Changing career paths?

[unformed 0]

I'm wondering if there's anybody who has made 180 degree changes in their career path and how they went about doing it? I'm looking more on the lines of someone who went to school for one thing, did it for a while, decided to change, then went back to school for something else.

I have degrees in mathematics and computer science, and am considering going forward in psychology and/or neuroengineering (psychology to help other adolescents/young adults who went through similar things that I did, and neuroengineering for research and combining robotics with humans)

I'm wondering who else went through similar things ... and specifically, did you go right back to the start and get another bachelor's (save for the general studies) or were you able to go right to grad school, even though it's a different path? And would you have a recommendation on either?

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[kbordson 8]

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I'm wondering if there's anybody who has made 180 degree changes in their career path and how they went about doing it? I'm looking more on the lines of someone who went to school for one thing, did it for a while, decided to change, then went back to school for something else.

I have degrees in mathematics and computer science, and am considering going forward in psychology and/or neuroengineering (psychology to help other adolescents/young adults who went through similar things that I did, and neuroengineering for research and combining robotics with humans)

I'm wondering who else went through similar things ... and specifically, did you go right back to the start and get another bachelor's (save for the general studies) or were you able to go right to grad school, even though it's a different path? And would you have a recommendation on either?

To really address some of your concerns, it would depend on which school you're looking at applying to, where you got your undergrad at and what classes you actually took.

I did my first year in engineering and then switched that to nursing and then 5yrs later went to medical school. I had to look at the schools that I was applying to and specifically identify what the pre-req's were and had to take a class or two as a nurse to meet all the requirements (and it was actually "lucky" that I had done that first year in Engineering cuz calc based physics was actually a pre-req in a couple of the med schools that I applied to). But the important part is getting the information on your specific options and understanding the tasks that you need to complete to get there.

[ladyskydiver 0]

My first degree is a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. I worked in the field for 4 1/2 years. Got laid off one too many times and went back to school (undergrad school) in order to get my pre-reqs for vet school. I decided not to get my 2nd bachelor's degree (in biology) even though I'm 14 credits away from it (still ended up with a minor in biology though ). I've been accepted to vet school and will start in May 2008.

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specifically, did you go right back to the start and get another bachelor's (save for the general studies) or were you able to go right to grad school, even though it's a different path? And would you have a recommendation on either?

If my previous bachelor's degree had covered the pre-reqs, I would have applied directly to vet school.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[Lindsey 0]

I was a social worker, and LCSW, and became a physician. Started med school when I was 35 years old. I did have to go back to undergraduate for all of those pesky science classes. Took a couple years part time. I did not get a second bachelor's degree though, just the pre-requisites for medical school. A recommendation? I'd say that would only depend on the requirements of the field you're going into.

Peace~
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[unformed 0]

Cool, cool. ... Thanks for your responses ...

I'm in Chicago, and I'm not leaving. So, I'm looking at Northwestern and Loyola.

Bioengineering at Northwestern requires an engineering foundation (ie: thermodynamics, fluid dynamics) relevant to the preferred track (neuroengineering) which I probably don't have, although I have the mathematical background to take those pretty easily.

The other thing is, as my last two years of undergrad were spent in a haze of alcohol abuse, my grades weren't as high as they could be, and moreso, NW is an extremely competitive school, so that's also a negative mark. It would probably be easier to sneak in as an undergrad, grab another bachelor's, and bring my grades back up, then go for the PhD.

ladyskydiver ... it looks like you did exactly what I'm planning on doing ... I'm assuming you, as well as Lindsey, went back in as transfer students, right?

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[ladyskydiver 0]

Transfer student? No. I went in as a regular student - just as if I was going to get a 2nd bachelors. (I had received my first bachelor's from the same school that I went back to for my pre-reqs.)

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It would probably be easier to sneak in as an undergrad, grab another bachelor's, and bring my grades back up, then go for the PhD.

If you're going to do that, be aware that even getting really good grades with the classes you'll take, your GPA doesn't move that much.

I'd suggest sitting down with an advisor(s) in the field(s) you're seriously considering and discuss with them what your goals are, how quickly you'd like to accomplish them, etc. and make your decision after that.
Good luck! Any other questions, feel free to shoot me a PM.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.