<p>Hi, everyone. I found this forum during a rather fruitless Google search, and hope that I can find some answers here.</p>
<p>I have a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, both in Music Performance. I'm 27, and I've been out of school for nearly three years. To put it simply, I think I made the wrong choice to major in Music, and I'm looking for other alternatives. The dilemma is this: as I went to conservatories, I'm not qualified to do much of anything at all.</p>
<p>I'd like to go back to school, possibly for a degree in the sciences. However, I don't even know where to start. Though I graduated from both schools with a near 4.0 average, I haven't taken a math class in ten years. The idea of spending four years getting another Bachelor's degree is really unappealing, but I don't know if I'm qualified to get into any graduate program. I don't even know what the pre-requisites are, as most of them simply say, "A strong math or science background." Le sigh.</p>
<p>As there's no way to correct the decisions of the past, how do I move into the future? Where do I even start?</p>
<p>I am assuming you live in the US and went to Berklee or Juliard or another school of that ilk. You can really teach music at high schools or performing arts schools throught the US or maybe at some colleges. I am saying this because it will allow you to earn a living, while at the same time, allow you to enroll in school for practically free (most school districts have programs so that their teachers can get additional degrees. If you can find a job teaching music at a college (Jr. college or 4yr.) you will be viewed as staff and will probably get free tuition.</p>
<p>With the price of attending a 4yr college raising, these are two economical options. </p>
<p>However, I want to caution you. As someone who questions the decision to put down my trumpet and pick up a lab coat, these decisions have long reaching effects. If you want to do work that will allow you to be creative, you will have to get a Ph.D. which will all together with a B.S. will take you 10-11yrs. So be certain in what you want to do. If the issue is you can’t find employment as a musician that will allow you to earn a living, I suggest the teaching route. I am from New Orleans and many of my musical instructors played gigs after work, so there are jobs to be had. Wynton, Branford, and Terence Blanchard all teach and their are all in your same boat.</p>
<p>@wingedpig</p>
<p>I don’t have any advice for you, but I suggest that you also post in the Music Forum. I’m not sure what advice the folks over there will have for you, but perhaps you can share some of your experiences with other families about what you’ve learned (shoulda-coulda-woulda).</p>
<p>[Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>I have known several biology students with backgrounds outside sciences during my graduate degree. Most of these people have enrolled in biology Postbac programs before they continue onto a biology graduate program. I would suggest you start by googling ‘biology postbac programs’ to find out more information.</p>
<p>My son has a BA in music and has decided he wants to go into another field…Speech Pathology, to be exact. He found a program where you attend for 3 years…year one allows you to take the undergrad pre-req’s (science, psych, etc) for the program; years 2-3 you get your Master’s. </p>
<p>There may be programs such as that out there for you, though with a BFA it may be significantly tougher to accomplish.</p>
<p>Since you don’t yet know whether science – or even which science – is for you, I suggest that you take some of the prerequisites of most science majors at a community college. If you take calculus, intro to biology, intro to chemistry, intro to physics, and statistics, you’ll get a good sampling of the sciences to discover whether you can excel in them. Those classes then should transfer to a post-bac or second degree program to get you started.</p>
<p>I forgot to add computer science to the above list.</p>