through college, but it has to be part-time if I'm ever going to be able to do homework and tests and such. I learned that the first time around. And Madison is an expensive place to live. However, it has a public transportation system and housing options. The college itself is expensive but that's because it's a flagship school. Again, variables.
Third option: apply and attend MATC (Madison Area Tech College). They offer a degree in Social Work but it's just an Associate's degree and for any kind of good job, I would need a Bachelor's or Master's in my field. They also offer no housing, but it's at tech college prices. And again, public transportation so I wouldn't have to worry about needing a car. On the other hand, I'd have to find a place to live and again, I'd have to find a job to get me through. Also again, I do have friends down there and I've heard nothing but good things about Madison. I guess my biggest hang-up with this is that it's just a 2-year degree for Social Work and I need a 4-year at least.
Fourth option: apply at George Mason University in Virginia. Now, before you ask where the fuck did this come from, bear in mind...the girl I love most in the world lives in Virginia and is actually an alumnus from this university. I want to make a go at a relationship with her and I need to be in Virginia for that. Not only that, but GMU not only has a housing option, but a public transportation system, and specialized areas of the school that offer smaller classes and more personal attention. It's also a 4-year institution, which means that I can get my Bachelor's and possibly go on to complete a Master's. However, several thoughts remain: car, job, and housing. Most of all though...the cost. As an out-of-state student, I would be paying about 22k a year to attend there. Which is a little more than one year at UW-Madison. However, if I take up residency in Virginia, which only takes a year, then the costs are cut down to 8k a year.
There's also my wonderful J-chan to consider. If anything, I would be living on campus to give the two of us a chance to date and start a relationship as normal people. I certainly wouldn't be jumping right into anything. XD She's too precious to me to do anything but take my time with such a thing. Now, this is a major factor, but bear in mind another good friend of mine, Kaya, currently lives in Madison. I don't want my decision on which college to attend rest too heavily on who will be there when I go, because that's just silly. Still, it IS nice to have a support group, or some sort of security net to be there when you do remove yourself to such a different place.
One major thing factors into this though. Actually, two major things. 1) Which colleges will accept me and 2) How much financial aide I'll be receiving. Tax return season is coming up fast and while I don't know how much money I've made, I do know it's far more than what I'm used to. There's also all the application deadlines and I need to see if I have 30 credits at my old college to even qualify for transfer at GMU or 24 semester hours of work for UW-Madison. I might apply as an incoming freshman if I don't qualify for transfer status...which is yet another thing to think about, dang it.
I know I'm probably worrying too much, but this is a really big decision, one that will impact me the rest of my life. I allowed others (ahemmomahem) to make the decision for me when I was 18. This time, it's going to be my choice and I want to be sure I make the right one. And even if I don't make the right one, I want to at least be able to make the situation work for me. I really don't want this to be another Missouri...nor do I want this to be another freshman year at college, trying to work 40 hours and balance a full courseload. I need to find a happy medium. I guess it's time to start weighing the pros and cons of these things.
If you made it to the end of this rant, have a cookie. *Hands one over.*