do I have to finish my second degree if I register myself as one?

[agirl]

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[student1799]

Sorry if I sounds like a oppotunist, I would have preferred not to register myself as a 2nd degree seeker if not for it was the only way I could take extra classes.

Or it is just the natual worrier of me thinking way too much.

Don't be silly. You're not being an "opportunist"--you're just doing what you need to do to get the extra classes. It's not as if you're taking scholarship money that would otherwise be going to someone else--you just want the right to take the classes. You shouldn't have guilt feelings about getting additional education.

 

[murfettie]

tsktsk!! u are SUCH A LEECH IN OUR SOCIETY!!!
seriously.. no.. it's totally fine, as long as you are paying your taxes...
a lot of people drop out of their 1st bachelor.. mmm..k?

 

[gman33]

No reason to worry about it. It's actually a really good option for a lot of people. As a non-degree student most schools make you wait to register for classes and you can run into problems. The school couldn't care less as long as you are paying your tuition.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I registered for a 2nd bachelor's as my post-bacc. I did not finish the 2nd degree before I started medical school. I like to think of it as I got accepted before I finished the 2nd degree. 🙂 In reality, I could have finished the 2nd degree before medical school started but didn't feel that the effort or expense was worth it. Once I had my acceptance in hand I finished that semester and was done with undergrad.

 

[glamqueen]

I'll be the anomaly here. I DID finish the second degree. I will be graduating this May with my second degree in Microbiology. My first was journalism. I've never been prouder of myself. Not to mention, the amount of time it would have taken me to adequately take the pre-reqs, MCAT etc. - still left plenty of time before matriculating to finish the degree. What else would I have been doing from September to now (the time since my acceptance - yes, I was accepted early) ?

I don't regret finishing it. Not only have I had high exposure to extremely difficult classes, but I have also earned a degree I am finally REALLY proud of. I definitely think the subject I picked will help me in medical school also. Pathogenic bacteria anyone? I love what I chose, and I can say 110 percent - I have no regrets.

 

[student1799]

I'll be the anomaly here. I DID finish the second degree. I will be graduating this May with my second degree in Microbiology. My first was journalism. I've never been prouder of myself. Not to mention, the amount of time it would have taken me to adequately take the pre-reqs, MCAT etc. - still left plenty of time before matriculating to finish the degree. What else would I have been doing from September to now (the time since my acceptance - yes, I was accepted early) ?

I don't regret finishing it. Not only have I had high exposure to extremely difficult classes, but I have also earned a degree I am finally REALLY proud of. I definitely think the subject I picked will help me in medical school also. Pathogenic bacteria anyone? I love what I chose, and I can say 110 percent - I have no regrets.

Good for you. I'm glad you did it your way, and that you were happy with your choice. I don't think anyone here meant to imply that getting the 2nd degree was bad, just that it wasn't mandatory for the OP.

I would say, though, that while a microbiology degree is something to be proud of, so is a liberal arts degree. I'm still plenty proud of my utterly impractical lit degree. (How many other doctors will have read Mallarme in the original?🙂)

 

[nlax30]

Like others have said it's not going to be a problem not finishing it, as long as you already have a 4 year degree. I did the same thing after I finished my psych degree, I still registered as a "degree seeking" student for some other science degree so I could have access to some specific science courses. At my undergrad if you weren't "degree seeking" you basically were the lowest on list when it came time to register and didn't have access to certain upper level courses.

 

[ILikeFood]

someone's post made me concerned. I had a BSN. To take premed classes in accordance with school policy, I had to register myself as a second degree seeker for biochemistry. Of course everybody knows if I don't get into medical school, I would most likely not to get a 2nd degree in biochemistry.
I will most likely not getting a Bachelor's in biochem even if I get in.

Sorry if I sounds like a oppotunist, I would have preferred not to register myself as a 2nd degree seeker if not for it was the only way I could take extra classes.

Or it is just the natual worrier of me thinking way too much.

You are thinking way too much. Whether you want to finish it or not is your choice. Either way, you need to inform the med schools of your plan through the primary/secondary or through separate emails to each school when you apply. As long as you do well in the prereqs, have a ba, and are a competitive applicant, it doesn't matter.

 

[glamqueen]

Oh please don't think I don't value other people's liberal arts degrees. Definitely be proud of your degree! 🙂

Please take my post in context with the five years of work experience I had in public relations/marketing. I am a little bitter. Had I earned my major in comparative literature instead of making that my minor for my first degree - I'd probably be a little less negative. LOL

Definitely be proud of your liberal arts degrees, nontrads. Know that the admission coms think it is a cool thing (they really do).

 

[de_la_soul]

How'd you guys enroll in the second bachelor's degree? Is it only limited to fall enrollment?

 

[nlax30]

How'd you guys enroll in the second bachelor's degree? Is it only limited to fall enrollment?

I wouldn't think so, may depend on your school though. Just go to your admissions office or to the specific department of the major you'd like and tell them you'd like to continue taking classes and declare that major. The specific major I declared was in a department that required me to come in and meet with one of their academic counselors before I could be "allowed" in and have access to those classes, but it was pretty seamless.

 

[spideyman44]

I registered as a continuing education student last summer. Then I transferred into the biology program during the winter quarter for a second degree. All I needed to complete this was an intra-university transfer form from an academic advisor in the college of arts. I'm not sure if this is the same process at all universities though. Maybe contact someone in the department you're considering "obtaining" your second bachelor's degree in.

 

[glamqueen]

I just declared a major. And you mark on Fafsa that you are a second-degree seeking student. That's it.

 

[de_la_soul]

You guys are fortunate. I went into the Admissions office at my university (University of California) and apparently the deadline for second baccalearaute for even Fall '09 has passed. Tried online anyway and it wouldn't even let me begin an application because of the deadline.

I think I'll take your advice, spideyman44, and contact someone directly at the major. Who knows I might end up getting lucky.

 

[Crelal]

I would bypass the Admissions office and find an advisor in the department of interest.

When I went back for my second degree (did finish, but just b/c there were classes I wanted to take), I met first with the chair of the dept. and she ended up being my advisor. It was a lot of help- she got pre-reqs waived for me and put the registrar's office in their place when they tried to make me take add'l humanities courses to get the second degree.

(Hello- my first degree was in social work, is that not humanities-focused enough for them?)

I believe I registered as a special student the first semester, but my advisor did something to fast track my application, so from first meeting to acceptance for program was about two weeks.

Seek out an advisor who can advocate for you- it'll make a difference. 🙂

 

[Mobius1985]

I had to register myself as a second degree seeker for biochemistry.

I will most likely not getting a Bachelor's in biochem even if I get in.

Medical schools have an expectation that you will finish any graduate degree you begin. This expectation does not apply to a second baccalaureate degree. (And a few don't even require a first undergrad degree.)

 

[DrYoda]

Medical schools have an expectation that you will finish any graduate degree you begin. This expectation does not apply to a second baccalaureate degree. (And a few don't even require a first undergrad degree.)

He speaks the truth. My acceptance is contingent on me finishing any degree I am registered for and maintaining the same level of performance.