Help with major please

College Majors
1

I’m a 38 soon to be 39 and I just obtained my AA degree. I’m in the process of transferring to a University. My original major was a BA in athletic training but as a husband and a father of 4, pay wise it would not be a sound choice. It also got switched to a masters program from a bachelors right after I got the AA.

I thought about business administration but I don’t know if that’s a good choice since my family is leaning on me to get this right.

I’ve done a lot of things throughout my life but nothing good for the long term. I know a lot about Exercise, nutrition, training and how it pertains to the body but only degree I see that’s lucrative is Physical Therapy which is a lot more schooling than what my family can wait on.

I’m open to getting out of that comfort zone (Exercise) and try anything as long as it’s ethical, fits my strengths, and provides a better life for my family.

2

Before I even begin answering your question, I simply want to say how much respect I have for you. Going back to school to support your family is awesome, cheers to you being a great family man.

Have you considered pursuing any other healthcare degree? The healthcare industry is high demand, and in general pays high. While I can’t list any careers off the top of my head, I recommend you research the prospect a bit more.

While you have extensive knowledge in exercise, nutrition, and training, get to the core of what you like to do. Do you like helping people? Are you interested in the human body? Ask yourself these questions.

Once you know the answers to these questions, research careers that you might be interested in, and that more or less fit your skill set. Once you have a concrete list of careers with good pay, and no requirements for a post-baccalaureate degree, THEN look at the majors associated with these careers.

3

^Yes. if the schooling for being a physical therapist is too long but you are interested, why not check out being a physial therapist’s assistant or occupational therapist assistant)? Those programs are typically 2-3 years and have good salary projections and job outlooks.

4

Thank you.

It’s definitely challenging and I implore everyone that if college is your path, don’t let anything stop you.

Keep going.

Yes I have researched many of the medical fields. A lot of them don’t interest me, and others are tacked on with so many years that I don’t feel, with me having a family, they are worth pursuing.

I’ve always been interested in the body as how it performs and how that performance can be improved through exercise and nutrition. I also researched on how they can be used as tools to prevent and or heal the body. I’ve always lived an active and athletic life so naturally…

I’m not one who has to be conformed to one thing though. I have adapted to many things. I just know that adaptation is good for survival. Not always best beyond that. Eventually you must do what you were born to do to shine. I’ve never done that hence why I went back to school.

Yes I want to help people. I come from a military family who instilled the notion that we are here to help one another in our own way. Just trying to figure out what I can do that coincides with my strengths and the numerous of skills I’ve obtained. I’m a pretty fast learner so skills I don’t have yet, doesn’t take me long to acquire.

Thank you for response.

5

Thank you Julliet for your response.



The PTA program is what I originally sought out to do but every college had an 3 year waiting list. Just recently as upon getting my AA degree, it has changed at some schools. Now it’s first come first served. It’s like a lottery system. Put your name in the hat and a computer randomly spits out 24 or so names. I also weighed the time frame. 2 to 3 years for an associate science degree?

About the same time to get an bachelors which probably gives more advancement, opportunities, and options.








6

–Which university will you be transferring to?
–Do you have other options for universities?

Let’s see what programs are available/realistic.

7

USF



There’s some private ones but they’re expensive. UCF is an option but the commute is close to two hours or so.



If I had to do it over again I would do some things differently when i was in my early 20’s. Obviously…


8

I assume since you have a family you’re hoping to stay put in your city right? What city do you live in?

9

Ideally that would be best but sometimes you have to do what you have to do depending on the opportunity.





I’m in Lakeland.

10

USF does have a transfer acceptance rate of around 62% so if your AA was completed with a decent GPA you’d have a good shot. Could also apply to U of Tampa. However, I don’t know if it works the same way if you’re an adult lol :confused:

11

GPA is good. It’s a 2.8. Frustrating because it was a 3.5 for most of the time but life…Academics wasn’t that hard. Juggling it with an adult life?

That can be somewhat of a challenge.



Never really looked at U of Tampa. I will.



I’m pretty sure they offer about the same.

It’s just choosing a path that’s been difficult.

12

It always is, but keep in mind freshmen apply to something like 8-15 schools, so 2 is not that many :P. If you have a 2.8, can you re-take any classes you might have received Ds in? Do USF and U of Tampa allow grade forgiveness?

13

Physical Education teacher? You might not like the job prospects/salary.

Look into the field of Public Health. It seems to align with your general interests/values (although it might be too administrative for your tastes). USF offers a Bachelor’s in Public Health. The Master’s in Public Health (MPH) seems to be the go-to path for many public health professionals, but have a look at the job prospects for the BS in Public Health, especially if further education beyond a bachelor’s degree is undesirable.

If you’re interested in the public health field, and if you can afford a master’s degree (time/money), and you can get admitted… they offer a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Public Health Education. It’s a 20-month program, which would hopefully be manageable in your case. Your bachelor’s could be in psychology, anthropology, sociology, phys ed/exercise science, etc. You can get into an MPH with a business degree, too, but I believe other health or social science fields are preferred. A business degree is possible, but you’d have to be careful with grades, recs, and showing enough interest in public health (by doing a minor or other coursework in a health-related field, by volunteering, by doing an internship, etc.).

USF also offers an MPH with a concentration in Social Marketing (online program), as well as a 4-course Graduate Certificate in Social Marketing (online) which can be applied toward the MPH in Social Marketing. You’d probably have a good shot at this path with a BS in Marketing, but again, you’d want to add health-related courses (or a minor) where possible.

It sounds like a business degree would be a reasonable path for you, providing you have the pre-reqs and can get into the business college. The job/salary potential is there, you can potentially align the degree with your interest in health/exercise, and you can supplement the degree later on with additional study (as above with the MPH).

If you went with business, you could possibly add a health-related minor like Public Health or Health Education. (Apparently, the Health Education minor allows you to become a Certified Health Education Specialist, with additional time/work.) Either of these minors would be suitable if you had an MPH in mind at a later time, or if you simply wanted a better shot at a health-related business career. Other minors like Psychology or Nutrition could provide health-related content to your studies. Anyway, research whether you could fit a minor alongside a business major.

14

Anytime, don’t mention it.

Dunboyne out.