Going back to school?

[cyclone101]

Has anyone gone back to school for a second bachelors degree? I graduated from ISU 3 years ago and unfortunately I'm second guessing my passion, interest, and happiness in my field.

I've always thought ag engineering or biological systems engineering was interesting but I was unsure of myself when it came to the math so I never pursued it and chose a different major. Now that I have a degree and thinking about going back, I feel as if I wasted 4 years of my time and 4 years worth of college tuition to figure out that this maybe isn't for me. I also feel like engineering is on a level of it's own as far as difficulty. My degree is in STEM so I don't feel like I'm going from finger painting to engineering but my degree was also very heavy in the sciences and there had very little math. Math 140 was the only math I ever did and that was in high school. Needless to say, calculus does make me a little nervous and I wouldn't say I'm a strong math mind; should that disqualify me from even thinking about it?

So, does anyone have any experience with going back to school at 25 or even older? Are you glad you did? Did you feel like an outcast in anyway? What was it like to hit the books after you thought you would never take another exam in your life? ...Was it difficult or did you find your maturity helped? What would you recommend to someone wanting to make sure they are making the right decision?

 

[1100011CS]

I dropped out of ISU engineering when I was 20 or so. Worked construction after that until I decided I hated that and needed to do something else. Went back to school around 27-28. Graduated when I was 30 in computer science. Best decision of my life.

 

[carvers4math]

I wouldn’t let the math phobia stop you. I think you can take some calculus at DMAAC, you might find yourself a tutor and try that before you jump in completely again.

 

[Gonzo]

Can you play PG and do you have any eligibility left?

 

[fenton06]

I have two engineering degrees from ISU. I got my Mechanical Engineering degree and worked for a couple years and realized I was never going to be happy so I went back and got a Software Engineering degree. Second best decision I've made in my life (First was marrying my wife!) I found my maturity (LOL) helped immensely my second go around, I had alrady done the "college experience" and I was going back to better myself.

Don't let the math scare you, you should be able to pick it up. If you can take some classes at DMACC that transfer I would definitely do that, but beware that the last X number of credits must be taken at ISU, but you could get that waived depending on the circumstances.

I would recommend talking to an adviser in your desired new major and see what you need to do. I got the ball rolling fairly easily since I already had been accepted to ISU. The only caveat is that your previous coursework will follow you around and be factored into your cumulative GPA.

 

[TXCyclones]

Has anyone gone back to school for a second bachelors degree? I graduated from ISU 3 years ago and unfortunately I'm second guessing my passion, interest, and happiness in my field.

I've always thought ag engineering or biological systems engineering was interesting but I was unsure of myself when it came to the math so I never pursued it and chose a different major. Now that I have a degree and thinking about going back, I feel as if I wasted 4 years of my time and 4 years worth of college tuition to figure out that this maybe isn't for me. I also feel like engineering is on a level of it's own as far as difficulty. My degree is in STEM so I don't feel like I'm going from finger painting to engineering but my degree was also very heavy in the sciences and there had very little math. Math 140 was the only math I ever did and that was in high school. Needless to say, calculus does make me a little nervous and I wouldn't say I'm a strong math mind; should that disqualify me from even thinking about it?

So, does anyone have any experience with going back to school at 25 or even older? Are you glad you did? Did you feel like an outcast in anyway? What was it like to hit the books after you thought you would never take another exam in your life? ...Was it difficult or did you find your maturity helped? What would you recommend to someone wanting to make sure they are making the right decision?

Not only did I change course later, but followed that up immediately with an executive MBA. If the math concerns you take that at a community college and transfer it in. It's the same material, but tends to be a bit less intense and more conducive to "learning" it rather than just "passing" it.

Oh and, yes, it is/was absolutely worth it! Zero regrets. Remember that because you have one degree you're not repeating the whole 4 years. Likely just 2 to 4 semesters of the professional program.

 

[AgronAlum]

Are you sure about engineering? Or is there somewhere within your industry where you can get on and ultimately cross functions to something else you might like to do? If you have a good track record at work, I think they are more likely to let you get out of your educational realm. I’m not sure how narrowed of a focus your bachelors degree is but only being in the work force fo 5-7 years or whatever it has been, there are probably other opportunities out there with the degree you have. Or maybe getting into a masters program in a different field instead of going back for another bachelors?

That being said, going back to school would be a good thing unless your piling more school debt on top of an existing mound of school debt. I wouldn’t be too worried about being an outcast or anything like that.

 

[jbindm]

Slogging through one three credit course at a time right now. I'm 38 with a full time job and a family, so that was about all I could fit in for the time being.

So far I'm glad I took the leap. For me the hardest part was admitting to myself that professionally I was looking at a dead end, and I needed more skills. I was worried about not fitting in or feeling out of place in the classroom, but based on my experience I think you'll be surprised at how many working adults have gone back to school.

I was kind of surprised at how easy it has been to manage my time to get the homework and studying done. I thought it might be a little overwhelming, but as it turns out once you've been through the wringer of working full time and having a family, a little assigned reading and writing just isn't that big of a deal anymore (I will admit that this may vary depending on what you're going back to school for. Some coursework is probably more demanding than others).

 

[leschmick1785]

We need more information. What's your goal? My first impression is that if you're going back, it should be for an advanced degree. Bachelors degrees don't really matter when it comes to getting a job so long as you have one, with exceptions of course.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Wait, are you a self made millionaire who is good at diving?

 

[jdcyclone19]

I applaud you for trying to add to your skill set.

However, in my opinion, having a second bachelors degree is not worth it. I'd expand your knowledge base and get a MBA or something similar to help you move up in the future.

 

[BryceC]

I got an English degree first from ISU (long story) and I went back and got another bachelors from Simpson in accounting a few years ago.

Let me say do it NOW before you have kids. I did it when I had two little kids and it makes it 100x harder because you'd just so much rather be spending that time with them.

 

[BryceC]

I applaud you for trying to add to your skill set.

However, in my opinion, having a second bachelors degree is not worth it. I'd expand your knowledge base and get a MBA or something similar to help you move up in the future.

This is a pretty decent point, unless you want to just switch careers entirely.

 

[Cycsk]

You might want to look into a graduate program. It may be shorter to earn the necessary prerequisites and complete a masters program in the field that interests you. And check with profs to see if there are ways to test out of some of the prerequisites (as I assume you already have some proficiency in your field of interest) or meet them through independent studies rather than traditional classroom courses.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I thought it was supposed to work like this?

 

[madguy30]

I dropped out of ISU engineering when I was 20 or so. Worked construction after that until I decided I hated that and needed to do something else. Went back to school around 27-28. Graduated when I was 30 in computer science. Best decision of my life.

I gradated in a pretty common time frame (5 years out of high school) but really wasn't sure I wanted to do what I had gone for (although it felt very comfortable) until I was around 30. I've always found it odd that people, including myself, rush through college before we even are fully developed mentally (frontal lobe) to make life decisions. If I could I'd go back and at least start with taking general courses for much cheaper/logical and making bigger decisions after.

Finally headed back to get my Masters this past January...a program sort of fell in my lap that fits me perfectly and is something I can use almost immediately.

 

[madguy30]

Slogging through one three credit course at a time right now. I'm 38 with a full time job and a family, so that was about all I could fit in for the time being.

So far I'm glad I took the leap. For me the hardest part was admitting to myself that professionally I was looking at a dead end, and I needed more skills. I was worried about not fitting in or feeling out of place in the classroom, but based on my experience I think you'll be surprised at how many working adults have gone back to school.

I was kind of surprised at how easy it has been to manage my time to get the homework and studying done. I thought it might be a little overwhelming, but as it turns out once you've been through the wringer of working full time and having a family, a little assigned reading and writing just isn't that big of a deal anymore (I will admit that this may vary depending on what you're going back to school for. Some coursework is probably more demanding than others).

I don't have kids, etc. but have a full time job but I've found the coursework doesn't feel as daunting if it's also what you're interested in or passionate about.

 

[cyclone101]

Are you sure about engineering? Or is there somewhere within your industry where you can get on and ultimately cross functions to something else you might like to do? If you have a good track record at work, I think they are more likely to let you get out of your educational realm. I’m not sure how narrowed of a focus your bachelors degree is but only being in the work force fo 5-7 years or whatever it has been, there are probably other opportunities out there with the degree you have. Or maybe getting into a masters program in a different field instead of going back for another bachelors?

That being said, going back to school would be a good thing unless your piling more school debt on top of an existing mound of school debt. I wouldn’t be too worried about being an outcast or anything like that.

I'm not sure about anything haha. I firmly believe I'll be 70 and still wondering what I want to do when I grow up. My degree is in Agronomy actually. Based on your name, I don't think you'll need an explanation of what that is lol. I've worked in independent consulting, retail, R&D through internships and full-time and just haven't ever been able to say "This is great, this is where I need to be." I had thoughts of switching majors in college but decided not to because I thought I was in too far, it was too late to switch, and also thought I liked it enough I could do it the rest of my life. Maybe 19/20 year old 101 should've gone with his gut.

We need more information. What's your goal? My first impression is that if you're going back, it should be for an advanced degree. Bachelors degrees don't really matter when it comes to getting a job so long as you have one, with exceptions of course.

I don't even know. Kind of a quarter-life crisis I guess ha.

 

[mdk2isu]

Let me play devil's advocate for a second. What if you do go back to school and then find a position in that field and 3 years later you feel the same way about that field as you do now about your current one? Maybe its not the field you are in that you have lost passion for but because of the people you work with? Or maybe the tasks you do on a daily basis? Maybe there is another position either within the same company or a different company that you could switch to?

Maybe you already have done this, but the first thing I would do in your shoes is figure out what my end game actually is. What is it you really want out of life? Can what you currently do get you there? What about the field you are thinking about going into, can that get you what you really want?

 

[cyhiphopp]

I started on Computer Engineering and was through 3 1/2 years of college before I decided I just didn't want to do it for the rest of my life. I went back and forth pretty much each semester for a while. I'd have a few courses that I just couldn't stand, and then have a few that I actually really liked. Then I just couldn't do it any more.
I switched to MIS and luckily a lot of my credits transferred or were more than enough toward the MIS degree. I ended up going to college for 5 1/2 years, so my loans will last a while, but I'm much happier. Maybe poorer than I would have been as a Computer Engineer, but happier.

I'm actually using that degree now and I like my job.