A loaded question dealing with college, surgery and money.

[EmergeAndSeeExit]

I have a feeling this is going to be rather long. But, it's important, so I hope you stick with me.

I'm a senior in high school, but if you ask me in a month, I'll say I've just graduated. Sounds great, right? I think so too. And it gets better. I want to go to college. After quite a bit of soul searching, I can't deny that I really want to be a pastry chef. Maybe I watch the food channel too much, but it works for me somehow. I bake all the time. In my pajamas. So, sure, I'm a night owl and I'll have to readjust my schedule. I'll probably have to be at work around 4am. None of that matters. This is what I want to do. This is what I'm going to do.

But, here's my predicament. Which school to choose? I've narrowed it down to three.

The first one (Ivy Tech: http://www.ivytech.edu/indianapolis/academics/public/hospitality/index.html#baking ) is a community college that's only about an hour away, in Indianapolis. It's a two year associates degree, and it would be absolutely fine if I didn't have my heart set on something more. Tuition for this school is less than $2500 a year. So cheap that since I plan on working full time as soon as I graduate, I'll have no trouble paying for school without loans...especially once FAFSA is factored in. Not to mention, I'll still be close enough to my therapist that I won't have to get a new one. And all the doctors in IN that prescribe hormones (that I know about) are in Indy. It definitely seems to be the most convenient option. Instead of worrying about how I'm going to pay back loans, I'll be sailing easily, saving money for surgery.

The second one (The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, which is affiliated with Le Cordon Bleu: www.chic.edu ) is obviously in Chicago. I've only been there once, for a very brief amount of time. I can't say I fell in love with the city. Tuition for this school is around $8000 a year. Two year associates degree, once again. My interest in this school is the name. I feel I'll be able to get a much better job if I say I went to this high class private college, than a community college.

The third one (The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College: www.therestaurantschool.com ) has a four year bachelor's degree - not to mention two tuition-inclusive trips to Europe. Tuition is over $12,000 a year. This school is in Philadelphia, and I've never even been to PA. Being able to say you've studied in Europe is a really big deal. And it's not just that - everything about this school seems amazing. The course lists, the atmosphere. Everything.

But, let's go back to those trips to Europe, because those are important.

Let's think about passports, shall we? Now, I've never been out of the country, but I know enough to know that a passport is going to list my sex, and that folks at airports can do random strip searches. There's pretty much no way I'm going to be able to schedule or afford to have bottom surgery before these trips would happen. And I'm sad to say, that's what is holding me back.

Sure, I can get loans. But pastry chefs make anywhere from 25,000 to 100,000 dollars a year. The latter of that seems amazing, the former is rather scary considering. Luckily, my parents have failed so horribly that getting grants and federal aid should be easy. But will it be enough? I won't know for months, and I'm worried now.

I don't want to make a decision I'm going to regret. I can't be positive until I visit Philly, of course, but right now...it's where my heart is. Ivy Tech has a reputation of being where you go when you're not good enough to get in anywhere else.

So, where do I start? Should I risk going to one of the better, more expensive schools, or should I be safe and stick around IN?

[cindianna_jones]

You should do what you feel will give you the best advantage to getting and holding a good paying job. 

Another thing that poeple do not consider is this:  college is four years of your life.  It should be an adventure. It should be fun and exciting. A four year degree will also give you freedom to move to a different type of work too.  I had a programmer who worked for me that had a degree in phsychology.  One had a degree in biology. None of my programmers had degrees in computer science.  See what I mean?  Don't worry about the passport.  Just deal with the issues as they come up.

Don't short change your future by taking the cheap route.  Go for the good stuff kid.

Cindi

[BrandiOK]

  Hmm....perhaps Ricki would be the one to talk to.  Might get some good insight there.

[Andrew]

Don't worry about travel. Go to the school you want. I never regretted going to Williams, even though I have to travel--not to mention that people here can be a little intolerant. T makes you pretty much invisible. And if someone questions your ID, have a note from your doctor or therapist ready.

BTW, I don't think there's any chance of a random strip search. You'd have to be a pretty suspicious person (i.e. be seriously suspected of terrorism or smuggling drugs) to warrant such a search. And European airports are a bit more sensible when it comes to security.

[Christopher]

Hello,
  I enjoyed reading your message. I don't get a chance to visit here often but when I do it's always a great help.
  I think that you should take all three opportunities. It will be a mighty adventure. The order you listed is purpose. Take money and time out of the scenario.
  The first one, Ivy Tech is close to home, affordable, you can continue with your current therapist. It does seem to be the most convenient option to start out with. Instead of getting into debt you will be saving to build a better life. Two years will go sailing by.
   Then you will be in a better position for opportunity number two in Chicago. You will be able to attend without struggling financially. With the prestige of the name and the status of the school, you will have impressive experience with some of the best in the industry. This will build your confidence. It will encourage you to move forward with preparing yourself for the next opportunity and the trips to Europe. The anticipation of reaching that goal will make those two years in the city, you just may end up falling in love with, go flying by.
   And those four years will lead up to you at Walnut Hill. Finances in order, a whole new adventure in a place you've never visited (I've been there many times and it is a very beautiful place, lots of fun), studying in Europe would be a phenomenal experience, and you imagine the people you'd meet and the friendships you'd develop in four years. The whole journey would be an amazing time! And the most exciting part is you would be able to be you the whole time.
  Because with both time and money, you can have anything you've ever dreamed of. Don't let anything hold you back. Follow your fortune.
  Don't worry about the passport situation. Things have a way of working themselves out in due time. Be patient. You will cross that bridge when you get to it. You have time.
  Try not to get too deep into debt with loans. I know it is the American Way but it doesn't mean its smart. Debt is NOT a good thing. In today's economy that $25-$100,000 a year is not really alot of money. Especially considering your investment of time and money into the preparation for the job. You are uniquely designed and worth a whole lot more than that! Grants and federal aid probably won't be enough. You might think of using the few months waiting time as opportunity to make some extra income. Don't worry, everything will be alright. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
   If you focus on making careful and educated choices, you won't regret your decisions, even if they sometimes are mistakes. We can always learn something from every situation. The biggest winners are the biggest failures, look into the lives and history of the people you consider successful. Find out how many times they made a mistake or failed at something. Ask Donald Trump how many times he filed bankruptcy...started over. Excuse my rambling.
   You are already good enough to do whatever you know is right for you. Just do it.