Please give me some advice

[Outcoded]

[quote]Originally posted by EvilCabbage:
<strong>

Physically or socially?

Im 21, and I still dont think Im fully qualified to call myself an adult, and hell, hopefully I never will be.

When you turn 18, you dont magically gain some box full of worldly knowledge, and still have a hell of a lot of growing to do, as a person. I cant condone teling someone "your 18, you have every right in the world", because its just setting them up for one hell of a rough ride.

My 0.2c.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But then, you only learn by making your own mistakes.

[Q (OHMSS)]

I don't think you'll earn as much as you want in your year out unless you get a good job (all previous posts about bills), if you get a good job with prospects, then you don't need college/university as you'll get the training at work.

My brother took a year out while at university, in that year he worked 18 hours a day and managed to clear all his debts before returning for his last year. He said it was hard to get back into the whole education process.

I can understand your situation and the tension between you and your parents, don't forget, they are trying to do their best to see that you do your best. One of my friends spent 4 years at university while living with his parents (in very difficult circumstances), he attained excellent grades, (his parents kept pushing him), he now has a good job and admits that if he had been living on his own he would never have done so well, too much temptation with the beer and the ladies. He complained bitterly about the whole situation at the time though.

[cc_penguin]

I was somewhat in your position when I had graduated. I started out thinking, Ill take a year off, I have been going to school for 13 years (including kindergarten ) and I deserve a break. Well one year turned into about 5 years, and it was very difficult as I didnt go back until after I was married. So I went to night school and worked 2 jobs, to pay the bills. Luckily I finnally did graduate, but it would have been much easier and quicker if I had not decided to take "one year off" and while I still had the option of my parents paying for my schooling. So my advice, go ahead and get the school out of the way, work out your problems with transportation. Why not go to school, get a part time job which and get a car with the money earned from that? Sure you probably wont be able to get a brand new sports car, but at least you could have your own ride. As for certifications, I agree, start out with A+, its simple (when compared to the rest of the certies)and it holds some value to some companies. Good luck, and let us know what you decide...

[IT Len]

You've received a lot of good advice, and a lot of the experiences you're hearing about are valuable. And my .02 is based on having an educational career stalled for two years by the military...and then since that time, getting three degrees over the span of fifteen years.

Remember first, as a general rule of thumb, "degrees are meaningless in determining knowledge, but invaluable when trying to get hired!"

I believe it's true that it's best to get into a degree asap [especially if you know you want college], and do anything you can to give yourself as much time to study as possible.

Seems to me that you should list pros and cons of your current situation, and make the best decision you can, knowing that things are rarely perfectly aligned for you do to exactly what you want. You have to determine, based on your character, what you can compromise on to get to your goal.

If you're the type [and you should know this about yourself] that wants the degree badly enough, sitting out a year is commonly done, and successfully by a lot of people. Some, however, do get caught up in the vicious "making enough money to survive, but not enough to ever get out of it again" thing.

Last two ideas. First, my guess about parent's human nature tells me that they'd quickly get tired of driving you a couple of hours a day, and will relent on that quite quickly. Just a guess, though. [And, to tell you the truth, I think using the threat of withholding college funds if you earn your own transportation is not only unfair, but depriving you of an adult rite of passage, and actually depriving you of a "tool" to help get your education in the first place!]

My first degree was as a starving GI Bill student, at Mizzou, barely able to buy groceries,no car, but small enough town to walk everywhere...it worked out great, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Lastly, if you do happen to sit out for a year to get some funds together, it'll get you out of the parental support arena, and may make your scholarship/grant/loan situation much better for you. [Check with financial aid couselors on how to make the best decisions!] When you go to school, go to school, apply for every grant you can, and take out any loan you need to study full time.

I firmly believe an education is worth any sacrifice. Both personally and professionally.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Be aware that taking a year off from school may mean that you'll never go to school. Yeah, you tell yourself that you'll only take a year, but once the money starts flowing, no matter how lousy it is, you'll want it to keep coming. If not going to school is an acceptable result, then by all means get a job and make some money. If going to school means a lot to you and you still want to work for awhile first, then mark a calendar or otherwise make that the goal of the job, reminding yourself daily that the job is only temporary.

You have to set goals and continue to head toward them, even though you'll be tempted to turn to the right or left along the way. You'll meet this great girl or have a chance at a better job or...you get the picture.

That's my advice...

[DiR[ëctory]]

It is not unrealistic to pay for school and have a car too, definetely if your parents are going to help.

I started working when I was 15 and saved up to buy my first car (1000.00 Ford Tempo ) continued saving to buy my 1994 Ford Ranger for 4,500 (sold the tempo) and just this past Christmas I bought my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I am not trying to brag here just trying to make a point. I am not sure of what kind of car you are wanting. If you are wanting a 2002 Mercury Cougar or a cavalier or something of that sort, look at something you can afford to buy without going into debt. DEBT = BAD

You got til when, August to save for a car. I don't know how much you make a week. But don't spend money on anything like the latest computer gadgets (which is hard to not do, i know, I bought a CDRW, RIO MP3 PLAYER, PALM PILOT, NEW COMPUTER, MONITOR, etc within a couple months time) anyways, just save your money for the summer and buy something at the beginning of august.

If you make 100.00 a week then that is 16 weeks or 1600 bucks. and if you make 150 then that is 2400.00 GRANTED YOU DONT SPEND ANY.

/end rant

just make smart choices with your money and you can have your car and eat it too.

[gxavier]

[quote]Originally posted by dir:
<strong>It is not unrealistic to pay for school and have a car too, definetely if your parents are going to help.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

exactly. And like I said before, its not that hard to get a partial or even full scholorship after your first year of straight A's. Then It would be even easier.

[Cleetus]

I like a lot of the advice given here.
My personal opinion(which is only mine) is that having the college degree is worth much more that a couple of certifications. I understand that here on this board we are all techs or into technology, but in the business world a degree carries so much more weight when talking to HR. A degree will allow further advancement opportunities, and will open many other doors. Even if decide to leave the IT world, the fact that you have a degree will help keep doors open, and your resume out of the trash can.
So what if you have to ride with you parents for a while. It actually might be a blessing, get the first year over with, with good grades. Then look at moving out, or whatever. So many people screw up that first year due to partying and so on, if you can get past there, with good grades and some scholarships, you will be golden.

That is my opinion at least, I just know that the fact that I had a degree has carried me many times, hell it's in History and Political Science of all things. Then again, I do wish I spent a little time off, I went to college 2 days after I graduated high school.

[TrackMan]

Thanks for the advice everyone, you've given me a lot to think about.

I had a talk with my mother while she was driving me home from high school. I mentioned that I was thinking of taking the A+ exam to help my chances of getting a better job this summer. We started talking and she mentioned the idea of maybe going to a microsoft certified tech school that's in hartford, which is a 30 hour drive south from enfield (versus springfield being to the north) I told her this may be an option.

I still haven't mentioned to either parent about wanting to move out That will be tough.

So I'm still undecided. The college acceptences haven't come back yet so I still have to see what happens.

Also, I was thinking of getting this book to study for the A+, what does everyone think of it?
A+ Certification DVD CertTrainer
Published by Global Knowledge Certification Press

[Sowulo]

[quote]Originally posted by TrackMan:
<strong>hartford, which is a 30 hour drive south from enfield</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wow! I didn't realize CT was such a huge state! It must have changed a bunch since I was last there 4 years ago.....

[Outcoded]

[quote]Originally posted by TrackMan:
<strong>Also, I was thinking of getting this book to study for the A+, what does everyone think of it?
A+ Certification DVD CertTrainer
Published by Global Knowledge Certification Press</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm using Mike Meyers' book, it ain't cheap (£40-odd) but it's good.

Maybe a degree isn't the best qualification for the field you want to go into, or maybe its overkill (like mine), look around at all the opportunites.

I don't do regrets, but I often look at people who didn't go on to university who are now doing the sort of jobs I will probably end up doing, and have been being paid for it for the two years I've spent running up debt.