<p>I just graduated with a BA in a social science discipline with a minor in business, 3.91 GPA. I have been admitted to and matriculated into the MBA program at my state school, the same school that I got my BA. I would like to go back and get an engineering degree, most likely starting with a BS in aerospace engineering at somewhere like Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>I have committed to an advisor position for at least the next year, possibly two, where I will be getting free room and board so my expenses are minimal. </p>
<p>Here are my options:</p>
<p>A. Get my MBA while working a graduate assistantship position, where I will get free tuition and a $1550 per month stipend, while taking some of the prerequisite courses to transfer to an aerospace engineering program (Calc I and II, Phys I and II). Free tuition would not include the math and science prereqs, only the MBA courses.</p>
<p>B. Skip the MBA and work a job (most likely a social work job) for the next year or two (probably $20-25k per year) while paying back some of my loans and taking some of the prerequisite courses to transfer to an aerospace engineering program.</p>
<p>Thoughts? The MBA would be free but will it help me if I go to transfer to a second bachelor's program? Hurt me? Is it more worth it to skip the graduate degree and work and make more money to pay back my loans? </p>
<p>Any opinions are much appreciated.</p>
<p>An MBA or a second bachelor’s degree… hmm, what do you want to do career wise?</p>
<p>Also, can you financial support the second bachelor’s? Federal financial aid is not available to most, if not all, second bachelors programs.</p>
<p>I would like to work in a physics/math related job (though I don’t have any coursework yet I am motivated and determined to do well in it, and know I can) and think aerospace engineering sounds really interesting and I think I would enjoy it a lot. I have a new found passion for science (astronomy in particular) and my dream job would be working for a place like NASA or SpaceX.</p>
<p>The MBA would simply be something “to do” over the next couple of years before I could apply and move closer to a better engineering school.</p>
<p>I can get Federal Stafford loan for my second bachelor’s, as I will be an independent student at the time that I go for it. When I go from dependent to independent student at age 24 my lifetime limit increases and I will be able to borrow an additional $20,000+, if need be. I would also apply for scholarships.</p>
<p>It seems like a bad idea regardless to just get an MBA; it would be easy but do you think it would hurt my chances of admission to a second bachelor’s if I already have one bachelor’s AND a graduate degree? Or might it help?</p>
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<p>Getting a second UG degree is not the same as transferring, transfer applicants have not yet finished a first UG degree.</p>
<p>You need to check college websites to see if they accept applicants for a second degree, as some do not.</p>
<p>Thanks; the reason I posted here was because Georgia Tech, the school I am looking at, considers students going for a second bachelor’s transfer students.</p>
<p>OK, thanks for the info, I hadn’t seen colleges do it like that before, there’s always something new to learn!</p>
<p>Have you talked to GT Engineering and asked them how they view applicants with multiple and grad degrees?</p>
<p>How much assurance do you have that you could find a job for the next year?</p>
<p>Sorry, but I’m not really familiar with the field or school, so I can’t offer much of an opinion. I see you’ve asked on the Engineering forum, hopefully someone there will have some experience with this type of situation. You might also post on the GT forum and see what members there think.</p>
<p>Did you take a calculus course for your business minor? How did you do and were you comfortable with it? If it was a “calculus for business/social science” majors, you will probably have to retake it. </p>
<p>GT is an excellent engineering school. You’ll require very strong grades in calculus and physics for admissions.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be to complete the MBA program if you will not exceed the loan limit to complete a second bachelors. While pursuing the MBA, take calculus for science/engineering majors to see if you are comfortable with intense math. If you are, complete the physics series next.</p>
<p>However, check with GT if they will allow matriculation for a second bachelors after completing a grad degree. If GT will not allow it, search for other schools which will.</p>