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I'll be finished with my bachelors degree on June 18. (Graduation is actually May 3; they let us walk then but we still have a class to finish. The last day of class is June 18.) I'm not sure what I'll be doing job-wise at that point - stay where I'm at? Look for something with better pay (and an office!)? A lot of that depends on what I do academically - I'm contemplating grad school. Part of the reason for that is, of course, that as long as I'm in school full-time, I can continue to defer paying my student loans. Mostly, though, it's because grad school was always one of my goals way back when and I'd still like to get that masters degree. When I first began college (in 1981) my goal was an MLS degree and I'm leaning toward that again. I just got an information package from IUPUI and next month I'm going to get together with a cousin who completed their MLS degree (masters of library science) program, loved it, and loves the job she got as a result.
Actually, asking "what next?" is kind of silly at this point, since I'm planning on applying to the program. The big question is whether I want to start in August or in January. I think I can postpone till January without losing my deferment - but starting in August won't bother me. A large part of the program can be done online and through televised distance learning, with some trips to Indy necessary. Hmm, I wonder if IUPU at Fort Wayne has this program? I need to look; Fort Wayne's closer and I have an aunt there.... Just checked, doesn't look like it.
Of course, if I move up to Niles pretty quickly, I can live there for six months, then apply to U of M and Wayne State as a Michigan resident. I'd actually prefer both of them to IUPU - but logistically it probably makes more sense to stay here. If I went to either U of M or Wayne State - where dad got his MSW, by the way, so it really does appeal to me - I'd have to move to Ann Arbor or the Detroit area. I love that idea, but we all know what the job market in Michigan is like. At least here I have a job and I think they'd be ok with having to go to Indy once in awhile, plus I have vacation time. Also, to qualify for in-state tuition at either school, I'd have to be a Michigan resident for at least six months, which would mean moving to Niles pretty quickly.
Actually, I wouldn't mind moving to Niles anyway and becoming a Michigan resident again (it's close enough to South Bend to keep the job I have if need be) - but that would mess up my tuition for IUPU. *sigh* It's all so ridiculously complicated! Too many decisions!
So it looks like I'm headed for another year or two of school, provided I get accepted into the program and get enough financial aid. It's a 36 hour program, so technically I could do it in a year, but I don't think I really want to take 12 hours of grad-level classes and work full time. I think 9 hours will still qualify me for financial aid. Now wouldn't it be nice if I could get enough financial aid to work part-time. With Irish's disability payment each month, it would probably be doable, but I don't think my employer's really big on part-time secretaries. Most law firms, in my experience, aren't.
Actually, asking "what next?" is kind of silly at this point, since I'm planning on applying to the program. The big question is whether I want to start in August or in January. I think I can postpone till January without losing my deferment - but starting in August won't bother me. A large part of the program can be done online and through televised distance learning, with some trips to Indy necessary. Hmm, I wonder if IUPU at Fort Wayne has this program? I need to look; Fort Wayne's closer and I have an aunt there.... Just checked, doesn't look like it.
Of course, if I move up to Niles pretty quickly, I can live there for six months, then apply to U of M and Wayne State as a Michigan resident. I'd actually prefer both of them to IUPU - but logistically it probably makes more sense to stay here. If I went to either U of M or Wayne State - where dad got his MSW, by the way, so it really does appeal to me - I'd have to move to Ann Arbor or the Detroit area. I love that idea, but we all know what the job market in Michigan is like. At least here I have a job and I think they'd be ok with having to go to Indy once in awhile, plus I have vacation time. Also, to qualify for in-state tuition at either school, I'd have to be a Michigan resident for at least six months, which would mean moving to Niles pretty quickly.
Actually, I wouldn't mind moving to Niles anyway and becoming a Michigan resident again (it's close enough to South Bend to keep the job I have if need be) - but that would mess up my tuition for IUPU. *sigh* It's all so ridiculously complicated! Too many decisions!
So it looks like I'm headed for another year or two of school, provided I get accepted into the program and get enough financial aid. It's a 36 hour program, so technically I could do it in a year, but I don't think I really want to take 12 hours of grad-level classes and work full time. I think 9 hours will still qualify me for financial aid. Now wouldn't it be nice if I could get enough financial aid to work part-time. With Irish's disability payment each month, it would probably be doable, but I don't think my employer's really big on part-time secretaries. Most law firms, in my experience, aren't.
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