Hello everyone. I'm sorry in advance if this post is just a repeat of what everyone else has gone through. Just hoping for advice/anecdotes/words of encouragement.

As background, I have a research tech job at a university and have been taking classes as a non-degree grad student in the evenings. Starting this fall I've been officially admitted and have already finished half of my MS degree. The plan was to take the remaining classes and work on my thesis, graduating in May 2015.

Now I'm told that 2 required classes are at the same time in the spring (and only offered once a year), so I can't finish until May 2016. I asked about an independent study as a substitute for one of the classes but am told that's not allowed.

I'm not sure what to do now. Do I just wait and work on my thesis next year? Do I take additional courses that might count towards a PhD (where I think I want to end up)? Or do I finish everything but that one class and then twiddle my thumbs next fall waiting to finish the very last requirement for the degree?

Has anyone been in a similar position, and if so do you have any advice for me?

Thank you!

(As a side note, part of the problem is that I'm living at home to save money and would really like to move out soon, but planned to wait until I finished my masters. Now it looks like that will be one more year than I thought.)