# You have the easy opportunity to go/go back to college. Do you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860 "2008-12-19T03:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/1 "2008-12-19T03:53:05Z")
(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? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/2 "2008-12-19T04:01:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/3 "2008-12-19T04:02:56Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/4 "2008-12-19T04:04:13Z")
Without hesitation, I would jump at the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/5 "2008-12-19T04:06:13Z")
In a split second. More music, languages, linguistics, history, literature, sciences, mathematics. Bring it on! Let me stack the degrees up like cordwood! ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/6 "2008-12-19T04:08:49Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/7 "2008-12-19T04:11:23Z")
Instantly. Masters in biomedical ethics, here I come! ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/8 "2008-12-19T04:26:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/9 "2008-12-19T04:47:32Z")
In a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/10 "2008-12-19T05:06:35Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/11 "2008-12-19T05:20:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/12 "2008-12-19T05:26:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/13 "2008-12-19T05:27:22Z")
I did drop out of the working world for a few years to return to school. If you can find a way, do it. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/14 "2008-12-19T06:06:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/15 "2008-12-19T06:08:00Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > In a second. > [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > Without hesitation, I would jump at the chance. > [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > In a split second. > [@susan](#): > > Instantly. > [@wmulax93](#): > > Instantly. > [@nikonikosuru](#): > > In a heartbeat. > [@LurkMeister](#): > > If I could afford it I’d be back in college like a shot. > [@Sunspace](#): > > O gods yes, I’d go back so fast it would make your head spin. > [@Oakminster](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![IGJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/igjoe/32/5420_2.png) [@IGJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IGJoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/16 "2008-12-19T06:16:20Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/17 "2008-12-19T06:56:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/18 "2008-12-19T07:30:21Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/19 "2008-12-19T09:01:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/20 "2008-12-19T09:39:53Z")
Definitely. Not sure what I’d study. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860.md?page=2)