Second Bachelor's, looking for input and thoughts

Applying to College
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<p>Greets, all. </p>

<p>I am currently a second bachelor's student, halfway through the first year. I'm doing a Forensic Biology undergrad program pertaining to forensic science, but am currently doing all the prerequisites prior to actually enrolling in the program (Organic chemistry, biology requirements). I wanted to work full time in a laboratory position within law enforcement or research agencies upon graduating from this program. </p>

<p>I graduated from UC Irvine in '06 for Sociology. I used to be a CS major during my initial phases of my first undergraduate, but was entranced to sociology concepts from a lecturing professor and changed the focus of my studies back then. I did not have any biology and chemistry credits other than the basics for the general education requirements. I was an IT nerd, after graduating and not really finding any jobs within Sociology (granted, I didn't put too much effort) I went back to my IT roots, something I was good in.</p>

<p>The same story, just told from another version: Some years back, in during working full time in 2007-2009, I was dissatisfied with my job and wanted to do something I felt I was more capable of. I had worked for a little shy of two years as a IT & Network Technician, as well as some System Administration and Database Analysis for an aerospace engineering company. Then it came to realizing that I did not want to do IT until retirement at all, the work would get to me. During this time, I took some classes for fun at a local community college in micro/bio principles. They came out alright and I was actually (genuinely) interested in the subjects.</p>

<p>Tonight I've been mulling about how undergrad life is not the best thing in the world, yet I still want to pursue what I want to do - forensic/crime lab analysis. I've thought about applying for a master's instead, but keep thinking I don't readily stand a chance due to where I stand in Biology/Chemistry after 5 years since graduating, and I very much don't feel the urge to be schooling more than 3 years from this point. I'll be 31 by then, yet right now my courses are full with undergrads and people 5-8 years younger than me, not that it is an issue, but really makes me wonder where I am standing right now. I took out federal loans and savings money to start on the degree, leading me to think if it is actually worth the ordeal or not.</p>

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<p>bump, maybe this is in the wrong category… could a mod be as kind as to move it into the non-traditional student section?</p>

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<p>I like the idea of a master’s degree much better than a second bachelor’s. I would sit down and carefully look at how long it would take you to attain each one. If there is only a semester difference, the master’s may be worth it. Some schools will want you to do the pre-reqs and then apply, which obviously slows everything down. Some master’s programs will admit you conditionally and once you prove yourself you are in. You might make some appointments with people in your major and talk about the differences in the two degrees. Good luck.</p>

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<p>When I changed fields, I sat down with the descriptions of the graduate programs that I was considering, and I worked backwards through the various course pre-requisites in order to create my own course of studies. I was a “senior transfer” for one year, and a “non-degree grad student” for a semester, then I took a year off to work, make money, and apply to grad school. I got in everywhere that I applied.</p>

<p>This was back in the last century, and I did my re-treading at my cheap home-state public U while working first as part-time student employee, then as a full-time permanent staff member.</p>