Thoughts, Suggestions, Ideas?

[LaterBloomer]

What should I do now that I (almost) have my BSBA? While I'm eligible to retire, I'm not ready to do so. (I'm in my mid/late 50s, and plan to work until my early 70s.) Sometimes I see job announcements for Record Room Managers. That would be a promotion for me. I've certified once, interviewed, but didn't get the job. Maybe I should obtain the Certified Records Manager designations. (It's 6 tests for $650.) Or should I obtain my MPA? If the latter, I'd like to get it from Arkansas State as the degree can be obtain on-line and the program is accredited. The issues are that I'd have to appeal as my GPA is too low to be automatically admitted, and I really hate writing.

Any ideas I should consider? Any problems that you can foresee? Any suggestions?

As always, thank you for your help.

[hightecrebel]

Might be a silly question, but could you retake some of the classes you did the poorest on? I'm doing that with my Gen Chem course, and as long as it's through the same school it should override the poor grades...

[LaterBloomer]

Hmm. Let me check with the schools. Thank you for your suggestion. It's a good one, but might be fairly time-consuming as I'd go MIA fairly frequently.

[Lindagerr]

You have to consider the cost benefit of returning for more schooling. When I finished my BA I wanted to teach but the alternate method in NJ was long and drawn out, I considered going for my MAT at WGU but that could get expensive and the raise in pay would not cover the cost for many years.

The second problem can be ageism, are you working full time now? If you are then you might have a better chance of getting in somewhere else and then see if the masters makes sense. If it is just the GPA holding you back consider one or two classes extra to pull up your overall GPA. It depends on how the school you want calculates, do they just take TESC's or do they factor in all graded courses from all schools.

After waiting so long to get our degree we get into school and then when we are done we don't know what to do with the extra time on our hands. No matter which path you choose don't rush into it. I have not done what I planned to do with my degree, but I still feel great when I can check off that college box instead of the "some college" box on forms. I am lucky my husbands career has done wonderfully the last couple of years and I don't need to work full time, now I am just counting the months until I can collect Social Security and only substitute when the urge to work strikes.

Once I stopped taking classes and getting that last AAS I found I was ready to let the stress of due dates and papers behind. I have started some new hobbies and spend as much time as I can away visiting friends.

[alleycat]

Well you plan on working for quite sometime. I say go ahead and do what you need to do to secure your future. That certifcation sounds like a great idea. Look at job listing in your area and field to see if it required. Also if you are up to it the MPA is a great deal! As far as being admitted with the GPA how do you get around it? Do they allow you to take classes not being fully admitted? Then the base full acceptance on your work with them?