Changing careers and going back to school

[GLC1968]

Are scholarships out of the question? Back when I was in college (it's been awhile - ) the usual advice was "don't go to grad school unless you can get someone else to pay for it." Now, I never knew for sure if that meant there were lots of scholarships out there, if you can't get someone else to pay then you're not grad school "material," or it's best to build a network first and the network should include the financial backing. But I didn't go to (or haven't gone to) grad school.

I've tossed around the idea of changing careers, too. I don't think it's crazy at all. Variety is the spice of life, right? And dreams are good! My thoughts are to take a prerequisite or two and just ease back into it - see how it goes.

That's a really good point. I need to look into it. That's why I have no student loans from my first masters degree - 80% of it was covered by a research grant. The remaining 20% was covered by a fellowship. All I paid for was books and living expenses and I worked part time to cover that. When I was at a conference as a student, I was approached by two different PhD programs who offered me free ride if I would attend and then teach at their schools. Being a an american born woman with good communications skills really served me well in EE. I didn't take either one up on their offer and I'm super thankful that I didn't. I'd feel way too guilty to ever leave behind a field if I had a PhD in it!

I have no idea how this all might work for the medical field. There are a list of scholarships that I can apply for based on things like my ethnicity, my specialty, my grades, etc...so there are options. I'll have to do some research. Thanks for the idea!

[tulip]

Start at the financial aid department of the university. They ought to have tons of information and guidance for scholarships. I used to work at the financial aid office of a large state university, and I was amazed that the scholarships that were out there. That was pre-internet, so they are probably easier to research now.

Crankin, I'm very familiar with Lesley. I lived around the corner from it for much of my childhood (well, four or five years--which IS alot of childhood!). It's an excellent school, and you undoubtedly got a very good education there. Vet schools, however, are usually state schools/land grant universities. Tufts, of course, is not, but I really see no reason to go to a private vet school because there are so many excellent public ones. I considered pre-vet as an undergrad (but ended up in art history!?!)

GLC, it's so great what you are doing! Biciclista is right--we will regret what we don't do...so go do it!

Makes me want to go watch All Creatures Great and Small...I love the border collies.

[Possegal]

I started out wanting to be a vet, then worked for one for a year and realized it wasn't for me. That was a long time ago (dang it hurts to admit that) but at the time, the deal was that if there was a vet school in your state, it was virtually impossible to get accepted to another vet school. No idea if it is still like that, but for me it meant that my only real choice was Penn. There are not that many vet schools in the US (28 I think), where as there are 150-some medical schools. The joke was always that a lot of MDs you know, started out wanting to be vets but couldn't get into vet school.

I say good for you and go for it! The one debt I do not regret is the payment on my PhD. I joke that when I retire I'll stop paying and let them repossess the degree, but in fact, I should be done with it in a couple years. YAY ME.

[GLC1968]

Oh, and as an update:

My husband said he was willing to support me in this quest, but I could tell that he was really hesitant. He said he wanted me to be happy, but I was getting the distinct impression that he didn't believe that this particular path would make me any happier than my current one.

We had a talk last night (no idea how we got on the subject in the first place as this was not an intended 'talk'). I was finally able to explain exactly why I didn't like my current career, how I ended up choosing it and why I'd never excel at it. I could totally see the light bulb light up over his head! I'm thinking of putting my words in writing so that I can remember what I said. It would probably be helpful to use the same explanation when I tell my parents and someday, my boss. Anyway, end result is that he is definitely 100% on board with this decision (and in some ways, is even more appreciative of his own career choice).

[NbyNW]

GLC, I think it's wonderful that you are doing research towards doing something you love.

I just remembered another idea for you -- I don't recall how close you are to Portland, but maybe volunteering at the zoo could be good stepping-stone experience? Many years ago, a colleague of my husband's took a sabbatical to do exactly this: she basically shoveled poop and helped feed the animals for 3 months while applying to vet school. She ended up never going back to work at her old job!

[JennK13]

I've spent the last 4 months searching for a new job as I absolutely HATE my current one. I've been here over 3 years, and in the field for 5 - I'm an executive asssitant and work in municipal government.

I never intended to end up here....I went to Jr College out of high school, bought a house and just started working. School and dreams just kind of went away as the financial responsibility of adulthood took over. Flash forward 17 years later, and here I am. The job itself isn't too bad - it's not very fulfilling, but it's not difficult, I make great money, and have awesome benefits. But the political environment is killing me! I've been looking for an EA position in the Private Sector and in a more meaningful field, something that interests me like sports, fashion or healthcare. Competition is fierce, though, and i'm being picky right now since I do have a job and don't have to take whatever is out there.

But I still wouldn't be "happy" in work. I wanted to go into sports medicine, athletic training, something along those lines. I've been seriously considering going back to school to get my AS as a Physical Therapy Assistant and getting back to what I want to do, and get into an athletic rehab facility. DH is supportive of wanting me to be happy, but in his family you just work and make a living to pay bills - this whole loving your job thing is foreign to him. But he does see how it affects me and how unhappy I am Monday through Friday. While it would be tight, or at least really cut back on our current spending situation, we could make it work with me getting a part time job and going to school full time to knock it out in 12-18 months (I already have the majority of my general ed classes out of the way). He's just really worried about the financial situation, on top of tuition, since I'm the "bread winner". At least I could get my certification from a Community College, so it's not as expensive as what you all are talking about.

Anyhow, I took an online test on career satisfaction - what I want to do is right up my alley, and what I'm doing is way at the bottom of the list. I don't mean to highjack the thread, I'm just really inspired by you all to do it. I'll be 36 this year, too young to spend any more time than necessary in a job I hate.

So THANK YOU!!! I think this was the push and motivation I needed to see to really think hard about this and make it happen. Good luck to you!

[Kerry1976]

Another possibility in terms of funding your education is assistantships. When I got my first master's, I had an assistantship that covered my tuition plus paid a stipend. That left me with fees and books. Every school is different, of course, but an assistantship could both pay for your education and give you valuable experience in the field, if available.

I wish you the best of luck as you move forward! You can do this - if you want!

[jobob]

I'd feel way too guilty to ever leave behind a field if I had a PhD in it!

Oh, it's not that hard to do ...

[GLC1968]

Oak - that makes a ton of sense. My friend Steph did the exact same thing when we were both recent grads. Her legal assistant experience was invaluable to her. While I don't want to waste my time with a vet tech degree, if I could work as one on a volunteer basis over the next two years, I totally will.

In fact, getting the vet experience is the one thing I haven't researched yet and the one thing I'm most worried about! What if no vets want to take on a 43 year old volunteer? Ugh.

Assistantships - good to know. I think every field calls these things something different! One advantage to doing this now as opposed to when I was 22 is that now I have the confidence (read: balls) to seek out these opportunities where as I wouldn't have back then.

[Crankin]

Yes, younger people may think career changing is nuts past age 40, but, really, I know myself a lot better now than I did at 22.
It's true that vet schools are all state schools, except Tufts... I think. I know that if your state does not have a vet school, they usually have an interstate compact with the closest vet school. The person I mentioned in my above post went to Texas A&M, but paid in state tuition, since AZ has no vet school.
And finally, I agree with Oak that any experience in the field is going to serve you well when you are in school or when you start your career. Tuesday I got to my clinic, and every admin person pounced on me; everyone knew that one of my clients had been transferred to Medicaid from Mass Health, which meant I couldn't see him anymore (gee, the government cares about someone seeing an intern?). I had to get a paper signed by the clinic director or 2 other designees and I had to tell the guy, who was coming in in like 45 minutes. I couldn't find the clinical director, so I got the paper signed, found another therapist to take over the case, and I did the paper work. The client didn't show up, so I called him and took care of that. Then I got an email from the clinic director, to "see him" about the issue. I wrote him back that it was all taken care of. He was kind of shocked, but this was an occasion where my experience of dealing with the red tape in a school system served me well. I think they thought I was going to fall apart, which pretty much is never going to happen to me in a work situation.

[Possegal]

It's true that vet schools are all state schools, except Tufts... I think.

Penn is Ivy League, not a state school.

I think a vet would love to have someone who is older and more confident in themselves. I don't think you will have any problem finding one that would love to take you under their wing. The one I worked for was so lovely and thoroughly enjoyed showing people the ropes of the field.

[ny biker]

Penn is Ivy League, not a state school.

The Fighting Quakers!!

[ny biker]

In fact, getting the vet experience is the one thing I haven't researched yet and the one thing I'm most worried about! What if no vets want to take on a 43 year old volunteer? Ugh.

Assistantships - good to know. I think every field calls these things something different! One advantage to doing this now as opposed to when I was 22 is that now I have the confidence (read: balls) to seek out these opportunities where as I wouldn't have back then.

No, you have the ovaries to see out those opportunities now.

I agree that being 43 is not necessarily a handicap in finding a volunteer position. Plus you have experience with animals that most younger people probably don't have, unless most folks in your area live on farms.

[Aggie_Ama]

One caution, the smartest person I know is a vet (Aggie Vet). He had very little time and practically fell off the face of the earth. We had dinner with him recently and he said more than once during vet school he questioned if he could keep going. Mainly I bring this up to make sure your husband is ready for the sacrifice too. You will essentially be in med school. Other thing is maybe a shelter can help you get experience? They usually do shots and many things vet techs would do but are way more desperate for help.

I am about to do the same thing, trying to say bye bye Office Space and hello nursing school. I thought corporate would was for me but it is not. I want to trade my heels for a pair of scrubs.

[sundial]

GLC, your resume is impressive. Your EE degree may help your application float to the top for review by the committee. And since you will be considered a "non-traditional" student, the odds are in your favor that you will be a better student and less likely to drop, which will make the department stats look good.

One thing comes to mind: How is the job saturation for your area? Are you prepared to move for a job?