Can you borrow your friend's bike (the schwinn hybrid) & load it up with all your gear & ride it to school one day? If you can make it, you have your answer as to whether or not a new bike would help. Since you can't lighten the load much (I'd still look for any ways to shave weight -Leave a lock/ pair of shoes/ grooming supplies at school if possible-that kind of stuff as every bit helps), getting a new bike may well be the next best option. The FX bikes are nice rides & may well solve your problem, BUT it could be something else & it's hard to diagnose that stuff over the internet. A test ride on a bike similar to one you are looking at will tell you more useable info than any speculation on our parts here. If loaded up, you still can't make it up the hill & all the way to school any faster, then you are probably not going to be happy with the FX. If you can make it with the Schwinn hybrid (or as someone mentioned, perhaps the dealer will let you take one of the Treks on a trip to your regular route), then getting one of the FX's will be well worth the $ you spend.