My dilemma :(

Shes a spender (big spender) not a saver, if that makes any difference.

Et tu, Brute? Oh brother. What can I tell ya... overwhelming empathy is all I feel.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, go for what YOU want to do. Talk to her and talk to her twice and then talk to her two more times, to make her understand (and listen to her too). Be open to her ideas and balance it out in your mind what you feel comfortable with. You know what, it doesn't hurt to apply to a bunch of schools if you feel rushed into a decision. This way, you will have more time to make a consensual decision. If you later choose to go her way, you have choice of schools. If you choose to go your way, then you are out a few (hundred) green at the most.

Good luck.

beatthegmat wrote:Also--not that it's my business, but it sounds like you should talk with your girlfriend about putting together a savings plan. You don't want to catch a chronic debt problem (b-school or not).

I FINALLY (after months of subtle and not so subtle hints) got her to think about formulating a budget. I love her so much but her treatment and understanding of money are just so different from mine.

Ah well. Thanks all for the advice. I think that I'm just going to do what I feel makes sense.

Ultimately you should go with what best fits your career goals. If you want a career that is not high in pay you should do your best to avoid debt from college. A $700+ monthly 15 year student loan payment can be a major burden even if you are making good money post graduation.

From my own experience going to college while working after just getting married is very tough. If I hadn't lived with my wife for three years before starting college while working I don't think things would have worked out either with college, work, or our relationship. Even now that I am about to graduate with my undergraduate degree while having worked full time, she still has trouble understanding my lack of time to spend with her.

From the few words you have said about your relationship it does not sound like you and your partner have much to learn about each other. Combining work and a beginning relationship or school and a beginning relationship are tough alone, combine all three and it will be quite a challenge that you probably are not prepared for unless you both have experienced it before.

With your GPA and GMAT considering you have great other factors there is no point for you to apply to 12 schools. This isn't applying to law school, the applications process is more involved and business school applications at top schools are over $200 each. I recommend picking 3-5 schools that you really want to attend and targeting those schools.

If you are dead set on a entrepreneurship career post-MBA, I wouldn’t force yourself into deep debt with a T15 unless you may be interested in a cash cow for 2-3 years like consulting or IB, and then exiting into entrepreneurship. If you are dead set on entrepreneurship, save money and do PT while your company sponsors you, so you can save money for the other life events.