*nodnod* a field with multiple dimensions ranging from not-so-cool to extremely cool (speaking as someone in one portion of the biz; but the integrated stuff certainly has the potential to increase the coolness and decrease the stress-inducing factor(s)...).

why/how much do you need to save up? when i went to grad school, i essentially blew most of my savings (along with a generous grant from my parents) to buy my car, and let grants/loans fund tuition, room & board, etc. it all worked out in the end. of course, now i owe a lot in loans, so essentially you pay it on one end or the other (but i think schools are less likely to give you grants until you max out what loans you can take out). then again, *no way* was i making enough to pay my pre-grad school expenses *and* save money for grad school; our financial situations are probably different (?).