I am a masters student in a program that mainly prepares students to be good applicants for medical school. I have since decided that I do not want to go to med school, and I am not sure if I should stay in the program. I would save $20,000 by dropping out by the end of the semester, and the degree would not help me get a better job unless I went to med school first.

If I dropped out, I could pursue an excellent job in the city where I went to college, which I miss very much. If I got the job, I'd be making nearly $3,000/ month, which means I'd be able to afford a studio in an apartment complex I always dreamt of living in as a student. The best therapist I've ever seen works in the city I am considering moving back to, and I have some good friends that I miss there. Plus, there is a great church there that I would love to get involved with again.

I have some doubts about this plan, however.

1). I don't have the job yet. I feel that it may be a bit risky to move somewhere without having a job. My boss from my old job is a really good friend (someone I'd love to see more of if I moved back) and I could ask him if I could have my old job back if I don't get this dream job I'm after. But I'm not sure if he could afford to re-hire me. Plus, he really doesn't want me to drop out of the program I'm in, and he might see giving me a job as "enabling" me to drop out. I do have $6,000 left over from my student loans for this semester, and I anticipate saving at least $2,000 from my current part time job before I move, so I will have some resemblance of a financial security blanket.

2). I'm afraid that if I drop out, it won't look good. My grades are good so far, and I plan to continue studying hard, so I don't think that anyone will think that I'm dropping out because I couldn't handle it. But still...I'm thinking about pursuing a PhD in clinical psych in a few years, and I'm afraid those programs will look down on me for not finishing the masters program I started.

3). My parents won't like it. I live with them, and they are really enjoying having me home. Most of the time, I like living with them too. The city I'm thinking of moving to is only 2 hours away, so I could come home every Sunday to continue my commitments with the church here (I'm a Sunday school teacher and I sing in the choir...could still be involved with the student church because their services are at 5) while also getting to see my family fairly often. But still, they won't be happy. And they are very responsible people, so they will think that my even thinking about moving somewhere when I don't have a job yet is crazy.

My heart says I should take a rather large risk and go for it, but I don't know if it is wise. Any opinions?