<prompt> Human: I will have 25,000 in federal student loans when I graduate. I need to borrow an additional 5,000 through a private lender to pay for an apartment during my senior year. I live about 75 miles from my university, so I could drive to school, but I would prefer to live there because I dont want to have to live with my parents. My monthly payments will be about 300. If I earn 45,000 per year when I graduate, I should be able to put an additional 500 per month towards my student loans. I believe I could have them paid off within four or five years. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Do you think this plan is plausible?Assistant: My recommendation as an accountant is stay in school long enough to get enough credits to sit for the CPA usually this is 5 years graduating with a masters. Otherwise it is going to be MUCH harder to find a job with advancement potential. If you do this and maintain a Good GPA you will be fine with 30k in loans.Human: Hit the nail on the head.In about a decade, you are flirting with six figures as a CPA probably as a middle manager or specialist of some type. Your post indicates that you have a plan to get the required credits... and that goal is absolutely paramount.Keep at it and good luck. And plan financiallyemotionally on having to sit for that exam multiple times. It takes many folks 2-3 attempts. Dont get discouraged and keep working at it.Assistant: I will be attending an out of state university, so I cant afford to pay for grad school there, and Im already a year behind, so I cant rely on my parents for that long. I know the requirements are different, depending upon your state, so Im basically at a crossroads. Im thinking of just switching my major to finance.  <response>: If youre absolutely unable to get the CPA, switching to finance could be a good fit. Ive worked in corporate finance at two very large companies for the past few years and the two degrees accounting and finance are almost interchangeable. Actually, a finance degree might be preferential for an entry level Financial Analyst position in the situations Ive seen these positions could also have more initial earning potential than a staff accountant. But I would only recommend this route because a CPA is definitely worth it and like everyone else has said, will boost your earning potential. Good luck in your senior year regardless! 