<p>I'm a first year Psychology master's student, and after all of these years of undergrad, time off, and now, master's study, it's occurred to me that I'm simply not fond of this field and am not happy with life because I'm disinterested in studying Psych any longer, my degree hasn't gotten me any job consideration above retail and call centers, and I also desperately want out of this part of the country. I'm 26 already, but I want to start my life over and I feel like the best way to do it is with a new Bachelor's program in a small state somewhere far away.</p>
<p>My concerns are: A) I don't want to hurt my mentor's chances of tenure, B) I want to go into a 'hard' science major, and I only took one class of the sort in my undergraduate career, so I'm unsure if a program would look at my app and just be baffled, C) I'm wondering how negatively dropping out of this program will reflect on me in my pursuit of a new education at a different school... even if my grades for this semester will at worst be respectable, and D) Am I considered too old/invested to try something like this?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are still “searching” for a life purpose. Are you certain that taking more college classes is the answer? Maybe you should try some more work/interning in different fields to figure out what you really like to do.</p>
<p>No, it is not too late. I don’t think leaving your Master’s program is a very big deal. Your biggest problem is trying to get into a second bach. degree program–I know many publics in California aren’t allowing them these days.</p>
<p>Yeah, this isn’t what I want to do, and I’d like to get out. And as I hinted previously, I can’t find work other than remedial stuff anyway at the moment, so work/interning isn’t an option for me to have an epiphany. Also, this Master’s program has very few resources, as far as internships go. I figure with a Master’s and/or Ph.D I could teach, which is what I want to do, but not in this field.</p>
<p>I know what I’d like to study instead.</p>
<p>As far as schools not allowing students to seek a second Bachelor’s goes… what if I inform in an essay that I’m looking for a career change and know that I need new training in order to pursue that path, in addition to the field stirring my intellectual interests?</p>
<p>I’m not looking at Cali, Ivies, or anything like that. I’m actually looking into the Midwest–not at one of the top schools out there, but one I would be happy with.</p>
<p>I know several people who have made career changes such as you describe. Not all of them required completing a full second bachelors degree. In my own case, I went back to school at my cheap-o home state public U and took undergraduate coursework for a year (status: Senior Transfer) and graduate coursework for a semester (status: Non-degree Graduate Student) then worked for a year while I applied to grad school in the new field of study.</p>
<p>It may even be possible for you to get the basic coursework that you need at your current university if you can write it into your M.S. program as a minor subject area. Take a look at the university catalogue, and see if that is possible.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great post, happymom. I’m not sure I have to complete an entire second Bachelor’s program either, though I’d like to, and if it will make sense, dive back into grad school in that field. I’ve submitted the application that’s been on my mind for awhile, and we’ll see what happens from here. My hunch is I’ll get in–it’s not a selective university, though the program I’m applying into can give me what I need.</p>
<p>I do want to leave this current university: I feel the change of pace is needed, and I’d like to start over in a new area of the country… a smaller state where jobs are easier to find, too.</p>
<p>I just came back across this thread. My sentiments remain the same. Trying to sell off some unneeded games/movies/books so that I can fund sending out some apps!</p>
<p>My next step is to e-mail the programs I have written down, and ask if they welcome students seeking second Bachelor’s degrees. As far as my initial concerns go… B’s the only one I’m concerned about now.</p>
<p>Schools I am planning on applying to:</p>
<p>Baylor
University of Miami (long shot, this is a dream)
University of Pittsburgh</p>
<p>I’m sure that post is spam, but in case you’re real King… I’m pretty sure of what I want to do: Major in Computer Science or Computer Information Systems, and if I have the time/money/etc., make it a double major with Astrophysics/Astronomy & Physics. Pretty hefty workload, but I’d love it.</p>
<p>Another thought… if I don’t get into any of those three schools and go into, say, a lesser tier one or two school, could I still end up in a great grad school?</p>