This is my first post here; I'm hoping this is the appropriate thread to post to...
My question is, should I drop out of my PsyD program?
Reasons I want to drop out:
-Cost (no scholarships or funding aside from loans through my school, cost is roughly $1,200 a credit, 4 years to graduate, was able to transfer 12 credits in from MA clinical psych program)
-I already have over $115,000 in loans, and just finished my first semester of my psyD program
-Afraid of my salary after graduating not making up for the loans, having to constantly struggle, and basically ending up a basket case from all the stress and struggle and not even being able to enjoy working because I'm drowning in debt and end up more depressed and anxious than the clients I am working with
-No time to do anything between homework, work, school, and practicum
-sick of working for free (I realize it's the nature of training and practicum unfortunately)
-Also, I did apply to a few scholarships outside of my school, but due to having class, practicum, and work every day of the week and tons of homework I have no time to fit in writing more scholarship essays right now.
Reasons I want to stay:
+I have great teachers, supervisors, supports, and classes
+I am very interested in/love learning about and doing testing (otherwise I wouldn't have bothered doing a psyD)
+I don't like to give up on things once I've started. I knew the costs before I started but after learning more and more and reading posts on this website I'm starting to become so anxious about life after school due to finances that I am having a hard time even enjoying school anymore.
+My masters program was not a 60 credit licensure program, so I would still need to do 2 years of part time school and have an internship with supervision hours before I can go for a licensure exam anyway
+Not completely sure what type of setting I want to work in yet, so the program gives me experience working in a variety of settings
Background information:
I got my BA in psychology in 2012. I immediately went into a masters program because all of my professors said you can't get into a PsyD or PhD program without a masters, so I figured may as well and see exactly what I want to do.
Graduated in 2014 with my MA in clinical psychology from a program that was not a 60 credit licensure program (took maybe 54 or 55 credits). I didn't know anything about licensure or licensure eligible programs until my second year when our teacher had a former graduate from the school come in and tell us we have to do 2 more years of schooling after we left and then become eligible to take the licensure exam.
I figured, I'll have to do 2 more years of school anyway, and am interested in doing assessments and don't mind learning more about and doing more research (although I don't think I'd want to actively do research as a career), so I went to a psyd program.
Not until last week when on this site had I even heard of a fully funded program and I wish I was in one! I am doing really well in school (I think I have all A's), am gaining more experience in different settings (did a practicum in community mental health in my masters program, doing a residential school setting practicum for my 1st year psyd). I love working with clients, and don't know specifically yet what type of setting I want to work in.
Anyway, I have gotten to the point where I am so terrified of having $250,000-300,000 in debt when I graduate and not being able to pay it back. My plan is to get a job in the public service loan forgiveness program, but I feel like everyone must apply to those and there are limited number of sites so I can't necessarily rely on that. Should I have just stuck it out and done 2 years of schooling to get my licensure for my masters like the rest of my classmates did? Switching to a funded program seems very unlikely as I'm sure there are much more qualified candidates than myself and I cannot relocate too far. I hope I am not screwing myself over by being in this psyD program, but I don't want to drop out and realize I should have stayed in either. What are your opinions based on your own experience with schooling and being in the field?