Hello all, hoping all is well. I’m stressed out about the next few months and need help.
I graduated three years ago in Respiratory Therapy, and ever since I’ve been taking classes to go to Physician Assistant schooling.
My family is lower middle class and we’ve never received government funding/assistance. In addition, I’ve paid for schooling all on my own.
As I’ve worked the past three years, I have put all my money towards my student loans, rent, car payments, and additional payments. To be honest, I’m struggling financially to afford the PA application that’s coming up. I’ve worked full time as a respiratory therapist and have been taking classes since I graduated to get up to speed, so I can apply to PA school.
I live in Chicago, and quite frankly, I can’t apply anywhere in my state because all of the programs have niche requirements, and my classes are on the verge of expiring, so I would have to retake them again.
This moment is something I’ve worked so hard for the past three years, and I’m just frustrated that I didn’t take the appropriate classes and am in financial struggle.
I’ve job hopped the past three years so I could attend local community colleges and universities that have my courses that I need for PA school. And I’m burnt out. This moment is something I’ve worked hard for and I still want to apply if I am in financial means to.
I don’t have anything in my savings financially to afford living, transportation, etc. Hypothetically if I got into a PA school, I would have to pull loans for tuition, and loans just to live while I’m in the PA program. In total, it would be around $140000-160000+ in tuition and living expenses debt for the schools I’m applying to, that are out of state.
I don’t feel comfortable pulling out more loans as I’m still paying off my student debt, but I’ve worked hard for this moment to even apply to the PA program. I’m trying to tell myself to hold on for another few years and build up some income before I enroll into more debt.
Is it smart to apply this application cycle, or would it be wiser to hold off?