You have the easy opportunity to go/go back to college. Do you?

[jsgoddess]

(Inspired by a pit thread.)

Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go?


I'm a college graduate in English and History, but I've long regretted my college decisions. If I had it to do over, I'd go one of three directions: pharmacy, chemistry, or a foreign language with the goal of translation.

Circumstances being what they are, this isn't something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I'd snatch at it.

How about you?

[Manda JO]

I'd do it part time if someone would just pay for the tuition while I continued to work. I really want to go back and get my BA in Economics: My undergrad degree is in English with a lot of hours of history, but I've sort of fallen into teaching AP economics. I've made myself interested in the subject, and I'd love to go back and study it for real.

[Sir T-Cups]

In a second.

I wasted my college years on so many things that I would give almost anything to go back.

I would do different majors, I would make different friends, join different activities. I would still go to the same school, I loved my college and wouldn't want to go anywhere else.

The rest of the decisions would ALL be different

[Hockey Monkey]

Without hesitation, I would jump at the chance.

[Le Ministre de l'au-delà]

In a split second.

More music, languages, linguistics, history, literature, sciences, mathematics. Bring it on! Let me stack the degrees up like cordwood!

[Indistinguishable]

Well, it depends. Would it be like I'm the odd one out, being post-college-aged, or would the College Fairy make it like actually redoing college as a typical college student on their first go around? In the latter case, I'd jump for the chance; my greatest regret is that I let myself be miserable for most of college when I could have so easily changed things. But in the former case, I don't have as much motivation (there are still things I'd like to do that I didn't, but I don't want to switch majors or anything, so it's not like I'd need a new degree), and I think it'd be somewhat socially awkward to boot.

[susan]

Instantly. Masters in biomedical ethics, here I come!

[wmulax93]

Instantly. I can't do anything but teach with my English degree, and while that was my initial dream job, I just can't see doing this for 30+ years.

I'd love to work in Geology or something sciencey.

[nikonikosuru]

In a heartbeat.

[LurkMeister]

If I could afford it I'd be back in college like a shot. When I decided to retire early that was one of the things I was considering doing. I never really did much with my college degree (BFA in Theatre) although the fact that I had a degree opened a few doors for me. I'm not sure what classes I'd take, since I wouldn't be trying to start a new career, but I'm sure I'd think of something.

Of course, I'd run the risk of being mistaken for one of the professors. :)

[Sunspace]

O gods yes, I'd go back so fast it would make your head spin. And this time it would be The Road Not Travelled When I Finished High School: fine art. Figure drawing, painting, composition and design, illustration, maybe a bit of art history or sculpture. And a side order of languages (French and Japanese, plus ???). I've dabbled in this stuff all my life, but never gotten really good at it, and my holy grail is still People Drawing.

[Oakminster]

On the terms in the OP, hell yeah I'd go. School beats the hell out of my job. I already have a B.A. and a J.D., so...

I'd probably go for an LLM in Constitutional Law if I could find such a program.

Otherwise, LLM in International Law, MBA, or maybe MFA (Theatre--probably acting/directing).

If it was limited to undergrad, I could pick up another B.A., probably in History or Computer Science. Might have to take some business courses to get in to an MBA program....dunno what they require.

[ultrafilter]

I did drop out of the working world for a few years to return to school. If you can find a way, do it.

[anu-la1979]

People do it all the time- it's called FAFSA and a grad school :)

Now, if I could go back in time I'd change a lot of things about undergrad but hindsight is 20/20, right? Specifically I would have gone to Brandeis on the partial scholarship or just paid up for Northwestern instead of opting for my cheaper Canadian school option (McGill), and I'd have studied Chinese and Sociology (instead of poli sci, which I completed to graduate early even though I preferred sociology) and made sure to take advantage of a study abroad program. When I was young I was extremely adept at picking up languages and I only wish I had the foresight to take Chinese before my brain calcified (comparatively).

In terms of getting another B.A. degree-never. I'm all about moving forward.

[Johnny L.A.]

In a second.

Without hesitation, I would jump at the chance.

In a split second.

Instantly.

Instantly.

In a heartbeat.

If I could afford it I'd be back in college like a shot.

O gods yes, I'd go back so fast it would make your head spin.

On the terms in the OP, hell yeah I'd go.

As with the others, I would definitely do it. Geology, marine biology, film. Were I to win the lottery, this would be a primary goal.

[IGJoe]

Does it necessarily have to be college? I'd loooooove to go to flight school, although I don't know if I'd consider that 'college' or not. In fact, I may just go even without someone paying me. :)

[even sven]

Man, I feel like a freak! I'm going to be finished here in June of 2010. I will be eligible for some pretty cool programs (http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol.eduben.fellows.participating) and have some substantial benefits. I'm pretty sure I could get in to a decent program.

But I really don't want to go back to school. I'm loving the real world! But reading all these answers makes me wonder if I ought not jump on this while I can. I guess maybe I should research this.

[Rachael Rage]

I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

[Indistinguishable]

Hell, everyone else has convinced me. Even if I couldn't go back to college-aged and do it all over properly (which I would do in a heartbeat, like I said), I'd still go back to college and do something else this time, just for fun. Because, you know, why not? It's not like I'll ever have that opportunity again, that vast openness of possibilities.

[Quartz]

Definitely. Not sure what I'd study.

[Galwegian]

I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

Maybe not quite a scientist, but I'm a GP, and that's exactly what I'm planning to do when I retire.

[Kobal2]

I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

FWIW, my post-high school path : med. school, maths & computer science, electronics, English, translation.

I'm barely entering the "real world". I wish I could start yet another college program (Music, Chinese, History or Journalism), but my parents are fed up with paying for education that doesn't lead to a job :p

[Angua]

I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

I wouldn't go back and study literature exactly, but rather I'd go back to study languages, linguistics, explore the relationship between languages, how they've evolved, what their common ancestors are and things like that...

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

Do I get to be 18 again?

Seriously. The single nicest thought of getting my last degree was "Never take another exam or write another paper again! YES!!"

I've never been happier than the moment I realized I was done being a student. (Of course I'd been a student for an inordinately long period--I took the last degree at age 32, and I had to write many papers since then as I chose to publish rather than perish.) But I would LOVE to get a re-do on college, having wasted more opportunity to actually learn stuff than anyone I know.

It took me almost two years to get it partly through my thick head that I was being offered more than the chance to take some phony BS degree, but that this was, instead, a chance to discuss great and difficult books with experts. Really I didn't fully grasp that idea until I was most of the way through my final degree.

[MsRobyn]

I would, in a heartbeat. There are a lot of skills I missed the first time that I would love to pick up to make myself more employable.

Robin

[ZipperJJ]

Well let me be the first to say no I wouldn't.

I did my time in school and I did just fine (cum laude, honors). I did a journalism degree and at Kent State that meant you had a really diverse course load. I thought that was awesome.

I graduated and didn't go in to journalism. Instead I learned a whole bunch of stuff on my own and started my own business. My business is quite successful (not rolling in money but I do ok) and I learn new stuff every day. I'll guarantee you I know more useful stuff (for my business) than someone who took a 4-year course for "web design" or "programming."

I don't think that college is bad and I am so glad I went and graduated. But I don't feel the need to go back whatsoever. I am quite relieved to be done.

[Annie-Xmas]

Yes. The bitterest regret of my life is my lack of education.

[RealityChuck]

I probably wouldn't.

I liked college a lot, but I can't see any real reason to go back. It'd have to be for a doctorate, and I'm not really interested in one, especially since my main interest -- writing -- has little use for one.

[Anaamika]

Oh hell yeah. My parents badgered me to go into medicine, and since they were paying, I had no choice. But they yanked their financial support in the last year (long story) and I never finished, plus I didn't enjoy any of it.

I'd go back and major in English, or maybe languages.

[msmith537]

Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance)

There's a big difference there. A survivable yearly allowance? No. I already have an MBA and I make too much money.

Keep my current bloated salary and go back and get a law degree or something? Sure. Why not?

[the Lady]

I'd love to.
More history, perhaps - or even law school. (I'm a landman, which is a little bit like a lawyer...I can see that I'd be pretty good at it)
Or anthropology.

[Fretful Porpentine]

If I could go back and be 18 again but with the benefit of hindsight, yeah, I'd gladly do it over, only taking different classes, double-majoring in history, and writing the honors thesis I should have written the first time around. I loved the academic side of college and most of the social stuff as well, and right off the top of my head I can think of about three semesters' worth of classes that I wish I had taken but didn't have time.

That said, I don't think I'd want to go back and be the same silly, socially awkward 18-year-old that I'd be without the benefit of hindsight; nor do I have any desire to start over and get a BA in history now that I'm 32 and have a PhD in a different field. There's a time and a season for everything.

[capybara]

People do it all the time- it's called FAFSA and a grad school :)



Ah, but. . been there, done that. And I'd still go back in a second, to grab an attractive "useful" degree, like an MFA in graphic design or an MLIS, since my "labor of love" degree was delightful but now I have trouble feeding myself in my preferred manner and it would be nice to have a marketable backup skill in case of worst possible scenario.

[Pushkin]

Circumstances being what they are, this isn't something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I'd snatch at it.

How about you?

I sort of have, I'm studying Computing part time, a change from the hated Civil Engineering that I took up full time before.

I wish I had more free time to dedicate to it, but it's interesting enough as it is.

[mnemosyne]

I have.

I have a degree in biochemistry and worked for a few years and hated it. I couldn't see myself working in the field I was in for another 40+ years. So after a very long time of research, and narrowing down my real interests, I went back to school last year. I'm currently in my second year (ish - transfer credits screw things up!) of a Mechanical Engineering degree, and I am being supported by my husband while I do so.

I am loving it. The first time through, I did the bare minimum and really only got the degree because I thought I had to get a degree in something, even if I didn't care for it. Now I know what I want, and I have a much better approach to it and I'm getting much better grades than I did the first time! I don't regret it at all (although I do tend to have moments of doubt, particularly leading up to my Advanced Calculus final....!)

[simply_cats]

I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

I'm going to jump on this train. All Aboard!

[Khadaji]

Sure - at my current salary you bet. I don't know what for, but I would take this opportunity. I would have to really think about what would improve my job prospects.

[3acresandatruck]

No. All in all, I would be better off now if I had not gone to college when I did and I believe that going again would not improve matters any.

[Kyla]

I did it. After eight years in "the real world", I'm in grad school now. I didn't know what I wanted to do after college, so I spent several years wandering around and working a series of jobs that I hated. Now I'm on a path to the career I want. It's pretty exciting.

ESPECIALLY because my last paper was due yesterday and I am done done done until January! Two weeks without having to think about policy at all! (Of course I will anyway, I have a book on food policy I've been meaning to read for months, and some international relations stuff...but first, I shall read trashy chick lit and watch hulu.)

[Dung Beetle]

Yes. The bitterest regret of my life is my lack of education.
Yeah, I don't know if it's my bitterest regret but it's right up there.

[Olentzero]

I'd go. I've been thinking about this. I'd be working on a Master's this time around and I've been toying with the idea of mathematics, but I might try to get a degree in foreign language education when I get back to Sweden. Stockholm University has two - one with and English focus and one with a Russian focus. The latter would be much more in line with my B.Sc. but might not be as useful on the job market as the former. Dunno, though. It's a toss-up.

[monstro]

Yes. I think I'd like to study sociology.

One of the main things that sucked about my first go-round in college was the constant worrying and anxiety. There was always fear losing scholarships, flunking tests, bombing classes, being unable to register for mandatory classes, not getting into grad school, not getting a "good" job, being a disappointment to everyone, etc. All of this was self-imposed angst and only half of it was rational, but as a young person I didn't realize that.

But if I had a chance to do it all over again, as a financially secure 31-year-old, then I could learn in peace and actually have fun.

[greatshakes]

(Inspired by a pit thread.)

Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go?


I'm a college graduate in English and History, but I've long regretted my college decisions. If I had it to do over, I'd go one of three directions: pharmacy, chemistry, or a foreign language with the goal of translation.

Circumstances being what they are, this isn't something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I'd snatch at it.

How about you?

I'd do it in a New York minute. I am a History grad, and I feel your pain. I should have started in fast food as soon as I got out of High School. I would be further along now. I cannot imagine a more worthless degree. I can see English being a good move, however.
I am 50 yrs old, and I am starting again in a Modern Language program. If I were younger, I would do accounting or engineering, things that I like.
I already have two years because of the History degree, so the degree wasn't totally wasted. Just the History part.

[greatshakes]

OK, hold it! Just a cursory inspection of this thread shows that people are already tossing about the choice of foreign language degrees quite as handily as I tossed about History degree before I graduated. What's the deal? Is it so totally a gimmee degree that it will be totally worthless when I graduate, or is it just such a dork degree that it will be totally worthless? Thanks for the tipoff. I'm changing programs.

Thanks,
greatshakes

[Suse]

Oh heck yes, I'd go. I'm really tired of this part-time, one-class-a-semester stuff. I'll be 90 before I get the degree at this rate.

[Sublight]

My current salary plus tuition? Oh, hell yes. I'd go for an MBA.

[Spoons]

If I had to answer the OP's question today, I'd say no; I wouldn't go back to school. Note, though, that I graduated from law school just last spring, and I'd like to be called to the bar and practice for a while before I entertain the thought of returning to school.

However, in a few years, I'd probably think differently. If I had the opportunity to go for either an LL.M. or an M.A., I would. Although I can read and study history on my own, there is plenty of history that I would like to study formally.

[Sleel]

In a second.

I've managed to stagnate myself into a bad position career-wise. My degree isn't especially marketable and nothing I've done in the last few years would count for crap back in the US. Considering that I've done a job I don't especially like for no money, I'd like to make (moderately large) piles of money doing something else. Just about anything else.

Considering that I'm not ugly, have social skills, and have a brain, I'm betting that my lack of paper qualifications has something to do with why I haven't been able to get a better job.

I'm trying to figure out how I can do distance learning or attend classes part-time at a branch campus in Japan right now. An MBA might be a possibility, but I don't know how marketable that will be with a bunch of experienced people being thrown out on their asses in the current market.

I'd really like to go back to an earlier interest, architecture, which I probably should have pursued instead of taking the easy but interesting route that looked to get me out of school in less than a decade. I should have remembered that shortcuts usually aren't worth it.

[cwthree]

Hmm. Good question.

On the one hand, I'd have to say "no." I've been in the workforce about 20 years now. If I were to go back to school and get trained in a new field, I'd be re-entering the workforce as an entry-level (whatever). I think I'd have a hard time convincing potential employers that I was OK with being a junior-level employee at my age, with the experience I already have. I'd probably earn less as a newbie (whatever) than I do now.

On the other hand, if I could roll back the clock about 15 years, I think I'd do it. It would be nice to have pick a field that I like AND which has the potential to make me highly employable (unlike the subject I studied, which I like but which did nothing to make me desirable to employers).

[eldowan]

(Inspired by a pit thread.)

Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go?


I'm a college graduate in English and History, but I've long regretted my college decisions. If I had it to do over, I'd go one of three directions: pharmacy, chemistry, or a foreign language with the goal of translation.

Circumstances being what they are, this isn't something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I'd snatch at it.

How about you?

Done. Not a question. Actually it has been my thought that I would love that exact situation, I've been thinking of that for years now.

[eldowan]

I already have an MBA and I make too much money.

Well, if you make too much money, I'm sure I know someone who can help you with your problem.

me :D

[Algher]

I have a BA and an MBA - but I would happily go back for PhD if someone was going to cover my half of the mortgage (Mrs. Algher works too).

PhD in Strategy, teach in the B School would be my goal probably.

[AHunter3]

I'd love it.

It wouldn't do me any more good than the first go-around, in all likelihood (career-wise), but I do miss being a college student.

[jackdavinci]

No way. While I loved certain aspect of college, by the end I was really burned out on academics. So much so that I failed to get my degree because of one class that I got an incomplete in, and have been unable to will myself to retake that one class to get my piece o paper. I still love learning, but prefer self directed learning. If I needed schooling for some kind of actual work related skill, I'd rather take a adult education class that is focused on skill building and not on tests and papers.

[SciFiSam]

I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature?

I'm another English grad (though mine was focused on linguistics) who'd love to study science. Not that I regret what I studied - I'd just love to be able to study science to that level too. Maybe then I could combine the two and go into neurolinguistics.

I'm actually looking into a way of studying some degree-level science (slowly through the Open University) without having to pay too much for it - just reading books at home isn't quite enough for me, as I learn better with deadlines and essays.

[Sundrop]

I'm working full time as a computer monkey and working on my MBA at the same time at a fairly prestigious university. So that would be an affirmative. This would be a total no-brainer for me. I can't imagine anyone saying 'no' to the question as posed unless they are just completely fulfilled and already working at their dream job.

[Jodi]

In this scenario, do I have to give up what I'm doing now? Do I have to start all over again?

Because if so: No. I like what I do, I'm good at it, I make a good wage, and if going back to school meant starting over at Square One with something else, then no, thanks.

BUT if I could somehow swing it to go back to school in a way that doesn't prejudice my career -- this dream scenario involved my employer letting me work half-time and go to school half-time, with no prejudice to my job -- then I would love to do so.

[Beadalin]

No -- everything ZipperJJ, right down to the degree in Journalism that I didn't go into Journalism with.

School was fine. I did fine. I was SO VERY READY to be out where I could get paid for my work and have a definite line between work and home. School bleeds into personal time, and you deal with all the same bullshit that you deal with in the workplace, only you have to pay to put up with it rather than the other way around.

I am now a happy professional and hope to stay that way.

[Little Nemo]

Another vote for "Absolutely, yes, in a heartbeat."

But I'm thinking how depressing this thread must seem to current college students as they see how many people look back on college as being so great in comparison to the rest of their life and they're thinking "This is the good stuff? It's all going to be downhill from here?"

[UncleRojelio]

(Inspired by a pit thread.)
Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go?
I did. I happen to work for a large University situated in Austin. Although I had started out in college with the best of intentions, life got in the way so I eventually just stopped going. Years later I was able to take advantage of a plan here whereby I could take one course per semester on the University's dime. When I got to within a year of completing my degree, the University paid me to take off and finish it, tuition and fees included. I could still take advantage of the 'one course per semester' plan but haven't yet. Someday though.

[cornflakes]

I'd jump. As a matter of fact, I'm trying to make the jump this year. I made the mistake when I was younger of thinking that I was the working class hero, and I passed on the chance to get a bachelors. I want to have a plan by the end of this semester to finish my degree and be ready for graduate work.

On edit: UncleRojelio, that sounds interesting! I am also in Austin, though I haven't given much thought to attending UT.

[Oredigger77]

I'm not sure do I have to get good grades? I'm not willing to put in the time studying or doing homework. I like the fact that when my day ends I don't have to do any more. I didn't get to have much fun in college the first time around, having no spare money and no spare time between football and track, so I think I could use a couple of years to party and enjoy myself.

On the other hand I'm looking at changing careers here in about 4 years and I'll take you up on the offer then for either an MBA or JD.

[Zoe]

I would love to have the mind to go back. Academics is one of the things that I did well. But my brain doesn't function the way it used to and the medication interferes with my concentration.

I would probably change direction almost daily. I have almost enough hours for my degree in psychology now. Finishing that is mostly a matter of the thesis. But today I wanted to get into art restoration. It's impossible to get into the program that I would want. Tomorrow I would want to go abroad. The day after that, I would sleep all day. The days of that level of learning are behind me.

Sometimes I take classes (lectures with no homework) at Vanderbilt that are designed for retired folks like me. Great fun!

[Stainz]

I loved my post-secondary experience, and, not to brag, but I kicked ass in my classes.

I just made the mistake afterwards of not staying in my chosen field because I was young and thought that because one sweet job fell in my lap, others would too, so I moved on. :smack: And now, 15 years later, I am so out of touch with the technical aspects of that initial career that it is impossible for me to go back into that field without basically doing the whole training over again. :(

I am one of those people who was born to be a student - I love to learn, and I have a knack for writing papers that get great grades, and I don't choke on exams. It's the application of the knowledge to real life that STILL has my stumped. :(

So, if it's not already obvious, my answer would be HELL YES!!!