The rest of my life?, What do i do now? Options

[cnelson]

Hey guys, for any of you who have seen be around the forums, probably know that i am 18 year old senior in high school. The last couple of months I've been weighing my options heavily about what to do for college. For the first month or so I really only had like two ideas.

The first was go to community college for two years figure out what i wanted to do, or go to Rutgers and get a degree in business management. I was also considering maybe becoming a teacher. I am an avid golfer and have been playing now for about 3 years, I have also been on varsity for school for the past 3 years. I am not as great as some players my age but i can hold my own. Thats when i was looking one day and found a couple interesting schools.

I found, PGCC (Professional Golfers Career College) and SDGA (San Diego Golf Academy) . Now don't jump to any concussions. These are not school that claim they will turn me into a professional golfer. I would get an associates degree in Professional Golf Management. I have a passion for golf that i don't believe most people will ever share with me. Thats what made me so interested in these two schools.

Over Dec. I went and visited both campus's that they have in South Carolina. One is in Myrtle Beach (SDGA) and the other in Hilton Head (PGCC). I quickly did not like Professional Golfer's Career College, however i felt differently about SDGA. It seemed like a great school, very small class's but everything else seemed really good. I got accepted on the spot to both schools just waiting for my letters in the mail.

I just don't know if this is the path that i should peruse. I do have a love for golf and would love working in the industry. However I live in NJ and its not like i could come home every weekend to visit. I have a girlfriend who i've been with for about a year and half, I have two best friends that i've known for 14 years. I have my parents here. Theres just a lot of things that are in the back of my mind. There are some days that i feel strongly about going to school there and other days that seem like it wouldn't be a good idea.

Some of you probably don't know, but the amount of jobs in the golf industry is very good and the school has a 85 to 95% job placement rating. She showed me the website that the students get access to before and after they graduate and it lists all the jobs, by state. I saw a whole bunch in NJ. I would like to become either an Asst. Pro, or a Head Pro. at a course. (Thats someone who you would go and take lesson's from) Asst. Pro's start around 35,000$ to 45,000$ and once your a head pro, if you're working at a good country club you could be making anywhere from 60k to a 6 figure salary.

But I still have no idea what i should.. If anyone has any opinions i'd great appreciate them. Thanks.

[GriffGirl]

Bag the associate's altogether, it'll seriously limit your income potential and it's a step backwards if you already have a BA. I don't think clubs will show preferential hiring for the golf academy school over an accredited 4 year university. Best way to find out is to make appointments and go talk to some club house managers. You never know, you may even land a p/t job w/one while you're in school and secure yourself a nice future when you get out!

[Punisher]

Bag the associate's altogether, it'll seriously limit your income potential and it's a step backwards if you already have a BA. I don't think clubs will show preferential hiring for the golf academy school over an accredited 4 year university. Best way to find out is to make appointments and go talk to some club house managers. You never know, you may even land a p/t job w/one while you're in school and secure yourself a nice future when you get out!

Well community college is a step towards your bachelors. For me, my local community college offers an associates in applied avation science with aeronautical training at 1 of 3 local flight schools. Same thing with PCC. (Portland community college). They also have association with Embry-Riddle aeronautical school... so my credits from my hometown community college will transfer to PCC.. then from PCC to embry-riddle where I will go from my associates degree to my bachelors in aviation science and then I've been considering getting my masters as well. (Yes, one of my goals is to be highly educated in aeronautics... b/c I truly enjoy/love it and one day when I'm not flying professionally anymore I can easily get into a teaching position.)

However, if your CC doesn't offer a degree with golfing... then going there for 2yrs would be a waste of time really.

This post has been edited by Punisher: Jan 12, 2008 - 8:00 PM