Masters/bachlors Degree? vs Just Associates Degree

Hi Mama-
I have only my AA degree due to a number of personal obstacles. The biggest struggle in my life has been getting back to school. If I ever get the chance, I want my Bachelors. I want my husband to have his bachelors. Getting a stinking job is pretty ridiculous without it. My AA does nothing to be perfectly frank. I make $12 an hour working at a church 40 plus hours a week. It's crazy.
If you can, do it. There is no reason not to. Besides, your kids will not be kids forever and then what- are you going to stay and home and spot clean your house every day? Even if you don't have a career, you will need things to do. I want to get my degree in hydroponics and then build and run my own mini green house with fruits and veggies and orchids and flowers. Why? To improve my family's quality of life and to provide for them while still having something to do. Plus, it takes smarts to do that kind of thing I would like to have learned it.
Another path would be child development. From that you can sub teach, you can do a classroom share where you teach half of the week and the other teacher teaches half, you can do day care, preschool, or you can counsel in the admin office. You can run after school programs and tutoring courses on your own time. These are programs that YOU as an educator can be a part of, part time, and contribute not only to your own children, but to other people's as well. An education is never a waste when the person is willing to work at it. I would go for it, even if it takes a few years. One of my best friends in all the world, her mother graduated from college around the same time she did. It took her 30 years t finish her masters, but she did it. And she raised 3 kids and helps with her grand babies. It is never too late to start and the amount of time it takes is never too long.
I encourage you to go, dig your heels in and do it, one course at a time. As long as your husband is willing to work with you, you are in good hands. AND, there are some online courses you can take after the babies go to bed and while they are at school along with local university courses.
The plus side- when your hubby sees the little bits of extra income you can contribute to, let's say, a savings account, or a vacation fund, while he is still the bacon bringer, you can "support" him and lighten the load on your family eventually. I say do it.
Good luck mama!
-E. M

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I think you really need to think about the money - can you husband's salary support your family if you do not work or only work part-time? Does that support include saving money for your children's college tuition and your retirement? What if something happens to him - disability or death or divorce - can you support your family on an Associate's degree? If you have the financial ability and the time I say definitely go for at least the bachelor's degree. Statistically women are more likely to suffer financially from those events (death, disability, divorce) - don't become a statistic - do what you need to do now to protect yourself in the future (and to protect your children's future).

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I think you should do the Bachelors. If you are ready and willing and you sound excited about it, you should go for it now. I don't think it's going to be that much extra work than the AAS once you get started.

If you want to work at all I think you'll do a lot better with a BA or BS. At this point, a college degree is looked at how a HS degree once was...you need it. Period. Even a masters holds less clout now, so I think a Bachelors is the very least you will need. Just my opinion! Besides, even if you get a job that you could get with AAS, you will more likely get paid more and can advance quicker and easier with a BA/BS.

Good luck and you should feel very proud of yourself, regardless of what your family is saying! Good for you!

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A lot of places won't even look at you without a degree. And do you want your kids to go to college? I think it's good to have just for you. I got my BS when my daughter was not yet 2 (I was 22) and I was 8 months pregnant with my second. I am working on my MBA now. The kids like to sit down and do homework with me. And while it is tough at times, I am only getting the MBA because I want it - not because my job requires it. I make a very good salary for being 27 and only having worked for 4 years. Yes, the MBA will bump me up more, but I'm getting it because I want it. And to show my kids to never stop short of their dreams. Thats just me though :).

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Get a bachelor's degree in something solid -- maybe education -- to protect yourself. You cannot assume that nothing in your current situation will change in the future, and you may need to support yourself or your family. You will be much better off with a bachelor's degree.

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Good for you for going back!! That's really wonderful.

Take it one step at a time. Get the Associates, see how you're feeling, talk to your hubby a lot about it (NOT the extended family! They need to butt out!), and see what happens from there.

That being said, I encourage you to pursue your calling until you feel complete.

Good luck.

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I have an Associates of applied science and I have always wished I would have gotten my bachlors. There are a lot of jobs that won't even consider anyone without their bachlors, especially in today's job market with SO many people vying for that one job. You an your hubby may have decided you won't ever work full time, but the future may have other plans for you... what if he loses his job like so many people are, and you are needed to step up and contribute to the family in a different way - financially. You will have more to offer an employee if you have your bachlors. Just a thought.

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Getting your bachelor's and/or master's degree is important. It is not just for you but for your kids. What will they need when they become adults? It is easy to follow the path of someone else's success over having to forge your own path. You will have the experience and be able to give them valuable insight into how to manage this and you don't know what the future holds.

Being prepared for anything is important. I have found that my bachelor's degree gives me confidence in the workplace and in the work market place.

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If you plan to be a SAHM, don't get your master's now. I made that mistake and now I'm overwhelmed with student loans - and I had substantial scholarships. I feel incredibly guilty relying on my husband to bear the burden of paying them off. If you want to go into a full-time career, then by all means spend time finding out Exactly what you want to do and then get the education it takes. However, if you want to be a professional mom (which is the best IMO:), tread carefully.

You said you want to get a reasonable job, so I'm assuming you're looking for something permanent and part-time. Please understand that well-paying part-time jobs are few and very far between. And most honestly don't require a college degree. I think it's critical to scope out the part-time job scenario in your area BEFORE you commit to the classes and loans that come with a college degree. For example, there might be flexible part-time jobs in the medical field that you might really enjoy but that also require a specialized degree or certificate. It's totally worth going for that degree if you know that that's a career that you will flourish in.

If you really want to do substitute teaching, then definitely look into getting your BA. In fact, you may want to look into an education program so that you can get the credentials you need for a full-time teaching position without the extra school if you decide to go into the field as a career later on.

There's a lot of pressure for everyone to have a college degree in our culture, but I think it's misguided. All one needs to do to see this is to look around at the student loan crisis and un-/under-employment rates. There are far too many people out there with college degrees who can't find work and who are defaulting on their stifling student loans. It's a system that isn't working.

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The AA. I have my MBA and am not using it and really regret it because its just taking money I could put towards the family and putting it towards student loans instead :( Get a job with the AA and you can deicde later if a BA or grad degree is something you want/need later.

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If you don't intend to work in the near future, do the AA. Truly, by the time you are ready to work full time, if ever, your skills will be considered outdated and you will have to take "refresher" courses, especially in the area of science.

I would suggest finishing your current program (good for you!) and then when you are ready to consider full-time employment, go back and finish your degree! If you remain in-state and go back w/in ten years, most places will honor your credits, especially as a non-traditional student.

College is really expensive and a huge commitment to do it correctly. If you know now that you will not be using the additional credits in the near future, hold off. Depending on your field, an AA will likely allow you to work somewhere part-time!

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Congrats on wanting ot improve your life!! Good for you.

Like others have said your situation may change and YOU may become the provider of the family - it does happen. In fact it's happened to about 3 of my neighbors and two friends. All very unexpectedly...

You're pretty unemployable with just an AA... in other words any job you'll get w/just an AA you'd also be able to get w/out an AA. I would stick it out until you have your BA. Or just as good - try getting a degree from a certificate program that is in a medical field... good pay and pretty recession proof (i.e. x-Ray tech, Dental Hygienist (sp?), etc.)

Best of luck to you!!

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with teaching jobs so hard to get now.. it's better to have a 4 year degree or a masters... if you are only going to sub.. then a 4 year degree would be fine.. you'll find that they will put the people with 4 year degrees ahead of you and you may not be called at all... I still think it's great that you are doing what you are doing.. if you have time later on.. take a class or two.. even on line.. good luck

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I'm 48 yo, I never finished my BSME in the day. I was self-employeed the entire way and did not need my degree for employment or (so I thought, credibility). I'm facing the band right now by not having the degree. If I want to work a well paying job (which I'm knowledge wise able to do) I need the piece of paper. If I want to excel at a new self-employment direction, that degree would be very helpful. That said I'm faced with the possibility of going for a completely different education and being a doctor of some sort. Raising a family is awesome and choosing to do that now, I applaud you!!! Looking back, family grows so quick and that is when the degree (BS) will come in handy!

In my experience, we do not look at a resume if the person does not have a bachelors degree. If you can swing it, I think you will greatly benefit by the bachelors degree.

Although, this may be just in my field. What field are you looking to go into?

I would finish the degree you are earning now, get a part time job using that degree, and then when the kids are older you can finish your bachelors... my Mom had her associates when we were growing up, and when I went into high school she went back to school and now has hers masters in Human Services, and is the Clinical Director of a Drug and Alcohol Facility. She was 47 when she finished her degree, but she did it, and instead of feeling an empty nest when we moved out, she was starting a new career and enjoying life!

First of all forget what everyone else is saying do what you need and want to do. Its your life and you have to live with yourself everyday and the decisions you have made. If finishing school is what you want then do it. Secondly have you checked into taking online classes yet? I took them and they are wonderful. You can finish your bachelors that way and your associates. The school I was enrolled in you took one class at a time and each class lasted 5 weeks. You were still considered a full time student and this way are able to do schooling around your childrens schedule. I went to Ashford University. Check it out I really liked their program courses and teachers. Best of luck and I hope all of your dreams come true.

I think its a good idea to get your AAS degree, especially since you are so close to getting it. There are jobs out there that require BA degrees. But since you are not working full time, this would not apply for the majority of jobs you are looking for. I personally think work experience counts more than a BA and certainly more than an MA for the majority of workers. I am not sure if its different in your state but I thought subsitute teaching required a certain amount of college credits, not neccesarily a degree. For you, a Master's degree is not really worth it, especially at this point. Are you doing an on-line program? If you take credits at a community college, although may take a very long time, you could get you BA without spending too much money. I think your best bet is finishing your AAS, get some varied work experience and network when you get there.

DO it for YOU, if you feel like you need or want to do it, what everyone else "thinks" or "says" has no bearing. Yes, the Bachelor's degree would open the door to more possibilities for jobs in the future, and you don't have to complete it IMMEDIATELY, but just get started with the associates and get that mini-goal doen, and then re-evaluate from there. If you still wish to go on afte the AAS, go for it, do it a little at a time, so that you aren't overwhelmed, and so that you can finish it by the time you are comfortable not being home for the kids after school ( maybe when they are all in high school or above?) so that by that time you will be able to go get a decent paying full time job with your completed degree!

Have you looked into online schools, or schools in your area's online offerings? Does University of Wisconsin have anything online you can take towards the area you are interested in?

If your kids are still young, and you want to be there before and after school for them, it is going to be hard to find a job that will accommodate that, but a part time college schedule may be able to be worked into your family's schedule, so that you are in class when they are at school, and home before they get home.

Oh, and you said you might want to be a substitute teacher, but you can't do that till you ahve a bachelor's degree. Here is a possibility before then, and a foot in the door wiht the school district for later if you were to get your Bachelor's:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos153.htm , Teacher's Assistant, info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Good Luck and More Power to YOU!

Jessie

I am not sure if you live close to St Paul, but I work at Metro State University and they have a degree through First College. It is a design your own degree and they will use previous credits to help you create a bachelors degree program you could probably finish in less time than going a traditional route. Also, some classes may be on line too. If you are looking at the education field, your time and money will be best put to use if you complete your bachelors degree!! Metro State is a state college and very affordable with financial aid!!