I graduated in may 2015 with a bachelors of arts degree in a liberal arts major. I would like to return for a bachelors of science in computer science.
I am currently in $10k of debt.
What financing options are available? If i can only get loans, will this be too much debt to take on (you think?) for a second bachelors?
Loans. Yes, it’s too much. Particularly in CS which is more skills and less education based.
I don’t know the financing options, but I think the answer to “is this too much debt” is highly dependent on what you think it will cost you to get the second bachelors. Do you know that number? Have you considered which school and how many years it will take?
You may not even qualify for the debt you’d need. You might the first year based on current income, but then when you applied for the next year, you wouldn’t have that income and would be denied.
You can start at a CC part-time, and see how it goes.
You may find that the math is too hard or that you don’t like it…so it’s best not to pile on more debt only to find that you won’t continue on that path.
How strong are you in math? What level of math have you taken?
If you haven’t taken college calculus, I suggest that you start there. Then take Calc II and III. If you can make it thru those along with CC level CS classes, then get a job where they will pay for you to finish.
Obviously, we don’t know you or your math strengths. But imagine how awful it would be if you took on max fed loans for this year (about 9500 for an independent student), and then found out that you can’t do or hate the math required for a CS major. You’d be stuck with ANOTHER $10k of debt…and not a better career to help pay it back. Disaster!
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I graduated last may with a BA in communication studies (liberal arts degree).
However, I am struggling to find a job. I want to return to school for computer science / software engineering.
The university, here in my hometown, offers a masters in software engineering. However, I have only taken an “intro to java,” course.
Can I take enough “deficiency” courses (undergrad level course) to get up to speed, or should i do a second bachelors instead?
I spoke to the advisor, and he said they have taken psychology students, etc. However, I am concerned I do not have enough background.
What should i do: second bachelors in computer science, or masters in software engineering?
My gut is the bachelors – i just don’t feel prepared for a masters despite the director that seemed to be pushing me more towards the masters.
The director is not american, so i felt we had some communication difficulties. I could not get a clear answer on how many courses i would need to take at the undergraduate level. He said one other course in java, but i don’t see how that could prepare me for a masters…
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I am familiar with doing this.
In your case, since you don’t have a company that will pay for you at this point, start at a CC and take the 1XX/2XX level math (Calc I and II, Discrete I and II, and stats) and CS courses. Then see if a grad program will accept you. there are probably 4-8 CS classes you could take at a CC (about 16-32 credits)
Going for a Masters would be better, imo. You are going to have to take the undergrad prereq’s anyway for the masters. I had an undergrad in chemistry and got a master in ME. Took a while, but did it.
And follow Mom2’s advice, get the basics out of the way at CC.
In our area, the cc’s have cross-registration with some very good 4-year schools. If you have any schools that offer that you could take some 300-level courses as well, then transfer into a master’s program.
i have taken up to calculus II. all the math i would need would be discrete and linear algebra, and possibly a status course. i enjoy math. i’m not a genius, but i survive.
now i’m stressing out because people had told me i would not be prepared for a masters program, and i quit studying for the GRE.
i think its too late for a masters application, and i hate to wait another year or semester to do so.
also, financially, a masters would not be any better. i would have to take all those undergrad courses, then i might get burnt out before the masters level courses, and then i have nothing to show. whereas, if i do the BS, i have a degree after a few semesters.
i am intimidated by the idea of writing a thesis, also.
i have seen plenty of job opps. for just a BS in CS. i want to be fully prepared, and jumping into a masters program just seems like too much without a solid foundation. i had numerous people tell me that.
the big issue is just the debt!!
You could do a post-bach (at a low-cost school) and then a non-thesis/non-research master’s.
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i have taken up to calculus II. all the math i would need would be discrete and linear algebra, and possibly a status course. i enjoy math. i’m not a genius, but i survive.
now i’m stressing out because people had told me i would not be prepared for a masters program, and i quit studying for the GRE.
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Calm down. You’re not ready to apply for a masters program. Spend the next year WORKING and going to school part-time taking Discrete I and II, Linear Algebra, Stats…and some 1XX and 2XX CS classes at your local CC.
The above will take you two years, at least. So that means that you’d be applying to masters programs in Fall 2017 to enroll in Fall 2018.
You haven’t found a job with your current major, but now look for a job, any job, just to provide some income while going to a CC for the next 2 years.
the average student loans for a bachelors is about $20k… for two more years, i would not be too far from that, though, right?
10k (first degree debt) + two years in second bachelors program.
why does everyone want to destroy my dream. this is my only chance at a decent life. i can’t get a job with my degree. why does it matter if i’m in debt, the alternative is be homeless.
Ok… Stop the drama. =;
Time to put the big boy/girl pants on.
No one is trying to “destroy your dreams.”
We are trying to prevent you from creating a NIGHTMARE. We are giving you the same loving/parenting advice that we’d give anyone in your situation.
We are trying to give you an INTELLIGENT path to get where you want to be.
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the average student loans for a bachelors is about $20k… for two more years, i would not be too far from that, though, right
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How does this relate to your situation? You’ve already got a bachelors. You won’t get the aid that others get for first time degree. that stat has NOTHING to do with your situation.
You seem to think that since the avg student loan debt is $20k then you’ll have almost the same situation. Wrong. Those students were eligible for aid as first time students.
That said…I don’t see how you could do this in 2 years anyway…you don’t have all of the lower division completed yet.
Answer the below questions…
WHAT exactly is YOUR idea?
A second bachelors?
At which school?
How much does that school cost including living expenses?
How would THAT cost get paid?
What is wrong with the strategy that I laid out in post #9?
i’m not trying to cause drama. however, i can’t help but get emotional about something that means something so much to me.
WHAT exactly is YOUR idea?
->to get a degree that actually makes me feel like a worthwhile human being.
A second bachelors?
-> yes.
At which school?
-> my local university in my hometown.
How much does that school cost including living expenses?
->tuition: $6,946 (i think that’s annual) ; so for two years i would be 14k in debt there.
->total debt: 10k (university 1) + 14k (university 2) = 24k. ; i would be living at home.
How would THAT cost get paid?
->honestly, i don’t care. i’m tired of feeling intimidated by people who have a real degree. knowing my ->luck i wouldn’t get a job, but the average salary for computer science is ~ 70k.
What is wrong with the strategy that I laid out in post #9?
->it took my almost 5 years (took some time off) to finish my associates at the cc. i’m turning 26 in a —>few weeks… that means i’m almost 30. i’m not going back to the community college! i have three associates. not to mention, i know everything they would teach me already.
You 1) sound like you have some unresolved depression and anxiety issues and 2) seem unwilling to do the things you would need to do to get into computer science. You seem to want this degree because you think it would “make you a worthwhile human being” and because of the pay (which is skewed by the elite companies in high COL areas).
You are exhausted by school. Why would you want to go back for another degree? A degree which you, frankly, sound both uninterested in and unqualified for?
Don’t.
Intimidated by people who have a “real degree”? That’s silly talk. You can only get intimidated if you let yourself be intimidated. Sounds to me like your biggest issue is a confidence problem. I’d work on that before paying for more school.
CourtneyThurston, because computers are the only thing i have every been good at. they are my escape. i love computers. the pay isn’t so much of a motivator as a job period.
you say don’t … why; how can it get any worse. i’ll be in more debt. i am one step away from homeless. i don’t have a choice but to go back to school. let me see: homeless, or a student loan payment… i think i’ll chose the student loan.
also, i have an uncle in computer science, and my neighbor went to my same college for computer science, and everyday i have to see her come home with her laptop bag in hand, and a big smile on her face saying “she’s better than me.”
i can’t stand it anymore. it is to build my confidence, but my only motivator isn’t money.
BelknapPoint, how am i suppose to work on my confidence when the reason i have such low confidence is because of my education and job.
"That’s silly talk. " -> obviously my degree isn’t worth anything because i hear it everyday, and the lack of employment shows what people think of it.
**My mom tells me, since i have been planning on going back to school, i have been the happiest she has seen me be. i am following my heart! why would you say that is the wrong thing to do.
i'm not trying to cause drama. however, i can't help but get emotional about something that means something so much to me.
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WHAT exactly is YOUR idea?
->to get a degree that actually makes me feel like a worthwhile human being.
A second bachelors?
→ yes.
At which school?
→ my local university in my hometown.
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…Can you clarify? Maybe I misunderstood you. Does this local Univ that has the masters program ALSO have the CS program that you want? If so, that sounds ok. For some reason I thought you were implying that you were considering the masters because the school didn’t have a bachelors program in CS.
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How much does that school cost including living expenses?
->tuition: $6,946 (i think that’s annual) ; so for two years i would be 14k in debt there.
->total debt: 10k (university 1) + 14k (university 2) = 24k. ; i would be living at home.
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OK…so THIS doesn’t sound too bad since you can live at home AND commute to a local state school for a lowish amount.
How would THAT cost get paid? ->honestly, i don't care. i'm tired of feeling intimidated by people who have a real degree. knowing my ->luck i wouldn't get a job, but the average salary for computer science is ~ 70k.
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Again…put on your big boy/girl pants. Mature people care about how things get paid because then they are much less likely to get “bit in the hiney” by unintended financial consequences later.
BTW…you have a “real degree”. Who is telling you otherwise. That said, I understand that you believe that you’ll get a better job with a CS degree, which is likely true.
What is wrong with the strategy that I laid out in post #9? ->it took my almost 5 years (took some time off) to finish my associates at the cc. i'm turning 26 in a --->few weeks... that means i'm almost 30. i'm not going back to the community college! i have three associates. not to mention, i know everything they would teach me already. Post edited by hcharrington on 5:47PM <<<<
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OK…so that is new info…and I didn’t realize that you could live at home and commute to the a local state school for the bachelors.
So…that sounds like a good plan.
BTW…are you going to have to buy health insurance? Doesn’t sound like you’re covered by your parents after next month. How are you going to handle that??
In the meantime, get a job…any job…even a part time job at Target. You need to be earning “some” money.
so just because i will be living at home, you change your opinion?
this school has a BS in CS and a masters in CS and one in software engineering that i had been considering until people convinced me that i would not be prepared for the masters.
i have medicaid for insurance.
as far as getting a job, i have applied a bunch of places with no luck. it must be either due to my degree, or my criminal record. i don’t know if the perform background checks at the first stages of applying, but if so, i guess that must be what it is; because, other than that, i don’t know why i can’t find a job unless like i said they just don’t like my major.
Well, yes, because living at home is a HUGE savings and makes the plan so much more doable. Of course that information changes things. Your original question was “will this be too much debt to take on (you think?) for a second bachelors?” So understanding how much debt you’re talking about is critical.