Gonna Go to College

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

So I'm in the process of going back to school - my first time in college, at the tender young age of 26 - and I have my career choice narrowed down to three. I'm having a difficult time making a decision, although of the three listed I definitely have a "favorite;" that will be kept to myself so as to not influence your vote. But here ar ethe benefits of all three.

1) Parameds work kinda crap hours and don't get paid as much as a doctor or a nurse, but they're always helping people and the job seems fast-paced, which I definitely like. The drawback: as far as I know, there are no colleges in the area that offer an EMT/paramedic course, so I'd have to relocate, which I'm never very good at.

2) I like to think I'm a pretty good cook, and I enjoy doing it; a chef can work pretty much any hours and can get paid a nice chunk of change for a day's work. The drawback: again, I'd have to relocate. Not out of state per se, but still, quite far away from what I'm used to.

3) My sister just graduated from college as a massage therapist and she can't say enough good things about it. I've always been told I give a kick-ass back rub and foot massage, so this seems like a natural option. And as far as school goes, I believe my sister finished her degree in only two years, whereas the other two options are four-year classes. The drawback: if I want to start my own business, I'd have to minor in business, and there's a lot of number-crunching that I don't really like to do. And if I went to work for/with my sister, I'd be moving to a city where I used to live (I'd probably need to in order to go to class anyway) and moving in with my Crazy Aunt.

So anyway, those are the pros and cons of each. Help me make my decision!

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Massage my feet

[Shy Guy]

my back is sore

[Deleted]

Gah, too much leg tension.

[Baixo Astral]

I'm hungry.

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

Paramedic. Why?

I love to cook but couldn't stand being a chef working in a hot ass kitchen, and the temptation to spit in rude customers food would be too strong

Yeah it'd be fun to rub up on some tense college honeys, but what happens when they notice your boner? "Erm, its part of the massage, just relax honey" Or worse, when you gotta rub down some greesy fat broad and her zits are popping under your fingers?

Just somethin' to think about.

As for bein a paramedic, dumbasses are always crashin their cars or burning down their houses, so, steady employment!

[hellohumanoids]

Just to remind you, things sometimes don't turn out the way you want them to be, the girls in your class could all be ugly and the attractive ones attached, so you might have to scan further afield.

[dirtydickraines]

Where are you going to school? It's great that you're going to school, but there is a downside to starting at a later age. You are probably gonna be put into a freshmen dorm, that means no alcohol, no matter how old you are.

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

dirtydickraines said:

Where are you going to school? It's great that you're going to school, but there is a downside to starting at a later age. You are probably gonna be put into a freshmen dorm, that means no alcohol, no matter how old you are.

Actually, I was going to do the community college thing and not live on-campus. My grades in high school weren't the greatest and I never took the ACT's or SAT's; I don't know if those things matter, but that's what I've heard. I'll go to any school that has good programs for the subject(s) I'm intersted in; my sister graduated from Kalamazoo (MI) Valley Community College/Western Michigan University and then I believe Blue Heron Academy for her massage therapy certificate. She has nothing but glowing thigs to say about them, so I was strongly considering doing those.

This is all still in its infancy, though, as I haven't even finished filling out my FAFSA, my college application(s), or figured out a living situation. Just kinda tossing ideas out there and seeing what was good.

[lovingway]

devondragon said:

Do any of those fields require a 4-year degree? I believe you could do most of those with an associates degree.

Yea I definitely see all of those as 2 year degrees. In fact, a community college near me offers all 3 of them.

I wouldn't want to be a chef just because of rude customers and how anal people get with their food. Medics are decent, but I don't think they get paid that much (I think I heard this on Oprah actually). Massage therapy is probably the best bet. If I had to do it over, I would probably go back and get my license to be a massage therapist. I am in a weird area (Ohio/Kentucky border) where Ohio requires you to have a degree, while Kentucky doesn't.

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I already had my mind pretty much made up, but I was kicking around the others as well.

I'm already in the process of making living arrangements with family in the area of the school I want to attend for massage therapy (which appears to be the "winner"), so now all I need is to figure out what kinds of grants or financial aid I can get. I'm really excited; I was stuck in a rut for a while where I was basically in neutral (wake up, spend time with the [now ex-]fiancee/her family, go to work, come home to sleep, lather, rinse, repeat) so it feels good to actually be motivated again.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Now, if anyone knows anything about grants, or financial aid, if you feel so inclined, send the info my way either in this thread or (preferably) by PM.