<p>I'll try to explain a somewhat complicated system in as simple language as I can muster: I am about to start my senior year at Arizona State, which I attend on a National Merit scholarship...I am a Classics major, and have pursued the humanities and pre-med reqs pretty much exclusively through my undergrad. Now, I know this is a leap, but I have spent the last year struggling with a decision to keep doing what I am now or switching to finance/accounting (my papa is an accountant so I'm not going into that on a complete whim). I am planning to graduate from ASU in December, and I was planning on applying to law school for the following year and taking out loans. However, I have recently thought about applying to a target school for IB's, going back to get another undergrad degree immediately after getting my classics degree, and going from there. Has anyone heard of anyone doing something like that? I need to do some research on the application process etc, but the way I figure it, I would need to take out loans for law school anyway, so might as well bite the bullet and do what I'm actually interested, even if it is about 3 years late ha. This is pretty long, here is a quick run down of stats:</p>
<p>Major: Classics
GPA: 4.0
SATs (old): 1470
I tutor in the Honors College Writing Center and Latin
I teach a small group of high school students a private latin class in the evening
Working in a law firm this summer
Tutored at a public middle school on days that I did not have class last year
Worked at a golf course and as a bartender in summers past</p>
<p>So in short, have you ever heard of someone finishing their undergrad and switching to a different school immediately to pursue something totally different? Also, and idea what kind of a shot I would have at top tier undergrad business programs and target schools? Any advice would really be appreciated, and again, sorry to ramble on.</p>
<p>You can still go to law school and specialize in something like business law or securities law and still end up at a top investment bank. This is probably only possible if you go to a top law school. If you combine your 4.0 GPA with a great LSAT score and great letters of recommendation, you might stand a good chance of getting into a top law school.</p>
<p>For example, I know 2 guys from UCLA whose goal is to get into top 5 law schools, specialize in business law, and then work in private equity or M&A.</p>
<p>Have you thought about applying to LSE's one year masters program? That may be an option if you don't want to go to law school, but I'm pretty sure you shouldn't/can't get a 2nd undergrad degree.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really dont think you should get a second undergrad degree, it'll be a huge waste of time and money.
Personally, i'd prefer going to Law School, if you can manage to get into a top law school. Not only would a Law degree itself be gold but there are plenty of law grads who make their way through corporate America.
You could also give a look at one-year master's programs like AdmissConsulting suggested.
Great job on that GPA, and dont worry, im pretty sure you'll be doing fine someday.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick replies everyone. I understand exactly what y'all are saying, but in response, interning with a law firm this summer, I am finding that I am rather apathetic towards it (that being said, the type of law I am doing this summer, malpractice defense, isn't exactly my cup of tea), but my concern is, if I am not exactly overly zealous about one day practicing law, is law school really worth it. If my goal is to enter the business/corporate community, I understand that law students can go this route, but I have had very very little business/econ training in my undergrad education. Is it possible to pick up corporate law, securities, etc, with a undergrad background in humanities?</p>
<p>You might want to look into a terminal Master's program at a target school. I'd suggest not graduating a semester early (espeically if it's free) and taking business and math classes in there. You could then look into getting a quantitative Master's degree from a target school and possibly working in banking a few years after that.</p>
<p>When you mention terminal masters degrees, are you speaking specifically of any particular program? It seems like a few target schools offer a masters in econ, and those are what i have started looking through so far. Are there any other degree programs you know of that are worth looking at, or even better, any particular schools that are worth checkin out for something like that?</p>
<p>Hi Howard,
If you still want to do a 2nd degree, I suggest that you look into Columbia University's School of General Studies. They allow students to get a 2nd BA degree. Not to mention the internship opportunities that comes with it. Here is their website:</p>
<p>I don't believe that you would have any trouble getting into the school. In addition, a lot of Investment Banks recuit at the university. So your chances of getting a Wall Street internship are very good.</p>
<p>It is highly unlikely that any target school would accept you for a second bachelors. If you want banking, work for a few years and then get a top MBA.</p>
<p>As an employer, I would think a second BS/BA was crazy.</p>
<p>And given today's environment you could easily go through all that and still have a slim chance of getting an ibanking job. What are the chances of your going to Harvard and gaduating at the top? ASU is a long way from H.</p>
<p>You can go through all that and find you're just not the persoality type, not the major in vogue that year or that there are just too few jobs.</p>
<p>P.S. it's a great thing you found out about law now. My DH and many we know had the same experience of working for a law firm and deciding against law.</p>
<p>And redline, I know lots of Columbia bankers and zero were in the school of GS.</p>
<p>Hi hmom5,
With regards to Howard's decision, obtaining a 2nd BA at Columbia GS is only for that person's individual interest. Not to impress the investment banks. With that said, a lot of folks do get their 2nd BA degree in areas that holds their interests. They are a few people who are going to Columbia GS to get a 2nd BA degree. However, most of them are keeping a very low profile regarding that. I won't say that Howard should go the Harvard's Extension School because they don't offer the option of a 2nd BA degree. I will admit that getting a 2nd BA degree will be a very tough challenge. But it might be well worth it for him, as long as he is going there for his intellectual and personal goals. That's the most important objective for Howard.</p>
<p>The notion that I will add is that Columbia GS is the best non-traditional college around because all of the students are integrated with the Columbia College students, as far as the classroom settings are concerned. In contrast, Harvard Extension classes are only given at night. And the students are segregated from Harvard College. That's a big difference between HES and Columbia GS.</p>
<p>He already stated he would be doing it to get a banking job. It's not likely to help him do that. I too would love to go back to college for my personal fulfillment but it's not likely to help me find a new career.</p>
<p>I think Columbia GS is great and it certainly gets many where they want to go. To ibanking? No.</p>
<p>2nd BA? Unnecessary. Granted, investment bankers and MBA degrees in general are more like a trade than law, but they DO NOT require extensive economics/math/finance backgrounds. Just bulk up your second semester with lots of econ and math classes (the standard classes that are necessary to get a Major/Minor), take a couple summer courses, and maybe do an extra semester and you should be fine. Or I suppose you can try and transfer to an IB target school (aka a really good school by any standards) for a 5th year of your BA and take some more economics and math courses there. But a whole new degree? Ridiculous.</p>
<p>Solid GPA, and test scores. I recommend that you apply for an IB internship and extend your graduation. Most top BB programs will provide you with all the education that you'll need, fundamental accounting/finance etc.</p>
<p>Its the lower tier banks that you'll want to stay away from since their training programs are usually not structured and they seek experienced individuals. To me, it sounds like you might be a good fit for corporate finance. Its usually chock full of high gpa/sat ivy jocks(no pun intended, I have corp fin friends).</p>
<p>S&T/Asset management is usually more relaxed individuals who are smart but aren't as arrogant.</p>
<p>*** getting a second undergrad degree when you have a 4.0 and can go to a decent law school? 2nd undegrad degree- other than a better school name i don't see any difference.</p>