Going back to school

[RevJim 0]

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If I can't be a donut tester, this is what I'm actually interested in and passionate about. I really want to do this. Now, I just have to start researching and researching!

I had a serious reply in mind after reading above, but I'm still belly laughing so damn hard after reading that, well, I can't remember what I was thinking!

It's your life, live it!
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RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[moodyskydiver 0]

Have you considered a degree in Victim Studies? The college I'm transfering to has an awesome Victim Studies degree program. I know its not just a women's issue but with your past experience in rape counselling it might be worth looking into. Before I decided to double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, I looked into this program extensively.

Heres more info from my university. SHSU Victim Studies

Anyway, just an idea.

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[Vallerina 2]

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Anyway, just an idea.

Cool! Thanks for the idea! (I'm pretty lost on what to do, so I can use any and all ideas!!!) Any ideas on careers on how I can positively affect women would be great!

Thanks for the suggestion! I really want to do this, but I want to make sure that I will have a career in it if I go back to school. That's the part that makes me the most nervous!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

volunteer in the field you think you want to go into, if you haven't already. It'll give you a good idea.

For people considering becoming teachers, I advise them to volunteer as an aide, or work as a substitute for a while to get a taste of the classroom... I see so many people go through the whole teacher-ed program and then spend two days in the classroom and think "damn...I just wasted four years in grad school." and quit.

If you're thinking about law school, work as a clerk or legal secretary for a while, if that's an option open to you.

If you're thinking about social work, call the county and ask about volunteering to get a feel for it.

[Vallerina 2]

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volunteer in the field you think you want to go into, if you haven't already. It'll give you a good idea.

The only problem with that is that I don't really have the time to do so. Plus, it seems that the organizations that I would want to work for are in DC, and I can't quit work just to volunteer!

I've been checking out feminist.org and a few other sites to see what's out there. I'll probably talk to the heads of some of the grad programs as well to get a better idea of what I should do.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Vallerina 2]

Yeah, you all are going to get sick of me!

So, I just talked to my coworker. He basically told me that it's a bad idea to go into grad school for women's studies. He knows a lot of women who received an undergrad in women's studies, and they can't do much with it. He said that going back to school using the "stay bonus" is a great idea, but maybe I should find something else. I have no idea of what else I would want to do. Blah.

Why can't cool jobs be easier to get? Maybe I'll try to find a job in the field I want (women's rights activists and whatnot) before deciding to go to school. Sigh....

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

if you really want to help with womens' rights, consider a law degree, like Lawrocket suggested.

call the career office where you went to college. find out if they can set you up with a civil rights lawyer that you can talk to and find out more about the job, kinda a mentor.

[riddler 0]

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I couldn't care less.

Thankyouthankyouthankyou. One of my stupid pet peeves is when people say "I could care less".

I don't think it's a waste of time to get a degree in what you are passionate about - it makes sense to really love your job, considering how much time you spend there. As long as you remember that you probably won't make much money with that. It's almost a cliche, but think about that, really. I know quite a few people that got a degree in something they liked, knowing they wouldn't make any money with it, and now seriously regret that they don't make any money. You could do very well, financially, but you're much more likely to do well by getting, say, your MBA.

Ed - man, is my spelling that bad??

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[Vallerina 2]

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I know quite a few people that got a degree in something they liked, knowing they wouldn't make any money with it, and now seriously regret that they don't make any money.

That is my biggest concern. Call me materialistic, but I want to live comfortably. I have expensive hobbies, you know!

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You could do very well, financially, but you're much more likely to do well by getting, say, your MBA.

Okay, this is basically the position that I'm in. My job doesn't suck horribly. I could get out of the actuarial field, still take exams and get raises if I pass them, but I could still work in insurance and make decent money without having to go back to school.

While I was in school, I never took many "fun" classes. Sometimes what I studied was interesting, but for the most part, I didn't enjoy what I was studying. I never really had that strive to learn more. If I went to law school, my guess is that it would be the same sort of thing....as well as getting an MBA. I wouldn't be passionate about it, so I wouldn't have the strive to learn more.

Going back to school isn't an opportunity for me to advance my career. I make decent money now. Going back to school would be me going into something that I am passionate about and to try to make a difference in the world.

Thank you all for your input. It's given me a lot to think about. The more I think about law school, the more I realize it's just not for me.

A really really dumb question from me...if I went through grad school and did well, how easy is it to become a professor? Is that a realisitic opportunity?

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

it can be fairly easy, depending on what and where you'd want to teach.

you can teach college after you have your master's. Once you're well into a PhD program, you can get a job at a university.

a straight A average is pretty much expected in grad school. Bs don't cut it anymore. But, its not hard to get the A. You don't have to go above and beyond, just do what the prof asks for.

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[Vallerina 2]

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you can teach college after you have your master's. Once you're well into a PhD program, you can get a job at a university.

Cool. Thanks for letting me know that.

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a straight A average is pretty much expected in grad school. Bs don't cut it anymore. But, its not hard to get the A. You don't have to go above and beyond, just do what the prof asks for.

My best friend complains about this all the time. She was afraid of getting a B, and I told her that she was a freak of nature. Then she told me that getting a B is basically like failing.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

I wouldn't say its like failing, because you don't have to re-take the class unless its a B- or below... its more like getting a D in high school. Passing, but barely.

[Vallerina 2]

I may have to scrap this idea. Grad school is more expensive than I thought, especially because I wouldn't be able to go to grad school for women's studies anywhere in IN. I'd have to pay out of state tuition! Ick! I know there are things they can do to help with that, and I'll have to make some phone calls, but I didn't think it'd be THAT much money! Yikes!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

what I did is take one class at a time. Amounted to about $4200 a year at a private school. Federal stafford loans more than cover it.

[riddler 0]

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Grad school is more expensive than I thought

My brother is just finishing up his PhD in cell biology at Albert Einstein in New York (and supposedly I was the smart one ). His student loans are into six digits, but he's pretty much guaranteed a teaching position, at about that same amount each year. Depending on what you do, it can pay off.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD