Going Back to School

[katbuad]

There is a lot of crap going on here at work that is making my life Cr@Zy. But it has made me realize that I need to be a lifetime learner. In order to keep from being at the bottom of the heap, so to speak, I need to be a leader of the pack. All around me folks have gained skills and worked for 20-30 years and never formally progressed from the skill set that they had when they started the job. And right now that is just not good enough.

I am looking at going back to school in the fall. It is an ideal situation. My work pays for one class, no matter the subject, at a state institute each semester. I have a satillete campus of one school right beside my work place. Here's the kicker, I don't know what to do/take.

I have a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Master of Accountancy, and a CPA license. I'm a darn good accountant. There is a lot about accounting that I love and a lot about accounting that I hate but I don't foresee myself leaving the field. Some natural extentions of accounting are becoming a lawyer or continuing my computer skills or getting a PhD. Becoming a lawyer is quite the commitment and I don't think I want to join that (from my perspective) rat race, ie why do all that work and not practice as a lawyer? As for computer skills, I know (and you guys too, probably) that there is a lot I don't know. But as a CPA I have take continuing education classes and a lot of those can be chosen and taken as an end user with my field's specific needs addressed. I am leary about the phd because I don't know that it is offered nearby specifcally in accounting and/or that it will cause me to over educate myself in a field where I am already pretty darn educated. I could teach with it, but I can and have already taught with the skill set that I have already got, so how will more of the same help?

So I was kinda thinking about taking some language classes, specifically spanish. I don't see a specific application in my current job for the language. But I really can see a use for it living the next 30-50 years in this area (or even world).

Anybody able to look into their crystal ball and see a better suggestion on what I should take? I have applied for admission at the school beside my work. Should I get a degree in Spanish or just take some classes? If I get a degree, do I have to take math, english, history again as lisited in the cataloge or can I skip those since I have already done it? I tried calling the admission's office and emailing but no response. Also there is a place called the Foriegn Language Institute that is on the sponsered tuition list. It doesn't appear that they issue degrees, just offer lots of class, but the enviornment looks more focued on the languages which appeals to me. I tried calling them, but also no answer. I am going to keep trying to track folks down. But I was wondering if anyone else had any thoughts or have gone to a "non traditional" place for school. I don't really want to do anything online because that doesn't really fit with my learning style, most courses aren't paid for by my work, and Spanish is something I think I am going to have to hear, in order to be able to learn.

What do you guys think?

[Imachickadee75]

I just want to point out that you don't have to "join the rat race" if you were to become a lawyer. My Dad has had a private practice for over forty years. He specializes in tax law, estates, business and other day to day legal stuff. He had a partner for many years who did all the defense stuff -he never has. Something like his practice might be a very natural extention of your current experience. You don't have to go for being a partner in a large firm......

Jackie

[ccbegay]

I say Congrats on going back, and like it was said before, there are many venues that you can do!

[spotty4]

I like Jackie's approach to the law degree. It may not hurt to contact local firms to see what they suggest, too.

Spanish is definitely a very good idea. Although, I've got to admit, I'm excited to hear a southern accented Spanish speaker!! Maybe not so much in TN, but all southern border states have loads of Spanish speakers. Lots of those folks are tax payers, but don't know English all that well. I know a lot of them prefer to go to tax offices that have a sign on the door that says Se abla Espanol (or whatever it is -- I don't really know Spanish). Now, I don't think you plan on moving to a border state, but like you indicated, over the next few decades, Spanish speaking populations are forecast to grow A LOT throughout the USA. Knowing Spanish will be an invaluable skill. It already is in places like CA, NM, AZ, TX, and FL.

As for computing classes, another great idea. I don't know direct computer accounting applications, but surely there are some out there and surely the more you know the more qualified and skilled you are. Computers aren't going anywhere any time soon. The more versed you are in them, in nearly any career, the better off you will be.

I think you have 3 really good ideas. I can't help you pick one over the other. I hope the local satellite school is finally reachable. If not, that may be a sign ... and not a good one.

Oh, and as for the base level classes required for a Bachelor's, I'm not sure. It may depend on the school and also how long ago your original Bachelor's degree was obtained. Good question. Another approach would be not to seek a Bachelor's but rather another Master's. For example, a Master's in Spanish would probably require you to take some requisite introductory level Spanish before you could proceed w/ the Master's program, but they would not require you to go through all the other general education classes.

I went through a similar thought process when I was finishing up my MS in Atmospheric Science. Before I decided to pursue my PhD (never finished) I thought about getting a Masters in Forestry (interplay of weather causing, inhibiting, or escalating wild fires). I spoke w/ a faculty member and was advised that I'd need to take some of the undergraduate Forestry curriculum to establish a good base, and then proceed w/ the Master's. These were specific Forestry classes, not general core education classes.

Ok, that was long ... GOOD LUCK!!

[AnnaRose]

I was thinking of getting a second bachelor's degree in mathematics recently and the school I was going to do it at (FAU) transfered the first two years worth of credits pretty much, basically, the liberal arts kinds of classes.

I recently got the rosetta stone from my bf for my b-day. He paid like $340 for it. He went to work the next day and flew with a guy who ended up getting him copies of it in Lima, peru for like $5. Needless to say we returned the expensive version. They have all the languages in Lima.

Anyway, the rosetta stone would probably really help you in practicing your language skills. I was looking into a language school called inlingua, but it was too expensive for me. I think being able to speak Spanish is awesome, but how would you apply it to your field? Maybe you should try the rosetta stone and see if it works for you. I am just starting to use it so I dont know if it will work yet, but it seems promising.

My aunt is a CPA and has been CEO and CFO of banks. Would something like that interest you? A law degree can never hurt in my opinion, but it will require lots o' work. Good luck figuring this out!

Oh and I never thought online classes would be for me either, but I have taken a bunch for my master's degree and feel like, in some ways, I learned more because it forces you to read and research concepts. Maybe you could try a course online. Hope this helps!

[Comairwife]

Hi there!
I'm sorry I don't have a crystal ball to tell you what to do... but it sure does sound like an ideal situation with your work paying for some of your classes!
I'm going back to school full time (been taking part time classes) in August... I should have started last Aug, but a week before classes was diagnosed with cancer.
Anyway, before I go off on my tangent... I say go for it.. Sure it will be a little more stress and a little less free time, but, I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end...

Hugs,
Helen