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I am going over my options for school.
Sorry if this gets long.
First off this is necessary (changing careers) because I had a serious knee injury and will not be able to continue my driving career for much longer.
I have always wanted to do something that involves helping people. Something maybe in the medical field.
Also important to me though is having a 4 year degree. My poor mom is a Doctor, and neither of her sons have finished college. But im not doing it just for her, I want to say I have a bachelors degree some day. Maybe even a Masters.
Now heres the dilema. I am on the waitlist to be a Surgical Tech at my local tech school. Expected start date is summer of 2010. Long time away and ive already wasted so many years. Plus this is a 1 year program, and not an associates degree.
The only other medical program that gives an actual Associates degree is nursing. I would love to be a nurse, but the waitlist is almost 4 years!! I dont want to be in my 40's when I get my associates.
Why do I want an associates? Because my local University has a bachelors of Applied Science degree for working adults that can be had if you have a 2 year associates degree form a tech school.
Of course there is also the option of just going right to a 4 year school, part time, (full time if I can work it out), but then im looking at 4 years of schooling in a row at least, 6 if its part time. Again time slipping away from me.
I could get into a computer or mechanical field right away at school, and start this coming fall. Be done with my associates in 2 years. Be able to get a good job too. But then I wouldn't be helping people.
Maybe I could find happiness in helping people on the side. Like volunteering. I just dont know.
Anyone have any ideas or opinions on my dilemma?
Sorry if this gets long.
First off this is necessary (changing careers) because I had a serious knee injury and will not be able to continue my driving career for much longer.
I have always wanted to do something that involves helping people. Something maybe in the medical field.
Also important to me though is having a 4 year degree. My poor mom is a Doctor, and neither of her sons have finished college. But im not doing it just for her, I want to say I have a bachelors degree some day. Maybe even a Masters.
Now heres the dilema. I am on the waitlist to be a Surgical Tech at my local tech school. Expected start date is summer of 2010. Long time away and ive already wasted so many years. Plus this is a 1 year program, and not an associates degree.
The only other medical program that gives an actual Associates degree is nursing. I would love to be a nurse, but the waitlist is almost 4 years!! I dont want to be in my 40's when I get my associates.
Why do I want an associates? Because my local University has a bachelors of Applied Science degree for working adults that can be had if you have a 2 year associates degree form a tech school.
Of course there is also the option of just going right to a 4 year school, part time, (full time if I can work it out), but then im looking at 4 years of schooling in a row at least, 6 if its part time. Again time slipping away from me.
I could get into a computer or mechanical field right away at school, and start this coming fall. Be done with my associates in 2 years. Be able to get a good job too. But then I wouldn't be helping people.
Maybe I could find happiness in helping people on the side. Like volunteering. I just dont know.
Anyone have any ideas or opinions on my dilemma?
I remember when I was debating applying for graduate school. Two more years seemed like an eternity and an unnecessary financial derailment of my career.
My dad said once, "Well, Melissa, two years is going to go by no matter what. You can either let that time pass and end up with your degree, or you can let that time pass and not have your degree."
I don't know if that helps, but it did put things in perspective for me. If all goes well, I'll be graduting in June.
Have you ever thought of going to school to be a Social Worker or something like that? It would not be as much wear and tear on the legs and knees. You can do that in 2 years as well, and build up from there. I think you can do online schooling for that as well, so there should be no waiting list for something like that.
I work with adults with disabilities and it is such the rewarding job. If you want to help people, to be a Social worker to this population of people is very life altering. First job I have had where I don't mind getting up in the morning to go to work. (I am not a SW though, I am a job coach). Of course there are other types of SW as well. I guess it is a dream of mine, but I am too weighed down at the moment being a single parent to teenagers. I do not think school at this time in my life would serve me justice.
I wish you well in your journey and Good luck
I'm in the medical field (I'm a Physician Assistant) let me tell you this. You are on your feet all day long. A bum knee could take a pounding. If you can get your knee repaired than this is a mute point. But nurses do a lot of lifting, pushing , pulling and walking by nature of their jobs. The job is stimulating thought and the job outlook is terrific. There are desk jobs in nursing ie case management, utilization review, education. There are primarily standing jobs like surgery. But floor nursing or er nursing is a lot of pounding with long 12 hr shifs. Burn out is a risk factor too.
I can't speak for the computer field. But I imagine it would be easier on your knees. I really value my "Computer Geek" who I pay $60 dollars an hour to come to my house and rescue my computer from viruses and rebuild it when it crashes. It does very much involve helping folks who are dependent on computers to do their jobs. ...
Just thought...good luck on your decision
I am not aware of any two-year programs, and all schools offering degree programs must be accredited with the Council on Social Work Education: www.cswe.org
If you've never considered SW before, here's a great intro link to the profession: http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/choices/default.asp
I was a Sleep Technican before I hurt my back. There is a high demand for Sleep Technicans right now. Sleep Technican do Sleep Studies on patients with sleeping disorders. There is good money in this field.
There is a high demand for Respitory Therapists.
There is also a high demand for Nuclear Medicine X-ray Technicans.
Good Luck To You!!
Respitory Therapy
Nuclear Med Tech
Radiology
Sleep Technician
Due to the demand for workers, the technical colleges ALL have 3-6 year wait lists for all the above jobs. Hell the Sonography program here has a 8 year wait list.
The problem is, and some may not agree, is they allow people to get on the wait list as early as juniors in high school.
So I would be waiting for years behind a bunch of high school graduates.
I would love to get into social work. Just concerned about the earning potential. I dont have the money making stbx anymore . Id like to own a house and a cabin some day. Maybe a vehicle that isnt 12 years old.