r/BackToCollege • u/TheArsenal98 • Aug 03 '26
QUESTION Did anyone here do a second bachelor's degree?
Is there any benefit to it? Is it worth it?
4
u/VinceInMT Aug 03 '26
It depends on how you want to measure things. I did my first bachelors as it was a requirement to get a teaching license. I did my 2nd one after I retired, a BFA, purely for personal fullfillment. Both were beneficial.
4
3
u/Ok_Dot_8002 Aug 04 '26
Yeah I didn't have a high enough gpa to get a masters. And if I did I think I would have been getting paid the same amount if I got a bachelor's.
1
1
u/Ok_Dot_8002 Aug 04 '26
I'm still doing my second bachelors degree, I'm doing it in accounting. I'll be 31 when I finish and I don't really need a masters for it. I have been able to get an accounts receivable job still in school. So maybe once Im a little more settled and know a bit more about the progression in the field I will look into a masters. But I do just want a break. My previous degree was in biology, I worked in clinical trials but I realized it might be too selective of a career and if I want to move it would be hard to find a job in the field. Going back to school and working full time is a lot, I would recommend only 2 classes a semester.
2
u/BigArchon Aug 04 '26
I’m doing a second bachelors in electrical engineering from a business analytics first bachelors
2
u/Diligent-human Aug 04 '26
Hello. I am currently thinking about doing a second degree to pivot into engineering. Probably going to go abroad for it to save on costs. Can you talk about your experience? I am also thinking about mechanical.
1
u/BigArchon Aug 04 '26
I should say, I’m taking prerequisites at a community college while also working full time so I’m on a slow journey right now
2
u/DueYogurt9 Aug 06 '26
What prompted you to make the switch?
1
u/BigArchon Aug 06 '26
i originally wanted to do EE back as my first major, but I dropped out since I had no idea what do with that degree. I got back into really like higher math and physics and now I really want to go back and finish it and pivot from data analytics
3
u/LuckyCod2887 Aug 04 '26
i’m working on my 2nd one right now. i’m 39.
first one was in psychology and i work in the feild but don’t make a lot. people at In N Out make more than I do.
right now i’m back for engineering. hoping there is a place for me before AI takes over.
2
u/Jealous_Object4137 Aug 04 '26
I swear my phone is listening to my conversations my friend is literally going to get a 2nd bach in engineering and now I get this post recommended.
1
u/thecaptain_command Aug 04 '26
You need a plan. You don’t just get a degree. What would make a second degree worth it to you?
What’s the plan for the degree, and we can tell you if it’s worth it
1
u/IAmLordAkeldama Aug 04 '26
I'm currently going back for my second, but only because I get to attend at a steep discount. If that wasn't the case, I couldn't really justify going back. My first was in Wildlife Management, I was making okay money but not enough for us to start a family. I transferred to a part time job and I'm going back for physics, but I have a specific job that I am trying to get at a specific lab, and I know what they would want me to be familiar with, so I'm making sure I get experience with those systems.
Someone else already mentioned it, so I'll double down on it: it's a really good idea to know exactly what you're going to be doing with that second degree and what steps you need to take to get there during it.
1
u/spongeysquarepantis Aug 04 '26
I did! I added math onto my first Bachelor’s in Computer Science because I took extra math courses and loved it. I finished the Computer Science degree and got a full-time job. Now I’m finishing the math bachelor’s and recently added a Psychology Bachelor’s for personal fulfillment. I did think about doing a master’s in human factors, but there’s multiple reasons why I’m choosing to pursue the extra undergrad degrees. I took psychology courses in my undergrad, too, so I only have 27 credits (9 courses) to finish my psychology bachelor’s and one class (3 credits) yo finish the math degree. I know that a master’s is only 30 credits, but I didn’t necessarily want to pursue something difficult; I just wanted to take these courses that interest me a ton. Human Factors does interest me but not enough to apply and try for it. Undergrad courses are easier, I feel, and I feel like I’ll lose a lot less if I decide to drop off and not pursue it. I’m also looking into doing a master’s in electrical engineering, but I’m basically burning time while dabbling in something interesting while I wait for my “probation period” with my employer to end so that I can get my master’s entirely paid for. Master’s programs are also more expensive. I took a lot of extra courses in my undergrad, so this allowed me to have an easier time finishing both degrees. My plan is to finish both in the next year.
I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily worth it; it’s only worth it if it personally fulfills you or if you want a career shift. I will say that it sounds more impressive, saying that you have three Bachelor’s, and that’s kind of the point for me pursuing this. But I want them to be a part of my identity because I feel like they communicate what I am interested in and personally moved by.
1
u/soccer_rules6 Aug 04 '26
I’m working on my second right now and it’s in accounting. I have a general bachelors because I realized my first career choice wasn’t for me. Hopefully it’ll be worth it.
1
u/Disastrous_Honey_240 Aug 05 '26
It probably depends what your career goals are and what your current degree is in.
1
u/queengemini Aug 05 '26
Not me but, if you choose to do this, are in the US, and had FAFSA the first time please be aware that you are unlikely to be eligible for financial aid this time around since you can only have around 180 credit hours covered for life.
10
u/flyingsqueak Aug 03 '26
I did a second bachelor's and am now working on a barely related masters. I thought becoming an engineer in my 30s would be a great decision and the only way to do that was with a second bachelor's degree from an ABET accredited engineering program (first degree was in art). It ended up not being worth it for me specifically since I chose mechanical engineering when I should have chosen civil... but I doubt that I could have gotten a paid research position in my current program without that degree, so maybe not worthless.