How to choose a grad school while balancing loans, career paths, and a serious relationship?

[sa_rah_rah]

Do I go to grad school, and if so, where? Struggling with the best approach to the decision-making process.

Comments

[peanutbuddy]

I was in a similar situation as you this time last year, with one big exception: I hated my job. I had a nice, well respected, stable job in the public health field making 42K a year, and I was just given a promotion. Even though it wasn't in the area of public health I was interested in, it was still hard to leave that financially stable situation/lifestyle to go back to school. I still have about 15K in loans from undergrad, and it is daunting the amount of money I will owe after grad school, but I try not to stress it. Like another poster mentioned, repayments are manageable and you can refinance the loans at a fixed interest rate which helps a lot.

I was accepted into a "top" school, my first choice, with a little funding. I was also accepted into a grad program in my home city that would allow me to work part time and go to school part time. I choose my first choice school. I'm almost done with my first year of grad school and I am so happy with my decision. But it was not an easy one to make. I also have a boyfriend back home who had just landed his dream job in our home city at the same time was debating about where to go to school. So it helps in your situation that your boyfriend wants to move to the same city where the top-notch school is. I left my family, friends, job, apartment, and boyfriend to go to school, and I don't regret it.

Going to a top notch grad program does have a lot of benefits. My program has a great alumni network, and endless connections in my field of study. I think going to a grad school with a good reputation will help you out a lot, especially after graduation when you apply for jobs.

So, I don't think its crazy to leave a good paying job and go into debt to go to a top notch school. I've done it! Even though you like your job now, there is a limit to what you can do in public health without an MPH. If want to stay in public health I think its worth it to get the degree. Is it possible to defer your acceptance to the top notch school another year so that you could keep working for a bit longer? Or, if you remain on good terms with your employer and keep in touch with them, they might hire you for your program's field placement internship, or for a full time job when you graduate. My employer offered me a summer internship, which I respectfully declined. They are awesome people but I just didn't like the job. That doesn't mean I burned my bridges when I left! I still keep in touch with my bosses and coworkers through email, I know they are good contacts for me to have in the public health field.

Basically, the only advice I have for you is assess the opportunities that you have now and try to think ahead. Are there any opportunities that you have now that you would regret later if you did not take advantage of them? In my situation, I knew that I would regret staying home and being a part time student. I didn't want to turn down the opportunity to attend a top notch school, no matter how hard it was to leave. I hope that made sense! Good luck and I'd be interested in hearing what you decided!