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Returning to School for a Better Degree?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the disillusioned-with-the-current-degree dept.

HerbieTMac asks: "I graduated a few years ago (AB '00) from a decent school. Having worked my myself quite nearly to death, I am now the proud owner of two bachelor's degrees in Economics and Public Policy. I also have put in a couple of years working as a Computer Science TA for the masters program. Being older and arguably wiser, I find that I don't really like where I am going and instead want to pursue a PhD in physics. The problem is that most PhD programs require an undergraduate degree in physics first. Or at least a significant amount of classwork in the field. Most of my physics knowledge has come from self-study and bumming class notes from friends. I'd love to go back to school and do the work for the AB but most schools won't accept applications for a second (in my case third) bachelor's degree. Has anyone else decided that they really didn't want to work with the first degree? How did you go about convincing a school that you are a good bet? Or even to let you do some preparatory course work?"

3 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. My wife changed direction...... by jsimon12 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My wife went to school wanting to do Anthropology (Primatology to be specific, the whole Jane Goodale thing), well after earning a BA in that she decided it really wasn't for her and she wanted to get a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts, the highest you can get in Art, basically a PhD for artists) so she could teach at the college level. Well they require all sorts of odd prequistes and such to get into those programs without you being a special stupid (stupid stuff like 2D design and art history 101). Well my wife has been an artist on the side for years and is actually ver accomplished, and sells pieces and has been in a couple shows. So in lieu of taking a bunch of classes she doesn't need she went and talked to the Dean of that department and the people in charge of admissions and showed them her work and explained herself and they waved the requirements.

    From what I have seen the best thing you can do is talk to the people in charge, don't talk to the low level consuler types they will simply point at the rules book. If you can prove yourself and prove you know what you are doing and that you have direction and drive and are willing to work hard most of the people in charge will let you wave stupid things. So in other words talk to people.

  2. IU. by eclectric · · Score: 3, Interesting

    indiana university doesn't put any restrictions on how many undergrad degrees you have. You might have to re-take basic coursework because classes only count for 10 years, but that's to be expected. You could always test out of those classes.

    I'm going back for a second degree, but that's not because I didn't like the first.

  3. Trade ya by jasonditz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    heh... funny I just spent 5 years getting a double major B.S. in physics and math, only to find I can't do a damned thing with them.

    I was considering going to grad school for finance... too bad we can't swap degrees :)