Seeking assistance in finding financial aid to assist in 2nd Bachelor's degree...

Paying for College
1

Hi Everyone!

Thank you in advance for any assistance! Now I know this is not a popular route, but I am seeking assistance in finding financial help to pay for my 2nd Bachelor’s degree.

After spending years searching for employment, or for a Master’s degree program that would accept me (despite having fabulous GRE scores), I found that the reason I was unable to move forward was because I was not meant to do something I lost passion for, that I needed to go another route, and aim myself towards my true passion: Chemistry. Luckily my Alma Mater has a program where they waive Gen Ed classes for any graduate that returns for a second Baccalaureate degree. I still had several semesters worth of credit for one scholarship granted by the university, so I went for it.

I was able to pay for one semester out of pocket (of course with help from the scholarship via the university). Unfortunately, life happened, and I found myself unable to continue on, being that I have a family to feed. In addition, I received the bad news that my university scholarship had nearly reached the cap (one semester left on it).

I know that I am not eligible for federal grants, and that many scholarships will not pay for a student in my situation. I have plans of getting a Ph.D eventually, but first I have to find funding to finish this degree so that I can work somewhere and earn enough to move forward with paying for school. My GPA upon graduating is 3.71; I graduated with honors, and in a shortened time frame for my first degree (the very reason that I still had time left on the scholarship). I even attempted to join the military to serve this amazing country of ours and get tuition assistance (win all around!). Unfortunately that did not pan out as I would hope. I was selected but a medical waiver left me unable to proceed further, so another route became necessary. At this time I only have 2 years left (4 semesters) before I graduate (AGAIN).

I have no student loan debt, paid it all off via working (started paying it as a freshman—first bachelor’s degree), long before the bill was even due. I have worked hard all my life, paid my own way through college, was already married with kids before I started the first degree, so I am no stranger to hard work and perseverance. I just need assistance with finding scholarships or grants for people that change career paths.

2

What is your first degree in?

3

It seems like you are all over the place. You want to finish a second degree, you want to get a PhD, etc., etc., etc.
What is your first degree in? It seems like you want a second degree in chemistry. A chem degree in and of itself will probably do nothing for you without grad school.

What do you ultimately want to do as far as a job?

You talk about life getting in the way and having a family to feed. If this is the case, you need to choose a career path get on it, complete it in the shortest amount of time and stop flittering from thing to thing.

As you already know it is not easy trying to balance a full time course load work and taking care of/providing for a family (especially if yu have kids).

The only real options you have for a second degree is to either loans or work for an employer with a generous tuition reimbursement program (even then, they will want to pay for something work related). You can borrow up to $7500 a year. But as you already know, returning to school and taking on debt is a family decision.

4

The only “funding” you really can get for a second bachelors is loans.

I guess I’m not sure why you feel a second bachelors is a better route than a masters. Is this second bachelors totally unrelated to your first one?

But to your question…the only funding you will likely get for a second bachelors is…loans.

5

Why not use your remaining semester to take only chem classes, and then apply for a masters in chem?

6

You don’t really need a second bachelor’s degree to apply for graduate work in chemistry. Just take the undergrad classes you need to fulfill the requirements of the programs to which you will be applying.

Think hard about applying to a PhD program. It is a five year process, and even if you are fully funded, the stipend you will receive for living expenses is not enough to support a family. You mentioned in your post that you previously had to interrupt school for financial reasons, so I am assuming that your spouse cannot support the family alone. Your grad school obligations will not allow enough time to have outside employment. Loans are available for grad students, but you need to consider the financial impact of large student debt on your family’s future.