RosieTR
3-8-11, 10:58pm
I'm considering a second bachelor's degree at the age of 35 in Clinical Lab Science. The issue is that it would be through a private university and kind of pricey (in the range of $20-30K total) for about a year and a half, given the credits I have already. The average starting salary for the position is about 2X the cost I would be paying, though I might not get that much in a smaller city. I am hoping this would lead to more job potentials in places that I'd rather live (ie not Phx, and preferably not large cities). There are two aspects about this that are giving me pause. The first is the cost: some of which we could pay for outright, but I may have to take some loans. I'd have to see how it was trying to work FT while doing the classes. My guess is, easier at first, more difficult as it goes along. Which leads to the second issue, time. Already I work somewhat over 40 hrs/wk so with commuting to the classes (most require in-person presence b/c they have labs) there would be a lot of time suck.
Part of me thinks that if I go back to school it "should" be to get a Masters in something. However, in my field it seems like a master's wouldn't get me very far, and changing to some other field would take a long time (like an extra year to take classes in prep for a master's program in something else). Whereas this program would use the skills I've acquired over the last decade or so working, and it doesn't seem like society will need fewer health care workers in the coming decade or two. I suppose I'm looking for feedback from folks...have you gotten a second bachelors? Have you worked and gone to school FT? Have you any thoughts on health care fields? Private universities that grant degrees to specifically fill certain industry niches?
Part of me thinks that if I go back to school it "should" be to get a Masters in something. However, in my field it seems like a master's wouldn't get me very far, and changing to some other field would take a long time (like an extra year to take classes in prep for a master's program in something else). Whereas this program would use the skills I've acquired over the last decade or so working, and it doesn't seem like society will need fewer health care workers in the coming decade or two. I suppose I'm looking for feedback from folks...have you gotten a second bachelors? Have you worked and gone to school FT? Have you any thoughts on health care fields? Private universities that grant degrees to specifically fill certain industry niches?