What next?

[Leherself]

So getting a degree is all well and good, but it's hardly the be-all and end-all of education.

What are some goals that people on this forum have pursued after getting their degrees? I know a fairly popular answer seems to be "another degree", lol, but what else?

Foreign language?

Learn a new skill? Computers? Musical Instrument?

What happens to your education when your degree is done?

[ajs1976]

After I finish the BSBA, I plan to take the last class to finish the Homeland Security Certificate I stared at my local CC and then work on an MS in Information Security. There may be a delay on when I can start the MS, so I may enroll in the Computer Forensics Certificate that is also offered by the local CC. Not sure what is after the MS. Maybe a DSc, MBA, personal interest BA, or maybe i'm done higher ed and move to more of a CPE / personal development route. I will always be studying something.

For the next couple of years, I plan to complete one mid or high level security certification a year. The one for next year is the CISSP.

Personal health is another important goal for the immediate future and along with that earning my black belt in karate.

I want to learn german to a conversational level, so i can take the trip to Germany I have been planning most of my life.

I want to take the kids to Disney before my son is to old.

Whatever I need to do to have happy and healthy kids.

[Prloko]

Some people are content and stop there education wise and concentrate on their new promotion/job hunt . Others seek out certificates or use the time for professional growth.

I'm seeking an MBA and probably an additional certificate. Not sure yet on the cert. I also contemplated adding a CS/or Engineering degree to use up the remainder of the GI Bill.

[rebel100]

MBA, still considering a focused grad cert in finance or specific to health care management ( I'd enroll in the Johns Hopkins program tomorrow if I had the money).

My employer encourages some specific training that I'm working on, just started fooling around with Lean and 6 sigma also.

The degrees, for me, are just jumping off points/quilifiers.....never stop learning!

[AngelaP]

My husband's goal is that I will get a job! :roflol:

[Prloko]

I want to learn german to a conversational level, so i can take the trip to Germany I have been planning most of my life.

We just recently returned to the U.S. after living in Germany for over 4 years. I know very little Deutsch. The entire country learns English in school as a second language and it is widely spoken. Even if you did learn, they would probably pick up your accent and immediately switch to speaking with you in English anyway.

If you are delaying your trip solely because of language, don't because you can still fully immerse yourself in the culture just know very rudimentary German (numbers, and simple phrases).

PS- Germany is awesome in the Spring! The summers are cool, but they don't have air conditioning so it can get uncomfortable indoors.

[cookderosa]

I have this self-imposed balance thing I do, where I like to balance out the categories on my resume, and I like to have strong things in each area- so for me I like to keep my distributions between work and education pretty evenly well rounded. Even in years where I didn't earn college credit I have always- since about age 18- added continuing ed/workshops/etc. every year. So, if I'm focusing on an academic credential for a year or two, I like to follow that up with work experiences (working for myself or someone else for pay). I also don't like my fluffy areas to get "old" meaning no more than a year or two to pass between dates on volunteer projects, writing, media, volunteer, etc. Furthermore, since I consider myself a chef and an educator, I also make sure I'm staying current in both of those categories.

If that's not what you meant, I'm a pretty avid gardener, which I study as well.

[Johann]

PS- Germany is awesome in the Spring! The summers are cool, but they don't have air conditioning so it can get uncomfortable indoors.

Ja, aber das Bier ist immer ausgezeichnet! (Yes, but the beer is always outstanding!)

Me? I'm lucky - in my 70s, long-retired, I have time for anything I want. Right now, the newest things I'm working on are learning Polish and electronics.

Chciałbyś kupić radio ? (Would you like to buy a radio?)

So far, I've built a couple of radios and I fool around with single-board computers, e.g. Beaglebone and Raspberry Pi. I hope to earn a Ham license later this year. Things I've liked doing for a long time are gardening and photography. I take plenty of pictures - all digital these days and I took a gardening course about a year ago, simply because I miss gardening. I'll have a garden again sooner or later; meanwhile I'm raising some greenery indoors that will have a place in the sun in my next garden.

One of my favourite realizations is that I will never, EVER have to write a resume again!

J.

[LaterBloomer]

"Education is not preparation for life: educations is life itself." John Dewey

A friend of a friend kindly took apart a snow blower and repaired it for me. It caused me this weekend to realize that my knowledge is severely limited. I don't have practical knowledge, but that it is something I want to obtain. While there is no way I could do anything mechanical, I could figure out how to bake bread, or hem a skirt. Then I'd like to learn another language. Maybe become an "expert" on some topic (and bore folks mindless at cocktail parties!) Yet another wonderful aspect of this forum is that it has helped me to realize that not all education comes in a classroom, and it doesn't have to be externally directed.