Job or School?
 

So here is my situation: I am going to college for Computer Science; this is my first year. I get the post 9/11 GI Bill, which means a housing allowance, tuition, books, and supplies are paid for. I am doing great in school full time and working about 32 hours/week.

I just had a friend offer me a solid job that has some great advancement opportunities. I would get a significant raise, but I would have to up my hours to 50/week and I can only work Monday-Friday so I would have to drop down to part-time college. Perks are I would get a gas card and in addition to my salary I would get about 500/month extra for a vehicle.

Here's the rub: The field the new job would be in is what I would really enjoy doing: Loss Prevention. I only have a few years left that I can use my GI Bill or it will all come out of pocket, but I really want to get my degree, even though I'm not that pumped about computers. My car just completely crapped out on me so that extra money is looking really good.

What would you do?

If you're not that into computers I wouldn't get a degree in it. You're not that likely to be successful in a competitive field that you aren't that passionate about. If you love loss prevention and can make a living at it that you would be satisfied with I don't see a downside with taking the job.

Do the job while pursuing your degree part time.

This. Work and go to school part time. Especially since this job sounds decent with advancement.

I would take the job, if it's what you really want to be doing. You can't count on an opportunity like this popping up again.

This is what I am leaning towards, I just would like to get the degree over and have no debt from school at all when I get out. I literally only have about 6 years left that I can use it and going to school part time wouldn't get that done.

I'm very good with computers generally, just not that into them, if you know what I mean. But I had to declare a major to get my benefits so I figure that's where the money is; go with it.

Go with the flow, Moe.

Computer programming associates degree here. But I moved to technical support (which I wanted in the 1st place). Without a 4 year degree I have no chance in advancement, which I don't want anyway. 20 years of experience out weighs the associates degree.

Go with your gut. Do what you want to do. Every say you can walk into work doing what you like to do, you'll be happy. If you don't like it, you won't. Point blank.

Loss prevention? Brad is intrigued...

Take the job, work on degree part time.

I have done it for about 6 years now. But this job could lead up to my own district and making significant money.

I would probably have to switch my major to Criminal Justice, but I think if I have taken any classes this semester that don't count towards the new degree I would have to refund the VA for that class.

Not necessarily true. Have you had your military training transferred to college credits yet? This could save you some time and possibly money long term.

mdchiefsfan, Bounty Hunter ;)

I need to do this TBH. I was a Russian linguist in the Army and I needed a few classes to get my Associate's after I graduated. I need to get in contact with them, but basically all I have transferred over was my DD 214 which got me out of having to take Health LMAO

The VA won't let you switch majors? Also if you are able to, can you do the Army Reserves? That TA should be huge as far as helping to pay for college. I thought you could start and stop GI Bill benefits as needed.