Need some unbiased feedback

I think I've posted before that I want to get my PhD. I don't see it happening anytime soon, and I have an overwhelming amount of student loan debt that takes away most of my income. I don't make much right now as a human resources leader at a department store.

My mom is a licensed practical nurse making twice my salary. She threw out the option of me going back to school and becoming an LPN. I hate the idea of going into a medical field - I hate biology, the work is unappealing. However, I also hate my current job. And money IS an issue right now.

So out of curiosity I looked into the LPN program at my local community college. I wouldn't need about 5 of the courses because I already had them either at the same community college, or at my 4-year university (and I know they will transfer/be acceptable replacements). So I could do the LPN program (if admitted) within about 3 semesters, if I would go full-time. Four or five semesters if I do it part-time. However, all (or at lest the bulk for sure) of my student loans will defer and a good chunk would not even collect interest (Stafford loans).

I could then work for a year or two as an LPN and probably be just as unhappy as I am now, but making twice the salary. I could pay off a chunk of my student loans by staying at home (which I also hate the thought of). But then, in a few years, graduate school may be more attainable.

Or, I could try getting into graduate school next year and risk not making it financially.

I feel like my decision-making capabilities are just crap right now, and I keep jumping from one idea to the next out of desperation.

What would you do? Jump in and try to make it living practically out of a cardboard box (exaggeration, of course) in graduate school - and perhaps end up having to leave due to massive loan debt you can't afford on top of school? Is it worth the risk if I really love it? Or would you spend the extra money to go for an LPN, work a few years and remain miserable, and then try to get into grad school?

I know the best long-term option would be the LPN, but I also know how much I will hate it. Plus my mom's been pushing a medical career for years and is completely unsupportive of my graduate school desires. So I don't want to listen to her sole advice on this issue. I also can't think of any other high-in-demand well-paying job that would be quick to learn in school. Medical facilities are practically begging for more quality LPNs in my area, so I would find a job probably immediately.

I believe LPN not only requires bioloby, but RN program requires anatomy and organic chemistry(among other difficult courses). I'm not sure about LPN. LPNs do a lot of physical grunt work, you need to be strong physically. It is hard work. Also your mom is making more monay, but how many years experience does she have? You would be entry-level, check in want ads for starting pay...

I too wanted to further my education, but finances would not permit it after I had a family. I did take calsses at local CC cause I Love being in a classroom and learning, but credits don't go to degree. I'm not sure you would make that much more as a Phd in HR...you could get yr teaching cetificate and teach at a local CC in your master's subject, certs do not ake that long.

I'm not convinced you'd be happy in LPN...at all even for a few years

Gotta run
Maggie

My mom has only been an LPN for a few years - she went back to school maybe 6 years ago for it. In my area, all of the start rates are way, way higher than I am currently making and it is in huge demand. Mostly at nursing homes, not hospitals or doctors offices. My mom's starting salary was more than double my current salary when she was fresh out of school, no medical background before then. Also, my mom does not do any physical work at all - the CNAs do the grunt work and clean up the "messy" stuff (although I know I'd have to do that to get through clinical), and I would be very likely able to get a job at her facility on a different floor since they are also in desperate need.

I have no interest in the RN program. I already looked at the course requirements for the LPN at my school, and I already have taken about 6 of the courses. It is only a 1-year program. The rest of the courses would include Anatomy & Phys II (I already took A&PI last fall), a few nursing-specific courses and clinicals, and "modern social problems." So I could be done by next fall if I started this spring. There are no other actual biology courses at all, and I know those I took at my 4-year college were far more rigorous than what my CC will offer.

I also would not be pursing a degree in HR - that's just an entry-level job I got stuck with. The PhD would be in marketing/consumer behavior research. I do not have a masters degree, I would be applying directly to a PhD program and they award the masters degree en route to the PhD. I would probably make as much as I make now if I were to teach at a CC, and most of those do not do much research, which is what I really want to do.

I know I wouldn't be happy as an LPN, but I am simply miserable right now in HR, so either way I'd be unhappy (just making more money as an LPN). I owe $70k+ in students loans and one of my loans has such a high interest rate (over 14%) that I will simply never catch up. So I feel like I'm in a desperate situation to change something, quickly.

Yes, that's the plan...work as an LPN for a year or two and I could easily pay over half of my student loans off, if I live as poor as I can lol. Then try to go back to school. It should only take me the spring and 2 summer semesters to take all of the classes since I've already had several of them. Then of course I have to pass the test for my license.

I feel somewhat beaten. My mom has been very unsupportive of my college education for years, and always tried pushing me toward the medical field. Now that I'm considering it she is gaining great satisfaction and makes it sound like I'll never go back to school for what I want - which is precisely what SHE wants. But she has no idea how determined I am to go back...

I can say this, Working a job you don't want no matter the reason is going to suck, but if there is a will there is a way, and there are plenty of jobs that make money, not just LPN. However they're all just as hard to find. But if you are willing to do the hard work that you don't like to find a career you want go for it. Just keep your mind on the end goal in sight. I haven't even been able to start going to school without medical issues and the like. My girlfriend just got accepted to the nursing program at her school and I will be working a crap job for a couple years before I can go to school and i'm already 22 with medical debt up to my eyeballs. Just keep that end goal in sight and do what you gotta do.