There'* a lot of diversity of members in this club here, and it'd be great to hear some feedback on this situation I'm in from folks of different walks of life.

I have come to a point in my life where I need to decide if I want to continue my education at this time, or take care of some financial obligations. I'm into my second year of college at my community college, which was a free ride for these two years due to a gold key scholarship. I have been able to maintain a 3.94 GPA these two years and have 20 credit hours of honors courses. The problem however, is that this is my last semester at the community college and now it'll be time for me to move onto an University or four year institution. That would be great in theory, but, The problem is I don't have a MAJOR. I don't know what I want to do.. In fact, I really have no idea. To go on further to a four year school at this point would mean that I could possibly waste around 14,000 a semester to just go and not know what I'm doing..

This is the other option. I was offered a job at a new factory with a starting pay at $16/hour with benefits. If I worked Saturday'* it would be 24/hour, and Sundays are 32/hour. Holidays would work out to being $48/hour. Currently as a manager at a Restaurant, I make $8/hour, or $14,000 a year with a 35hour /week average. This job offer would be around $35,000 a year with benefits. I would be making more than double what I make now, and would have benefits. My plan initially would be to work there for one year and get my Aurora paid off in 8 months by paying around $1,000 per month towards the loan. The rest of the money I had left over after paying for bills would be saved towards going back to school after my "year off." The year-off-of-school plan sounds ideal to me just for the fact that I'd be starting off debt-free, I'd have my car paid off so I'd no longer have to worry about that $200/month.. I'd just have to worry about maybe school loans, the money I saved would go towards books/possibly rent. The year off would also give me some time to think about what I really want to do. I"m just afraid that if I take a year off, I'll never end up going back to school. I don't mean to sound cocky, but I know I have potential for higher end, professional type jobs, I just don't know WHAT I want to do. I can do better than I'm doing right now, it is not a challenge for me, I just need to know where I can focus my mind at for a job.

This is a dilemma though because if I DO take a year off from school, will I lose out on possibly getting scholarships that would transfer from my two year college, to the four? I'm part of the honors society of my current college, and by transfering to the university, I'd automatically be enrolled in their honors department. Would that be at risk? I just don't want to end up screwing myself over then not being able to go back to school. I just can't take much more of 14 credit hours, and full time at work. I'm getting too burned out and don't know how much longer I'll be able to do it. Just too many other things to focus on besides where my income'* coming from. What are your suggestions, and your advice? I really have to tell you that I appreciate your thought and ideas in this.. It really helps me out. My parents think I shouldn't take a year off, and my brother thinks it'* a pretty good idea just to be financially secure.. What would you do in this position?

I dunno man, you probalby want to stay in school since your still fresh and tearing it up right now. The money is attractive, but for 35k a year? In reality that is not that much. Plus, are you going to stay at that factory for the rest of your life, or do you want to advance?

continue your education.....

Dude, just keep on going and get your education. It'll all pay off at the end when you cash your 55k check (or monthly checks that sum up to 55k) I'm leaving high school soon and I could have taken a year off but I decided not to and I'm going to college for a bachelor'* degree in Civil Engineering Technology and the avg salary is 45-60k a year. Now, assuming that I earn 55k a year and I'm paid in monthly checks, I'll be cashing 4500 a month. Versus 2900 a month? That'* if the company doesn't downsize.

Just get your education, as my mom say, Good things come to those who wait.

If you leave, the odds are stacked against you ever returning. Its a known statistic.

I strongly reccomend you finish what you started now.

I concur with the rest of the clan. Finish it off now. I know its hard not having a major, and to be honest you'll need one nearly as soon as you get there or within the year or so. Its a ton of pressure to just pick something, but look through the college'* degree offerings, there'* a lot of cool degrees out there maybe something will come out of the pages and hit you!

when i got out of my 2 year college, i had the same choice to make. i took a year and a half off to pay off some debts id accrued. now im trying to get back in and its a pain in the arse. id say keep going.

Hmmm.. I quit school for two years now to help my buddy get his landscaping co on a roll. Being offered as much money as you are, I say take it for 2 years. If you feel you are happy after those two years than stick with it. If not, take the money you earned and put it towards finishing you're education. Non the less, SAVE as much as you can during these two years.

As high school as this sounds...do some job shadows. It can really help you decide what you want to get into. What you think you would really enjoy and what not. I know it helped me.

Be cool, stay in school.