Your thoughts needed. I have 1 year and I want to maximize my ability.

Hi guys.

I am planning to stay here 1 more year. Sorry for the long post, but it is quite important decision I have to make soon. If things fail, I plan to go back to my native country. But rather than worrying about failing, I would rather give a last shot and challenge my situation to make most out in this 1 year I plan.

If DA passes before beginning of 2011, that would be great. But we can't depend on these flip-flop democrats, stubborn angry conservative politicians.

I think first thing, I, as a DREAMer, have figure out is either finishing education or find a way for sustainability and independence from my family. As you can see, I don't get along with my family. They tend to have these conservative ideas and so, while I am more laid out and relaxed in person. I take education serious however and I have 4.0 GPA with all A's in current community college as a math major.
,
Recently I thought finishing education was best way but then it costs a lot without financial aids. Sure there are some private loans that can be taken with US citizen's cosign, but also there are some risks involved.

I am depending on my mother here in the US. My father has stopped paying me monthly allowances and I am pretty much alone. Right now, I have barely enough to pay for this semester. I am a Math/Computer Science major. However, other than tutoring, this isn't directly helpful for income until we get BA/BS or MA/MS degree. And tutoring in this economic situation isn't so good. ( because I have no more private tutoring students now)

My family wants me to finish education first but they support me pretty much none other than food. I pretty much pay them rent from tutoring students. I have some arguments with them about my career. They push me to finish MA as soon as possible because I still have 245i and they seem confident there is a way I can get green card(with some sponsoring) in one year as soon as I get MA. It sounds good but I would have big burden of loan interests and there is no guarantee that I would get jobs right away after MA. Besides they insist that I should finish Biochemistry major, which I didn't like in UCI.

Meanwhile, I thought some other ways and I have been thinking about freelancing. My friend basically makes living by freelancing website design, Java, C++, php programmings etc. Freelancing programming will take at least 1 year of like 24/7 studying to be considered good I think. Maybe that is still not enough, because programming isn't that easy. I find it challenging but I like it. Yeah so I think bad side is the learning time. Understanding all programming logics and hands-on large complex programming projects might require even BA+ degrees.

Freelancing design seems a little appealing for its time. Besides I was good at art and I do have some basic art concepts I learned from S.Korea. Their art standard is pretty high since elementary school. Anyway, I think I can take some digital art classes this semester(Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, DreamWeaver, JavaScript programming). Basically about website design and maintenance and interactivity. I think I can learn in 6 months from taking courses in my local community college. And probably also get art AA degree end of the year. However I am also aware that there are so many competitors online and web design freelancers don't get paid as much. So I am planning to take this as a temporary job only to sustain myself. Continuing my passion in math and computer science is very not promising since it depends on income.

So I am in a deadlock situations with about 4 choices and with 1 year remaining of my staying in the US. I think I can only extend my stay in the US only if I can make money at least $1,500 per month after 1 year of trainings and studying.

So what do you guys think I should do?
1. Get a private loan and continue with educations that I love currently, which would be math/CS. (Bad news is that most of these classes are full and waitlisted since I thought it would be useless after one semester without being able to pay tuition. And I don't find that many private loan companies that give loan to undocumented. If you know any that is legitimate, please pm me.)

2. Listen to my parents. Continue with educations that higher chance of getting green card. Then I would have to restudy biochemistry and organic chemistry which I didn't find any passion and excitement. (I forgot pretty much everything about Organic chemistry and biology after leaving UCI)

3. Start with programming freelance after studying hard for it. (I signed up some of these classes alrdy)

4. Start with design/web freelance after studying hard for it. (I signed up some of these classes alrdy)

I personally want to be independent first. My parent insist I should go to health science direction which they know more about people who can sponsor me after I get master's degree and then they say after I get green card, I can do whatever I want. But that takes long time when I don't even have BA degree yet(takes at least 3+ year from now.)

I might have passions in choice 1,3,4. In 2, meh. That's why I dropped out from UCI because I didn't like it. I have more talents in math, computer than working with chemistry labs and formulas.

Once I choose I should go with that direction. 1 year is not enough time to change around and try stuffs.

I seriously don't know what to do with little money on my bank account. If you were in my situation, what would you do? I still think that I should be able to make some income and freelancing sounds probably best but it is also true that my parents saying that I will make very small money with that.

Of course, when DA passes, all these worry would evaporate. Can't wait for it but like I said, I am not too optimisitic about Feb 2010 because I think politicans enjoy delaying stuffs.

You can definitely make money as a freelance designer. You just have to make sure that you have a passion for it. PM me if you'd like more info.

I do have passion for it.

Of course, my family was against me going into math field, saying "What do you do other than teaching?"

So you can guess how they think I am wasting my time when I said I am taking these art classes. They think I am a nut and thinking that I won't even make $1000 a month.

Thing is I can only afford education 1 more semester. No one can support me pretty much after that, other than getting private loans. But you know the interest rates of private loans and I don't even know whether my stepdad would even cosign for it. -_-

Now what I have to worry is learning. I hope taking art classes that teaches Adobe stuffs is enough (Flash, DW, Photoshop, Illustrator etc) in 6 months. And hopefully rest is practice and experience.

For what it's worth, my mom is a freelance web/graphic designer and she makes about half that (sometimes less or more, depending on client flow) w/o status. Freelance programming is the better option, there's definitely a bigger market for it from what I've seen. If you have the time to learn both, you're in the clear, and you'll have a way bigger chance of breaking even (as long as you know how to market your skills). Consider though that even with freelancing, undocumented status is a significant limitation.

But aside from that, I would pursue your "option 1" if I were you, even if it means there'll be some uneasiness with your parents, at least you'll have your interest in your studies to distract you. You want to be independent because you disagree on some ideas or something? Sometimes you just have to take the lead/ be more mature than them.

best of luck, whatever you choose.

Well, I think you could go with #3 or #4, but it's going to depend on how much experience you already have, how much you have to learn, and how much you could learn in a year.

Also, I would say programming would (for the most part) make you more money, but design sounded like something you could more easily become competitive in.

How much debt are you looking at for #2? I know it's something you wouldn't necessarily have much passion about, but don't rule it out. If you really can get citizenship from it, and be able to reasonably pay off your debt, it might be the best choice. We can't be very picky!

I didn't read your complete post, but besides my "regular" job, I've been doing some graphic design and I'm doing OK. I say go for it.

hey Vision, i think im the same like you too...pretty much so...im leaving too if DA dont pass this time...thats why right now im preparing everything that i can bring(knowledge,experiences, degree/certificate n stuff) in case im leaving for good...im not pessimistic but...i always think other option too u kno.

C++ programming is still high demanding job too..plus u can do at home as a free lancer too...but u gotta read those thick book n program stuff...my suggestiion is learn the basic...then find a project then u just start making program right away...then u learn more from doing so, makin actual progam. oh btw, u dont need to have BA to be good at C++ programming stuff...just find particular subject in C++ that u think u like n u can do....then just specialize on that one...for example; i like programming for flash...but there are tons n tons of things i can do in programming w flash..n i think its impossible to learn all these...but then i just learn one thing at time n be good at it..flash game...then my orientation is only for game programming in flash...all the techinques i need for game programming eventually seems easy because i only deal with this evironment...people like/hire u if u specialize on somemthing

u kno im a freelancer too...i do web design, graphic design, web programming too..even designing a book.i think it's good if u wanna take those classes, but from my experiences...theyre just waste of time...they dont teach u detail enough..at the end, u gotta learn everthing on ur own....my suggestion is if u wanna do it for degree then it's good...but other than that...just learn it on ur own...they got bunch of online tutorials..like lynda, etc. i learned these stuff while i was in HS by myself as a hobby...n when i took the class in college...pffhh..they barely taught me anything...but thats just my take...

freelancing webdesign is still high demand....its good money if u like art...at first find project locally...dont go finding ur project through those freelancer website outthere...its hard...thats for hardcore designer n plus u gonna compete w people from india n stuff....just find one through ur friends, connection...of even do free stuff first then make them like ur design then u can charge, my point is...do simple stuff first n then u can pick up a little by little of knowledge..n u gotta make ur portfolio too...designing is fun...

my opinion is dont go for option 1, borrowing money...its hard to pay it off...plus we're not for sure if DA gonna pass n we can find job based on our degree..im saying is just take the safe side....once the DA pass then u can always do anything u want

right now..im studying com.science too..but my passion is in the filmmaking...eventually im gonna go back to study filmmaking too u kno..so my suggestion is why not we can have two subject under our belt...one for the safe side one for the love/fun/passion side....oops i talked too much(domo arigato mr roboto)...cheers

Thanks for the replies and advices guys. They were all helpful and all in practical range.

I am leaning more towards to either option #3 or #4 but personally more to #3. I also signed up for art classes mostly. I will see whether school teaches well though.

Meanwhile I will study computer programming little by little. I have taken computer programming for 1 year now and I do know control structures and a little about object oriented programming. Also I took HTML and CSS class before. But this time I am gonna take like DreamWeaver, JavaScript, most Adobe stuffs. Hopefully they help me in designing.

For option1 and 2, I withdrew from UC Irvine because my father could not send me such huge tuitions after my 2nd year and I had no interests in biochemistry which my mom said I should pursue. So if I get a private loan and go back to UCI, then that's like $18000 per year at least if I save my best. So Assuming I graduate in 2 years at fastest, then that is like near 40K. Hmmmm. But then I should also get MA or MS. That might be another 20K. Thing is I think I would have heavy burden of interest alone at least over those time. And also there is no guarantee I would be able to get a job right after and pay for debts. >_<
Calstate isn't that much different from UC if you add all costs. It's just tuition is like $5000 cheaper. All living expenses, textbooks, stuffs will be similar.

You should do whatever your heart wants.

Honestly go out there and become the best free lance designer! You are in control of your life and ambition is the only way to go. Be your own biss and earn as much money as you can without being worried if they will find out about your status. Believe me I did as much marketing and recruiting and it's starting to grow!!

When the dream act passes great! you will be a step ahead of the game and successfuly!
We can all do this....