- #1
Tac-Tics
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I graduated two years ago. Major in computer science, minor in math. Since then, I've been programming full time. It's dull work, and I'm interested in going back to school. However, I'm not sure where to start.
It's said that once a person graduates, the chance that they'll ever go back to school is almost nothing. I want to beat those odds.
Ideally, I'd want to go back and study physics. Why physics? Computer science is all right, but there are areas which have no appeal to me (complexity theory, for example) and it's so mixed up with business. (Nothing is more dull to me than anything having to do with business!). I considered doing math as well, but raw math can be so esoteric at times! Physics seems interesting because it gives you physical access to mathematical theory. (And it's farther from computer science than is engineering).
My intentions for going back to school wouldn't really have anything to do with finding a career or making more money. I make enough at my current job to live my life, and I could probably even get by with less. I'm not looking for a job in particle physics. I'm not necessarily looking to make a living doing physics at all. I want to pursue it because it's just so interesting. After I'm done, I'd probably be more than happy to go back to what I'm doing now... though I'd probably have a few other opportunities open as well.
But since going back to school is such a rare occurrence, I'm not sure how to even get in! I have my bachelor's degree of science. Would I apply to a master's program? Is it possible to apply as an undergrad even with a previous degree? Though I wouldn't think it would be appropriate for me, what about a PhD route? What options are there for people in my situation?
One consideration that I'd probably have to face is my dark past. I'm stubborn as hell, and my grades in undergraduate school suffered. I'm a straight B student with a GPA of 3.0 with an accuracy of several decimal places. My major classes netted me about 3.2 and I think I had 3.5 in math. I've heard that grades have a good amount of influence over who schools accept.
Outside of grades, what else goes into the admissions process? I wanted to keep my options open when I graduated, so I do have two letters of recommendation from past professors. I've heard that work experience is factored in there. What else can people do to increase their chances of getting in? I've wondered if perhaps auditing a class with a department head might do the trick too
Any advice would be much appreciated. Anyone suggesting that it's not possible will be ignored to the extent permissible by law.
It's said that once a person graduates, the chance that they'll ever go back to school is almost nothing. I want to beat those odds.
Ideally, I'd want to go back and study physics. Why physics? Computer science is all right, but there are areas which have no appeal to me (complexity theory, for example) and it's so mixed up with business. (Nothing is more dull to me than anything having to do with business!). I considered doing math as well, but raw math can be so esoteric at times! Physics seems interesting because it gives you physical access to mathematical theory. (And it's farther from computer science than is engineering).
My intentions for going back to school wouldn't really have anything to do with finding a career or making more money. I make enough at my current job to live my life, and I could probably even get by with less. I'm not looking for a job in particle physics. I'm not necessarily looking to make a living doing physics at all. I want to pursue it because it's just so interesting. After I'm done, I'd probably be more than happy to go back to what I'm doing now... though I'd probably have a few other opportunities open as well.
But since going back to school is such a rare occurrence, I'm not sure how to even get in! I have my bachelor's degree of science. Would I apply to a master's program? Is it possible to apply as an undergrad even with a previous degree? Though I wouldn't think it would be appropriate for me, what about a PhD route? What options are there for people in my situation?
One consideration that I'd probably have to face is my dark past. I'm stubborn as hell, and my grades in undergraduate school suffered. I'm a straight B student with a GPA of 3.0 with an accuracy of several decimal places. My major classes netted me about 3.2 and I think I had 3.5 in math. I've heard that grades have a good amount of influence over who schools accept.
Outside of grades, what else goes into the admissions process? I wanted to keep my options open when I graduated, so I do have two letters of recommendation from past professors. I've heard that work experience is factored in there. What else can people do to increase their chances of getting in? I've wondered if perhaps auditing a class with a department head might do the trick too
Any advice would be much appreciated. Anyone suggesting that it's not possible will be ignored to the extent permissible by law.