Alright, I just want to hear some opinions because I'm having a lot of trouble deciding what to do. Currently I work as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens making 10 bucks an hour. Pretty shitty, I know. I have a wife and 4 month old son and because I don't make enough we live with my in laws. In order to try and one day get out of this situation I have begun going to college in order to get a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. I just started the classes a week ago and so far I'm enjoying them. Although the drive out to the school is 45 minutes there and back. I drive this 3 times a week and as you can imagine it eats up a lot of my gas on top of the other bills I have to afford on my measly wages. In 2 to 3 years I'll be done and have an associates degree which could be used to get a job as an electronic engineering technician making anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 a year, starting out. Then I could continue on and get a bachelors degree which could up my salary to anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 and beyond as I continue my career. However, this is obviously all a "could be" scenario. Just because I get my degree doesn't mean I could find a job and then I could be drowning in student loans because I clearly don't have the funds to pay for myself to go to college. But a plus side in all of this is that if I do get a job in 2 to 3 years as an engineering technician, some firms pay for their employees to continue their education and I would have far less to pay back considering I'm starting out my college time in a community college as opposed to starting out at a 4 year university. So if I landed one of these jobs I could be sitting very nicely anywhere from 3 to 5 years. But this is all a big maybe of course. Now, recently I asked my dad about his job at the railroad. He's a conductor and he can get called out at any hour of the day whether it be 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and be expected to be there in 2 hours ready to go. He makes over 4000 a month, 4 times what I make in a month, and he's only been working there for about 1 to 2 years. Eventually he can become a train engineer and make nearly 100,000 a year and have a stable schedule. I asked him what the requirements to work there were and he said a high school diploma. He told me a story about a girl he knew who made 15 bucks an hour as a janitor for the railroad and after a year was eligible for many other inside jobs that the public wouldn't know about and went from making 15 bucks an hour as a janitor to making 22 to 23 an hour doing something completely different. He said he'd be able to help me try and get in, considering he works there. I wouldn't necessarily be a conductor like him and my schedule may or may not be stable. The benefits of the job are great, as well. You pay 200 bucks a month for health insurance that covers medical, prescription, dental, etc. and it covers your whole family, whether you're single or have 20 kids. I currently pay 270 bucks a month for health insurance and it only covers my wife and myself. You get a retirement pension after 30 years of service as long as you're at least 60 years old, which depends on the best 5 years of your career. My grandfather on my dad's side makes 3200 a month off of his retirement pension. PLUS, your spouse gets 50 percent of your pension ON TOP of what you get. So my grandmother gets another 1600 bringing their total monthly pension to $4800. On top of that they do offer a 401k plan. The benefits and the overall career opportunity is something that could really help my family... I see my grandparents on both sides and friends of my parents who have worked on the railroad and even my father. They all live very comfortable lives. At least financially anyway. What I want to know is, do you all think I should try to get into the railroad now or wait til I have my college degree? Whether that be an associates or a bachelors? I mean at the end of it all I could have a lot of student loans to pay back and who's to say I'll even get into the railroad for that job? Then the degree would be kind of a waste. On the other hand, I'd be able to say I have a college degree and if I happen to get laid off in the railroad(which they have been known to have big lay offs in the past) I may have an easier time getting into a new career. As of right now the railroad is prospering in the area. But that's not to say they will continue to do so. In 3 years when I get my degree they could be doing a lot worse and then what if I can't find a job there or anywhere else? I'm really having trouble deciding what to do... I have a family to think about and my personal happiness to think about. I need to take advantage of the opportunities that I'm given before it's too late, but what if I have too many possible opportunities and I choose the wrong one? I know I should be deciding this for myself and in the end I'll have to. But I'd really like to hear some other thoughts that may make this easier to figure out. Thank you for your time.

You should try to get the railroad job now because, depending on where you live, you need health coverage for your son.  If it works well, it could function as a fail safe in case you can't finish your degree.  Also, I would advise getting your two year degree regardless of whether or not you plan to get a 4 year degree for the same reason.  Things can happen with your classes, especially in those harder STEM majors.  I was supposed to graduate in the spring, but I had to push that back to December because I ran into some unforeseen trouble with a couple of classes.  Case in point, you may not get the degree  in the amount of time you think you will.

You should try to get the railroad job now because, depending on where you live, you need health coverage for your son.  If it works well, it could function as a fail safe in case you can't finish your degree.  Also, I would advise getting your two year degree regardless of whether or not you plan to get a 4 year degree for the same reason.  Things can happen with your classes, especially in those harder STEM majors.  I was supposed to graduate in the spring, but I had to push that back to December because I ran into some unforeseen trouble with a couple of classes.  Case in point, you may not get the degree  in the amount of time you think you will.

 

Well luckily because we're a low income family he's covered through a state medicaid plan. Which I'm not exactly proud of but I can't exactly afford to cover him on top of what I already pay for the both of us. But that is definitely a valid point and I have taken that into consideration. I would like to go to school at the same time, but from what I've been informed a lot of jobs in the railroad are kind of an on call sort of thing. So I'm not sure I could fit a college schedule around that. So I'm worried that if I get into the railroad now, I may never be able to go to college unless I was laid off or fired. And that could have some pretty dire consequences come with it.

Alright, I just want to hear some opinions because I'm having a lot of trouble deciding what to do. Currently I work as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens making 10 bucks an hour. Pretty shitty, I know. I have a wife and 4 month old son and because I don't make enough we live with my in laws. In order to try and one day get out of this situation I have begun going to college in order to get a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. I just started the classes a week ago and so far I'm enjoying them. Although the drive out to the school is 45 minutes there and back. I drive this 3 times a week and as you can imagine it eats up a lot of my gas on top of the other bills I have to afford on my measly wages. In 2 to 3 years I'll be done and have an associates degree which could be used to get a job as an electronic engineering technician making anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 a year, starting out. Then I could continue on and get a bachelors degree which could up my salary to anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 and beyond as I continue my career.

 

However, this is obviously all a "could be" scenario. Just because I get my degree doesn't mean I could find a job and then I could be drowning in student loans because I clearly don't have the funds to pay for myself to go to college. But a plus side in all of this is that if I do get a job in 2 to 3 years as an engineering technician, some firms pay for their employees to continue their education and I would have far less to pay back considering I'm starting out my college time in a community college as opposed to starting out at a 4 year university. So if I landed one of these jobs I could be sitting very nicely anywhere from 3 to 5 years.

 

But this is all a big maybe of course. Now, recently I asked my dad about his job at the railroad. He's a conductor and he can get called out at any hour of the day whether it be 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and be expected to be there in 2 hours ready to go. He makes over 4000 a month, 4 times what I make in a month, and he's only been working there for about 1 to 2 years. Eventually he can become a train engineer and make nearly 100,000 a year and have a stable schedule. I asked him what the requirements to work there were and he said a high school diploma. He told me a story about a girl he knew who made 15 bucks an hour as a janitor for the railroad and after a year was eligible for many other inside jobs that the public wouldn't know about and went from making 15 bucks an hour as a janitor to making 22 to 23 an hour doing something completely different. He said he'd be able to help me try and get in, considering he works there. I wouldn't necessarily be a conductor like him and my schedule may or may not be stable. The benefits of the job are great, as well. You pay 200 bucks a month for health insurance that covers medical, prescription, dental, etc. and it covers your whole family, whether you're single or have 20 kids. I currently pay 270 bucks a month for health insurance and it only covers my wife and myself. You get a retirement pension after 30 years of service as long as you're at least 60 years old, which depends on the best 5 years of your career. My grandfather on my dad's side makes 3200 a month off of his retirement pension. PLUS, your spouse gets 50 percent of your pension ON TOP of what you get. So my grandmother gets another 1600 bringing their total monthly pension to $4800. On top of that they do offer a 401k plan. The benefits and the overall career opportunity is something that could really help my family... I see my grandparents on both sides and friends of my parents who have worked on the railroad and even my father. They all live very comfortable lives. At least financially anyway.

 

What I want to know is, do you all think I should try to get into the railroad now or wait til I have my college degree? Whether that be an associates or a bachelors? I mean at the end of it all I could have a lot of student loans to pay back and who's to say I'll even get into the railroad for that job? Then the degree would be kind of a waste. On the other hand, I'd be able to say I have a college degree and if I happen to get laid off in the railroad(which they have been known to have big lay offs in the past) I may have an easier time getting into a new career. As of right now the railroad is prospering in the area. But that's not to say they will continue to do so. In 3 years when I get my degree they could be doing a lot worse and then what if I can't find a job there or anywhere else? I'm really having trouble deciding what to do... I have a family to think about and my personal happiness to think about. I need to take advantage of the opportunities that I'm given before it's too late, but what if I have too many possible opportunities and I choose the wrong one? I know I should be deciding this for myself and in the end I'll have to. But I'd really like to hear some other thoughts that may make this easier to figure out. Thank you for your time.

 

I know this sounds utterly stupid, but hear me out: If it is remotely possible, try for both...

 

The railroad job sounds pretty good. And if what you say is true and is currently prospering in the area, jump on the opportunity and take it. While working on the job, try and pursue that degree of Electrical Engineer. That way, not only are you making money, but you're also securing an education and a degree. On top of that, should there ever be a miracle in which you have a bit of surplus after bills and saving enough for an emergency funding, you can divert the finances to paying off as much of the principal loan balance as much as possible before interests kick in. And if you get laid off while pursuing that degree, at least you made a dent in the loans so all of it wouldn't be haunting you in the future.

 

The screwy fact of loans: Whenever you decide to pay for the loans after the grace period is up, all of it goes to paying off interest accumulated first before actually paying the principal balance. Meaning, if you pay the minimum monthly bill for that, you're only paying off the interest and not even taking care of the initial balance. I learned this the hard way due to the fact I'm managing both my parent's education loans and I'm only 20...

 

Getting an education is not a waste. I'm pretty sure that the Electrical engineer degree wouldn't be pointless in the Railroad industry considering that many of the primary locomotives are diesel-electric hybrids, so I'm pretty certain that the degree is completely relevant to the field [someone correct me if I'm wrong.] Personally, I stress getting an education, so this paragraph may be a bit biased for that opinion.

 

The primary conflict I see here is of course, time management. It's difficult to balance a job that requires you to be on call 24/7, school, and hammer out enough time for family and for yourself. It's almost inhuman for some of the stories I've seen and hear from working parents at my local community college. What I've heard from many professors is that earning a degree is like a risky investment. It's a lot of money upfront, and with the way things are currently, job security isn't even guaranteed anymore. Student loans are a very real threat to you and your family, but I can't tell if that threat outweighs the threat of being laid off from the railroad opportunity and starting back at square 1. 

 

 

For my personal opinion, I'd say go with pursuing that degree. Even with an associates, employers would look at you as a more viable candidate than someone without a degree. 

I know this sounds utterly stupid, but hear me out: If it is remotely possible, try for both...

 

The railroad job sounds pretty good. And if what you say is true and is currently prospering in the area, jump on the opportunity and take it. While working on the job, try and pursue that degree of Electrical Engineer. That way, not only are you making money, but you're also securing an education and a degree. On top of that, should there ever be a miracle in which you have a bit of surplus after bills and saving enough for an emergency funding, you can divert the finances to paying off as much of the principal loan balance as much as possible before interests kick in. And if you get laid off while pursuing that degree, at least you made a dent in the loans so all of it wouldn't be haunting you in the future.

 

The screwy fact of loans: Whenever you decide to pay for the loans after the grace period is up, all of it goes to paying off interest accumulated first before actually paying the principal balance. Meaning, if you pay the minimum monthly bill for that, you're only paying off the interest and not even taking care of the initial balance. I learned this the hard way due to the fact I'm managing both my parent's education loans and I'm only 20...

 

Getting an education is not a waste. I'm pretty sure that the Electrical engineer degree wouldn't be pointless in the Railroad industry considering that many of the primary locomotives are diesel-electric hybrids, so I'm pretty certain that the degree is completely relevant to the field [someone correct me if I'm wrong.] Personally, I stress getting an education, so this paragraph may be a bit biased for that opinion.

 

The primary conflict I see here is of course, time management. It's difficult to balance a job that requires you to be on call 24/7, school, and hammer out enough time for family and for yourself. It's almost inhuman for some of the stories I've seen and hear from working parents at my local community college. What I've heard from many professors is that earning a degree is like a risky investment. It's a lot of money upfront, and with the way things are currently, job security isn't even guaranteed anymore. Student loans are a very real threat to you and your family, but I can't tell if that threat outweighs the threat of being laid off from the railroad opportunity and starting back at square 1. 

 

 

For my personal opinion, I'd say go with pursuing that degree. Even with an associates, employers would look at you as a more viable candidate than someone without a degree. 

 

Yes, the degree would be helpful with the railroad. I forgot to include it, but the railroad has jobs for engineering techs and engineers. I also just talked to my mom's fiance and he said the railroad has options to pay for college as well and if they're willing to work with me college may still be an option. It's a lot of thinking and possibilities to work with. Either way, I could get screwed and it's a tough decision to make. As of right now I think I'm going to go into the railroad and see if I can manage going to college too. I already work 40 hours a week at my current job which is the second busiest pharmacy in the district. I think I can handle going to school as long as the job I get at the railroad has a somewhat stable schedule. THAT is the hardest part to work with. On the part about being laid off with the railroad, the positive note is that the railroad still pays you during periods of lay offs. My dad could get laid off during the winter season and instead of pulling in $1100 to 1200 a week, he'd get about $800 a week. Not a bad pay all things considered. Then when things get a little better, the railroad brings you right back to work for them. BUT there is always the possibility of things not getting better and the job not being there for you after the fact

Yes, the degree would be helpful with the railroad. I forgot to include it, but the railroad has jobs for engineering techs and engineers. I also just talked to my mom's fiance and he said the railroad has options to pay for college as well and if they're willing to work with me college may still be an option. It's a lot of thinking and possibilities to work with. Either way, I could get screwed and it's a tough decision to make. As of right now I think I'm going to go into the railroad and see if I can manage going to college too. I already work 40 hours a week at my current job which is the second busiest pharmacy in the district. I think I can handle going to school as long as the job I get at the railroad has a somewhat stable schedule. THAT is the hardest part to work with. On the part about being laid off with the railroad, the positive note is that the railroad still pays you during periods of lay offs. My dad could get laid off during the winter season and instead of pulling in $1100 to 1200 a week, he'd get about $800 a week. Not a bad pay all things considered. Then when things get a little better, the railroad brings you right back to work for them. BUT there is always the possibility of things not getting better and the job not being there for you after the fact

Try mentioning or finding out more information on those jobs for engineers and mention that you're trying to get a degree for that. IF you can get the company to help you through college, then by all means go for the railroad option then so you can get that support. It'll help alleviate some of the debt, which should be a primary focus for you. 

The degree seems like a stable future investment, but the railroad jobs seems like the stable NOW investment. At the moment I'd be more concerned with just being able to cover your butt with a steady income. I'd say give it some more thought after you're in a better position overall, and if you think you can manage, go get the degree.

Engineers make some serious money, if you can hack it.

 

Just know that it's an extremely competitive field--take it from my brother, who works some frightening hours (then again he's a total workaholic), and you can't really gauge the field just by taking some courses. Going the railroad route is the safer of the two options. You already have connections in the field thanks to family and their friends, so it's the better guarantee in terms of chances of getting in, as well as finances. (Seriously, I didn't know they made that much... you learn something new everyday.)

 

_{Also, paragraphs help.}

Tery I would take the job bc you have a family to support . But since that company is supportive of education you can always take classes ( even online classes) to help further your education in the meantime . I have faith in you to handle both if need be .

Try mentioning or finding out more information on those jobs for engineers and mention that you're trying to get a degree for that. IF you can get the company to help you through college, then by all means go for the railroad option then so you can get that support. It'll help alleviate some of the debt, which should be a primary focus for you. 

 

I would like this but i'm quota !

Tery I would take the job bc you have a family to support . But since that company is supportive of education you can always take classes ( even online classes) to help further your education in the meantime . I have faith in you to handle both if need be .

 

I would like this but i'm quota !

 

Sadly I found out that I can't look into the job right NOW. If I were to stop in the middle of the semester my grant money would become money that I owe to the school and it wouldn't be on a payment basis. I would owe the whole thing immediately and if I didn't pay it, it would go to a collection agency and could really firetruck up my credit. I at least need to finish out this semester before I even think about applying for the job. I'm thinking what I might try to do is, they have a co-op program for engineering students. I might try to do that, I just need to better look into it.

Tery I would take the job bc you have a family to support . But since that company is supportive of education you can always take classes ( even online classes) to help further your education in the meantime . I have faith in you to handle both if need be .

 

I would like this but i'm quota !

Sadly I found out that I can't look into the job right NOW. If I were to stop in the middle of the semester my grant money would become money that I owe to the school and it wouldn't be on a payment basis. I would owe the whole thing immediately and if I didn't pay it, it would go to a collection agency and could really firetruck up my credit. I at least need to finish out this semester before I even think about applying for the job. I'm thinking what I might try to do is, they have a co-op program for engineering students. I might try to do that, I just need to better look into it.

FL is right.  You need to think about not only what is best for you, but also what is best for your family.  I don't know your political affiliation, but some politicians are serious about cutting back medicaid.  I would look into if that is problem in your area.  And yes, it would be best to finish the semester before you apply, but you should be thinking whether you want to go for the job now so you will be able to hand in that application as soon as possible.  Also consider your class load.  Those classes can get pretty tough.  In fact my mom has horror stories about trying to figure out how many hours she had to do work, and that was in the 70's.  And it would be a good idea to check out that co-op program.