So confused about what to do?

Question

I am thinking about moving to LA and working 30-40 hours along with going to school at cal state northridge full time. I'm afraid if I do this, then my grades will suffer. I'm 21 going into my 3rd year for my bachelors degree. I have no idea if I should just move out of my parents house because we live in San Bernardino area and I hate it. I'm not sure what to do and I need your guys input.

Answer 1

move you will love the change!

Answer 2

Just my opinion, but I think working that many hours and carrying a full course load at the same time is going to be extremely tough. My roommate in college tried to do that and ended up on academic probation. My father tried doing it for a while too when he went back to school, but found it was way too hard to work all day, go to classes at night, and then try to stay awake to study and do papers and homework. Not to mention you'll need some free time to meet with fellow students when professors assign the inevitable group projects. Plus, I found that future employers asked me a lot more about my extracurricular activities during college (which you won't have time for) than about the jobs I held down. My advice would be to either tough it out in San Bernadino with your folks for a couple of years, or see if you can live on campus at Cal State and qualify for financial aid. You may still be able to get a work study job working part-time somewhere on campus. (I'd suggest somewhere like the library, where during slow hours, you could catch up on your studies.) You might even look into being an RA. At most schools, RA's get free board. These would all be preferable options to knocking yourself out with a 40-hour workweek while in school if you don't absolutely have to.  

Answer 3

I think that if you work 30+ hrs your work will suffer. Unless you are the type of person to fit in all your classes around your work, then after work start studying for a few hrs a day then I wouldn't recommend it.

I did that for two years and screwed uni up the first time around. The second time I only worked during the summer and I got excellent grades.

Answer 4

Your grades WILL suffer if you work that much.

I know living at home can suck, but really, it might be the best for you financially. You're in your 3rd year, so it won't take too much longer. I would encourage you to stick it out if at all possible.

If you really need to go to LA for some reason, maybe a loan would be a better option. I don't know. Some people can balance work and class, but they definitely have no free time at all... and most people who I know that have tried it ended up failing classes and withdrawing (which wastes the money they worked so hard to earn, when they re-enroll in the same classes again).

Answer 5

First let me say that it shows a lot of initiative on your part - this desire to move out and the willingness to look for viable options including working full-time - the gumption to reach a goal...

But, it is not an easy goal...I worked full-time at 40+ hours a week and was a full-time college student at 15-18 credit hours for the last year and a half of my undergraduate experience.

I wanted to finish with a full minor, I had time constraints, I needed the money, etc.

It was VERY tiring and challenging. I had no time for anything else in my life, at all. My grades only suffered in the class or two that I had to view as the "less important" one each semester because I had to be realistic. I also couldn't commit to too interesting of a job (40 hours was enough - it had to be the sort of job that stays at work when the workday is finished, you know).

I still managed to graduate with an excellent GPA. So, it can be done.

But, I will never put myself in that sort of position, again. I was literally angry and tense all the time. I never wanted to speak with people, I was anti-social, in part because I had to be (there was simply no time...).

I was exhausted before the end of two semesters.

I was lucky because I had the support of my parents and I was able to live at home for a good portion of the time.

I can't imagine doing both full-time AND having to juggle the stress of living on my own, bills, new places, moving, etc, with the inherent stress of school and work.

If you can do this by getting a decent-paying part-time job and finding responsible room-mates to help with the expense - that might very well be a better way to share the experience and the burden.

Honestly - school should, I think, be the top priority. You have worked hard for three years, you are obviously concerned about your progress, you are working hard at school so you can have a brighter future...the decision to work and/or to move should be made with an eye towards accommodating your school situation to the utmost.

Good luck with whatever you decide!  :)