Keep going to school or quit?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Lovcom, I find that highly offensive and so would my DH. It's HIS dog no less. This dog is his best friend and our first child. We are not putting him down because we have a 3 story house and he can't walk up and down the stairs. I'd let you tell my DH that and he'd punch you in the face. This is non-negotiable.

And the $75k is very attractive investment. My DH calculated it. And with his other degrees he's highly marketable AND more flexible than before.

He got the degree so he can move and we can live where we want, instead of being highly restricted. He's already been recruited by multiple venture capital firms, but due to timing of everything he won't take any of the positions. He's also been headhunted for management positions in his career path to boot, again we can't move right now.

So yes there is a large return on investment, one which he considered before we went through the sacrifice of waiting on kids, being tired, etc.

People spend $75k on a bachelor's in a field that doesn't pay well. If you are going to take out loans, at least let it be for a field that pays well.

I think it depends on where you see yourself in 5 years and what you want to be doing. I'm not into my career for money, I believe you should like what you do. And how you get there is unimportant. Do you really want to be miserable forever and say what if?

I'm not saying tons of debt, but try to figure out what career and job you want.

[lovcom]

If your MBA has the potential to open the door for a high paying position (ie. >$100k) than why wouldn't you? I would think long term. If you think there's no potential to make a huge jump in your pay with an MBA than don't pursue it. Only you and those in your particular field know this answer. I think you need to ask yourself a more important question. Why would you rely or even entertain the opinions of those who not are not as accomplished as you. Let's take a poll and see who's giving you advice on this thread. I bet most of these posters don't have a professional degree let alone a college degree. I'm just playing the numbers. The fact is less than 30% of Americans have a college degree. You're in an elite group and have the potential to attain something that can open many doors. $53k is chump change in the whole grand scheme of things in your particular circumstance. Talk to people who have MBAs and see what they think. Good luck with whatever you decide.

There's nothing elite about having an MBA.

I work around many with MBA's and there is not one task that they can do, that I can't, and in fact I make more $$ then all of them...compensation is mostly about what one can do, and not about what degree one has. A degree can give entre into a field, but to rely on a degree for staying power is a study in failure.

Too often people think...ah, get an MBA, make more money...but that often is not the case, and considering the cost of an MBA can add salt on that wound. There are of course good reasons to get one, those are the exceptions and not the rule.

And the $75k cost of the OP's husband's MBA is not chump change....take that $75k and in retirement dollars that amount is actually close to half a million $.

[lovcom]

Lovcom, I find that highly offensive and so would my DH. It's HIS dog no less. This dog is his best friend and our first child. We are not putting him down because we have a 3 story house and he can't walk up and down the stairs. I'd let you tell my DH that and he'd punch you in the face. This is non-negotiable.

And the $75k is very attractive investment. My DH calculated it. And with his other degrees he's highly marketable AND more flexible than before.

He got the degree so he can move and we can live where we want, instead of being highly restricted. He's already been recruited by multiple venture capital firms, but due to timing of everything he won't take any of the positions. He's also been headhunted for management positions in his career path to boot, again we can't move right now.

So yes there is a large return on investment, one which he considered before we went through the sacrifice of waiting on kids, being tired, etc.

People spend $75k on a bachelor's in a field that doesn't pay well. If you are going to take out loans, at least let it be for a field that pays well.

I think it depends on where you see yourself in 5 years and what you want to be doing. I'm not into my career for money, I believe you should like what you do. And how you get there is unimportant. Do you really want to be miserable forever and say what if?

I'm not saying tons of debt, but try to figure out what career and job you want.

So then if things are so wonderful, what are you complaining about in your first initial post in this thread?

If the ROI from earning the MBA is huge, then your circumstance is the exception and not the rule, and I say have the DH go for it, and reap the $$ rewards!

Dogs are not people; they are on a lower level, and if it keeps the DH up at night and he is losing sleep, it would be reasonable to remove the dog from your life so that DH can be 100% the next day...or let the DH sleep and you deal with the dog. I was just stating my suggestion is all.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No I'm explaining there are circumstances other than finances that influence how you determine whether to finish faster or not. It's not always about financial dollars in the moment.

I don't know about other people, you have to determine what the MBA means to you and where you are going with it. That's individual basis. What it costs also depends on where you live and what school you attend.

I'm giving examples of why you finish faster. Wanting to move on with your life. Wanting to be out of school. Start a family.

Let's be honest, having a family, working full time, school nights is tough. It's a lot of sacrifice. Hence finishing faster might be the answer for some but not for others.

Lovcom, sounds like you are bitter. And by the way, I am doing a lot with the dog, and why don't you tell my DH to remove his buddy from his life? Next, tell me that taking care of my grandmother when she becomes too old and inconveinent is also the way to go. Lovely.

I believe you have to weigh out all options and see where you want to be in 5 years. Then make a decision based on that.

And $75k is a lot of money. So is being stuck in a job and career track you don't like. Most graduate degrees never pay off, MBA is probably the one that does the most, if you ask MD, PhD, JD, etc.

[lovcom]

LivingAlmostLarge,

Grandma is a human, so lets keep her around at any cost whatsoever. A dog is just a dog....they are nice and our "best" friend, but placing them at the same level or above humans, above your DH's sleep is shameful. It is sad you can't tell the difference between grandma and fido...spooky!

[Inkstain82]

LivingAlmostLarge,

Grandma is a human, so lets keep her around at any cost whatsoever. A dog is just a dog....they are nice and our "best" friend, but placing them at the same level or above humans, above your DH's sleep is shameful. It is sad you can't tell the difference between grandma and fido...spooky!

You have a real problem with the idea that other people might have different values than you do.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Thank you inkstain. I am also guessing grandma has a price on her head in lovecom mind too. So if i spend too much on grandma then oops!

Besides lovcom keeps ignoring the fact the dog is my DH's dog and his best friend. So she should tell him to put the dog down for sleep!

I'd love to see his face :P

[Scanner]

LL,

I do think dignified euthanasia has a place in loving pet care. And I actually think it may have a place in human care, although I know it's taboo to consider it in American culture. Whether your husband puts his buddy down or not has nothing to do with how much he loved him.

Anyway, I know pets are like one of the family so I hope it all goes well for you and your husband.

[lovcom]

Thank you inkstain. I am also guessing grandma has a price on her head in lovecom mind too. So if i spend too much on grandma then oops!

Besides lovcom keeps ignoring the fact the dog is my DH's dog and his best friend. So she should tell him to put the dog down for sleep!

I'd love to see his face :P

But wasn't it you that originally complained about getting up at night to deal with a sick dog?!?!?!?

You also ignore my post, which places grandma over an animal...I guess some people want to beleive whatever they want...

[creditcardfree]

OP, I'm sorry to hear of your job loss! I think shelving the MBA for a brief time while you look for work is the best idea. I'd rather have income than additional debt. You can start your MBA again when you are employed.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Does an MBA really allow for dropping out and later just dropping back in? Can you just come and go, or do you have to reapply and perhaps not have your previous work be deemed applicable to a then current Master's?

[FamilyPapi]

I say prioritize.

Focus on getting a job.

Then, get back to your MBA. The trick is to get back to it. I did, and it has helped me tremendously. Get your MBA and don't look back.

In the meantime though, do what you have to do.

Remember, first, do what you have to do.

Then, do what you want to do.

It's like a buffet line. First you pay, then you eat.

Family Papi

[snafu]

OP you described yourself as 'laid-off' with your team which suggests the possibility of returning to employer. I suggest you exam each and every option. If you've already paid for current courses, finish the semester. PT program doesn't preclude you from seeking other employment. You need to do a cost/benefit analysis pertaining to your specific circumstances. Why did you start the program? What benefits balanced out the cost [time/effort/$$$]? Do those benefits still exist?

How many courses do you need to complete - can you retain earned credits indefinitely? Can you transfer credits to a state university and continue PT studies for a lesser cost? In my experience, after 2 yrs... it doesn't really matter who issued the degree except top 10 schools.

Whatis wife's level of support? Are you both willing to reduce your standard of living to manage on her income? What work can you do to pay tuition & expenses to avoid such enormous debt. What grants, scholarships, TA are available?

DH has a doctorate and it took a dozen years before we saw any pay-off for cost and effort. It opened doors but when I do cost benefit analysis it still hasn't paid off monetarily.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

lovcom, no I said that there are a lot of mitigating circumstances that cause people to choose to finish up faster or shelve an MBA. I never said my grandmother was less important than a dog. You did.

I said you'd put a price tag on my grandmother's life likely...Plus you keep saying "put the dog down, you need sleep." Lovely... then when I address you tell that to my DH who is the primary owner of the dog that he gets up with? I know my DH, he'd punch you out for being a crass, unfeeling person.

And you aren't a dog person. Or else you wouldn't be suggesting putting a dog down over a night of sleep and incontinence. But you "need" sleep right?

I never said that, I said "he's tired but he's finishing up faster due to circumstances."

Back to the OP? What's the 5 year plan? How far from finishing are you?

[feh]

LL,

I do think dignified euthanasia has a place in loving pet care.

+1

I've seen heroic efforts made to keep really sick pets alive, and it wasn't for the pet's sake. If they are feeble and unhappy, the best thing to do may be to let them go.

I'm not going to comment on this particular situation, because not enough information has been presented.