Going back to school at 26...

[Dex]

Hey everyone, I've been toying with the notion for a while but I think I'm finally ready to go back. I currently hold an associate's degree in Multimedia Studies but want to go back to get my BS in Finance. I currently work full time and am in the process of buying my first home so I know it's going to be a struggle. But I'm not happy with my life nor have I been for a while. Thoughts? Advice? Things to consider at my age when it comes to returning to school? Adult grants? etc.

[Dex]

24 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

How long have you been out of the game?

I went back around 26 Myself.

2014. Were you happy with your decision?

[Johnny Rockets]

It's a no brainer Dex - the only regret you will have is if you don't do it. Buckle down, go at a pace you can handle, and get it done. 

[frash.exe]

apply for grants/financial aid

[Double Trouble]

Definitely do it. It took me a bit longer to finish school because I had to take time off for medical reasons, but you learn everyone has their own path. Age really doesn't matter, your degree will still have the same value.  Also, just to consider...any interest in accounting? An accounting background is really valuable and makes you really employable out of the gates. Also, if you go public accounting they pay for all your CPA studying materials and give you a bonus when you pass.  And there is some overlap with finance. I just know a lot of people who went the business administration route and floated around with not a whole lot of direction.  Just to keep in mind.  But if you are really committed to finance have have things mapped out then that's a great concentration too.  Best of luck!

[Bronn]

I'll be 37 in December... Should I go back or not? I've got a useless Associate's in Computer Programming I obtained 15 years ago and haven't really touched since.

I always want more money than I'm making, but have been employed and salaried for almost 15 years now. I'm pretty much halfway to retirement but omg the daily grind just isn't worth it sometimes.

[Dex]

20 minutes ago, Double Trouble said:

Definitely do it. It took me a bit longer to finish school because I had to take time off for medical reasons, but you learn everyone has their own path. Age really doesn't matter, your degree will still have the same value.  Also, just to consider...any interest in accounting? An accounting background is really valuable and makes you really employable out of the gates. Also, if you go public accounting they pay for all your CPA studying materials and give you a bonus when you pass.  And there is some overlap with finance. I just know a lot of people who went the business administration route and floated around with not a whole lot of direction.  Just to keep in mind.  But if you are really committed to finance have have things mapped out then that's a great concentration too.  Best of luck!

My mom is an accountant so she's pushing me in that direction haha but I've always been more attracted to the business/economics side of things. Still have some things to consider but thank you so much for your input! It's invaluable because at this point it's also a confidence thing.

[imminent rogaine]

My degree is in Econ and Finance with a general MBA as well ...my job is Sr Financial Analyst. My thoughts:

 If a general business job is your aim, I'd STRONGLY recommend accounting or at least making sure that you schooling includes like 24 hours or so of accounting work (which, at that point, it might as well be your focus).  This is a crucial threshold for TONS of jobs - especially if work experience is limited. A lot of times you see something like "needs 3 years of accounting experience or 21 hours of accounting..." This isn't necessarily for an "accountant" job. From experience, accounting is really the only business related field that gives you job-specific training that will get you hired. 

I am finding in my own career path that my limited exposure to accounting is a limiting factor and have considered going back to take classes just to add it to my resume. 

Econ is good for research and really an undergrad math degree with a masters in Econ is the way to go if you are in to Econ. Finance was almost always geared to corporate finance. 

Also, idk what your employment status is but having an employer that will pay for school is pretty great. 

 

[Dex]

3 minutes ago, imminent rogaine said:

My degree is in Econ and Finance with a general MBA as well ...my job is Sr Financial Analyst. My thoughts:

 If a general business job is your aim, I'd STRONGLY recommend accounting or at least making sure that you schooling includes like 24 hours or so of accounting work (which, at that point, it might as well be your focus).  This is a crucial threshold for TONS of jobs - especially if work experience is limited. A lot of times you see something like "needs 3 years of accounting experience or 21 hours of accounting..." This isn't necessarily for an "accountant" job. From experience, accounting is really the only business related field that gives you job-specific training that will get you hired. 

I am finding in my own career path that my limited exposure to accounting is a limiting factor and have considered going back to take classes just to add it to my resume. 

Econ is good for research and really an undergrad math degree with a masters in Econ is the way to go if you are in to Econ. Finance was almost always geared to corporate finance. 

Also, idk what your employment status is but having an employer that will pay for school is pretty great. 

 

Thanks! Great info in here to go over. I am employed full time working in the R&D office for a manufacturing company they want me to go to school for Mechanical or Design engineering which I don't want to do. This job is a stop gap for me.

[imminent rogaine]

4 minutes ago, Dex said:

Thanks! Great info in here to go over. I am employed full time working in the R&D office for a manufacturing company they want me to go to school for Mechanical or Design engineering which I don't want to do. This job is a stop gap for me.

Gotcha. If they'd pay for it, I wonder if operations would be a consideration. Gets you in the business world but in a field that is applicable to the manufacturing world. That was a field that always seemed super practical and usable in the real-life to me. I'd think the career path from Ops would start out in a project manager type job.

 

Good luck with it

[hepcat]

Do it. I'm 29 and I'm an unemployable loser.

[Hoenheim]

Dude I'm 26 and going back for a Master of Science in Information Systems. I dicked around in college the first go round and got a degree in something totally useless. And in the 4 years since I graduated, I've been in and out of borderline minimum wage jobs. Just sick of being on my feet all day long , living paycheck to paycheck, and getting poo schedules where I'm never off on the weekend to have any semblance of a social life. 

 

[JPPT1974]

That is so awesome my friend. Good luck. Wished I could go back to get my degree. Would love something in sports management or history.

[Bronn]

If they are trying to send you back for engineering, and this is a stop-gap job like you say, I would strongly consider going back and letting it transition into some sort of biomedical or pharmaceutical engineering degree.

Let them foot the bill thinking they are making an investment, and then foot the bill yourself via grants/aid for the courses that make it fall under one of the other categories I mentioned.

My brother-in-law came out of college with a 4 year engineering degree (biomedical IIRC?) and landed a sweet job with GSK @ $65k a year starting. I don't even know what he makes now, 10 years or so later, but I'd guess it is at least $80-90k, and they send him to Europe all the time.

If you truly feel this job is temporary, then don't feel guilty letting them help with your career advancement. It is cutthroat, yes, but that's an easy way of getting your education/training without having to find the funding yourself.

You could also leverage your new training, once you get it, if you decide to stay where you are at for a higher salary.