Is it worth going to college on the opposite coast?!?!?!?

Question

I want to become a pharmacist. In CA, where I live it is really competitive to get into pharm school and now I am considering a 0-6 school where you get in straight from high school. However, I am in an area that I love (San Diego) and with my family. Should I leave the place I've loved for so long for pharmacy school and to pursue my dream. If I stay here nothing is guaranteed and I feel it would be a risk and it would take 8 years if I do make it. The school far from here would be 6 years and given that I will keep a certain GPA, I will graduate will my degree. What would YOU do? I will probably be going to NY or Boston. My mom has a psychological disorder, but I love my granny and my dad and watching football every Sunday with my dad. If I leave I will miss all this, but my dream is important to me too. What would YOU do knowing that pharmacy is very competitive in CA and would require extra work on my end?

Answer 1

You have to ask yourself whether 2 or so more years of school is worth 6 or so more years with your family.

Personally, there is no way I could be away from my family, friends, and all other familiar things for 6 years.  I only lived away at college for one year, and it was only an hour away, but I STILL came home almost every weekend because I love spending time with my family!  Not everybody is that way though.  I guess my best advice to you is that, when it comes down to it, if your dream is really to be a pharmacist, you will achieve it even if you stay in CA.  However, it's going to be much harder to achieve when you're miserable and homesick.  Personally, I would take the extra years of schooling and the competitiveness over the time away from everything.  But everyone is different.  That's just my opinion.