DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I have been dating for three years. He's the best boyfriend I could ever ask for, and I'm very much in love. This year is our senior year, so we're excited about going out into the world and pursuing what we really love to do. I'm great with math, so my dream is to become an accountant. My boyfriend aspires to be a brain surgeon. I want to go to the best school for my career choice, which happens to be far away from my boyfriend's school. He's upset with me because there is an accounting major at his school, but it's not the best education I can get in my field. I don't want to force us into a long-distance relationship, but I do want the best education I can get. How do I get my boyfriend to understand that I want the best for myself? Does love mean that I choose him over my career? -- Stuck Between Work and Love, Miami
DEAR STUCK BETWEEN WORK AND LOVE: Sit down and map out a strategic plan for your lives together. Include your personal preferences and your desires as a couple. Review the pros and cons of everything. Yes, your boyfriend has his school of choice, which, by the way, is a long-term commitment. He will have to study for many years to become a doctor and then to become a brain surgeon. It is not unreasonable for you to be separated for a short period of time. You can go to graduate school and come back to wherever he will be -- and he will still be in school for years. Together, you can plan out regular visits and other ways to stay connected. If the two of you choose to share your lives for the long haul, you will have many challenging decisions to make. This may be your first.