Try to get into a master’s program or just go for a second bachelor’s?

Graduate School
1

Hi everyone, I’m a recent college graduate who’s trying to get into the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program.

I currently have a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation, 3.59 GPA, with one internship and I’ll have a summer job this summer with the Forest Service. I wasn’t involved in any activities or clubs during college and didn’t make any connections with any professors.

The program only requires a year of both calculus and physics (which I haven’t taken) and prefers technical degrees. I’ve been told to try and get into a technical master’s and complete calculus and physics there so I’m trying to get into a M.S. in Environmental Chemistry program. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to get any letters of recommendations from professors because I just went to class, did the homework, and took the tests.

I’m really considering going back to school for a second bachelor’s degree in engineering or chemistry as I could finish in about 2.5 to 3 years.

Thoughts?

2

That’s an expensive way to try to reach your goal.

3

Yes maybe, but see you can apply for the NUPOC program at the end of your sophomore year and earn around $4,000/month or more for up to 30 months while still in school.

4

A brief look at your past posts suggests that you have had a great deal of trouble deciding what you want to do. Starting another undergrad degree won’t help that. Consider some career counseling and if you really want to pursue the Navy option, take the prereqs. You should take the calculus and physics and see if that type of academic rigor is for you.

5

I keep asking here because I can’t afford career counseling. I asked my university if they would be willing to let me use their career services but they said that they can’t help me because I’ve already graduated and their services are for current students. People just tell me to just go into what I’m interested in but if I knew that then I wouldn’t be asking these questions. I’m extremely worried about the future because to be honest I’m struggling right now. I can barely afford my rent, groceries, and utilities. I’m about ready to just enlist in the military because then I will have a job with benefits and be secure but I know I can make more money being an officer and have better prospects if I ever got out. I’m sorry for rambling but I really don’t know what to do and it’s not lookin good for me.

6

I’ve applied for 25 jobs since graduating and only 1 got back to me but eventually they went with someone else. The job I got this summer was through the same non-profit I interned with that said they could put me on with a Forest Service crew they’re partnering with this summer. That lasts from May to October and then I’m back to nothing.

7

So sorry to hear that. That sucks that your college won’t offer you counseling (same thing happened to me, unfortunately). I dealt with a somewhat similar situation

Not saying you’re not working hard, because you clearly are - but if this works for you, maybe it could potentially be helpful to think about taking on another job while you think this over, even if it’s just folding clothes or making coffee or something. (Maybe you don’t have time for that, though. You know your situation best, of course, and I won’t presume to tell you what to do).

Idk if this makes you feel any better, but I applied for probably 500 jobs after graduating and only got one interview. Even places I thought I would get in, like Starbucks and CVS, didn’t take me. I probably would have gotten hired faster if I’d been willing to move, but I had to stay near DC for family reasons. Most of my friends moved to different cities or even states after graduation, and they all got hired faster than me (not sure how wide a net you’re willing/able to cast, but something to think about).

Eventually I started working at Dunkin Donuts for about four months to pay the bills before I finally got a job in my field. I actually really enjoyed it. Some people judge me for working there with a college degree, but I’m proud of my time there. I learned a lot of useful things like people skills, negotiating with difficult customers, working with different management styles, etc. It made me a more well-rounded person. (If you do decide to go that route for awhile, you can (I think) leave something like that off your resume if you want, or you can leave it on; if you sell it well, employers should appreciate that you have a variety of work experience.)

In re the recommendation letters: Can you get rec letters from people at your internship/s? If not, could you take some more classes at your old college? If you want to get into the Navy’s NPO program, it sounds like you just need those two classes (did I understand that right?) and you could probably take those at your old college, or, if not, at a community college, and take that opportunity to get to know professors and maybe make some connections.

How long is the NPO program versus the engineering degree? Which pays better? Which would you like more? Does the Navy program involve going in subs? If so, something to consider is that some people are fine with working in submarines, but a lot of people really hate it. I hear it can be extremely stressful.

Hope this helps! Best of luck to you. This is a stressful time in life with a lot to consider. I think things will probably become clearer as time goes on. Best wishes!

8

You have a bachelor’s degree, so you can sign up for Officer candidate training straight away- it doesn’t have to be the nuclear propulsion program. There are so many career paths within the navy, and opportunities for further training. Doing a 2nd bachelors does not make sense, and basically is just another punt. You can also take calculus and physics at community college.

9

A lot of customer service jobs out there should pay somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40K. You absolutely need to put all of your effort into finding how to stabilize yourself and not make any excuses. A master’s degree would be a waste of time when you’re simply going into the military.

I went back to school for a second bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and it was a huge waste of time because you need a hell of a lot of motivation to go through it the second time and make it on the other side. If you have anyone who depends on you, forget it.

There’s like zero chance that they require above sophomore year calculus, physics, or chemistry classes and you can take all those at a community college. Ask for a recommendation letter at the end of the semester or go to their office hours so they know who you are.

Have you considered IT or computers? You can get all the training you need online and there are PLENTY of jobs out there.

10

Your state has services to help you find a job. Have you made full use of those? In my state in addition to databases of employers, they also run all kinds of workshops to help job-seekers. Many of the jobs related to your major are state and federal jobs. While you are working this summer, ask your supevisors to help you rewrite your resume so that it has the details required by the federal jpb application system.

11

If you only need one year of calculus and one year of physics to get into the program, why on earth would you go back to get a second bachelor’s degree? You only need to take four courses (or six, if your school is on the quarter system).

Are you already talking to a Naval officer recruiter? If you aren’t, get in touch with one right away. They can help you figure out your odds and what you need to do. They can tell you whether an MS would increase your chances (it might not). That’s free, so you don’t have to pay anything for it.

Why do you specifically want to do the NUPOC program? It looks like the NUPOC is one of the most competitive commissioned officer programs in the Navy. Are you interested in one of the less competitive careers, like surface warfare or military intelligence? I mean, if you aren’t, that’s fine too - but I was just curious about your current interest and why that one specifically called out to you.

If you really wanted an MS you can get letters of recommendation from professors, even if you just went to class - you have to provide them with some info to jog their memory, but they can at least write you a letter based on your performance in their class. But you should only do an MS if you actually want and need one to do a specific job or career. It doesn’t sound like you do.