Dear Class Career Girl, 

In 2010, I graduated from a four-year university with a bachelor’s in science degree that I really didn’t want but was overly talked into. After looking for a job for about a year, I found a pretty nice office job that I like. It’s a little boring and underpaid to my tastes but at least I finally landed a job and stopped feeling like a failure.

My job is at the local maximum security prison and I have always been around this type of environment (my dad worked here for 20 years and the guy I’m dating works at the neighboring prison).

I have decided to go back to school online to get a B.A. in Criminal Justice and they also offer the Masters degree fully online. Are there any places that offer aid to students/young professionals that are wanting to correct their mistakes and get a second degree that they could actually benefit from in a career?

Thanks,

Second Chance Student

Dear Second Chance Student,

When I received your question, I knew I didn’t have all the right answers for you so I asked Ken O’Connor, the Director of Student Advocacy at CUStudentLoans.org to help.  Ken is recognized by CBS MoneyWatch as one the top 25 college twitterers!  Thanks, Ken!

How To Get Financial Aid For a Second Degree

First up, the student should not feel bad, or like they have made some kind of huge mistake by pursuing their prior degree. There is no sense in feeling bad after the fact.

I’m not a Prison HR expert. However, I do know they are the kind of organizations that would require Master’s degree recipients for very specific positions. My advice would be to first focus on exactly what positions would require this advanced education. Then research the administration of other prisons, and look at the educational background of people that have the same positions you would like to hold. What schools did they go to? Did they like it there?  Does it have an alumni base in the field you want to enter?

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Unfortunately, school opportunities have irreparably changed as a result of completing a first bachelor’s degree.  The student cannot ever be funded with any federal need-based grants to pursue a second degree, and most likely will not qualify for any institutional merit or need-based grants no matter where she attends.

If she were to pursue a Master’s Degree, they would be eligible for the same thing, just federal Stafford loans. So my advice is to forget the second Bachelor’s and go for a Masters instead.  Consider a Master’s in Public Administration, but only after being exactly sure that this would fill the requirement. The MPA is only effective when combined with real work experience, but it could be the linchpin to securing the job when the opportunity arises.

Second, are there any places that offer aid to students/young professionals that are wanting to correct their mistakes and get a degree that they could actually benefit from in a career?

Schools will give support within their sphere of influence, and will arm the student with knowledge, but really only the student does any work towards advancing a career.  No school is going to help you correct mistakes, and no one comes out of programs instantly getting jobs anymore.  The employment wheels are set in motion long before even starting a degree program.  It sounds like the student wants a do-over because they are unhappy with their first-degree choice.

On the second try, this student needs to be careful to avoid the mistake of thinking a school is going to bestow a magical gift to her, making her instantly employable.  She needs to instead focus on what actual job skills and ability she needs to continue in her field.  I suspect that in the field of prisons, there is NO CLASSROOM CAPABLE OF TEACHING THE LESSONS NEEDED TO WORK THERE.  It’s more about the experience, and being connected politically.  Since Dad has been in the business for over 20 years, I bet there might be some clout in her corner, so just getting a Master’s to pad the resume will be enough to secure that job when it opens.”

Hope this helps you!  Best of luck!!
Classy Career Girl and Ken O’Connor

Readers, what is your advice for Second Chance Student?  Should she take out more loans to get a second degree if financial aid isn’t an option?