<p>Hi. So, I am currently in my first bachelor's program. I'm studying environmental studies, a BA program at UMKC. I realized too late that I hate my major and find it pretty useless. I'd like to study computer science BS immediately after I graduate with the environment degree in spring 2014.</p>
<p>This is my 5th year in college, but I only took out loans for the last 3 years. I'll be about 19K in debt when I graduate in the spring. If I return to school in fall 2014 to get a second degree (which would take about 2-3 years), would I still be able to obtain fed loans if I'm already indebted to them and paying on the loans I already accumulated? I'm not planning on taking out parent loans the second time around.</p>
<p>I really don't want to take out more loans, but if I thought I'd see if it was at least an option.</p>
<p>Getting a second bachelor’s degree is usually not worth the cost. And CS is an area you can study on your own. Take some CS classes now if you can and start coding on the side. Experience is generally worth more than the degree in that field.</p>
<p>I’ve done some very basic coding on the side online with Coursera, Udacity, and Codecademy, and I’ve considered getting an A.A.S. with the community college; it just seems like around where I am they want you to have 3-4 years experience if you don’t have a bachelor’s. My school blocks a non-CS major from taking their classes. I suppose I feel like I’d do better if I had more direct learning rather than mostly independent studies.</p>
<p>You will be able to receive loans for your second bachelors, but the amount depends on your “year in school” classification in the new program. You will only be able to borrow at the level allowed for your year in school. If you are a dependent student, you can borrow up to $31,000 total for your undergraduate years (of which up to $23,000 may be subsidized loans). You are not automatically independent for an undergrad degree due to having already received a bachelors degree (only for a grad degree). Be aware that most schools do not give any institutional grant aid for a second bachelors, and federal grants (Pell, SEOG) are for 1st bachelors only.</p>
<p>Gotcha. I’d be a sophomore upon returning since I have all of my gen eds done, and I’ll be 23 years old and likely still living at home upon the new school year. I was never Pell Grant eligible due to parents’ income anyway, so I’m not concerned about that. </p>
<p>I think that if I borrow again for just one year I’d have enough money saved to pay the majority of tuition for the other year- the tuition for UMKC is about $4800 for 15 credit hours, not counting books and parking (probably another $475). Thanks for clarifying that!</p>
<p>So would I have to do another MPN and counseling for the new program, or would it still be applicable?</p>
<p>I think you’d be a junior if all of your gen eds are done.</p>
<p>I think this is a nutty idea. Just take some extra CS classes, and sell yourself to an employer. You’ll have an eng’g degree, that’s what they really care about.</p>
<p>Pretty close, but not quite- I only have 50 credits done that are relevant to the CS degree as of now, 54 if I managed to squeeze a calc II class in the spring.</p>
<p>Think so? I feel like a second bachelor’s would be fine if it’s a STEM degree, especially if it’d take around the same amount of time to get a bachelor’s in lieu of an A.A.S. (2 yrs v. 1.5 years) To my understanding, internships for experience are mainly offered to active bachelor’s students, not associate students/students who graduated. The degree I’m in now is essentially a liberal arts degree.</p>
<p>I’m mainly tossing ideas around to know what my financial options were, but I feel like a BS would be my best bet, at least in Kansas City.</p>
<p>ok…for some reason I read your current major as enviro eng’g, but now I see that it’s not.</p>
<p>Why graduate now at all? Can you change your major and then get this new degree? That way, next semester you can full concentrate on the new degree and not waste time on finishing the current one.</p>
<p>Ah, I definitely would have done that back in December, but I’m so close to finishing the environment degree in May (my 5th year) it seemed pointless to toss it all out. Parents heavily discouraged it, probably to avoid more loan burden on their end, prevent me from being a career student, and so I could get a general-type job to get out of their house- I’m not great at work while I’m in school full-time.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, my loan stops after 150% of a 4-year degree plan if I don’t hit the max amount I can borrow before then. I only borrowed for 3 years, but I believe the FAFSA would take into account the other two years as time spent as a means to halt my aid.</p>
<p>Since I only need 6 more credit hours to finish the enviro degree in May, I am planning on taking a few CS classes at the community college in the spring and summer to at least get a start, and then re-enroll at the university in the fall. My optimal time frame for the CS degree would be two more years if I was full time each semester.</p>