wooo hoooo that is great...I think this is special...I have my associates and my bachelors and my masters....but it took long time for me and all I say is I was not in chronic pain back then...

So I guess this is really your SECOND degree since you posted this in December about receiving a degree:

"Hello I just want to let everyone know that I am working on my finals for my Pharmancy Tech course. I am working on a slideshow on Addicitive Drugs Its been a long hard process but In just a few days I will be recieving My Diploma I am really proud of myself.
Posted on 12/10/11, 11:50 am"
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/College_Stress/forum/13366075-finals

That makes two associate degrees for you. I would suggest that you work on your Bachelor's rather than a second Associate degree.

God Sunny, how miserable and downright evil do you have to be to keep track of everyone that you think is a bad person and doesn't belong to be here's every post, so that you can knock them down the minute they might make a mistake or not be accurate according to you??????

congrats on starting school again...that's great news
keep us posted its always great to hear someone is doing well despite the pain.

hugs
tori

I know there is info on the greater earning power of a bachelor's vs an associates still trying to find that for you. BUt here is some info and a link to help understand what I mean:

The problem with an Associates degree is that in the workforce, youll be competing with other applicants who have Bachelors degrees. Most people who hold Associates degrees are interested in white-collar jobs in science and technology, business, government, or some other office or professional settingthe same jobs Bachelors degree holders apply for.
When recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting, its easy to use education level as a way to shrink the fieldand you may find your resume discarded without serious consideration. Many of these jobs dont consider applicants with less than a Bachelors degree at all, no matter how good your resume looks.

http://www.onlinedegreecenter.com/_articles/associates_vs_bachelors.php

You are half way to a bachelor's degree and need only about the same number of credit hours to complete one in the area you are looking at as working on a new associates. The credits should all transfer saving you tons of money.

Will try to find the salary info for you.

SunnyBunn, I am going to do my best to be nice. I am so sad at the fact that you apparently have nothing better to do than sit behind a keyboard and spew cruel remarks at people. You dont know their life, you dont walk in their shoes. Is that how you want people to treat you? I would certainly hope not. Im hoping this makes you think a bit before you send your next response. If not, all I can say is that you must be a very unhappy person and I am sorry for you.

education is of course a means to an end- this degree will certainly aid you greatly in obtaining employment. but i also strongly believe that education is in and of itself incredibly valuable. learning is a worthy and admirable pursuit. and in the process of aquiring the skills you will need in your future job, you will alsoget to develop your critical thinking skills and writing skills, and sharpen your analytical ability. these things will serve you well in every aspect of the rest of your life. knowledge is power. i admire you greatly for going to college and i am so excited for you. congratulations on the journey you are choosing to embark upon!!!

Awesome Tabby! Good for you.

I know you can do it. With chronic, pain baby steps is exactly the way I would go.

2 of my sons started with an Associates first. Then as they continued in life they took on more school as they could.

One has 2 masters now. One is still working and pacing himself through college. He also has lots of medical, but he will get through.

Do as much or as little as you can. It is all about you and I am so glad that you are feeling strong enough to fight through the pain and get started. Even if you do it 2 courses at a time, it is O.K. because you need to chose the pace that works for you.

Remember the SPOON THEORY, and pace yourself. Don't let anyone defeat you. This is your goal. You go for it.

I pray it works out for you.
Hugs-RJ

Sorry that it took so long. My query was wrong. But here is some info about how making that second degree a higher one will really give you a boost in salary:
http://www.degreedriven.com/articles/certifications-training/the-financial-benefits-of-furthering-your-education/
"Bachelors Degree
Even with so many different types of bachelors degrees, its fair to say that most undergrad degrees will earn you a salary jump (and many are also a required rsum credential). Those with a bachelors degree earn a median salary of $56,687 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which is 38 percent higher than full-time employees who only graduated from high school. "

You already have done the work toward an Associate Degree. That means you have the discipline to finish another two years. You can do it! The more advanged degree will open so many doors. It is societies way of judging. That's bad. But you are clearly disciplined enough.

To be honest, it is not that much harder. Most community colleges eventually become four year schools so you alreayd know what the work load is. Go for it!

All I can say to the two of you attacking me is . Perhaps you should look at your own intentions and see why you are projecting your nastiness onto others. Why do you see suggesting to a young person that they are capable of getting more for themselves is wrong?

A bachelors degree is not that much harder to do. It will open more doors and Tabby has complained about struggling to find a job.

Support should allow people to point out that a different approach is possible.

FINASLLY, found the numbers that I was looking for here:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/college-degree-more-than-financial-benefits-232798/

"
Education and pay

In addition to knowledge and personal growth, college also can have a financial benefits for some graduates.

Here's how the median annual earnings compare by education level:

Education level Median annual earnings

High school graduate $27,963

Some college, no degree $31,947

Associate degree $36,399

Bachelor's degree $48,097

Master's degree $58,522

Professional degree $87,775

Doctorate degree $80,776


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/college-degree-more-than-financial-benefits-232798/#ixzz2Odhf68mf

If you are going to spend for a SECOND associates degree, look into studying the SAME subject using your FIRST one as filling all those tedious basic requirements. You can probably just study the classes you really enjoy since you are already half way there.

I went to college with someone who got their bachleor's this way. He was the smartest one in that class.

Go for the money and find something that you love to do and it will be worth the work

Sunny,
Sometimes it's just the way you present yourself here. You can come across as nasty when you are only trying to help.Maybe stopping and looking at what you wrote before you post it will help.

Sometimes, people can only afford an associate's degree. Communitycollege courses are a lot cheaper than BA.BS courses.

I have my associates degree in nursing and didn't go back for my BS because I was too busy doing clinical work that required certifications over an advanced degree. So I chose to go in that direction. Would a BS help me now? Probably not because I can't do any nursing jobs that require a BS. So now I'm finally trying to go back to get my BA in Christian Studies to become a grief counselor. Being a grief counselor doesn't require a Bachelor's; it's another certification course. But I felt having my BA in Christian Studies will help me personally and will certainly help Christians going through the grief process. Plus my coursework includes other religions as well.

Tabby, go for it and don't let cp keep you from going for it. We're not all wealthy enough to pursue a BA degree. I have to take one course a year in order to complete my degree and even that will be a financial struggle for us. But I'll get there- it will just take time and patience.

Good luck to you. I hope you make it!
Sandy

Tabby wasn't asking for any advice in the first place.
She was making a statement of faith in herself that she was going to get a degree even with the pain.

Generally people who are trying to help do not talk down to others.
She attacked Tabby a few days ago so, I don't believe for one second it was under the guise of 'trying to be nice".

Hi Tabby,
I think Sunny Bunny is confused as am I for awhile ago you said you were completing to courses a Pharmacology and a counselling. That's great if you can do it. But I don't know how you can do it all so quickly , when you told us you have no income and no family support. I am all for any one to get an education. When I became a lpn I worked as a health care aid and went to school at night only taking a few days off for day courses and exams It was very hard. You told me you what to get a scholarship or bursary , I hope you got started on that awhile ago because it takes time. I never got mine until I completed my first semester. I would hate to see you get stuck with a large load of debt. congrats your young I am sure you can do anything you put your mind too. I too am looking at returning to school to take an applied counselor course. But like sandy I have to do it gradually due to finances and pain. Best of luck bella

Tabby,

Please know that I am behind you 100%!! I think it is wonderful that you are getting an associate's degree. That is what I have in nursing because of the fact that my financial situation. My career is over now bc of my illness. HOwever, I want you to know that at the end of my nursing career I was at the top of my paygrade and because of my experience I held positions at the end that required higher degrees but I easily transitioned into them because of my experience. I worked hard to get into the positions I held and bottom line was I got the paygrade and salary of a higher schooled individual based on my experience. IN the end, it didn't matter that I only had an associate'[s degree bc I had the experience of someone with a master's. I was booksmart, streetsmart, and very experienced in my skillset. ON the other hand, I ran into people straight out of school with a master's that I had to train bc they were inexperienced.

I think if you can afford to get an associate's for now then GOOD for you!! Take your time and do what you feel is right. Please know that I was well-respected with an associate's and that I earned 60.000 plus per year at the height of my nursing career.