Programs A Second Bachelors Degree in Physics

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the dilemma of pursuing a master's degree in geography versus starting anew in physics after completing a BA in Geography. The individual expresses regret about not pursuing physics earlier and is concerned about the financial implications of returning to school. They acknowledge the potential need for upgrade courses in math and science to transition into physics. Participants emphasize the importance of following one's passion and the risk of future regret if the individual stays in their current field. Many share similar experiences of contemplating career changes later in life and encourage the pursuit of what truly interests them, highlighting that many students in physics are older and have diverse backgrounds. The consensus leans towards taking the leap into physics if it aligns with the individual's long-held interests.
Krae
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Hello,
I know that this question has been posted by others before, and I've read the threads, but I want to hear it again.

I'm about to graduate with a BA in Geography. It has taken 8 years to get it, because I am not made of money and I've spent more time at work than I have at school. In fact, that is why I did not pursue the sciences from the beginning - I thought it would take up too much of my time and I did not want to receive poor grades (stupid, stupid me).

Of course, now older and wiser, I know that science, specifically physics, is what I want to do (the most frustrating part is that I have known this ever since I was about 13). I keep trying to push the idea out of my mind, but its not going away, so here I am.

I'm getting older (sort of... for a student, anyway) and I have to decide: is my next step going to be to settle on a master's degree that relates to my degree, or do I pursue physics? I know that with my background, I would need to start from the very beginning... probably needing to do upgrade courses even just to get into the first year maths/science.
I love school, spending decades in school is not an issue for me - but money, unfortunately, is.

So, go ahead, share your opinion if you have one.
I think I'm crazy. But the idea isn't going away. So what to do?
 
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So the real question is which will you regret more: staying in your current field and wondering "what if" for the rest of your life, or spending a few more years in school, which you say isn't the problem (except for financially)?

That's something only you can decide. However, since you already have a BA, a lot of the gen ed courses you won't have to take again I'm guessing. You'll see that a lot of people going for their BS in physics are, in fact, a lot older. In my department at least, there were quite a few people in their low-to-mid 30's who either pursued another career at first or goofed around in their 20's and decided to buckle down.

Overall... it's your life. You only get one shot at it... going into the workforce full-time and then deciding later on down the road that you want to go back to school is a tricky endeavor. It's possible that if you continue in geography, you will kick yourself later, and that to me isn't worth it. But that's a question only you can answer.
 
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I sympathize with this and posted something along these lines. I also earned a BS in a different field and am sort of regretting it. I am definitely interested in hearing some replies as well.

We have the same thought process. You onl get one shot at this life thing and I sure as hell don't want to think what if. I say go for it if it is what you REALLY want. Good luck on your journey!C89
 
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Bit Britain-specific but I was wondering, what's the best path to take for A-Levels out of the following (I know Y10 seems a bit early to be thinking about A-levels, but my choice will impact what I do this year/ in y11) I (almost) definitely want to do physics at University - so keep that in mind... The subjects that I'm almost definitely going to take are Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and I'm taking a fast track programme which means that I'll be taking AS computer science at the end...
After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...

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