College or not?

[paysensmom]

I am currently a special education teacher at an elementary school. My BA is in psychology. I did the alternative certification program and at the end of this school year will have my teaching certificate.

I have some very hard choices to make and it will have a big impact on our BUDGET!!

1. I could continue teaching... OR do what I really want to do

2. I really want to go back to school and get my Masters in Communication and learning disorders (speech pathology). It would quit working after this school year and start full- time college courses for the next three years to include summers. This would put us in about 14,000 in debt for student loans.

We can afford for me to stop working right now. My husband will retire in June of 2013 from the Navy and I would graduate in May of 2013.
Is that a recipe for disaster? No job times TWO?
I want to go before I dont want to go anymore. Does that make sense?

What would you do?

 

[fac]

I am currently a special education teacher at an elementary school. My BA is in psychology. I did the alternative certification program and at the end of this school year will have my teaching certificate.

I have some very hard choices to make and it will have a big impact on our BUDGET!!

1. I could continue teaching... OR do what I really want to do

2. I really want to go back to school and get my Masters in Communication and learning disorders (speech pathology). It would quit working after this school year and start full- time college courses for the next three years to include summers. This would put us in about 14,000 in debt for student loans.

We can afford for me to stop working right now. My husband will retire in June of 2013 from the Navy and I would graduate in May of 2013.
Is that a recipe for disaster? No job times TWO?
I want to go before I dont want to go anymore. Does that make sense?

What would you do?

without your other information, it is difficult to discuss budget.
say do you have kids, what other financial obligation do you have etc..and how much you like or dislike teaching ( I always believe if people do not like teaching, they should not teach. I am not saying you do not like to teach)

Will your husband work after retiring? How many years have you been a teacher?

If it were me, I will go back to school, speech pathology with a background in special ed is a good combination.

 

[luvmyfam444]

can u go parttime for a while & save 1 semester @ a time?

 

[Stumpy]

I applaud you for looking at the longer-term picture and considering what might happen within the next few years. However, as we have recently witnessed with the economy, financial circumstances can change very quickly. If I were in your position, I would choose to return to school. The reason is simple - it's your desire and the student loan debt can be considered an investment. If in a few years your situation has not improved you may always be able to continue a career in teaching and temporarily delay completion of the master's program until your finances are more stable. Also, your husband may very well be in position to obtain employment to assist you in completing your degree.

School is always a difficult decision, but if it is your passion then I would recommend it. For the record, I should be completing my MBA next fall and my wife will be completing her bachelor's degree either next year or the following. We are both adults who made a similar decision to return to school.

 

[paysensmom]

We have a 5 and a 7 year old. So, we would need some sort of plan for them for after school.

I do like teaching, but would reallly like to do speech!

My husband does plan to work after he retires, but what if he doesnt get hired right away? What if I dont get hired right away?
I know, lots of what ifs, but I am struggling with my decision. But I really do want to do the speech route.

My husband is taking college courses right now too. He doesnt have a degree yet. The Navy pays for 4 classes a year for him. So, he will have two or three classes left to get his bachelors after he retires. So, not sure if he is going to finish that before he starts another job or not. Blech, I wish I had a magic ball!

 

[zumbergc]

what kind of job opportunities exist in your new field? Lots of jobs, not many jobs?

What kind of pay does it do first out, and then after say 5-10 years, how does this compare to the teachers salary in the same time range.

If there aren't many jobs, or the pay isn't good, you could regret the decision, I don't know those answers, but you need to look into that. Otherwise, if the pay isn't there, you might end up teaching because you could make more money?

What kind of people are you working with in your entry level job? Reason I ask is someone we know that is a social worker, she works in a center that helps low income people, and she hates the job because the parents aren't really following plans, making effort to help the kids with the therapy, and she wants out, as it is extremely frustrating for her.

You didn't mention what type of school district you are in, if its a rougher inner city school, or safer, nicer school or where the jobs are in the new career choice.

Think all the parts to it thru. Talk to people in your new field....see what they like and dislike about it... don't want to finish the schooling only to find out a big oops... maybe you could shadow them for a few days. Take a vacation to decide if you might like the career. A few days shadowing could make or brake your decision.

 

[paysensmom]

The pay is double a teachers salary. I have talked to the speech pathologist at my school where I work. I talk to her every week actually! I work at a title one school. Very low income families. I think 95% of the students receive free lunch!
Lots of jobs in this field. As I was applying for teaching jobs online this summer, there was a speech opening at about every other school.

 

[fac]

I assume you are not too concern on retirement saving, for example, you don't mind keeping up the years in teaching you currently have.

If I read it right, it seems that you are concerned about 2013. In the worse case scenario, how long can you surive if both of you do not have a job at the time?

If you do not go back to school now, when will be the best time to go back? in particular when your kids are 5 and 7.
What about aftercare for the kids?

DD has an IEP, hence I always think special ed and speech is a good combination

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

OH how I wish I had stayed on my speech/path path I could have gotten my BA in Psych, elem. ed cert and CDSS (communication disorders and speech science) BA all in four years at Univ. of Colorado Boulder back in the day. But then I switched to my teaching cert. to secondary social studies and dropped the CDSS. It required a Master's to practice, and I wasn't up for that at the time.

What a great field. After taking my son to a speech path for tongue thrust issues, I really wished I had stayed the course. The grass is always greener - it may look more appealing than it turns out to be, but is is a field that there seems to continue to be openings.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I will toss a joker in here.

Is your husband planning to get out at 20 years voluntarily, or is there a policy which will force him out?

If he can get a promotion, or other way to stay an extra year, that will solve most of your problems. You will have gotten your Masters and he will have been able to complete his Bachelors.

The kids will now be 9 and 11 and can probably fend for themselves after school. I know my sister and I managed to survive at younger ages when our mother was getting her Masters.

Then you would have had (or been looking for) employment for a year and he will have a degree which will make it much easier for him to get a decent job.

 

[StephMK]

I would go for it! I'm saying that as a 39 yr old that has a BA in Psych, work in insurance & went back FT for elem ed, hopefully to eventually add a cert in special ed. It is difficult to juggle but I LOVE school. I mean, love, love, love it!

I think it is truly one of those things that people say - if you take the plunge, you'll wonder why you ever waited. I know I wish I had just done it sooner. I've wanted to do it for a few years now & kept chickening out. And since I love it, it's work but I don't dread it, kwim? There have been a few crazy weeks but then they're over & the workload is managable again.

It's a good time now since mine are at the age I can get them off/home from school w/my class schedule & when I get my cert/MA in 2 yrs, they will either be home alone 1 hr or DH will revise his work hours. Sounds like yours are also old enough to be semi-independent when at home so you can study.

I'm able to work on a IC basis while in school but finances are squeaky tight. DH works for a bank (nuff said) but DD will be in school herself in 3 yrs. It seemed right to go for it now & be out before she gets in. I will be out before DH's position would be in any danger (knock on wood).

You will be in a wonderful spot. I look at the state high need areas & special ed & speech seem to be in most if not all states. How do you like working at a Title I? I'm doing practicum hours at one & am thinking about going that route to teach. If you stay Title I, there are TEACH grants to help offset school & should apply to you. Also, if you get a Stafford loan, there is loan forgiveness for special ed - not sure if speech would be included in that but worth checking.

Good luck!!

 

[Katy Belle]

I think you should definitely go to school and become a Speech Pathologist. Sounds like the right decision. But what about waiting a year? This is your first year teaching...right? If you are hoping to work in a school I think you would be more attractive if you had at least 2 years of teaching experience. After one year it sorta looks like you didn't like it. I guess it doesn't solve the problem of you and your DH both being un-employed at the same time though.

Good luck!
Katy

 

[Lisa_M]

The pay is double a teachers salary. I have talked to the speech pathologist at my school where I work. I talk to her every week actually! I work at a title one school. Very low income families. I think 95% of the students receive free lunch!
Lots of jobs in this field. As I was applying for teaching jobs online this summer, there was a speech opening at about every other school.

It's the same way here for speech pathologists in the schools. They are so hard to find and they make EXCELLENT money. I would see if there is any way you can work while going to school, even a part time job, but if not, I think you should do it. $14k is not much to get a master's degree. Good luck!

 

[lastminutemom]

I would make sure the degree you are looking at allows for both school based and hospital based therapy. Hospital based is far more lucrative and frankly, easier. I know that there are some programs around that are designed only for school based therapy. I would consider that a less good option.

Also, a friend of mine, with three children, was able to negotiate with the college program, a different kind of schedule so she wouldn't need as much after school care. I suspect that you will have to do practicums, so there is only a little flexibility at some points, but you should see if they will work with you on the course work.

My mother got her masters when I was about your kid's age and we use to "study" together. She use to take me to the college library occassionally and I loved it.

Good luck.

 

[DawnM]

I agree with the working while going to school. I got both of my MAs while teaching full time.

Dawn

 

[labdogs42]

I say go for it, but consider working and going to school or look into DH staying in the military for an extra year to keep you with income throughout the degree process. Speech is a great field and pays well. I don't think you can go wrong with it!

 

[Doodlebug939]

Ok I could be a professional student if my husband and our income could keep us going. I am a military wife so I do have a little perspective that may be closer to home.

My husband retires this summer so I can understand the fear of the unknown that you are looking at in the future. I think it is fantastic with regard to your forward thinking.

Here are a question that I have. Is your husband planning on returning to school when he retires? I know that currently there is the post 9/11 GI bill. This bill allows him to attend college full time, pay books, tuition and even tutoring while giving him a stipend of an E-5 with dependents. Here in Fort Worth that is around $1200 per month. If he believes that he is finished with school or doesnt want to pass it onto his children then he should be able to sign a portion of the money for you to go to school. He would still retire and you would still graduate but without a 14,000 student loan. (One less bill) It is a tough choice and something that you should consider if you both want this.

My husband agreed to do 20 years and that is the end of it. I know some peoples contracts are up at 20 or 24 depending on rank but my husband wants to retire while he still have the opportunity and energy to begin a new career.

Best of luck to you!!!

 

[horseshowmom]

The pay is double a teachers salary. I have talked to the speech pathologist at my school where I work. I talk to her every week actually! I work at a title one school. Very low income families. I think 95% of the students receive free lunch!
Lots of jobs in this field. As I was applying for teaching jobs online this summer, there was a speech opening at about every other school.

It's the same way here for speech pathologists in the schools. They are so hard to find and they make EXCELLENT money. I would see if there is any way you can work while going to school, even a part time job, but if not, I think you should do it. $14k is not much to get a master's degree. Good luck!

That's interesting. In our state, speech teachers are paid according to the regular teacher pay scale (no extra stipends of any sort). Since they are required to have a master's degree, they are paid according to that (salary schedule varies according to the degree held). However, I know that they do make a lot more in the private sector (such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc.).

 

[ajh88]

I haven't read through everything, but I'll toss in my 2 cents as an adult who went back to school at age 30.

I think you should go for it. You are thinking out possible scenarios and trying to plan for the future.

Even if the pay is the same (but apparently it is more), if you love the job more, that is nearly equally as important. I know, the bills still have to get paid, but if that is happening, job satisfaction is so important.

I would also just throw out there that you could always continue to teach or maybe even substitute after you graduate if you don't find a speech pathology job right away - at least you have something to fall back on. I also wouldn't discount the idea of working, at least part-time, while you're in school. It certainly wouldn't be as much as you make now, but perhaps you can work on campus, or even take some courses online so you have availability to work during the day. I don't know how structured the program is that you're looking into or if those are options. I'm a distance student - I communicate and watch all my lectures online and only go to a campus to take exams and for labs once a year. This allows me to work pretty much full-time during the day - but I spend all nights and weekends studying.

It won't be easy - and there will be times that you will want to give it up and go back to "normal" (oh, that happens to me so often, especially when I am buried under homework and exams) - but it will be so worth it in the end.

Good luck!

 

[paysensmom]

Ok I could be a professional student if my husband and our income could keep us going. I am a military wife so I do have a little perspective that may be closer to home.

My husband retires this summer so I can understand the fear of the unknown that you are looking at in the future. I think it is fantastic with regard to your forward thinking.

Here are a question that I have. Is your husband planning on returning to school when he retires? I know that currently there is the post 9/11 GI bill. This bill allows him to attend college full time, pay books, tuition and even tutoring while giving him a stipend of an E-5 with dependents. Here in Fort Worth that is around $1200 per month. If he believes that he is finished with school or doesnt want to pass it onto his children then he should be able to sign a portion of the money for you to go to school. He would still retire and you would still graduate but without a 14,000 student loan. (One less bill) It is a tough choice and something that you should consider if you both want this.

My husband agreed to do 20 years and that is the end of it. I know some peoples contracts are up at 20 or 24 depending on rank but my husband wants to retire while he still have the opportunity and energy to begin a new career.

Best of luck to you!!!

We discussed the GI bill already. We don't really want to have me use it for 14000. It is nice to know that we have one of the children's college in our back pocket.
My husband can go longer than 20 if he wanted to. He doesnt really want to. He is actually ready to get out now! I do think it would b a good idea for him to extend for at least one year though. This way he would be finished with college. It is taking him so long to get his bachelors because the navy only pays for so many classes per year. This is a way for him to go to college for free, even though its slow going.

As far as working while I do the graduate program. It is not possible. The advisor at the school told me that it is a full-time program and I wouldnt be able to work. There is lots of going to hospitals and schools. When I finish this program I will be cerrified for both the medical side of it as well as the school part. I know it is a good decision, its just getting everything worked out.

Another thing that will be a potential problem is the kids. I don't think I am comfortable with them being home alone after school. Are there any programs that help with that? If there are, I have never heard of them.
Thank you all for your wonderful input!