I've confirmed what I've been throwing around for the past year or so. I've mentioned it on and off in conversations. I apologize now, because I feel like I've just been talking about it in circles, but never coming up with a decision. I still don't have a decision. But maybe if I just talk more, eventually, my brain will settle on my solution.
My predicament is that I have asked my counselor. With 8 more units and the hope that I pass all my classes this semester. I can officially graduate with the class of 2012 Spring Semester. I CAN. But should I? There are so many options, pros and cons, that I can''t decide yet. I know that I have to make the ultimate decision. But, it doesn't hurt to get a clearer view and opinion to steer me in a better direction. So, I turn to you.
Graduating early Pros:
I can graduate EARLY! It's pretty exciting and cool, no more midterms!
I can save on tuition~ stupid changes have lost me Calgrant, Pell Grant and loans. This semester has been hard on me and my parents already.
I can always stay in Berkeley and audit classes for fun and for free. Why must I always have to pay for an education? I'm paying just for the class to be in a transcript.
I have more time and less stress to plan for my future.
Cons: I don't know what to do after I graduate~ what do I do?
(MCATS, GRAD SCHOOL?, JOB? Too little time to decide)
I want to stay in Berkeley which means to find a job after graduation, how hard is that?
I could get more time by staying in school and raise my GPA and a better chance for Grad school or med school.
I'll probably have to start paying off those loans from tuition after graduation.
And then, ultimately the decision has to be ~ what do I want to do after graduation? I have so much info gathering to do, and grades to keep up.
1. Am I good enough for grad school now, or do I have to keep working?
2. What kind of grad programs are there that I might find fulfilling?
3. I think I know what I might want to do, what is the route of actually getting there?
4. Can I find a job to sustain me on the way to fulfilling that route?
So many things on my mind. I should actually be focusing on the immediate, that is, my upcoming midterm on Physics.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the safety of going through the motions of grade school, high school, college, the preset course work, they're all disappearing and leaving me with something very unknown. Am I strong enough to deviate from the safety of it all yet?
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Make a list of what you need to figure out, like housing after graduation, employment, paying off loans, grad school applications, etc. The decision isn't going to get easier unless you figure some (all) of that stuff out. Keep going the way you're going, but have a good idea of what your next year will look like if you do graduate this spring. Then, with enough planning, you can choose the best option when push comes to shove.
ReplyDeleteIts expensive to stay in school, but its also a harsh taste of reality to not have school as a buffer anymore. Meaning you will indeed need to find work (which I'm sure you can do) so that you can survive and start paying off your debts. I don't know how the job market is out there, but I imagine the cost of living in Berkeley must be fairly high. Keep that in mind as well.
As far as grad school goes, do some serious thinking about where you want to go. Start with a general search of medical programs and then narrow it down based on which programs sound the most interesting to you. The last thing you want to have happen is to graduate and THEN start looking for grad schools. Whatever programs appeal to you, also consider how much THEY will cost and if its in your interest to jump right into them or wait for a bit and try to save some money.
Also remember that you could indeed get more time by staying in school another year, but you'll have to make these decisions then anyway. Its best to really flesh them out now regardless of what you decide to do.
If you know what you want to do, start researching how people got to where they are. Are there any organizations/hospitals/etc. that you could intern at? Internships are excellent ways of getting connections and experience.
It might be a depressing thought, but you're going to run into stress either way. The question is which one will you be able to handle (and conquer, eventually) more effectively? Also ask yourself what kind of classes you would take if you stayed another year? Is it worth tuition money to take classes you don't need, either for your major or your personal intellectual growth?
Sorry for the essay. Basically, you need to spend some quality time solidifying these concerns. Get some hard facts and numbers and then return to everything you've collected and weigh which option would benefit you most. The only person who can decide that, ultimately, is you.
Chin up, girl! You are brilliant and resourceful, and I know you'll pull through. :)
No really, that was really helpful.It's been what I've been stressing about but summarized nicely in words. That really helps in the solving the issues one by one.
ReplyDeleteI've found some other options such as gaining experience via health related research. - WORK, EXPERIENCE, CONNECTIONS could be solved that way. I was also made aware to the fact that I could audit classes while staying in school could lower my GPA as well. Living is the least of my worries. It's a lot but you're right. I need to think about it sooner or later. Sooner is better. I'm finding professors friends people in similar situations to talk about it. It's really helping. ^-^
Physics on the other hand... more and more frustrating the more I talk about it.
I was so confused. AJ never registered to me as Jessica so I thought it was Anna the whole time, then I thought Anna was responding to herself, but now I get it.
ReplyDeleteAnna should be one of those school counselors that tells kids how it really is instead of trying to motivate (cough LIE cough).
I'm going to go the opposite way. LIVING is the by far your biggest concern. You can make life whatever you want, it's true. I thought people were lying the whole time (and, true, sometimes there are limitations that prevent some from doing that), but it turns out that we really can do whatever we want.
Take a break, Jessica! Buy a nice camera and go out into the wild! Take some pictures. :)
Well, after you do your physics anyway. :P
I'm no help. Anna's the one with the success-oriented head on her shoulders. I do whatever the hell I want these days and that's what I call being successful. :P
-Heaven