Thinking of a Masters in 2015

[bsinsc]

Ok, I was on this forum a lot a few years ago. Y'all helped me soooo much in my pursuit of my BA at TESC. Since then, I found a part-time job as an editor at a local newspaper. It pays little and I love it but might not have the job for much longer. My boss is at the point where he might not have the funding to keep it afloat. At any rate, I am thinking of getting a masters. IDK where or what concentration. I don't have any money for it, meaning it would all be on a loan.....Not sure what I want to do from here on out. I've kind of lost my direction but need to do something to make some decent money. I'm 43 now. I went to college 20 years ago to become a Certified Medical Assistant/Nurse Aide and EKG Technician. I keep my CMA certification but it only pays $15/hr. at the most and is a hard job the older you get. I've tried like hell to get into an RN program and here in SC it's just not possible for me. I gave up that path. I have an AS in liberal arts from (Regents) Excelsior and AA/BA from TESC Liberal Studies/History concentration. I love history and genealogy. I've thought about getting a RA MA in History locally from The Citadel but what would I do with it? Not really interested in teaching unless online. I also do genealogy for people who are looking for help but it's hard to get many clients. Bottom line is that I need a degree that would actually equate to a decent paying job. Any ideas??

[smf6824]

Ok, I was on this forum a lot a few years ago. Y'all helped me soooo much in my pursuit of my BA at TESC. Since then, I found a part-time job as an editor at a local newspaper. It pays little and I love it but might not have the job for much longer. My boss is at the point where he might not have the funding to keep it afloat. At any rate, I am thinking of getting a masters. IDK where or what concentration. I don't have any money for it, meaning it would all be on a loan.....Not sure what I want to do from here on out. I've kind of lost my direction but need to do something to make some decent money. I'm 43 now. I went to college 20 years ago to become a Certified Medical Assistant/Nurse Aide and EKG Technician. I keep my CMA certification but it only pays $15/hr. at the most and is a hard job the older you get. I've tried like hell to get into an RN program and here in SC it's just not possible for me. I gave up that path. I have an AS in liberal arts from (Regents) Excelsior and AA/BA from TESC Liberal Studies/History concentration. I love history and genealogy. I've thought about getting a RA MA in History locally from The Citadel but what would I do with it? Not really interested in teaching unless online. I also do genealogy for people who are looking for help but it's hard to get many clients. Bottom line is that I need a degree that would actually equate to a decent paying job. Any ideas??

Wow, I am impressed you got paid 15 an hour for being a medical assistant, CNA, and EKG tech.... good job. Besides that I feel your concern regarding graduate school. I am planning on going when I finish my degree shortly and I have no idea on what to do. I was considering an MBA, MPA, or MPH. I presume you have to look at graduate school based on what you would like to do. In your post you really only discuss that you enjoy history and gave up on the prospect of nursing school. So I am left to presume you enjoy the medical setting and are a fan of history. Based on these assumptions I would say teaching or some allied health job. Fortunately this typically don't require graduate school. You can become a licensed teacher and teach specifically online by just getting a post bachelor certificate in education (Ok... kind of grad school). You can also go to a local community college and become a physical therapy assistant or certified occupational therapy assistant. If you truly want you could go for respiratory therapy; however, I can't lie there are NO JOBS in the field but it is an option if you want to just maybe do some casual work... plus it can be hard work too. So long story short what do you want to do with your life? If we have that perhaps people can give you more options.

[GoodYellowDogs]

Ultrasound techs are in high demand and usually pay very well. The program (at least in CA) is only 18 months. It might be the way to go to get something that pays well, then get a Masters so that you could go into admin or something you want to do.

[dmjacobsen]

If you already have a Bachelor's degree, you might consider looking into Physician Assistant school. You will likely still have to take some science pre-req's to get in. But, if you're interested in a career in the healthcare field, PA is a great way to go. Depending on where you're located, pay starts at around $90k a year, give or take. PA school will be tough, but it will pay off remarkably more than a degree in history or genealogy.

I'd get the PA degree first, then get the history MA later as a hobby.

[rebel100]

No way I would take on debt for any Master of Arts degree without a concrete realistic plan for how it's gonna pay off....to many unemployed folks out there for it to be a decent payoff for you. I can only imagine what that would even cost at the Citadel...so double no on that one.

I like the ideas others expressed about taking a fresh look at using what you have or looking at a narrow technical field like sonography. Those change your life next week or in a few months not years from now.

I started an MA at Western New Mexico Univ. great cheap program, but I just couldn't monetize it. Switched to a quick cheap MBA at WGU and I'm seeing the benefits from that already. Don't take on too much debt...preferably no debt.

[smf6824]

Ultrasound techs are in high demand and usually pay very well. The program (at least in CA) is only 18 months. It might be the way to go to get something that pays well, then get a Masters so that you could go into admin or something you want to do.

Oh yea.... How could I forget about those programs. Besides that the whole PA program is possible; however, very time consuming and hard work. Some of the ones I have looked into don't allow you to work while in the program so keep that in mind and check with the program. Most of all like Rebel100 stated, make sure you have a plan and try not to take on too much debt. WGU is a very reasonably priced school and I have considered it myself. You can look into their prelicensure RN program, but I believe it is limited to certain locations and you already said you gave up on nursing. Take your time on this.

[Hunter91]

Ultrasound techs are in high demand and usually pay very well. The program (at least in CA) is only 18 months. It might be the way to go to get something that pays well, then get a Masters so that you could go into admin or something you want to do.

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I gotta vent my frustration lol!! I wanted to do ultrasound until I realized how difficult it would be just to get into a program.

My dad has been doing ultrasound for 30 years, and I was going to apply to ultrasound programs, but there's so many barriers for me. These are all the caahep accredited programs in CA.

UCSD: Need more prereqs like physics, patho, patient care, medical ethics and law, and they probably won't accept my medical terminology from SL. On top of all that, I think they only take 6 people per year? And they need 3 letters of recommendation (No idea where I'd get those from lol).

Santa Barbara City College: Not accepting any new students until around Spring 2016. No way I'm waiting that long.

Platt College: I actually got accepted here and made a post about it! Unfortunately it costs about 30k, and none of their classes are transferable, so I didn't pursue it lol.

Orange Coast College: Could be an option. Only around $5k. It's kind of far though and I'd have to take a couple of their prereq requirements like health occupations (this seems so dumb to me...).

Kaiser Permanente in Richmond CA: Would have to take physics, and the program tuition is $20-23k!! That just seems so expensive, but maybe i'm just a cheapo

Foothill College: You need to have an allied health care degree (RN, radiology, respiratory...) before you can even apply...Way outta my league

Community Regional Medical Center Fresno: Need physics, and oh yeah, it costs $20k and you can't even submit an application until January 2016.

So it seems the only remotely close option (for me at least) is Orange Coast College, and that even seems like a little bit of a long shot. Back in the day when my dad got his cert he just walked in the door and payed a 1000 bucks or whatever, and 30 years later he's doing just fine and still working at the big hospitals in LA/Bev Hills. Boy things have changed since then...Even he can't believe the requirements people need just to get into sonography.

Vent over, continue lol

[Prloko]

Can you take your experience as a newspaper editor and perhaps parlay that into a related, but current career? Like Social Media or other types of content editing? Believe me, the millennials need help with their writing.

[bsinsc]

Thanks for all of the replies! At 43, I have kind of lost my way for sure. I have looked into PA school and really wish I would've gone that route years ago. We have a great 2 year program here. It is extremely competitive. They only accept 50 students out of thousands of applications. Same goes for the RN program at the same school. You cannot work if you get into them and that is not an option for me. We have no ultrasound programs anywhere near where I live. I've have also looked into that. I originally thought I could roll my medical experience into something but have had lots of doors slammed. Another of the problems is that no school will take my old A & P , medical terminology, etc courses. All of those would have to be done over provided I could even get in somewhere. I've looked into physical therapy/occupational therapy/respiratory therapy and am not much interested in those (ironically enough there are openings in those programs) I do miss the medical field somewhat. My passion is history though. I agree that I can't justify spending a lot on a history degree when I need to make money. I still have a 15 year old son at home that will be going to college in a few years. I keep sending out my resume for jobs in editing, non-profit, etc. and no replies. I'm really peeved that now everything has to be such an expense and a hassle. Gone are the days of getting an add-on certificate that can actually land you a decent paying job. It's frustrating!!!!

[bsinsc]

Ultrasound techs are in high demand and usually pay very well. The program (at least in CA) is only 18 months. It might be the way to go to get something that pays well, then get a Masters so that you could go into admin or something you want to do.

Thanks so much for the suggestion....I really wanted to do the ultrasound program but there are none anywhere near me.