[Captain Ahab]

I’ve come to the conclusion, having been in the private sector for two years that I need a career change.

I made the unfortunate mistake of getting a humanities degree (English/Political Science) and going into debt. I’ve been going entry level position to entry level position only to discover that it is going to be an uphill battle to try and get a decent job with a salary above 50k and decent benefits.

I currently work for a fortune 500 company making slightly above average salary for my city in the telecommunications industry. I like the pay but loath having to go into work, especially since it is a call center, and my value to the company is reduced to whatever my stats say at the end of every week. I’m currently suffering the sad effects of working for bad management (you know, the manager who tells you how to do your job even though he has never done your job in his life), stressful call situations (escalated calls), and overall lingering depression in regards to my job status.

I am updating my resume this weekend and preparing for another job search. Even if I do land a non call center job with better pay and and easy work environment, I realize that it will more than likely not be in a field I want to stay in long term. I did substitute teaching and saw teaching wasn't for me. I can't see myself rising up in the private sector battling it out with every other four year degree/non-degreed chump with work ethic, connections, and energy that I don't have.

I've decided I want to go back to school to become an occupational therapist. I had done some observation hours a couple years back and liked working with children with disabilities. Also, I liked the conversations I had with older people as they were getting their OT done. All in all, I feel doing OT is the right choice. OT has a great combination of decent pay, easy work, and an excellent job market for the foreseeable future. I live in Florida and will likely stay in Florida for the foreseeable future. If I get a skill set in geriatrics I will be in very high demand.

There are some challenges in the way of course:

1. I need to go back to school: The masters program that I am interested in applying to (University of Florida) requires I do prerequisite courses before I can apply. Sadly, the expiration of some of my courses I’ve completed has expired (they won’t take courses over seven years old) so I am stuck having to retake some courses:

-Biology (with lab).
-Human Anatomy and physiology (two courses).
-Abnormal psychology
-Medical terminology
-Sociology
-Human communications (Public speaking).

2. Funding: This is my biggest concern since I don’t have money and I’m already in the hole with student loans (all federal subsided/unsubsidized-currently in no payment required mode) and credit card debt (a little over 4k). My job offers tuition reimbursement so I figure I could lean on them to cover tuition.

The problem of course is that I have to come up with the money first to cover the tuition and get atleast a “C” in my classes before they will reimburse me. The only way I can do that is by going with SallieMae or Wellsfargo but I have no desire to take out a loan with a private lender after hearing all the horror stories.

Scholarships would be another way I could fund my education. I have no idea how to apply for scholarships so I am looking for advice on what I can do to maximize my chances of getting them. I am older (31) and I’m a minority (African-American) with a decent undergraduate GPA (3.59). I am hoping there is something out there that can fund my prerequisites.

Otherwise I’m stuck working OT to get the money together to go back to school. My goal is to have all my prerequisite courses and my GRE done by the end of next year.

As of now I am looking to apply to Seminole State (local community college) and enroll in classes for January of next year.

Any advice on what I should do?

[heavy]

Just think through the opportunity cost. What else could you do with $150,000 (not sure on exact cost)?

Also, understand you don't know if or how much you will enjoy your job as an OT before you are fully invested.

[LouEvilSlugger]

I'm 28 and I just started a second bachelor's degree (computer science, first one was in business) and I'm already kinda regretting it as I'm not even sure if a second degree (and limited experience on my resume) will make me more employable given the current state of the economy

[Captain Ahab]

(10-24-2014 10:27 AM)heavy Wrote:  

Just think through the opportunity cost. What else could you do with $150,000 (not sure on exact cost)?

Also, understand you don't know if or how much you will enjoy your job as an OT before you are fully invested.

I am looking at it comparing it to what I am currently doing and have done for the past decade in regards to jobs. I would rather do OT than deliver pizzas, sling doughnuts, teach special education students, do customer service, or deal with the low pay, disrespectful students, and bureaucracy of being a secondary education teacher.

150,000 unspent would probably be a number in my savings account. I don't plan on buying a house in America. And short of winning the lottery, winning the job market lottery (which I can only imagine being a stress free desk job where I make 50+k a year, have weekends and holidays off,great benefits, and lots of vacation time), or writing a best seller, I don't see any other non-long shot options other than going back to school, especially since I want to stay in the states and stay in the central Florida region.

[TheChi]

(10-24-2014 10:37 AM)Captain Ahab Wrote:  

(10-24-2014 10:27 AM)heavy Wrote:  

Just think through the opportunity cost. What else could you do with $150,000 (not sure on exact cost)?

Also, understand you don't know if or how much you will enjoy your job as an OT before you are fully invested.

I am looking at it comparing it to what I am currently doing and have done for the past decade in regards to jobs. I would rather do OT than deliver pizzas, sling doughnuts, teach special education students, do customer service, or deal with the low pay, disrespectful students, and bureaucracy of being a secondary education teacher.

150,000 unspent would probably be a number in my savings account. I don't plan on buying a house in America. And short of winning the lottery, winning the job market lottery (which I can only imagine being a stress free desk job where I make 50+k a year, have weekends and holidays off,great benefits, and lots of vacation time), or writing a best seller, I don't see any other non-long shot options other than going back to school, especially since I want to stay in the states and stay in the central Florida region.

Wow, you're quite narrow minded. Why do you have to follow one of these set career paths...do you think that's your only option? Start networking with entrepreneurs, research startups, learn about emerging industries, teach yourself to build websites/mobile apps. There's a million other routes you can go without dumping 150k into a career as an OT.

Good luck.

[Captain Ahab]

Sorry. I did not want to give the impression of being closed minded.

I am not into building websites or applications. I took a computer programming course as an undergrad and hated it.

I like OT having done volunteer work in three different OT settings. I am a compassionate person so helping others in need makes me happier. I think OT is a good career choice for someone seeking the amount of pay, job security, and clientele ( kids) that I want.

Just looking for ways to fund this endeavor rather than being persuaded to not do it at all.

[boinerd]

So how young are you instantly?

[jimukr104]

Advice?

Do what you want BUT... here goes:

1. Ask yourself if you have the aptitude. Many humanity majors don't have the skill/study set that stem CLASSES TAKE. You should see how you do with the Anatomy classes(some say they are among the hardest you take in college).

2. See how many of those classes you can take via home study. If I remember some of those basic classes are cheap under regents/Dante study.We use to have that..not sure what exists today.

3. Join the military. Seriously! Go into service in some branch and occupation where you will live and get fat on some military base. Try a health service field like lab worker or OT( more likely to be sent overseas hospital though). Means you will most likely NEVER see combat and military will after 3 years of service pay for your education. Intelligent /educated guys don't go to the front lines of infantry in today's army(or any other army) unless they volunteer to or they are REALLY REALLY STUPID lol. You should kill on the entrance test and with a degree they will promise you the world(lies mostly).
Plus you can take all types of classes while in the military. It isn't uncommon foer a person to get a BA degree while doing their term of service and you also will pick up a skill in the training program you go to. Plus since you have a degree you will in the Army be a E 4 witch means you have the right to live off base and basically if you have the right job you will basically have a 9-5 civilian lifestyle with your off base apt and food budget.

4. I mention 3..because you don't seem ambitious and guys like you seem to do best in structured gov't jobs or MAYBE health care since it is close to a gov't type job. These types of jobs don't discriminate because of age.

5. Florida is known for BAD pay..MOVE. Regardless of profession. In NY or Cali in the health field you make like 2x I think(even teachers go up to 6 figures here)

[Cattle Rustler]

If you want a good paying job helping others go into healthcare recruiting, look into Maxim/MGA/etc. Bayada is supposed to be the best agency in FL.

Long hours (40-77 during the holidays, 55-60 being the average), good pay (60-75K), high turnover (so if you're good you'll get promoted easily).

Texas OTs make pretty good bank and there's always work, always! The good OTs can work on their own schedule and do whatever they want. Not to mention they have multiple offers from many agencies.

[The_CEO]

I see a lot posters already posted good advice for you.

Obviously whatever you do will have some downsides and upsides.

In a shaky economy a medical field like OT is probably a safe bet, and one that would allow you to work anywhere. I don't know this for sure about your field but you can confirm or not through your own research.

If you are committed to doing this, and work at it for the next 20+ years, then it seems like a worthwhile investment in terms of cost.

Someone suggested Military and that's a really interesting idea especially if they'd pay for your education. Other RVF'ers would have more info. about that if you want to pursue that route.

Good luck !