I think I just might stay in school for the rest of my life....

[amielm]

Hello All,

I'm driving myself crazy and feel I just need to vent! I am, of course, open for suggestions and feedback though. I have posted a few times asking degree plan questions and transcript questions, but I am still mostly silent, soaking up wisdom and knowledge on a daily basis. Anyway, here's my story:

I am 30 years old, married, and a mother of four children. I live in Northern KY. I currently attend Gateway Community & and Technical College which is part of KCTCS. I am getting ready to start my third semester there and I absolutely love being in school! I think I would be content on going to school and earning degree upon degree for the rest of my life. My problem is I don't know which way I want to go first. Right now, I am just working on my AS in Natural and Life Science. I was originally pre-nursing and was going to earn my ADN and then do my BSN and MSN online with the hopes of becoming a Midwife or Acute care NP. I was happy with this path, but I also had the desire to become a doctor so I decided to become pre-med instead. I started at NKU this past fall for Biochemistry/premed and I hated it! I left in October. I was already still attending Gateway so I decided that I would just stay there and figure it out. I think I liked the CC size and online options better than a bigger university. This had me questioning if becoming a doctor is what I really wanted to do. I felt really discouraged until I found this site. You guys are awesome, but I am still struggling with my decisions though. I'm worried about completely my BA or BS and then not be able to get into a graduate program that interests me and then not be able to get financial aid for another undergrad degree. Maybe I am just not educated enough on the process, I'm not sure.

Here is what I am currently throwing around; I am working on FEMA and ALEKS right now and studying for CLEP & DSST tesst while I am on winter break, but I'm pretty sure I want to complete my BA in Natural Science/Mathematics from TESC and maybe even my BA in Psychology or Social Science for good measure. After completing this, I thought about applying to a PA program with either the University of the Cumberlands (they are suppose to be offering this program local to me starting fall 2013) or even University of KY's PA program. I also, toyed around with the idea of just doing an ABSN at NKU, where I have almost all of the nursing pre-reqs done already. I also thought about University of Florida's online masters in either Drug Chemistry or Clinical Toxicology. Heck, even teaching science sounds awesome. Science (especially chemistry) is my passion, as well as anything medical. I could be happy doing so many things that it is making my decision so hard....I wish I had a magic ball to be able to tell which programs I would likely get into, that would sure help right about now! I do plan on taking all of my sciences classes at my CC or online just to be sure and test out of everything else.

Sorry, this is such a long ramble, but I would be happy for anyone's take on my dilemma or would love to know if anyone else has had similar issues. If anyone has looked into any online graduate programs in any of these areas or others like them as well, please share. Thanks again, guys! You really are lifesavers!

[sanantone]

I have a lot of interests too and am keeping my options wide open. I settled on a BA in Social Science because it was the easiest degree for me to complete with my existing credits and the courses available online at a local community college. My social science degree has allowed me the flexibility to apply for criminal justice and social services jobs. I'm close to finishing a master's degree in Security Studies because it's a sought after degree in the intelligence community. In the future, I just might earn some IT certifications or complete an IT-related certificate at TESC or a CC. I figured that having a degree in an IT-related field wouldn't be as important for IT employment as the degrees I have completed for other fields. With the exception of law enforcement, criminal justice and social services jobs are pretty strict about having a degree in a social science. In intelligence, since I don't want to work on the technical side of it, a political science, international relations, national security, or related degree is strongly preferred. I'm also interested in getting a certificate in human resources, accounting, and maybe even operations management. This can all be done cheaply. I might even get an associates in biology.

So, here are my backup plans. I did not do well enough on the fire fighter exam this year to make it to the next step in the hiring process. (Darn you behavioral assessment!) Sorry. I hate personality and behavioral tests. Now, I'm waiting to see if I'll be accepted to the ASEE SMART program which will pay for my PhD. The SMART scholarship is only for science degrees, but cognitive/neural/behavioral science is included. However, I went the biological science route since there is so much competition for PhD in Psychology programs and neuroscience programs are normally strict about having a certain academic background or prerequisites. I applied to a PhD program in public health that doesn't seem to care that I don't have a science or health background because my master's degree aligns with the concentration in biosecurity and disaster preparedness. I also applied to George Mason University's PhD in Biodefense. It's open to people with science or social science backgrounds. If I am not accepted to any of these programs or the Presidential Management Fellows program, I have yet another backup plan! I plan to try out for a local police department. If I don't get in there, I plan to study for the science TEXES exam and get an alternative teacher certification. I won't even need a degree in a science as long as I can pass the content exam and science teachers are in high demand. I still want to work in the intelligence field, but I know it can take a long time to get a job with the federal government. The certificates in the IT and business fields would be for when I'm not picked up by any school.

I guess what I'm saying is to choose the bachelor's program that will allow you to do the most of what you want to do and supplement with certificates and associates degrees in areas where a bachelor's is not as important. I think this would be the BA in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. I don't quite know what you would do with a BA in Psychology or Social Science given your goals. There are a few things to consider with the graduate degrees you're considering. The PA and MD/OD programs will require a lot of time. You won't be able to work full-time and you'll have to take out a lot of student loans. Getting an ADN or BSN will allow you to get an MSN online and become a nurse practitioner, which is on the same level as a PA. Depending on the state, NPs might even have more autonomy. The drug chemistry and toxicology degrees will pretty much only lead to jobs in research with non-profit or for-profit companies unless you want to teach at a CC. You have to decide if you'll be happy working in a lab for the rest of your life. On the other hand, these might be the best degrees to get before getting a PhD and becoming a professor. Unless you really have a passion for teaching, it should be your backup plan if you don't get into those graduate degree programs or if you figure out that the medical field is not for you. The medical field can be stressful and requires working with gross conditions. If you settle for teaching first, you might start wishing you had at least tried to do something more. A lot of people burn out of the education field too. At least you can work on the nursing or toxicology/drug chemistry degrees while teaching.

[amielm]

Thank you so much for your post, you provided a lot of insight. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a lot of interests, I was starting to feel crazy! I agree that the BA in natural science is the way to go, I'm just wondering if I should do it sooner or later. I could apply to the ADN program at my current school this fall and start in spring 14, but that is waiting an entire year and then taking two more years for just a ADN. I wouldn't be able to get financial aid if I complete my BA first and then go back to the ADN route. I guess figuring out how to go about this is also why I keep bouncing back and fourth between degree options. I'm worried about the extreme time involved in a second degree BSN or MSN or even the PA program. I have 4 kids and a husband and will have to probably work during this time, at least part-time. So not sure, too many options and not enough planning know how, I guess!

[Snickerdoodle]

Do you have at least 1000 hrs of direct patient care experience? If so, then the PA route might be the way to go. It's a requirement for most if not all PA programs. PA programs are generally 2 years long, the same amount of time for your ADN. Nursing school is highly competitive at the moment, although so is PA school. And what was it that you didn't like about pre-med? Medical school and the job itself is pretty different from pre-med.

[LaterBloomer]

Amielm, don't be so hard on yourself IF the issue is that you're interested in lots of things. There are lots of posters here who can provide advice on your options. At thirty, you might think that you have to have your life completely planned. Guess what? With the rate at which change happens, you could easily be going into areas in your future career that only exist now in the mind of some creative person. IF the issue, however, if that you have problems committing, then you need to address that. I'm projecting, I know, but sometimes thinking that there are so many nice options is a way to avoid making decisions. Either way, good luck. It sounds like you have interesting options available to you.

Oh, and the husband and children? You'd be AMAZED at what some of the posters have accomplished with those "burdens." It takes ruthless prioritizing, but many here have accomplished a great deal with family and career calls on their time.

[marianne202]

Hi and welcome! This is a fantastic site with lots of smart, helpful members. I think all of us get a little confused with all the options when we go back to school. As a college instructor who has recently gone back to school through non-traditional means I can attest to all the options. You can see in my signature line what I have done and see the variety all done being over 45 with a hubby and two kids at home. Keep in mind that the government changed the financial aid rules this August so you can now only obtain aid for a total of 14 or 16 semesters - ever. Keep this in mind if you need to use aid for school. If you do I wouldn't recommend doing multiple associate's or bachelor's degrees, but instead keep working upward. I would look and talk to people doing jobs that sound interesting to you and see if what they do on a day to day basis is what you really want to do. Maybe you can observe them for a day or two to really see what it is really like. I would also recommend that you look at degree requirements to see if the courses required are one you would actually want to take. Good luck! I know it is daunting, but you will figure it out.

[amielm]

Thank you guys again for the help, it really means a lot! I'm not really too concerned with the work/family burden as much as I am the going in one direction only to waste time and go back to a previous direction. I know I'm not too old and I have plenty of time, but I don't like not having a plan at least. I really thought that the PA direction was the way to go since it would take the same amount of time as an ADN, but I think I'm worried that I wouldn't get accepted. I know that fear is a goofy reason to hesitate, but it is a concern in the back of my mind. I do have some direct patient care, I have my CNA certification and I used to volunteer in the ER at my local hospital. I also have shadowed a plastic surgeon. I also am still technically pre-med, I am still enrolled at NKU although I'm not taking classes there anymore. I am taking pre-med and pre-nursing classes at my CC. I don't think it's pre-med that I didn't like, I really think it was the huge class sizes and the impersonal feel of the university. I prefer the small campus where I know everyone better. Also the cheaper price for the same classes is a plus! Ultimately, if I knew it was a sure-thing, I would go ahead and take my last two semesters at my CC, while knocking out all my testing, go ahead and apply to TESC by the end of summer and start working on my capstone, graduate with my AS from my CC in Dec 2013, graduate with my BA in natural sciences/mathematics from TESC in May 2014 or sooner, and then apply and get accepted to the PA program, finish that and then go on to get a PhD in something medical/science related. That would be amazing! Of course, I keep going back and fourth. I am my own worst critic! I am in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and my GPA is close to a 3.8, but I for some reason I still doubt myself....

[ryoder]

It sounds like you have a good GPA so are a smart person. You need focus. Pick something and focus on it to the exclusion of other things.
That is how people do great things. I also wondered if I should do this degree or that degree or in which order but then I settled into one program and knocked it out. You can't really go wrong with a Nat Sci/Math degree from TESC. I would just shoot for that and finish ASAP. Set yourself a goal of finishing 4 CLEPs per month and see if you can do it. I bet you can if properly motivated.

[NAP]

Congratulations on earning the Phi Theta Kappa membership. Rebel100 just mentioned that they have scholarships. Be sure to look into this: http://www.degreeforum.net/off-topic/179...post136747

[amielm]

I agree; I need focus. I need to pick a goal and complete it! I have no doubt I could do 4 CLEP or DSST tests per month. I have 3 tests that I'm ready to take now, but I was just waiting until after Christmas. I love a challenge, school work comes pretty easy to me and I really enjoy it, but my lack of direction is my problem. On another note, thanks for the info on the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, I'm going to start looking into it.