I'm planning to soon pay for my semesters in college all on my own. My brother was discussing with me about it and he's really critical about it. I'm paying 9000 a year thanks to previous scholarships, I just got a work certification that at median standards will get me 12000 a year. Thats not including working full time during the summer. My school has an opening in both its pharmacy departments for someone like me and very few people have my certification that go to my school so its highly likely I'll land the job. I plan to still participate in one or two clubs and do any possible internships during the summer, (I'm always crazy about them.) I've heard of very few people in my situation but I heard they succeeded well. They just forfeited things like thousands of clubs, honors courses, and did minimum or low hour requirements, but the amount of money they saved and the potential of the certification (PharmTech) to pay up to $20 an hour (you're very very lucky) allowed them even more spending room to buy things like a car.

My brother is against it because he believes that working and going to school even if I can manage it will either cause my work to suffer or my grades to suffer, especially when he feels I should and easily could make As. And he also thinks that 12000 even if I could make that much won't cover the extra 5000 in living expenses I'll accrue over each semester. He says I'll need at least an extra 4000 each semester just for the basic things, toiletries, new clothes, etc, to just keep comfortable. (Although, I'll be largely buying most of those thing before I start class) And for other unexpected events that my budget probably will not be able to afford. (I was planning to get a credit card for such things and be paying my payments on time). He feels that if everything goes according to plan, sure it may work and I'll get out of college with a 3.5-3.2 in a basic degree in maybe five years. But most things in life don't go to plan and it'll probably bite my butt.

What do you guys think, do you agree with his idea on extra expenses, I mean for this year alone, I have a meal plan, books covered, and will only new items for my dormitory and a few bits of clothes here and there. Thanks.