<prompt> Human: Hi rpersonalfinance,I am not sure if this is where I should ask this but I will try anyway... and yes this is a throwaway account. I am currently a senior in high school. As many of you, and the subreddit advises, I am looking into furthering my education. As of know I am stuck between two different institutes that can lead up to extremely different lifestyles. First for some background info:I am a Student-Athlete so I will be going into the school with both my academics and athletics abilities. Thats how I know my choices of colleges earlier compared to regular students. As for my problem I was looking for advice between my two choices and which would lead to a healthier lifestyle and future.My first choice is to go to one of the service academies of the United States. For those who are unfamiliar, these are military academies for each branch of the military in which you are a cadet entering and as of graduating you are officially an officer. My second choice is to go to a very prestige liberal arts school close to home. Ranked within the top colleges in multiple rankings you can assume it is a very good school. Now heres my problem. Going to these different institutes can split into two completely different lifestyles. The military academy means I dont pay for any of my education for 4 years. Instead, after graduating I would have to serve for 5 years after graduating. As for the liberal arts college what I would most likely do is graduate after 4 years and I would qualify for financial aid due to my familys income. However, I would more than likely go to grad school after getting my undergraduate which could rack up debts of up to or possibly more than 250,000. I know that many people who come out of this liberal arts college are very successful making amounts of money that a debt of 250,000 seems easy to pay off. However, on the other hand I know of others who go to grad school after their undergraduate, racking up enormous amounts of debt and not being able to find a job and living their life leashed to their student loan debt. On the other hand with the military academy, it promises a very comfortable and guaranteed lifestyle. Graduating from the academy and serving 5 years means you have the option to retire or continue your education in which you dont pay for and serve for another set amount of years double the years you went to school. The guarantee of a stable job is very attractive but I know family life in the military is just as hard since you are constantly traveling. Divorce rate in the military is high since the lifestyle you live is very straining with the relationship with your partner. Do I risk it all in hopes of trying to strike it rich or lose it all?Or do I take the more guaranteed route in which I will not be at the mercy of debt.  <response>: I think youre actually approaching this decision from a slightly skewed perspective - youre literally trying to compare apples and oranges. I presume youve considered this, but cant confirm - are you even a good fit for military service, from a personality perspective? Thats your first question - stop thinking about this in terms of a financial decision, because thats a good way to inadvertently wind up miserable. Also - are you aware of ROTC? An academy might, again, not be the right choice for you. Find a friend who can talk to you about options, but dont necessarily trust a recruiter to give you the straight shit.I have 60 years of military service in my parents and grandparents generations. The only reason I didnt also join was because I could not, personally, support the Iraq war. That was a hard decision for me to make, and there are days I still wish Id gone in. Ill probably think back on that the rest of my life. But it is not for everyone, and thats what you need to decide.What do you actually want to do with your life, and can something in the military fulfill that desire? Does the prospect of serving in the military actually appeal to you, or are you using it as a tool to further your goals? Will you be happy in the service? Are you thinking about going career? Back to non-military future, is your desired libarts degree something thatll actually get you an income, or will you need to be stupidly lucky? As well, finaid is likely to not cover 100, so youll still be lucky to come out of your BA without debt.My mom did a BA in music, served 20 years retired at 40, then got her MA in music and is happily engaging in a career that fulfills her emotionally, while able to afford to do so because of her pension. Thats a legitimate path - is it one you could follow?As for the family piece - are you male or female? A man is going to have a much easier time finding a wife willing to follow them around the world than a woman will have finding a husband - while its a stereotype, there is a kernel of truth to it.Its all complex, but the important piece is to make the right decision for what YOU want out of life. What is that? 