Oh, I was offered a scholarship and there is family nearby, hence the Utah location for college. I'm also thinking about being in the National Guard at the same time as a student... does anyone have experience with that? My family has always been financially strained so I really feel the need to become self sufficient ASAP.
Hi Truman,
If you were offered a
full scholarship, I'd say go for it as long as it's going to cover housing and all other expenses. Congrats on that, you must've worked pretty hard so far in your studies!
Be cautious, though, if you'll need to take out any additional loans/FAFSA- read the fine print... three or four times!! It's fantastic you are ready to become self-sufficient, the sooner the better, for sure. You say your family has always been financially strained, so keep in mind that if you agree to a student loan it will be a LONG time before you pay it off, especially if you're not 100% sure what you
want to do in life. There's really no rush to go to college, unless it's a FULL scholarship- those interest rates are *astounding* (may hinder that self-sufficiency goal in the long run), and if you don't land a job in your field right off the bat you may feel like you're paying for something you didn't even get to use.
Instead of the National Guard, maybe think about participating in an internship/apprenticeship in a field that TRULY interests you (whether you go to college or not)- something that will make you happy and will not belittle your value system... a skill people will need now
and in the future. It never hurts to travel a bit, get some work experience under your belt and even more (free) self-education... take your time.
MamaLiberty's idea of making lists of pros and cons for each thing that interests you is a great idea. Talk to as many people as you can about their experience in the military- what they learned, what they did and didn't like, what skills they acquired that they now use in their daily life/job. I'm sure this will help you make a sound decision. Once you sign up, you're in, so don't rush it. Talk to those who've been there, done that ("young" and "old")- they will have invaluable insight on the matter. (Like these guys said, the military is not what it used to be.)
Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders already, no need to rush into anything! Maybe get a job that makes you feel good (productive, at least) and use
that income to become self-sufficient. It doesn't happen overnight, but it takes
way longer if you have to borrow/sacrifice too much to get there.
Good luck in your planning, you'll do great!!