What degree should I persue

[jake.fl.1987]

I want to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the moment and then a masters. A masters is my ultimate goal. However whatever I pick I want to make sure that there is a doctorate version of it as well, simply in case I choose to pursue one. I would like to have the option open. Anyway I want to know what I should go after.

I have some college already. I have use spare time from my other college to begin a associate at Penn foster. I am almost finished with an associate from Penn Foster. I am a student at Rasmussen College. If you haven’t been there, then don’t go. I will finish my A.S. in December. I am currently taking 5 classes. However they do quarters at this school instead of semesters.

My career history is mainly medical. CNA at 16, Phlebotomist at 18, EMT at 19, EKG tech at 19, and Pharm tech at 20. I will be 21 in June. As you can see my interest have mainly been low paid medical jobs that require simple certifications.

Anyway the other day I meet with a career councilor. He gave me a test to see what my interest is and a general test to measure my aptitude. I would compare the aptitude test to a TABE test. Not hard at all. Anyway he had some interesting things to say. One actually made me laugh.

My interest is so narrowing viewed and selfish that I dislike everything. The magnitude of this hate has grown to a point in which I love to hate everything.

However then while chatting for about two hours he asked me if I ever considered teaching. I inquired why he asked. He made comment on how much my face would light up when I was asked a question that challenged me to explain it. Then while explaining things I just zoned out and nothing else mattered other than making the other person know why. We were talking about “Green Technology.

Might explain why I enjoy my part time job. I am a work study in the library. People constantly come in and specifically ask for me because they need homework help. I find it odd they come to me instead of the study room where there are tutors. Mainly people find me for math, basic computer classes and a lot of A+P / pharmacology questions. I enjoy helping most of them. A few I dislike because I think they are untouchable.

The more I thought about it the more I recognize it as a possibility. However I couldn’t teach K-12. I cannot picture myself teaching a really high level either. The thought of teaching at a community college or small private school does appeal to me. As a result I want to know what kind of degree could I pursue and use it to teach. Preferably a degree that I can transfer at least 75% credit into with testing out and other classes already taken.

The problem is I do not know what I would want to teach. So what is a degree I could pursue that would enable me to have this open as a possibility. Also what other options would this degree leave open.

Then a lot of the degrees I see are administration type degrees. Part of my problem is I would rather work for someone else than be the administrator.

[Runner4064]

Hey, I'm an Excelsior student. My degree will be a BS in liberal arts. I'm a fan of it because it allowed me to take 60 (in essence - free/ scattered) units and have them count toward a degree. Although some would scoff at what I did I had a lot of "elective" units in Hazardous materials/ Fire/ LE/ and related. My thought by taking those classes was to consolidate & integrate different facets of public safety. People laughed at me until 9-11. After that Fire/ law E/ EMS began to cross train to an extent. This allowed me to take my varied units and have the technical side of my degree represent the public safety aspect. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE how this degree is set up. I get 60 units of classic studies. This illuminates and educates. My other 60 backs my play per- se. It's the best of both worlds.

Of course IF you choose this route you (as does everyone) have a TREMENDOUS amount of freedom in your education selection.
I commend you for pressing on. It's not easy BUT it's not as hard as you might think. If you look on this forum under FEMA credits and ccc fema you can get free- almost free units. Time is going to pass either way so you might as well make the most of it!

You have a few choices in schools- they are different- but in essence similar. Research them and choose which one you like.

...But... Excelsior does have an official un-official mascot and an athletics team. The Excelsior Globes. The athletics consists of Running & Racewalking ...Currently there are only 2 student athletes, we are looking for a third.

[jake.fl.1987]

Are you serious they have an official Running & Racewalking team? Thats cool. I go to the track every week. I do 10miles every friday. Right now I am prepping for a relay for life. My nephew is going and he raised some pleges. He conned $2.50/mile out of me. I told him if he can do half as many as me I will make it $5. I doubt he will.

My problem is since I do not know what I want to do I just might go ahead and start studying the BA instead of BS. I have a general idea of what credits will transfer. I just have to wait until this quarter is finished before I can get my transcript. Grades should hopefully be in a week. 2 weeks tops.

However the problem is looking at the course majors and stuff there is a lot that appeal to me. I would love to study physics. I cant see myself working in it. I would love to get a degree in philosophy however I can not see my self making a living on it.

However one degree I see that would be interesting. Chemistry. I would love to be a chemist. Hmm. or maybe a pharmacist. A pharmacist is a chemist. Well most american pharmacist do not practice chemistry. However in escence they are a chemist of medicine. In most countries they are called chemist and not pharmacist. I couldnt do that online. However to apply to the program I would need an AA. I have an AS so it shouldnt take to long to get an AA. Maybe thats what I will do.

Or maybe a degree in Health science. That would keep me in the field. I think I need to go look up what that is.

Anyway on a happy note. I just finished my Principles of Economics exam online. I got a 98%. 55 questions and I missed one. So my final grade in there is also a 98%. I am happy.

[Runner4064]

It's not official (yet) but I started a grassroots movement to make it official. Brian who goes under "Shoto Juku" came up with the awesome mascot "Globes."

No need to rush into a program without ample consideration as to what you want to do. The difference between the BA & BS is the BS allows way more flexibility. Although affordable, college is still a considerable investment. Do your homework first.

I'm sure when the rest of the world awakes they can chime in on the matter, there's not too many insomniacs on IC forums at this moment.

[jake.fl.1987]

I think it is more the process of explanation. As far as area of interest, I have to many. Computers in which I recently finished my MCSE. I am a huge *BSD fan. I can say, with exception of school laptop my house is M$ free.

Then I like medical. When I worked at the hospital I was friends with people in every department. One of the lab ladies showed me a lot of that stuff, the x-ray tech used to explain how ct's works and doctors would sometimes let me sit in the observation galleries to watch surgeries. I just think I like knowledge.

I do not know what I want to do. I just want to finish this A.S I am in now. It is only a national accredidation that probably wont transfer; however, I already took out the student loan and only have 9 months left.

So I still have some time.