Let's Accelerate

So there's a fast-track version of pharmacy school that will allow me to graduate 8 months early. This is of course very attractive for multiple reasons:

• Eight months more of pay as a full-fledged pharmacist
• LESS SCHOOL
• LESS SCHOOL
• LESS SCHOOL
• And more life
  

However, similiar to most big decisions, it has its share of negatives as well. For one thing, it would be even more intense than what I'm dealing with now. I wouldn't necessarily be taking more classes at a time, but my summer breaks would cease to exist except for summer of 2008, in which I would only have to dedicate three weeks to a clerkship. I would still have all holiday breaks as usual, but getting out early means logging in extra time somewhere else. Although I can say (even now) that breaks are a necessity, having four solid months off in the summer is a great amount of time for my brain to frizz, my motivation to wane, and my wheels to spin, so to speak. On the flipside, it means I wouldn't be bringing in any money because I might not even be able to work in the summers. Financial Aid is of course available, and I wouldn't be paying any more tuition for the accelerated track than I would the one I'm in now, but I like to have my cushion in case I need to buy something (like a car).

Living arrangements would be very tricky because I would be making my move from Big Rapids to either Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo a year from this January (which in the accelerated track would mark the beginning of my "third" year). But I would graduate in the fall of 2009, almost a full school year ahead of the rest of my class. I had been led to believe that this fast track only cut me loose a semester early, in which case I didn't think it was worth it. One semester early to sacrifice my summer breaks? But eight months.... is very significant.

So here I sit. Torn. The truth is, I want to be out of school as soon as possible for a multitude of reasons, the majority of which have to do with just being plain worn out from the intensity of it all. But a big part of me just wants to start my life. I want to get married and move into a house. I want to make money instead of giving it all away. I want to see my family and my friends more, and I want to be able to go out for an entire day without feeling guilty about the pile of homework I left behind. I sit here at the beginning of four years, and it's daunting.

I'm not really sure what to do with this. I have lots of time to commit or turn it down, but there are so many factors to consider.

Well I know I'm thirteen minutes late, but Happy Halloween. I hope you all didn't show off your boobies too much. ;)