I hope some of you may be able to answer this for me. I am currently a senior and will be getting my B.A this coming spring. However, I realized that I would like to compliment my current knowledge of things and I am considering completing a second B.A in a different, yet related field. I could obviously remain in my current school without much trouble, but I am seeking to go to a different school with, hopefully, a much better environment. The only problem is if I’m going to get my B.A next semester, what do I have to do to apply to a different school? Is it better for me to defer my current B.A option (I have not filed for graduation yet) and apply as a pure transfer or should I get the B.A and apply as a non-traditional student?
Some of my concerns in regards to the last option is that I will be graduating while still well within traditional college age (20 years old) but I wouldn’t want to deal with some of the hindrances that applying as a non-traditional student might have. I quite literary just want to compliment my studies and move on to graduate school–I am not seeking a full make over.
Lastly, any recommendations for good undergraduate school with a strong academic curricula that grants second bachelors degrees is welcome. Thanks for any information that you may provide.
I read through your other past postings and you are one for science, eh?
If you still intend to carry on with your studies in science, then you need to really look through your transcripts with a fine tooth comb. Really take a good hard look at things and see where any and all gaps are. Or, rather, I should say what you personally perceive to be any and all gaps. After you do that, you can either pay out of pocket for more courses at a state school or what have you.
I know that a lot of folks who decide to go pre med, for example, wind up taking extra undergrad courses after graduating. It seems to be a common thing for what I humbly refer to as: “science.”
Go with what you feel after you graduate. Maybe where you go to school now will let you stay on an extra two semesters and take out a minor?
Oh no, I know exactly what courses I want to take and what kind of material I hope to cover–that’s not really my concern. My question was mostly framed around the issue of whether is better for me to try to transfer out to some other school (not graduating this spring even though I can much do so with flying colors) or graduate and apply as a second B.A applicant and which option minimizes the risk of being treated as a non-traditional student.
As I stated above, I can stay in my current school if I wanted to, but I certainly <b>don’t</b> want to. I am hoping to go a nice school with a much better environment and here we go back to the original issue which is how I may go about doing so.
The only thing I know for sure is that if you have financial aid, you could try and pull off two additional semesters at your school and graduate just late enough to still have your courses covered. The idea would be to take out a minor or something. To do all of that you would have to go to the financial aid offices and learn of the completion rates and the rules behind that.
If you decided to transfer while on the verge of graduating it will be hard because there are not many schools which will take a transfer student who has senior standing. There just are not many schools who will want to take any student who has, for example, over sixty credits. The only schools I can think of which would do that are the types which have a continuing studies program geared more towards adult students.
Therefore. You can see what you can pull off over at the school you are on the verge of graduating from or you can maybe see what other schools would want you as one who has senior standing.
If I were contemplating things like how you are. I would go to someone in the academic department of my major and ask for advice. It could be the head of the department or a nice enough professor who you might have taken a class from.
I really hope someone who is in your shoes posts here soon.
If you have enough credits that you could graduate this spring then you probably will not be able to transfer anyone. Most schools only take Sophomore and Junior transfers. I don’t know of any school that will take a senior transfer.
I’m thinking that going for a second bachelors is probably your only option, if that is the way you want to go. As for which schools allow this, not many that I have seen. None of the top tier schools that I have looked at take students who have already completed a bachelors. Maybe your state school does, though. You’ll have to do some research in that regard.
Why do you want a second bachelor’s anyway? Have you considered a master’s program? It would take less time that a second bachelors (some masters programs are only a year long) and will have a stronger impact career wise.
Transferring is most likely out of the picture given that no matter what I do, I’ll be taking the last credits for completing my major next semester. In other words, whether I graduate or not is a matter of whether I filled and signed a paper asking to approve my graduation. I am unaware what happens if you don’t file for graduation but I’m sure I could stick around a whole year if I wanted to without much of a problem.
I would most likely have to apply for a second bachelor’s but my concern is to find 1) a decent school with an acceptable intellectual breadth 2) that grants second bachelor degrees or accepts advanced transfers and 3)that does not break students into traditional vs. non-traditional regarding classes. It is actually hard for me to gather up this information from anyone in my school since I much doubt anyone will be willing to help me once I tell them I plan to leave their school and in particular, the reasons why I am leaving their school, so obviously I am alone in this respect and gathering information on my own is slow and inefficient. If any of you could provide me with some helpful suggestions it would be much appreciated as it greatly ease the process.
As for your last question MathGirl, I wouldn’t go for a master’s because there is nothing for me to master unless I’d wanted to cover a corpse with roses (even though, I’d say, it’s done frequently.) The undergraduate preparation that I seek is fine enough for my purposes independent of its credential weight, although unfortunately, I agree, most just go by the size of your baggage rather than its content. It is an unfortunate situation but this muddy path is more sound for my goals for a PhD than the usual paved roads.
I think your best bet is post-bac work most of which is done without intent for a 2nd degree… there are good programs at nortwestern scs and upenn lps…
however most schools will not consider you non trad…
^ Incorrect. If you are apply for a degree program at age twenty, with the compliment of already holding a BA, you’re the definition of a non-traditional student.
The American academic environment doesn’t really understand the second bachelor’s degree as well as, say, the United Kingdom. In the U.K., it’s perfectly acceptable to get one degree in music and then return for one in mathematics. Historically, a lot of the well-bred in New Englad would ship off to Oxbridge after their first BA to pick up another.
That said, I’d recommend tapping the resources of your of Dean or advisor at your current school. They’re in the business of helping students succeed, they have a network of people they communicate with at other schools, and, if they’ve been around long enough, have probably heard every question at least once.
I don’t know very many schools that refuse to consider transfers based on the number of credits completed, but there are some.
However, keep in mind that completing a BA automatically disqualifies you from a lot of financial aid, so make sure you have your finances planned carefully.
The Schools I listed specifically say that you are not considered a non-traditional applicant if you already hold a Bachelor’s degree. Regardless of age. Many schools will not even admit students who hold prior undergraduate degrees. It depends on the school…
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