How Much Would I Have To Make?

[sthief09]

I don't think this question is within the scope of this forum, but it is probably the most important question I'll ever post on 2+2, so I'm putting it here. I'd really appreciate any advice, as I know a lot of you are very knowledgeable about this stuff.

I am 21 and a senior at Columbia University in NYC. I am an "Engineering and Management Systems" major, which is under INdustrial Engineering and Operations Research. I have a 3.04 GPA including some ugly grades, I have some work experience but not great. I'm interested in consulting or marketing, and I think I'd be good at it. I'm not very confident so I probably won't interview particularly well. I live in Manhattan and I plan on staying here. I have a girlfriend who I'll probably be marrying within the next 2-3 years, who supports me in anything I do, so poker won't cause a problem.

My dad is a very successful entrepreneur of a now-public company who I have endless amounts of respect for, so he obviously is not thrilled with the whole poker thing, though he does like to gamble in Vegas. So he's not opposed to it as an activity. my parents paid my tuition. I didn't get along with him until about a year or two ago, and I think my relationship with him would be very shaky if I didn't get a job, or continue my education, after college.

I don't have many options but here they are:
- I can try to get my master's in operations research or financial engineering here, which would be very good for consulting and finance, respectively. I don't know that I'd get accepted. I'd give myself about a 20% chance. it is a one year program
- I can take whatever job offers (if any) I get. I don't know what kind of job I'd get but I'd assume it would be at a smaller firm. I think I'm way underqualified for a top consulting firm, though I don't know that for sure.

which leads me to the question that is in the title of the post. If I play poker professionally and set myself back at least one year of work experience and have to explain on interviews in the future that either I gambled since I graduated or disappeared, possibly damage my relationship with my parents, look bad to my girlfriend's family, how much money would I have to make a year for it to be worth it?

I know this is a loaded question but I tried to provide as much information about myself as possible. obviously there is no way of giving me the actual number, but I'd like to see peoples' estimates. obviously I'd also like to hear reasoning for it.

also, if I do play poker, how could I cover it up or make it look like I did something for when I do need to get a job? should I travel around Europe for a while and play or move somewhere? should I get an internship or a part-time job at a company that I'd be interested in working for?

if there is any other information I can provide to help answer, please ask. any advice would be much appreciated. this is something that has been bothering me and I can't stop thinking about it.