An Opportunity! Worth it

[sfbloodbrother]

Hello Android community

I was recently offered a great opportunity to go to school somewhere other than I wanted to take on free college credits, and an internship with a corporate company. They will teach me the material I really want to learn because it has a lot to do with computers, so there will be programming, hardware and added business to the course as well. The big benefit is that attending this program I will be paid a total of $9,000 for the full year, taking the classes and attending the internship. This all sounds great I'll bet, but I had a look at the statistics and began to have second thoughts.
The school first off has its distance from me, and as I don't have a car, will be challenging for me to get to and from school everyday. Public transportation will not be an option, as the CTA is unreliable, and it will take more than 2 hours by train, bus and walking just to get to school.
My second concern is the schools location. I am in North Chicago, a mostly safe area, but the school is located in south Chicago. South Chicago, in the "ghetto" and most people call it. After having a look at the statistics for the challenges that most of the attending students have they are transportation, poverty, and exposure to violence. That's how south Chicago is, lot of violence, and bad things around.
Once I was driving through the "ghetto" and I remember just being uncomfortable with the area. I know this is a great opportunity, but having second thoughts, I would not feel safe attending this school. I am a Caucasian male, with a iPhone 5, a Nexus 7 and soon to be getting a Surface Pro for school. These are devices that I would bring to school every day, and I fear that they might get stolen, or I'll get mugged or something like that. I have heard of stories, and you may have too, people get shot over an iPhone.

Though I do believe this is a great opportunity, I value my life more than education. I'm still thinking about this decision and still have not made up my mind. I would like others opinion on this matter.

 

[SiempreTuna]

On the upside, sounds like the problem of carrying the iP5, Nexus 7 and Surface would likely be pretty short term ..

That's a very tough call. Actually earning money instead of running up massive debts is very, very hard to argue with .. on the other hand ..

My first thought about the travel was, so move, but after reading the latter bit about the area around the school, I can see how moving there might not be such a great idea. Is there any chance you could move somewhere which has better transport links but is outside the war zone? Or is moving out of the question?

I guess there's no chance the company running the internship could be persuaded to work with a different school?

 

[sfbloodbrother]

On the upside, sounds like the problem of carrying the iP5, Nexus 7 and Surface would likely be pretty short term ..

That's a very tough call. Actually earning money instead of running up massive debts is very, very hard to argue with .. on the other hand ..

My first thought about the travel was, so move, but after reading the latter bit about the area around the school, I can see how moving there might not be such a great idea. Is there any chance you could move somewhere which has better transport links but is outside the war zone? Or is moving out of the question?

I guess there's no chance the company running the internship could be persuaded to work with a different school?

Chicago is a VERY expensive city to live in, just a one room apartment, that's very small, would be about $850 / month, not including transportation and food, so moving, unless I can find 1-2 roommates in a halfway decent non war zone area would be hard.
I highly doubt that they will be able to do the school in a safer area, because its based in that school, has the classes, and the people who run the organization there. I might call the guy about this though, but I'd think I'd rather be in debt a little.

 

[Rxpert83]

I moved to minneapolis for school last summer. I pay about the same as you mentioned for a 1br apartment downtown and commute to school via bus everyday.

It can be sketchy at times, but overall I'm happy with my situation

 

[dan330]

the opportunity is huge.. you should NOT let it slip by... regret is a biiitch!

1. I would defiantly take it!

2. then deal with the commute. while there.. try to find a car pool situation. help pay for gas.

3. find a place you can crash .. you can be a part-time roommate.. only a few nights a week. Pay a smaller portion.

just try to find a way to make the advantage of the opportunity.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

the opportunity is huge.. you should NOT let it slip by... regret is a biiitch!

1. I would defiantly take it!

2. then deal with the commute. while there.. try to find a car pool situation. help pay for gas.

3. find a place you can crash .. you can be a part-time roommate.. only a few nights a week. Pay a smaller portion.

just try to find a way to make the advantage of the opportunity.

85% of the people attending are already in the South part of Chicago, and about 7% of them are in South East Chicago which is just as bad and I will not want to crash with them in neighborhoods like that.

I moved to minneapolis for school last summer. I pay about the same as you mentioned for a 1br apartment downtown and commute to school via bus everyday.

It can be sketchy at times, but overall I'm happy with my situation

The thing is a apartment is $850 at the lowest, and I am only making $600. Even if I get a job, that will have to be on Weekends, I can probably only make about an extra $200 / month. That will not be enough for transportation, food, and bills to pay.

EDIT:
I'm now looking for alternatives to this program, and found an interesting internship program that is accociated with my Community college of choice. It ranges from IT interns, development, tech sales, web design, and Information Systems interns, which I think these are some relativity good choices that can expand my knowledge of computers. These interns will also be paid, ranging from $9-$20 with an average of 37.5 hours. That's not bad actually, considering that the internship with the program would only give me $900 a month, these internships could give me up to $1,600 (- taxes). But the main thing would be I still have to pay for classes, because they will not be paying me to take classes. Though it is passing up the opportunity, there will be others, and I believe this is a much safer one too.

 

[breadnatty08]

Chicago is expensive? Check out rent prices in DC.
Both my wife and I have been victims of violence. Apartments robbed, cars broken into, attempted mugging (myself). We live in a relatively calm part of town but it's 2 sides of the coin. Lots of gentrification (hugely expensive apartments/houses) and lots of folks who have been here forever. It's very diverse.
What it all boils down to, is know the area you're in. Never hesitate to cross the street, assuming you can. Don't flaunt your devices while in transit. Keep them in your bag. Pay attention to those around you. Unless you're out late at night on a dimly lit, quiet street in a sketchy part of town, you'll be okay.
Also, renters insurance.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Chicago is expensive? Check out rent prices in DC.
Both my wife and I have been victims of violence. Apartments robbed, cars broken into, attempted mugging (myself). We live in a relatively calm part of town but it's 2 sides of the coin. Lots of gentrification (hugely expensive apartments/houses) and lots of folks who have been here forever. It's very diverse.
What it all boils down to, is know the area you're in. Never hesitate to cross the street, assuming you can. Don't flaunt your devices while in transit. Keep them in your bag. Pay attention to those around you. Unless you're out late at night on a dimly lit, quiet street in a sketchy part of town, you'll be okay.
Also, renters insurance.

The thing is, is that it is in the ghetto, I have no idea where I am, and I don't want to be too scared to pull out my iPhone to know where I am or when the closest bus is. The south is not diverse at all, not like it is in the north. The school I am at now is very diverse, and I really appreciate that about my school. The south, from the statistics on the handout they gave me is 85% black, 7% Mexican, 7% other, and 1% white. Of the class, 1% are white, and there are a total of 80 students. 1% of 80 is 0.8. That's not diverse at all!

 

[breadnatty08]

I'd recommend just familiarizing yourself as much as possible with the area so you're not guessing where to go from school to home. If it's a straight shot from transit to school, go for it.
I know what you're saying. I know some sketchy blocks in my neighborhood. I avoid them at certain hours, especially when I'm alone. But, keep in mind, attacks can happen anywhere at anytime. Being aware of your surroundings is one of the best things you can do.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

I'd recommend just familiarizing yourself as much as possible with the area so you're not guessing where to go from school to home. If it's a straight shot from transit to school, go for it.
I know what you're saying. I know some sketchy blocks in my neighborhood. I avoid them at certain hours, especially when I'm alone. But, keep in mind, attacks can happen anywhere at anytime. Being aware of your surroundings is one of the best things you can do.

Is it something you do everyday? And like I said public transportation would not be an option, because it will take about 2 hours to get there, and I don't have the money for 5 payments of public transport there and back every day. Bad enough now with 1 bus to school and back. I learned how unreliable the CTA is and would not want to wait for a bus with them in a war zone neighborhood. One minute the app says "Approaching but" then the next time I check it is 25 minutes.
The school has its way away from me at 16 miles away! Gas there and back is would burn a hole in my wallet.
I just don't think this is a good option anymore because the more that I think about it, the more I see bad things that are very possible to happen.

 

[breadnatty08]

Yeah, doesn't sound so great.
My commute is a 25min walk or a 10min bus ride. Some blocks aren't the best at 4am when I am walking on weekends, but I could always bike if the weather is okay.
Wish you the best of luck!

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Yeah, doesn't sound so great.
My commute is a 25min walk or a 10min bus ride. Some blocks aren't the best at 4am when I am walking on weekends, but I could always bike if the weather is okay.
Wish you the best of luck!

Biking. Not an option. Too far, and I wouldn't want to risk it getting stolen. And I will never be out that late, but more around the times of 4-5 when most people are out, most violence, and gang activity. Not things I want to get involved in.

 

[SiempreTuna]

Sounds like your mind is made up.

I can certainly understand your decision to pay (sometime in the future) to avoid the constant stress of life in a war zone.

Shame, but like you say, maybe other opportunities will come along ..

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Sounds like your mind is made up.

I can certainly understand your decision to pay (sometime in the future) to avoid the constant stress of life in a war zone.

Shame, but like you say, maybe other opportunities will come along ..

I think there will be. I'm young, just starting college, there will be safer opportunities.