Camaro-Related Dilemma

[undeadswamp]

Hey all, I've been facing a decision now for a couple of days and was looking for some input from people other than my parents and good friends.

First, my dream career is meteorology and my initial goal in college was to have a degree reflecting that. However, I was unable to understand the calculus the first time around and abruptly left that program after two semesters. After that, I decided upon a new career with a new major, forensic psychology. Now into my second semester following this all is going well and to plan. Except one thing.

I decided to make one last effort at calculus. And I'm actually doing well, very well to tell the truth. Now here comes the dilemma. Living at home here in California I have virtually no expenses, I'm working part time and at home and doing well and have a camaro on order which I am more than capable of affording.

If I were to continue on my path to forensic psychology I would continue living at home and be able to afford the camaro and be living a pretty good life.

If I were to instead go back to meteorology, I would have to move away from home. The only school in the state of California that offers a meteorology degree is Cal state San Jose, and that is on the other side of the state from me, so the effect is the same. I would have to take 3 more semester of calculus, enough physics for a minor in the subject and all the while doing far more advanced mathematics than I can concieve of, and honestly I don't know if I can do it. It took me three tries to get Calc 1, how will I fare in Calc 2, 3 and 4? I would be living in a dorm or apartment, loose all of my income, and therefore be unable to afford a camaro.

The car is weighing on my decision, but not particularly heavily. Instead it's the idea of having everything I've worked for, for the last 8 months, evaporate into thin air. Sure, I would still have the $7000 I've saved for a down payment, but what would I do with it? Invest? Hah! Not in this market.

I apologize for the wall of text, and in advance if this is in the wrong section. What would you do?

[LDGn63]

wow. that's pretty deep.

a new car is a bad financial choice whereas investing in your dream could be very financially and emotionally rewarding.
i LOVE cars, and I LOVE the Camaro... but real life should come first.
IMHO if people would think more about "life" and less about "things" our country wouldnt be in this economic mess.

[zebra]

Originally Posted by LDGn63

wow. that's pretty deep.

a new car is a bad financial choice whereas investing in your dream could be very financially and emotionally rewarding.
i LOVE cars, and I LOVE the Camaro... but real life should come first.
IMHO if people would think more about "life" and less about "things" our country wouldnt be in this economic mess.

well said.

i, too, believe that when it all boils down, you're gonna be much happier living your dream and having the job you're happiest doing. also, if you can get through college with the least amount of debt, that is much better than having some temporary high owning a nice car.

in the end, it's still your decision, but you should really think about how it will impact the many years to come. happiness don't come from just driving a sweet vehicle. it comes from enjoying every part of your life, and your job is a major part of that.

[fsuredneck]

I was in a similar predicament with classes related to certain majors. I started a bio major, but it took me too long to pass chem 1. I realized it wasn't for me, because even if I was then able to get through chem 2, there was no way I was going to go through with organic chem 1 and organic chem 2. I changed to environmental studies at the end of my sophomore year, because it used almost all of my classes that I have already taken. Now I love my decision. So basically, as long as you are satisfied in forensic psychology, stick with it. If you really miss meteorology, buckle down and get it done, but don't go back to meteorology if you know that you can't finish the major. Pick your major for what you want to do as a potential lifetime career. DON'T pick a major because you don't want more expenses. Remember that you are in college so that afterwards, you will be able to pay off those expenses and also have much more money.

[Miamimatt]

Originally Posted by undeadswamp

Hey all, I've been facing a decision now for a couple of days and was looking for some input from people other than my parents and good friends.

First, my dream career is meteorology and my initial goal in college was to have a degree reflecting that. However, I was unable to understand the calculus the first time around and abruptly left that program after two semesters. After that, I decided upon a new career with a new major, forensic psychology. Now into my second semester following this all is going well and to plan. Except one thing.

I decided to make one last effort at calculus. And I'm actually doing well, very well to tell the truth. Now here comes the dilemma. Living at home here in California I have virtually no expenses, I'm working part time and at home and doing well and have a camaro on order which I am more than capable of affording.

If I were to continue on my path to forensic psychology I would continue living at home and be able to afford the camaro and be living a pretty good life.

If I were to instead go back to meteorology, I would have to move away from home. The only school in the state of California that offers a meteorology degree is Cal state San Jose, and that is on the other side of the state from me, so the effect is the same. I would have to take 3 more semester of calculus, enough physics for a minor in the subject and all the while doing far more advanced mathematics than I can concieve of, and honestly I don't know if I can do it. It took me three tries to get Calc 1, how will I fare in Calc 2, 3 and 4? I would be living in a dorm or apartment, loose all of my income, and therefore be unable to afford a camaro.

The car is weighing on my decision, but not particularly heavily. Instead it's the idea of having everything I've worked for, for the last 8 months, evaporate into thin air. Sure, I would still have the $7000 I've saved for a down payment, but what would I do with it? Invest? Hah! Not in this market.

I apologize for the wall of text, and in advance if this is in the wrong section. What would you do?

When i was 19 and in college i could have goten a used 1989 ?Camaro. I really wanted it man, but i was sick and tired of having all ym cars break down. I said no at the time and got a new truck with a warrenty. I am very happy i did so. Now i am gettin my camaro and i am 27. Sometimes the best decision isnt the fun one. Do what you know is best and goodluck

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Miamimatt

When i was 19 and in college i could have goten a used 1989 ?Camaro. I really wanted it man, but i was sick and tired of having all ym cars break down. I said no at the time and got a new truck with a warrenty. I am very happy i did so. Now i am gettin my camaro and i am 27. Sometimes the best decision isnt the fun one. Do what you know is best and goodluck

Getting the new car should not be life-changing. It should be life-enhancing. If you are in a position to get a new car, then you should be done with your hard life questions. My advice when it comes to school is to think about what program is going to make you the happiest. Your happiness should determine what you do for a living.

[Stingr69]

Wait on the car and taks the calculus again. I had to take calculus several times before I got it myself. I needed it for my mechanical engineering classes and for business classes. I never used calculus again after school but you have to prove you can learn it to get the degrees. All the rest of the courses were pretty easy for me but that calculus was a real struggle. I have felt your pain.

A car will be there for you later, get the education you desire now. It will be much more challenging to get the education later in your life, TRUST ME on this one.

It is also much easier to make excuses for what you drive now while you are still in school than it is to make excuses for the rest of your life for not getting that degree you always wanted.

-Mark.

[SSOOCH]

get the CAR!!!

[beowulf80]

How do you feel about forensic psyc? You say that meteorology was your dream job, is it still? Which one fits your personality? Which one follows how you think? Follow that, or you'll never achieve happiness at work. You need to be passionate about something to have the drive to be the best.

As much as I hate to say this on a Camaro forum, the car shouldn't be holding you back from pursuing your dream. If it does, you're just going to resent it, and who wants to do that?

Stingr69 is right that you'll probably never have to do it by hand again once you're out of school. Calculus will drive the software programs you'll probably end up using, but unless you're the 1% of people who code it, you'll probably be part of the 99% of people who use the software programs and have to interpret the results. I personally only break calculus out once or twice a year in my job as a Mechanial Engineer.

In regards to Calc 2, 3, and 4: They really aren't harder than Calc 1. They simply build off the knowledge you pick up in the previous class. So if that little light has clicked in your head and you get Calculus through and through now, you'll be ok. I'm not saying they are easy, but if you can really get Calc 1, you can do them too. Just as an FYI, you'll also likely have to take differntial equations classes as well, think of them as taking calculus and using it to solve real-life math problems. My advice is to find a good (not necessarily the fun) study group where you can help each other understand the parts that don't click right away.

If you do choose to go back to meteorology and calculus, do yourself a HUGE favor and get a Ti-89 calculator. I don't care what calc you have now, go get a Ti-89. It can integrate. It can differentiate. Symboloically! It can solve for multiple variables in multiple equations simultaneously. I cannot overstate how great this calculator is for anyone in fields that involve math. Just be careful that it is a tool, not a crutch.

[lev]

I registered when I saw your post.
I am in college now too, majoring in biology. I have enough money saved up to buy an LS on cash when they come out, but guess where most of it will be going instead? I love cars and I love the Camaro, but getting your life in order and following your dream to your career is harder to do, and it should come first because you only have this chance now. With all the class work and parties, the time it will take you to graduate will fly by; I don't know how my three years went by so quickly. And once you're done, the brand new Camaro will still be waiting for you. Until then, maybe you can get some form of car satisfaction by doing what my friends and I do - get rentals and treat them like there is no tomorrow, and supplement your study time with lots of juicy pictures from this website. Everyone here has very good advice so far. Good luck.

[oachalon]

If you really want to take meteorology then a car should not keep you from doing your dream. You can always put off a car, but going to school for something you didnt want to do usually hurts you more in the long run.

You also might not be cut out for your dream of meteorology. Calculus 1 can be difficult because its something you have never seen before. I will say in my experience calc 2 was a little easier. I also had a much better teacher. Then there is differential equations, multivariable calc, linear algebra, etc..

Wow i have taken too many math classes.

Also you might end up using calculus everyday. I know Stingr69 said that he hasnt used calculus since he graduated. I use calculus everyday at my job. I am also an electrical engineer not mechanical engineer or meteorologist. You will never know what you will use at your job. You may never use calculus or use it everyday.

There is also one other thing i learned from school. You dont really learn what they taught you until the next class. I understood calc 1 and could solve problems, but i didnt fully comprehend it until circuits 1 class and calc 2. I didnt really comprehend calc 2 until i took circuits 2. I didnt know diff eq until i took electronics, etc.. It just keeps going. They teach you the methods, but when you see how its used everything finally clicks. Theres nothing like the feeling of taking what you learned and use it in a real application and seeing why you wasted all that time sitting in class.

Like i said it may or not be the thing for you, but a car should never keep you from what you want to do. Math and science always came to me quickly so i never really thought twice what i wanted to do.

Do what you feel is the right.

[SSNIGHTMARE]

First and foremost your education should come first period. You have the rest of your life to buy a car. There's nothing worse than having a job u do not like, even it it pays well. Your career and education should be the only factor in your decision.

[greg_74]

Imo you should put your career ahead of the car. If your heart is in the other major do that and you will be happier and eventually you will get another Camaro or other great car. If you switch back, when will you graduate? My plan right now is to graduate May 2011 and hopefully then economy will be getting better and I will secure a good paying job (Major is finance, yeah bad time for that haha, but I'm in the Kelley School of Business at IU, which is a Top 10 in the country business school, so I should be ok) and then order my 5th gen or maybe buy the one that my step dad has on order and he can get a new one. That way I'll have my degree and then the car. I've got my 02 SS right now that I'm very happy with to hold me over too. I say chose whichever career is better for you and then worry about the car. Unless your heart is really with the car and you are fine with the career choice you have made, then you have a harder choice.

[GrnMchin]

Originally Posted by LDGn63

wow. that's pretty deep.

a new car is a bad financial choice whereas investing in your dream could be very financially and emotionally rewarding.
i LOVE cars, and I LOVE the Camaro... but real life should come first.
IMHO if people would think more about "life" and less about "things" our country wouldnt be in this economic mess.

I never finished college and I wish I had. If it's one thing I learned you can always buy a car at a later date and whats cool now my not be the case in a few years when something else comes down the line. Education is always a huge door opener now more then ever an a lot harder to get where you want to be with out it.