So Ive been working for this company for about 3 years. I make great money for my age (21) but, it's a physical labor job with not many promotional opportunities (lots of lateral movement). I know when I get married and start a family I could live decently with the wages I make, and my job/pension/benefits are protected by a pretty solid union, but I strive for something more in my life, something that I can actually enjoy instead of a repetitive warehouse job.

Now should I save up enough money to survive for about 4 years and shoot for a four year degree just working part time? I'm currently working on a two year degree part time and it has taken me forever (almost four years)because of work getting in the way.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

 

I would do part time, as thats what I am doing now. It was funny, in the past 12 months I went through 2 6 figure jobs (I'm 20) and school was put on the back burner. I took a semester off, and both jobs ended up not being all what they were cracked out to be.

Having this happen opened my eyes to the importance of school. Even tho the learning experience isn't that gratifying IMO, the degree you get at the end is.

 

Now let me ask you this, do you/did you enjoy what you were doing at your jobs? Does it have any relation to the degree you're pursuing?

I agree with the part time choice to an extent. I'm going to finish up this degree but my next one will be the time to make a major decision

 

The problem that I would foresee with your job, sausrr, is that it is physically demanding. That may be fine while you are young, but what are you going to do when it starts getting too much for you, or if you have an injury that stops you doing it?

I stayed in full-time education to get my degree and then started working. I was in the UK so we didn;t have to pay fees in those days which made it a lot easier.

I guess it depends what you decide to study. Some careers are better studied full time, and some lend themselves better to part time study.

Personally, given your age and situation, I would spend a couple of years working, putting some money behind you, and then I would go back to full time education. Trying to balance work and school is a tough thing, and the obvious one to suffer is going to be school. As you have already found out!

 

I honestly would say make that money now when you can, UNLESS you have found something that will give you that inner satisfaction you seek. I think its important to have a good vision, and direction...when I didn't have that, college was very difficult for me. I personally would continue to work, take part time classes to figure out what it is you really need to be satisfied, then go full out with school.

 

While pursuing your associates part time MAKE SURE that the classes you are taking will transfer to a four year institution if that is your goal. Many do not.

That way you can continue your work full-time, and continue your part time schooling and be in a much better position in a year or two (only having to reduce work or stop it for 2 years rather than for a solid block of 4).

 

Wow, 2 six figure jobs w/o a college degree? Rare enough with a college, much less a post-grad degree.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I think the advice everyone is saying is a really good idea, working for a couple years finishing this degree and then getting my head together to decide on something I really want to do.

youngMC- I already messed up this 2 year degree in that aspect, it is not a transfer degree but, I look at the bright side considering if I ever finish a four year I'll have two degrees instead of one! haha!

 

Oh..

You can always try, they may accept it for something. My EMT training was accepted for general credits to satisfy some elective requirements, did not help much, but could get me out of a class or two.

 

I'm sure theres a few classes I could transfer, nothing close to 2 years worth though haha.

Does anyone have 2 degrees? (associates and bachelor?) I'm wondering how much of an edge this gives you in the workplace