USA/Canada, Help me with college+relationship decisions

[Idahogirl92]

I'm having a real I-don't-know-what-to-do moment in my life and I feel like either decision would send me down different paths, so any advice I get will be very appreciated!

 

Here's some background:

My boyfriend lives in Alberta, Canada and I live in Idaho, US. It's almost 500 miles between us, and it's also an age-gap relationship- with 11 years between us. We met when we were traveling in a different country and we've been a couple for over a year now.

I'm not working currently because I quit my job to move in to his house and try to find a job there. It turns out it's really difficult to get a job in Alberta right now (economy, a big number of lay-offs, a huge fire that damaged a large part of the province, and only a small % of entry level/low skill work is legally available for immigrants). Also, I don't have any degrees or trade skills, so the chances for me of finding work there anytime soon are very very low.

My boyfriend makes pretty good money (oil field insulator) , he owns 2 homes up there, and he's very close with his family- so he doesn't want to move down to the States.

I had to come back to Idaho because my visa expired before I found a job, but I've started to think about college and now I'm not sure what I should do.

My boyfriend is AGAINST being long distance; he hates being apart for so long. We've talked a bit about marriage and he's the first guy that I could ever imagine a future and maybe babies with, but I worry sometimes that we're at different places just because our ages (24 and 35).

 

 

I need advice because I'm trying to decide :

#1 should I go to college in the US? I'm interested in getting a teaching degree and it would probably be (at least) half as expensive to pay in-state tuition compared to international tuition. I'm also way more likely to get financial aid and graduate with little, or possibly zero, debt if I stayed in Idaho,

but it could take a very long time, once I have my US degree, to use it to get certified so I can teach in Alberta

and it would take around 4 years to graduate, which is too long for either of us to consider staying together long distance

#2 should I move back up to Alberta and try one more time to try to find employment? It's unlikely and it would force my boyfriend to support me financially while I'm there, and it would deplete some of the savings I have that could be used for school

#3 should I look into universities in Alberta? It will cost alot more and I might not get any aid. Also, my boyfriend would still have to do the majority of things financially, and there still is a chance I wouldn't find any work even with the degree until I became a Permanent Resident.

 

I'm open to any opinions or ideas I haven't considered yet

thanks

[IAmFCA]

OP, I suggest you remain in Idaho. Pursue and complete your education. It will sustain you for your lifetime, and create opportunities now unknown.

 

All other options sacrifice long term goals for short term desires, making them a poor trade off.

[Wiseman2]

Can you get a student visa? It really depends on if you want to keep this relationship and live in Canada with him. It sounds more like the college idea is because you're homesick and unsure of the relationship, because you know very well he's not waiting until he's 40 when you're done with school to have a relationship.

[DancingFool]

Two things - first being where is this relationship going? Are you planning on marriage or is that just a very distant idea that may or may not happen?

 

Second is - deal with facts rather than assumptions. In other words instead of thinking how much would this or that be or what it might take, actually ask, look up, know what your actual options are. Many professions are not transferable or extremely difficult to, so getting a degree in one country only to move to another and then not be able to use it is kind of pointless other than just being able to say that you have a degree.

 

So it goes back to the first point - sort out the future and time frame for that future for this relationship and if there is none, then just forget him and stay and study in the states and avoid getting into debt.

[Clinton]

Well you're unlikely to find a job outside of restaurant help given the circumstances.

 

Number two. Alberta is a huge province. Where does he live. Because depending on that, you may STILL be long distance even if you go to school up here.

 

Ps as far as degrees being transferable, it's Canada, not Kazakhstan. Almost any degree will work in either country.

[happpybear]

Just to add, I am Canadian, teaching jobs in most of Canada (save for the northern most places, on reserves) are extremely hard to come by. You will likely end up only getting supply teacher gigs every once in awhile, if you're lucky. In general, Alberta is not a good place right now for work. Actually, there is not a lot of decent work to be found in most places in my country.

 

I think you should stay in Idaho and finish your education first before you think to move. This is the most economical and logical decision

[Seraphim]

Just to add, I am Canadian, teaching jobs in most of Canada (save for the northern most places, on reserves) are extremely hard to come by. You will likely end up only getting supply teacher gigs every once in awhile, if you're lucky. In general, Alberta is not a good place right now for work. Actually, there is not a lot of decent work to be found in most places in my country.

 

I think you should stay in Idaho and finish your education first before you think to move. This is the most economical and logical decision

Yes, getting a teaching job in Canada is extremely rare right now . I think my sister-in-law was one of the last lucky people. My sister-in-law got a full time teaching position about 12/13 years ago. And I think that was probably the last batch that went through and got a job . There is no point in becoming a teacher in Canada right now . I would recommend becoming a nurse though . Or better yet a doctor . You can't get a doctor in Canada to save your life . There are so few doctors the wait lines to get one are ridiculous .

[happpybear]

^ yeah it's so hard, one of my friends managed to get a full time teaching position in the GTA 10 years ago, but she teaches math and science at the secondary level. Apparently you may have a slightly better chance to become a teacher if you are qualified to teach maths and science in highschool. I've also heard that elementary school level is full-up completely, there is no hope if you want to teach JK through 5.

[Seraphim]

^ yeah it's so hard, one of my friends managed to get a full time teaching position in the GTA 10 years ago, but she teaches math and science at the secondary level. Apparently you may have a slightly better chance to become a teacher if you are qualified to teach maths and science in highschool. I've also heard that elementary school level is full-up completely, there is no hope if you want to teach JK through 5.

Yeah my SIL has 5 degrees so she had a better chance to become a teacher. She teaches grade 4 right now.