Venturing Down a New Career Path
-
So I've been thinking lately. I've been thinking a LOT. (reserve jokes for the end please lol) I love my job. IT has been a great career for me and I wouldn't trade the experience I have gained for anything. That being said, it feels very flat to me. I've told people that my ideal job would actually be something along the lines of what I did at Staples, but obviously, at the professional level. Something that would combine customer service-like skills, IT and actually statistics. Three things I absolutely love and are very good at. Those were my three big skills/strengths when I worked retail and why I dominated at my job.
That being said, I never thought such a job existed outside the retail realm. Well, a few days ago I was talking to a couple people. Minion Queen Danielle and Henry. I was just curiously asking Henry about his job and later talked to Danielle who told me that there actually was a major in what I so desperately wanted. My reaction?
So, I started looking around my area to see what schools offered the BBA MIS program or Management Information Systems. I discovered UT Dallas does. (see link below)
It's close to where I live, the program looks great and I've been told from firsthand experience it is, and so, with all that being said, I'm going to go back to school. I've submitted my application and scheduled advisement for near the end of May (earliest I could with my new job). I'm desperately hoping I get in.
The last time I was in school the program was a joke (Scott can attest to this). The teachers were either clueless or had no concept of how to teach. Even the general ed classes were pretty pathetic. The other difference is last time I wasn't footing the bill. I was fortunate. This time will be different. I've amassed 38 credits already, although my GPA is pretty poor, to be honest. See previous comment about not caring.
This program looks spot on and I'm hoping I can use some of my general ed classes for credits to at least cover some of those here. So, all said and done, I'm very excited and hope to be going back in the fall. Sadly, I can't afford to go part time financially in order to go to school full-time. Thus, I need to decide how to proceed. Do I try to go full-time in the evenings while working full-time all day? Or, do I go part-time? I wouldn't ever do more than 12 credit hours which, if done right, would never be more than 3-4 classes. Still, that's a lot. I don't do well with online classes (wish I did) so that's not something I'm going to do if I can avoid it. I work about 25 minutes from the campus, without traffic. It's going to take some juggling.
I'm very excited though to see where this new path will lead me. Having the IT background I do already will give me some extra, and much needed, perspective on many aspects of what my degree will focus on.
With all that being said, does anyone who's been in a similar position have any tips? (working full-time, living on their own and going to school)
Thanks for everything! I couldn't not share this with the community!!
-
This is the full course list.
http://catalog.utdallas.edu/now/undergraduate/programs/jsom/management-information-systems
-
Congrats on the new life "course." Pun intended, of course.
I have lots of friends from UNT. Like @Kontazler
-
I did my degree from SUNY Empire whilst working full time.
-
@scottalanmiller said:
I did my degree from SUNY Empire whilst working full time.
Yes but that's all online. I don't do well with online classes. I need to do on-campus classes.
-
@scottalanmiller Like I said, you know this isn't UNT, right?
-
@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller said:
I did my degree from SUNY Empire whilst working full time.
Yes but that's all online. I don't do well with online classes. I need to do on-campus classes.
SUNY Empire is not an online school.
-
Oh. UTD. Sorry. Don't know anyone there.
-
@scottalanmiller I was under the impression SUNY Empire was various classes from various SUNY/NY schools all available in one school online. There is no SUNY Empire campus that I know of...am I wrong?
-
@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller I was under the impression SUNY Empire was various classes from various SUNY/NY schools all available in one school online. There is no SUNY Empire campus that I know of...am I wrong?
They have physical campuses of their own all over the state. They are often small. Out on the Hudson they have a main campus that is a normal size. They have all their own resources. Other SUNY schools leverage Empire as a source more than vice versa.
-
I used first the Ithaca campus (downtown on the commons) but did most if my time in the Rochester campus.
-
Ithaca, Hudson, Rochester. This explains why I've never seen one of their campuses...
-
Well, I knew Mr. Kim was a dean at UTD, didn't know this was his program.
Talk with Tom Kim, tell him I sent ya. My real name, not PSX.
-
@PSX_Defector said:
Well, I knew Mr. Kim was a dean at UTD, didn't know this was his program.
Talk with Tom Kim, tell him I sent ya. My real name, not PSX.
Wait, what? Who?
-
@PSX_Defector You're saying I should go talk to the Dean of UT Dallas and tell him you sent me?
-
Hey, you met J.D. I seem to have too much insight into the education world.
-
@PSX_Defector said:
Hey, you met J.D. I seem to have too much insight into the education world.
Ok, so how exactly am I supposed to get an audience? You don't typically just walk into the Dean's office...
-
@PSX_Defector The guy at the bottom? http://jindal.utdallas.edu/career-management-center/
-
Am I just supposed to contact him to ask him to get me into the program? Just kind of confused...
-
@ajstringham said:
@PSX_Defector said:
Hey, you met J.D. I seem to have too much insight into the education world.
Ok, so how exactly am I supposed to get an audience? You don't typically just walk into the Dean's office...
Why not? I walked into the president's office at CVC and didn't even know who it was.
Or would you like to hear the story about how I stood up in a new hire meeting with the DCCCD board and one of the founders Bill J. Priest and said "Hi, I'm PSX, and I'm an alcoholic. Woops, wrong room!"
