If you could go (back) to school to study anything what would it be?

[LeftyMom]

It looks like my Dad is going to help pay for me to go back to school. I'm not sure what I want to do so I'd love to hear your ideas.

[name not needed]

1. I'd go back to seventh grade

Back when I was, you know, smart. Oh wait. Seventh grade sucked anyway. I'm still in school, so I'll stay where I am.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Seventh grade sucks deeply.

I wouldn't do seventh grade over for all the tea in China. I still have nightmares that take place in my junior high school -- and I was in seventh grade in 1961. Shudder.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Astrophysics

except I'm not smart enough for that. Maybe archaeology.

[babylonsister]

3. CSI-type stuff. Murders intrigue me in

novels and these type of shows. But not in real life.:evilgrin:

[Mabus]

13. Know what you mean

I worked at this one place where we traded the true crime novels around. There was always a crowd in the break room the morning after those serial killer marathons that court tv would do.

Instead of the forensic route I did the legal route and got a J.D. :shrug:

[Longgrain]

5. Photography...

I studied Art, but that took me nowhere...

[blackcat77]

6. Journalism

My parents pressured me to major in another subject even though I always loved to write. Finally I quit school and never went back. If I could change anything in my life, that would be it.

[Mabus]

7. Political science and journalism

I know they're lying to me. I'd just like to know if what they teach is anything like what they say.

[LiberalEsto]

8. Ideally anthropology or psychology

but practically speaking, I'd go for a master's degree in journalism.

[Bouncy Ball]

9. I'm in grad school now

but if I could get any other graduate level degree with someone paying for it (besides what I'm doing now) it'd be sociology or political science. Possibly history.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eyepaddle]

33. Welcome to DU!

I can't figure out what I wanna be when I grow up either! (and this goes for both the original post AND sctwldie's) I'm getting a master's of public health right now--but am considering a JD afterwards. Do you guys think this is a good idea?

However, if job/economic prospects are dicounted I would love to get my Ph.D in Igneous Petrology/Geochemistry. (That's hard rock geology by the way folks--like volcanos and stuff, sorta)

:hi:

[LeftyMom]

39. Wow, somebody said something obnoxious on my

what-the-heck-should-I-study thread? Wierd.

[supernova]

11. Astronomy

I was a English major and that's how I now make my living. But, if I could go back and do it all over again, I'd take more astronmy and physics courses.

[GOPisEvil]

12. Graphic arts, more specifically photography.

[acmavm]

14. Archeology or paleontolgy. Either one would be wonderful.

.

[yorkiemommie1]

15. anthropology

and maybe more poli sci and american studies. anthropology was so instrumental in teaching me that there are many world views. think georgie ever took anthro?

[HeeBGBz]

16. Meteorology

I'm a weather freak and a wanna be storm chaser.

[Skittles]

23. my dad was a meteorologist

back in the 60's for show and tell I used to take satellite pictures of America! :D

[sbj405]

50. I am one. Don't do it.

You won't learn anything you probably don't already know about the weather. Instead, you'll be saddled down with equations and such. Not to mention, the jobs are generally low paying.

[Placebo]

17. I'm at University now, and I have NO BLOODY CLUE...

what I want to major in. My three passions are english, politics, and filmmaking. I'm gonna have to pick one, and quick.

[babylonsister]

20. Maybe write Michael Moore a letter.

I'm serious. Or see what he majored in? :shrug: He has had the same passions, obviously. Bon chance!

[Maddy McCall]

18. History and Archaeology so that I can study American Indians.

;-)

[zelda7743]

19. health care....especially direct patient care

Less likelihood of having your job outsourced.

[LeftyMom]

27. That's what I'm thinking

I'm thinking something related to birth. As long as people do it, I'll have job security :) and I love babies and birth.

[NurseLefty]

48. If you like childbirth, you could train to become a dula or a midwife.

There are nurse midwives, also, who actually manage low-risk childbirth.
Obviously, I'll make the pitch about nursing. After seeing nurses care for my terminally-ill brother, I was inspired and found what I want to be when I grow up. So, at the tender age of 34, I went back to school.
I am in my senior year in the nursing program at the Univ of WA, and I work as a nurse technician. By next August I should be licensed and working as an RN. Taking this path is the best decision I've ever made.
As a nurse, you gain a fulfilling job for life. It's tough work but very rewarding.
Many programs offer generous scholarships, and some student loans are forgiven for going into nursing. Plus, big job security!
I'd recommend getting a bachelors in nursing. There is often better pay and most institutions require a BSN for any promotions.
Lastly, I'd suggest hiring a career counselor for a couple of sessions. I did and gained much information.
Good luck to you!

[LeftyMom]

49. that's what I'm thinking about

I don't know if I'd want to do a CNM or a midwifery only certification (or which one, there are a million permutations out there and a zillion certifying agencies with different tests and standards.) Do you think there'd be an advantage in having a nursing cert if I don't really want to work in a hospital?

[NurseLefty]

55. This is what I do know

A pretty good chunk of CNM's have masters degrees. I know that both CNM's and certified midwives primarily work in birthing centers (sometime separate facilties but close to a hospital), and there is some variation in scope of practice from state to state.
One avenue with good job prospects for sure is to work as a labor & delivery RN. I just had my clinical rotation in this area. The RN spends the most time with the patient in labor, doing pelvic exams, monitoring meds if being given and fetal heart monitoring. There's the joke that the OB is there just to do the "football catch" - that when the baby is crowning the doc sweeps in to finish the delivery. (In truth, much more complex than that, esp if things become complicated.)
Other nursing related in this area includes lactation consulting, and antepartum or postpartum nursing.
I hope this helps.

[1monster]

21. Everything!

Seriously, as a substitute teacher, I get to be in every kind of class from art to child development to history/geogrpahy to language arts and foreign languages to physics to P.E. to technology (computer).

It's rare to find any subject that doesn't have a fascinating side to it. I'd be like a kid in a candy store trying to choose just one.

[Skittles]

22. criminal justice

nt

[ohioliberal]

24. Nursing

I've been trying to go back at least twice and haven't been able to because of money. They are also going to need nurses down the road so I just have to do this.

[auntAgonist]

25. Mortuary Sciences

I have done hundreds of hours practical time in a funeral home but never attended college. Life got in the way, things got complicated and I never realized my dream.
I'd love to go back to it.

[BuddhaGirl]

26. Linguistics

I love languages - the structure of them and their history.

[Squatch]

28. Oenology or Zymurgy

Especially viticulture

[eyepaddle]

35. Sweet!

I like beer more than wine, so I'm gonna urge zymurgy, but hey, if you like wine go for it :)

[CJCRANE]

52. Urge Zymurgy

...that's not a phrase you hear very often!

Sounds like the name of a president of some central european country.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

29. Music. Or English lit.

[Tikki]

30. Pre-Colombian Art History......

n/t


Tikki

[NuttyFluffers]

31. i'd like to get a BA in Witchcraft

hey, someone got a BA in Magic in davis, i want a BA in Witchcraft.

"and it says here on your resume that you have a BA in Witchcraft... how do you believe this will be an asset to our company?"

"because if i am employed here i most likely won't curse you; and i might curse your competitors... if you treat me well."
:evilgrin:

either that or a doctorate in being a Muse. i'd professionally inspire people.

[LeftyMom]

36. In Davis?

I was thinking Sac State but I'd be able to test out of some classes and I probably have most of the books I'd need... ;)

[NuttyFluffers]

51. yeah, it was a famous example of "create your own major" program in UCs

guy was in UCD and decided to create his own major in magic. worked with anthropology, religion, psychology, sociology, several ethnic study areas in the humanities, art history, astronomy (for astrology), chemistry (for alchemy), etc. graduated with a BA in Magic.

i thought it was really cool. impractical, but cool.

[vixengrl]

32. I'm going to be bad, practical girl.

If it was "paying for any study my heart desires" I'd go with archeaology and anthropology and maybe a little theology. Why not? That should suffice to keep me in acedemia for the next uh...forever. And I could travel...I want to really *dig* history--dig? But it doesn't hurt to focus on your skills and interests, and what you really see yourself doing and enjoying. Sometimes you just have to see what you can get a degree in, and keep in mind that if you continue your education, your Masters might be in something slightly different from your BA or BS. Education doesn't stop, but it doesn't hurt to start in a good place.

[tjdee]

34. Make sure it's something you can get a job doing--like nursing/accounting.

It's all well and good to do something you like, but you can do something you like on nights and weekends, with the extra leisure money from your good paying job. It's no fun to be a starving artist or a person with a degree in african american studies who can work....where???

Check out who's going to be getting hired in the next few years. The Dept. of Labor has a site called occupational outlook, take a look over there.


/devil's advocate

:)

[Seabiscuit]

37. Medicine - but only if I were still in my twenties.

[steely]

38. Medicine or Law

that's what I'd pick

[Zomby Woof]

40. Law, Meteorology, or Geology

That's why I was in college so long in the first place. I love all kinds of things. Calculus and Chemistry kept me out of science, but I love most science disciplines just the same.

Would have been good at law though. I majored in history, minored in English, and have a strong background in constitutional history and civil liberties issues, especially first amendment law.

Now I got back into acting recently. Maybe I could just do theater all over again. :-)

[CanuckAmok]

41. I'm seriously thinking about a law degree...

I'd like to do men's advocacy law, custody law, immigration law, or just law for plain ol' poor folk.

But personal interest, potential-income-be-damned-wise, it'd be forensic antrhopology, or astronomy.

[leftofthedial]

42. anthropology

document what you can before the neocons destroy it and start the next dark ages

[HuskiesHowls]

43. Psychology

Cause I'm so screwed up I could probably help anybody with any problem!!

[Baclava]

44. I've got to pick something too...

I've pretty much decided it's going to be the course with the LEAST math.

Abnormal Psych or cultural anthropology...maybe...

[derbstyron]

45. I always wanted to go into the field of Marine Biology

As a writer, I thought it would be cool to follow in the footsteps
of Steinbeck.

He studied Marine Biology at Stanford before devoting himself to
writing.

Plus, I've always found the sea fascinating. It seems criminal to me that we seem to know more about space then we do in the water around us.

One of my dreams is to go into a shark tank.

[Tsiyu]

46. Ah, Wish I had the same problem...

After time spent at the Marine Science Center in St. Mary's, Florida ( catching specimens with drag nets and from the sides of john boats), I too wanted to be a Marine biologist. That was at 14.

Then I read 'A Surgeon's Odyssey" by Nancy Reagan's step dad ( sucks that I can't remember HIS name anymore) and I decided that the next best thing to traveling down every road in the world would be traveling through every sinew and cell of the human body.

So I started college pre-med but then twins and physics sort of put an end to that. I did work in hospitals for nine years, and that cured me of the desire to be a Dr. almost. I still get twinges.

Now, I would study a foreign language and global economics/trade AND study some classical music.

Choose something you love, Lefty.

[Z_I_Peevey]

47. Horticulture.

And I don't have a joke to go with this choice. I've always been a 'plant person,' and I continue to be enthralled by plant life. It's just fascinating.

[flvegan]

53. Veterinary medicine

Sans animal tests...though I think most schools have done away with a good part of that.

[sugarmags]

54. Psychology

I have a degree in Dietetics/Educational Psychology. Sometimes I wish I just did the whole psychology thing. I love hearing about peoples problems and then finding out what makes them tick. It's interesting.

How about Psychology or Dietetics? The way our society is going and our obesity problems, being a Dietitian is going to be a hot commodity.