Second Bachelors Degree and No Aid?

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm trying to figure this out - D is a senior next year and will graduate with her B.S. - Biochem. Then, she'll return for a fifth and final year to complete a B.A. - Art History. She's been making progress towards both degrees for three years because of some (high school) AP transfer credits and also taking 17 - 19 credit hours per semester, but most of the progress has been towards the B.S.</p>

<p>She decided she wants to go to summer I & II this year to complete another 12 hours, because this way she figures to complete all the requirements for the B.A. in the first semester of her fifth year. There will be ten or so other teammates doing the same thing - evidently most of the athletes stay in school during the summer so they can graduate on time.</p>

<p>I've looked at all the financial stuff, and NONE of her academic awards can be used for a second undergrad degree. It's all o.k. so far, but, it won't be once she completes the B.S. - the way I read things, she will then have no aid at all; even her state access grants and academic money will go away (it clearly says cannot be used for second bachelors).</p>

<p>Tuition costs about $25,000 per year. Since she has no loans, I am thinking about borrowing the money for the completion of the second degree. Summer is $857 per credit hour; to complete 12 credit hours this summer will cost $10,284. </p>

<p>However, if she does NOT go to school this summer, and completes the second degree over the course of the entire fifth year, then, it's more like $1,041 per credit hour.</p>

<p>I recommended to her end of freshman year when she plotted this course that she work equally toward both degrees so that they would both conclude in the same year. My recommendation was based on thinking that it would help her to have "easier" classes to balance out the more difficult science classes. She said her advisors told her to finish one first, then do the second - she said their reasoning was that if she got exhausted from studying so much at least she'd already have one degree in the bag.</p>

<p>It seems as if she did it the way I advised - work toward both simultaneously - she would stay under the "first undergrad" criteria - but then based on everything I've read, that would that be dishonest, since that isn't the way the academic merit funds are meant to be consumed (????). </p>

<p>I feel like I'm missing something. Should there be a way to get financial aid for a second undergrad degree, or am I asking an inappropriate question? I'm leary to borrow so much money for completion of a B.A. when there's already a B.S. (???) She's been to the financial aid office a few times - not sure if it's the staff, or if it's her, but, the discussions seem to end in something like "tell your mom to get a Plus loan".</p>

<p>Lost, here. </p>

<p>Oh - I have a another question - can anyone say why summer sessions are less expensive per credit hour than regular sessions? Is there some difference in how they are valued later, such as in terminal degree applications?</p>

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<p>The cost per credit during the summer may not include some of the required fees that are included during the regular semesters. I would check the schools web site about this. Where my DD goes - the summer credits are also less expensive - and that is the reason.</p>

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<p>JeepMom, what fees? The student activity fee, health fee, etc., are in addition to per credit hour cost in both cases - regular semester and summer. It's all broken down on the college's website. I cannot see any fee that I pay during the regular school year that is not also required during the summer. </p>

<p>There must be some other reason. D says the other athletes say summer classes are "easier". Could it be because the classes are taught by second or subsequent tier faculty (not top talent)? I fear I'm expressing this poorly. Apologies to any TAs, that's not quite what I meant, but there must be some reason for the disparate pricing, and cannot see it in fees.</p>

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<p>Late - I am not sure I am understanding you - sorry. I checked my Dd's school's site - the fees ARE included in the cost per credit - BUT - the fees are lower in the summer for many things - so the total cost per credit for summer classes is lower (kinda pro-rated type of thing) than fall/spring costs per credit. Are you saying the cost per credit is in addition to all the fees for the summer session in your OP?? or is that the total per credit cost - with the fees included?? (I think I said it wrong in my other post - sorry again)</p>

<p>Is your DD taking just 1 session or is this over 2 sessions??</p>

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<p>My fault - I am saying the same "line item" fees must be paid during the summer - although they are lower than during the regular school year, they are additional fees over and above the per credit hour cost.</p>

<p>The per credit hour cost during the school year is approximately $1,220 plus fees; the per credit hour cost during the summer is $857, plus the same fees, just lower dollars.</p>

<p>It seems as if you can take up to 40 credit hours during the regular school year without triggering additional tuition costs above the $25,000-ish, so, if you did that, it would only be $625 per credit hour. Which of course contradicts my question. I'm very confused. </p>

<p>She wants to take both sessions, and a total of 12 credit hours. I really do not have $10,000+ cash on hand. A loan makes sense, I guess. I sense I'm missing something here.</p>

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<p>Late-- why a second BA degree? Why not finish one degree and then start a Masters program, where presumably, she could get funding by working as a TA, research grant, etc?</p>

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<p>Blossom, she has a strategy behind this, not sure I can articulate it, but, the abridged version is that Art History fascinates her and she is enthralled by it, but does not wish to pursue it as a profession. She is interested in leveraging art history in some investigatory or law enforcement discipline, and somehow, this all lines up with med school(???). She lined up four minors as well, one of them being forensics. In any event, she made this decision three years ago and is completely committed to this course of action.</p>

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<p>Let me give you my background so you'll understand where I'm coming from. I am currently pursuing three bachelor's degrees, in biology, computer engineering, and civil engineering. I feel that I can comment on this, based on my experiences on applying for scholarships while I complete all three of these degrees.</p>

<p>Your daughter probably will not be eligible for FAFSA aid because she will already have one degree. Has she ever considered applying for senior continuing student scholarships? At my school, if you graduate and decide to pursue another degree, you are classified as a senior. A friend of mine graduated with a degree in aviation technology from here, and is now pursuing an electrical engineering degree. He has been classified as a senior for several years now. He says that he applys for scholarships all of the time just to pay for school. I, having been a senior for about a year and a half, just won a scholarship for biology, and will probably get something based off of my undergraduate research. I will be graduating this December with my first degree, in biology. I will still be eligible for scholarships, as long as they are for seniors. Maybe the situation at your daughter's school is different, I am just giving you my experiences. She can also try private scholarships, not sponsored by the school. I got a $10,000 scholarship two years ago for engineering by a private donor (I'm doing some internship work for one of that organization's members this summer in addition to my undergraduate research.).</p>

<p>By the way, I don't understand how art history will come into play in forensics. Those jobs are mainly reserved for biology, physics, and chemistry majors. What are your daughter's minors, maybe I can comment on them, since I minored in chemistry in college (about to complete it)?</p>

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<p>I almost forgot, she should consider enrolling a masters program and finishing up her bachelor's in art history concurrently. That is what I am considering right now, getting an MS in biology while concurrently finishing up the last few hours of my civil engineering degree.</p>

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<p>Late - it is pretty common for double majors to need an extra semester or summer sessions to complete all the needed courses - and most financial aid packages do not go beyond the 1st degree or extended semesters. Summer school is a good option for her tho. Are all the needed courses available for summer sessions??</p>

<p>Where you say she is debt free pretty much - there are some options - SHE should qualify for a un-sub Stafford - would be in her name and can include her living expenses also - or YOU could do a Parent Plus - in your name. Just seems that it has been her choice to do the double major thing - so maybe you should consider the possibility of HER managing the finances for this extra stuff. Something to think about.</p>

<p>As long as she is officially an undergrad - with NO degree - she is elidgable for FAFSA requirement loans - that do cover summer school - she should really consider completing ALL the requirements for both degrees and graduate as an official double major - instead of considering them as seperate situations. - just m 2c's.</p>

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<p>JeepMom, her college that told her that they will be separate degrees (vs. separate majors). I do not have any idea why, and I do not know the difference between a double major and two separate degrees. They do have entirely different coursework, as you might imagine - very little required subject matter in one that also addresses the requirements for the other degree - perhaps that's the difference? </p>

<p>How can she qualify for an un-subsidized Stafford? I thought you could only get one of those if the parent couldn't qualify for a Plus loan. Plus aren't they only $5,000? Summer school will cost $10,000+ tuition alone, plus another $1,200 rent (she found a house to share).</p>

<p>She went to the financial aid office; they told her to tell me to sign up for a Plus loan. hmmm....what I think I'm hearing though is that it is normal for financial aid to cover one undergrad degree only. Fair enough I guess, otherwise there wouldn't be enough money from all resources to spread around.</p>

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<p>A second degree is certainly a luxury, especially in something unrelated for someone headed to med school. This is where I would roll back the deep pockets and make it her choice whether to assume the debt. I've certainly told my son the same, especially if he wants help with med school.</p>

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<p>OOPS - wrong terminology - but hey - a double major would be a good thing - graduate same day with degree - seems simpler to digest too. Just seem that she is chomping off something that is not going to get her anywhere - I mean as far as applying this knowledge - if she is headed for med school - this second major would - I agree - be a luxury. Maybe she could pursue the second major on the side - like alot of folks do - part time. It is an expense that someone is going to have to bare no matter how one cuts it</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Late-- why a second BA degree? Why not finish one degree and then start a Masters program, where presumably, she could get funding by working as a TA, research grant, etc?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity--what if you don't know what specific field you want in a Master's degree? Wouldn't it be more of a waste to get one and then change your mind than if you got a second bachelor's?? For example, I am contemplating on whether or not to just get a second bachelor's in native american studies (for some reason i want to learn navajo language/religious traditions) before completely decided whether to cultural anthropology or physical anthropology as a master's/ph.d </p>

<p>Maybe the same thing is happening with the OP's daughter. She knows that she likes Biochem and art history, but isn't sure which to pursue beyond a bachelor's?? I don't know--maybe that's not the case. ??</p>