Help! What to do about getting a degree

[chibichibirei]

In the last 4 days or so my assurance in the degree I was working towards has been destroyed.

I have already had 1 re-do major wise (Graphic Design, fiancee has his 4 year in this field and is unable to find a design job). I decided to go back to school last year and decided that Elementary Education was the field that I would most enjoy working in. Going into it I knew that teachers are notoriously underpaid, so believe me I wasn't having delusions of grandeur. However, I was told that by the time I would be graduating most of the "Baby Boomer" teachers would be ready to retire. I am in the process of getting a 2+2 degree from my college which means I do 2 years at the community/technical college and then finish at a 4 year school.

On this Dis boards alone I have noticed at least 3 posts regarding teaching and pretty much all of the comments have been negative towards it. Not to mention we are in Rochester, Minnesota, and in the paper on Thursday there was a huge article about how 17(!!) of the schools in town failed to meet testing standards. Not that I would like to stay in town, but still it left a very bad taste in my mouth for how the educational system is going nowadays.

My thoughts at this time are: I still hold a very strong desire to become a teacher and help mold the minds of my students. I don't expect to make a whole lot the first few years, but also can't exactly afford to get paid next to nothing as that is how we are living now and it is extremely difficult to make ends meet each month. If teaching is not in the cards for me, I thought of working in the pediatrics ward in a hospital in some manner, probably not as a doctor because I couldn't begin to be able to afford to get my Phd at this time.

I have 12 or so credits to finish in order to receive my 2 year degree, so one more semester after this one. I want to be able to at some point in the future (near rather than far off) start a family and get settled in a house. At this point I feel like anything is better than how we are living now, but I want a career that I can be proud of, and can hold onto for the rest of my working career.

Eek sorry this is long, I'm just sick over not knowing what is best. The counselors at my school are not helpful in the least.

All suggestions are welcomed

 

[chloelovesdisney]

In the last 4 days or so my assurance in the degree I was working towards has been destroyed.

I have already had 1 re-do major wise (Graphic Design, fiancee has his 4 year in this field and is unable to find a design job). I decided to go back to school last year and decided that Elementary Education was the field that I would most enjoy working in. Going into it I knew that teachers are notoriously underpaid, so believe me I wasn't having delusions of grandeur. However, I was told that by the time I would be graduating most of the "Baby Boomer" teachers would be ready to retire. I am in the process of getting a 2+2 degree from my college which means I do 2 years at the community/technical college and then finish at a 4 year school.

On this Dis boards alone I have noticed at least 3 posts regarding teaching and pretty much all of the comments have been negative towards it. Not to mention we are in Rochester, Minnesota, and in the paper on Thursday there was a huge article about how 17(!!) of the schools in town failed to meet testing standards. Not that I would like to stay in town, but still it left a very bad taste in my mouth for how the educational system is going nowadays.

My thoughts at this time are: I still hold a very strong desire to become a teacher and help mold the minds of my students. I don't expect to make a whole lot the first few years, but also can't exactly afford to get paid next to nothing as that is how we are living now and it is extremely difficult to make ends meet each month. If teaching is not in the cards for me, I thought of working in the pediatrics ward in a hospital in some manner, probably not as a doctor because I couldn't begin to be able to afford to get my Phd at this time.

I have 12 or so credits to finish in order to receive my 2 year degree, so one more semester after this one. I want to be able to at some point in the future (near rather than far off) start a family and get settled in a house. At this point I feel like anything is better than how we are living now, but I want a career that I can be proud of, and can hold onto for the rest of my working career.

Eek sorry this is long, I'm just sick over not knowing what is best. The counselors at my school are not helpful in the least.

All suggestions are welcomed

Not too many PhD's working in the peds unit anyway. They are mostly MD's, RN's, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists, and so on.

How about nursing? You can attend a community college program and take the RN exam. That's a stable field that pays fairly well. As an RN you could work in the peds unit, PICU, NICU, etc.. There are many interesting departments to work in.

If not perhaps consider physical or occupational therapy. Pharmacy tech? Paramedic? OR tech? Radiology tech? EKG tech? 911 dispatcher?

There are many hospital/hospital related jobs out there. If you are not into the hospital, how about library science? I know two people that have gone into that recently. One was a graphic designer originally.

Paralegal? Legal secretary?

Adolescent group home worker? School aide?

My sister worked for a while in an underground battered woman's shelter. (well it was above ground but a secret location, not publically known about, you could only come by referral and were brought there, not told where it was located)

My friend's dh started a doggie day care business that is booming. Not sure if you like dogs.

There's so many possibilities, good luck.

 

[eliza61]

This is the hard choices. do some thing you love or do some thing that will give you a shot at a decent standard of living.
I live on the East coast, with it's notoriously high cost of living. I am also a graduate degree Chemist. I taught h.s. Chemistry for 8 months as part of an exchange program funded by a former employee. I have to say that as much as I loved teaching and working with kids, there is no way I would consider it as a career, primarily due to the pay. H.s. teachers in Philadelphia/S. Jersey make peanuts compared to a private company. The teachers work much harder (IMO) jobs. Nowadays most of them are not only teachers but also mini social workers, psychologist, coaches and guidance counselors. The ones I worked with routinely put in waay more than 8 hours a day. All this for a 45K starting salary. Never going to happen. Not when I made 15K more working for an area oil refinery.

Now there are days where I wish I had a career I could honestly say I loved but If I run across a student who excels in math and science, I am not advising them to go in education.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, first, take the "failed" schools with a grain of salt. In our district a couple years ago our middle school got a "failing" grade because the year before the kids had 98% competency in reading and the next year they had 97%-going 'backwards' so they were considered to not have adequate yearly progress where as the Minneapolis schools "passed" because they went from having 45% competency to 48%--now tell me which school is "failing". There are also schools that get a "failing" grade because of one sub-group, usually special education--meaning the ones that will NEVER be able to pass a test yet they still have to take the tests--it's quite stupid actually. Dig into the numbers for the Rochester schools a little more and you will find that MOST kids really do pass and the schools are just fine.

As far as getting a job, do everything you can to make yourself marketable-especially if you can add any kind of special ed concentration but even reading, math, etc. will help. If you can coach or lead any extra curriculars that will help you get your foot in the door too. Plan on subbing for a year so your name gets out there.

If you are willing to live anywhere in the state you will have better job prospects too. You will also find that the lower cost of living outside of the major cities in the state (Minneapolis/St. Paul/Rochester/Duluth, etc.) will allow you to get by on a teachers salary.

 

[torinsmom]

Have you ever looked into Montessori education? I am getting my Masters in Montessori Education at St Catherines University in St Paul(even though I live in NC). From what I was told during my on-campus visit, there is a big move towards public Montessori in Minnesota. You might want to call someone in that dept. and see what credit would transfer. You can get your Montessori cert. and your state cert. at one time.

http://www.stkate.edu/academic/montessori/el_program.php

I teach at a public magnet Montessori school in NC and I feel very secure in my job, because I needed both Montessori and state certification. I also love that I am teaching each child individually. Our principal was just looking for a replacement for another teacher who went back to school and he had a very hard time finding someone with both cert. Actually, he never did and had to hire someone who will take Montessori training next year.

Marsha

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't think the choice in degree is necessarily the problem. The economy is performing poorly so most fields are suffering for it. Although, any kind of design work is too easily outsourced offshore so maybe there you have a point. Some fields are more easily outsourced than others, stay away from those that are. The education field is suffering because taxes fund the programs, municipalities have lost tax streams because people aren't working so they're not paying taxes. Long term teaching will probably rebound but it won't be quick and the market will probably be flooded with professionals who shifted to teaching when their jobs disappeared so salaries will probably drop too. I don't know if I would go into teaching myself. On the other hand, the baby boomers are aging so health-care might be wise especially because you can't outsource hands on health-care. Since you already are into a degree I'd consider Nursing or Sonography.

Personally, I was thinking that with the job climate being what it is people will be pressed to be able to leave their jobs to take care of sick kids so a babysitting service geared toward taking care of sick kids would probably do very well. Throw in some services like picking a sick kid up from school or shuttling the child to see the Dr for extra fees and you might be able to make a nice chunk of change. Also, lawn care, painting ect are ridiculously expensive so if you are able to provide such services for less than the average business you can carve out a decent living.

Right now the only place to make money is from individual people with money. Focus there and hold on, it will be years before the economy can rebound... that is if the hemorrhaging can be stopped. I'm still in worry mode and don't see that mood lifting anytime soon.

 

[Hannathy]

The counselors at your school aren't helpful because YOU have to make some decisions before they can be helpful. You are all over the place. You have to figure out what you want to do.
Do you want to work in an area you are interested in OR do you simply want to go into an area that makes the most money and is easiest to find a job?

If it is just money, go on line and find which jobs have the most openings now and are expected to keep growing and pay the most.

If that isn't it then you need to stop and think about what you are interested in and are good at.

If it is what is the most lucrative you still need to be able to get thru the curriculum. Actuary's may make a lot of money and find jobs easily but if you barely made it out of High school math that may not be your field!

I think it is a combination of both. You have to like what you do and are able to do it, but you have to pay the mortgage.

I have a sister who is an excellent dancer but the chances of earning a living at that is very slim so she got a BA in fine arts and a Masters in recreational therapy and works in a hospital and teaches Dance in the evening and is coach for the High school dance team.

Narrow down what you want to do then look at the best thing you can do within your interest area. (or make the most money/find job easily whichever way you want to put it)

 

[Mary•Poppins]

If you are willing to work for what teachers are paid, I would say stick with it. I am a teacher and I love my job. I had to sub for 1/2 a year before I got a full-time contracted job (I had to put in my dues).

In this economy, ALL jobs are scarce. And, unfortunately, teachers are paid by public funds. I feel there are more layoffs this year because last year (when a lot of people lost their jobs) the money in the budgets were in place. Now this year is a different story.

In my district, I have seen the subs who have worked hard, get long time sub replacements, then full time jobs. If you are a hard worker, it shows. I would not recommend giving up your dream because of what is on the DIS boards. Sometimes the forums are great for just "getting things off your back" (as I have posted at times ) Even though things are tight, our district just hired about 15 teachers this year. We had about 20 retire and we were all sad to see 5 of the jobs not being replaced, but we did hire.

So, I would say, focus, stay with teaching ... or quickly commit to something else (but commit). Hope this helps.

 

[MrsPete]

I was told that by the time I would be graduating most of the "Baby Boomer" teachers would be ready to retire . . . On this Dis boards alone I have noticed at least 3 posts regarding teaching and pretty much all of the comments have been negative towards it . . .

I think the information you heard about Baby Boomers was a little old. That was true for me when I started teaching in the early 90s: When I started teaching, MOST of my co-workers had been in their jobs 20-something years. MOST of them had children in college or already out in the workforce. MOST of them had been together in the department for years and years, and they were some great teachers! I stood out because I was so much younger. When I had my first child, they hadn't had a baby shower around school in so long that they threw me an embarassingly big party. And when I'd been working only a few years, the retirement parties start . . . and kept on going.

And for a while, we had a very serious teacher shortage. With all those Baby Boomers leaving and the pay so seriously low (I made less than 20K when I started), teachers just weren't to be had. We started bringing in Visiting International Faculty (which was fun) and people from the business world with no teaching degrees (results were mixed, but mostly negative). As a result, we got some big raises (well, big is a moderate word), and with the promise of a little more money more top-notch young people chose teaching as a career.

Now I'm 44, and the age breakdown looks very different. VERY FEW teachers are older than me -- oh, you could find a handful, but overall it's not the gray-haired building in which I first started teaching. About 1/3 of the teachers are in my age bracket -- we're in the "oldest teacher" rung. Most of my co-workers are young, five years or less out of college. (Wedding showers and baby showers abound.) So I don't anticipate large numbers of retirement parties soon. I have 13 more years to teach. Around the time I retire, yes, a bunch of us will go together -- well, within a five year span.

Now, what I've just told you is all true for my county, a county known for good schools. If you move just one county over, you'll find a very different situation. We live near a big city that's known for bad schools. They have horrible teacher turn-over, and the best teachers leave their system and come to ours (or one of the other outlying counties). ANY teacher can get a job in that system, and they actually make more money than we do in my county -- but heaven help them. I know MANY teachers who started out there but got away as fast as they could.

However, down here in the South we still are in need of teachers. Why? Because we are growing. With the taxes, high cost of living, and lack of jobs, people can't afford to live up North anymore. Businesses are flocking this direction, and we're building schools like you wouldn't believe. As a result, we're hiring more and more out-of-state teachers. It would be unfair for me not to mention wages, of course. Teacher salaries in the South are much lower than those in the North, but then, our cost of living is also much lower.

Looking back over the years, I think it happened like this: Teaching is a mainly female job. Those women who were my first co-workers would've gone to college in the 60s. At that point, most women were still being largely shuffled into teaching, nursing, or secretarial work. But in the 70s women were encouraged to break away from those stereotypes -- and many of them did. To choose education was to be un-progressive, un-modern. That explains why there's sort of a "missing generation of teachers" a little older than me. By the time I came through college in the 80s, the theme was "you have a choice" -- women were not looked down upon for doing something traditional like teaching, though other options were perfectly acceptable too. At least that's how it appears to me.

And as for negativity about teaching . . . if you do complete your teaching degree, you're going to learn that not everyone is supportive of teachers. More people than you'd expect are downright negative and have the idea that teachers should be servants, willing to work for peanuts (you KNEW it wasn't going to pay well, didn't you?), and anything bad that happens is basically because teachers are all just lazy. These people will always exist, and all the facts in the world won't sway their opinions.

In closing, I'm glad I went into education. It's really one of those jobs that's a calling. Either you are a teacher, or you're not. You have to have the right personality. Although it hasn't paid nearly as well as other things I could've done, the schedule is mom-friendly and that's worth a great deal. Also, the one big financial benefit we have is our pension, though the new people coming in aren't getting the same deal that we old-folks have.

Before you continue your program of study, though, I'd advise you to investigate whether you're realistically going to be able to get a job in your area. Don't take people's word for it. Check and see how many jobs are posted. Also, consider getting on the substitute teacher list. That'll get you into schools and let you see for yourself the job situation. In my experience, most teachers (myself included) get their first job through student teaching or through substitute teaching; knowing someone through those methods is key.

If you and your fiance decide that you're going to move, look into the teaching situation in the part of the country you're considering. It's not the same everywhere, and you don't want to become qualified for a job that isn't realistically going to be available.

 

[MrsPete]

Ok, first, take the "failed" schools with a grain of salt. In our district a couple years ago our middle school got a "failing" grade because the year before the kids had 98% competency in reading and the next year they had 97%-going 'backwards' so they were considered to not have adequate yearly progress where as the Minneapolis schools "passed" because they went from having 45% competency to 48%--now tell me which school is "failing". There are also schools that get a "failing" grade because of one sub-group, usually special education--meaning the ones that will NEVER be able to pass a test yet they still have to take the tests--it's quite stupid actually. Dig into the numbers for the Rochester schools a little more and you will find that MOST kids really do pass and the schools are just fine.

Absolutely true. The No Kids Left Behind rules are so ridiculously stringent that a very good school can "fail" because of one subset. The general public can get the impression that the school isn't any good, when actually the majority of the students are doing well.

 

[chibichibirei]

Thank you all for your replies. I have done some thinking and I'm going to stick to the program I am in. I plan on hopefully going through and getting my masters on top of the bachelors degree, and would love to teach reading. I just came to the realization that if I back out again it just will be something that I will wonder what if?

Golfgal- I hope to relocate to the cities again, that is where my fiancee and I are from (him Plymouth and me Golden Valley). I am however open to other areas, if the job market is better elsewhere.

Hannathy- it's not that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I spoke with the college councilor, I went in already on the way to the degree I'm pursuing. However, when I asked her questions pertaining to finishing the degree and moving on to the 4 year portion she was completely clueless. I needed to know when I should be taking the Praxis exam to get into the program, and if it was a possibility to attend the UofM instead of Winona state, questions that I can't imagine haven't been asked before.

I think what I need to do is (start and) finish this semester, take the Praxis, then speak to the UofM.

 

[Hannathy]

Hannathy- it's not that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I spoke with the college councilor, I went in already on the way to the degree I'm pursuing. However, when I asked her questions pertaining to finishing the degree and moving on to the 4 year portion she was completely clueless. I needed to know when I should be taking the Praxis exam to get into the program, and if it was a possibility to attend the UofM instead of Winona state, questions that I can't imagine haven't been asked before.

I think what I need to do is (start and) finish this semester, take the Praxis, then speak to the UofM.

Now that is different than I thought you meant. I thought you meant they weren't helping you decide what to do with your life. Sorry I misunderstood. I understand them not knowing what they really should know in their jobs. My DD went thru that also the counselors in her school were no help in applying to colleges that weren't the ones everyone in this area went to! It is frustrating.
Good luck in your choices.

 

[chibichibirei]

Now that is different than I thought you meant. I thought you meant they weren't helping you decide what to do with your life. Sorry I misunderstood. I understand them not knowing what they really should know in their jobs. My DD went thru that also the counselors in her school were no help in applying to colleges that weren't the ones everyone in this area went to! It is frustrating.
Good luck in your choices.

Ty, and no problem I can see where it may have sounded like that

 

[DawnCt1]

Most community colleges offer a career interest inventory "test". There are no right or wrong answers. You don't pick according to what you think you would be "good at" but what interests you. I would suggest you start there. One career choice that rarely gets mentioned on this board is "Speech and Language Pathologist". I can't think of a more diverse career. It encompasses patient care for all ages, rehabilitative, "habilitative" for young children in a hospital or chronic care setting, all the way to the school systems and home care. Something to think about.

 

[DawnCt1]

Another consideration is "child life specialists". These a people who work with children while they are hospitalized, familiarizing them with the environment, procedures and providing diversion in the "play room" or "child life" room while they are recovering. Children's hospitals, pediatric units and oncology centers have a particular need for these services. How many positions there are, I have no idea but its another thought.

 

[emma'smom]

This is really the bottom line. If you going into it for the $$....than you won't be happy because there are certainly many more jobs that will pay you a higher salary. If you are teaching for the love of the job....then you will find a life's work that will be fulfilling, interesting, exciting, and wonderful.

I currently teach at the college level, but taught elementary school for years. I do think (particularly since you have a working spouse as well) that the intrinsic value and convenient schedule of a teacher are worth considering. I enjoy being home with my kid's in the summer, snow days won't be such a big deal, you'll have holiday breaks with your families. There will be a rhythm to your lives that is comfortable! I'm willing to sacrifice a higher salary for all of these things. My DH earns a much higher salary, but he doesn't have the flexibility I do.

Hope you find what works for you!

In closing, I'm glad I went into education. It's really one of those jobs that's a calling. Either you are a teacher, or you're not. You have to have the right personality. Although it hasn't paid nearly as well as other things I could've done, the schedule is mom-friendly and that's worth a great deal.

B

 

[Hannathy]

Another consideration is "child life specialists". These a people who work with children while they are hospitalized, familiarizing them with the environment, procedures and providing diversion in the "play room" or "child life" room while they are recovering. Children's hospitals, pediatric units and oncology centers have a particular need for these services. How many positions there are, I have no idea but its another thought.

Not many! I have a dear friend who has her degree in this and has been looking for about 15 yrs for a position. She did this before kids but has not been able to find another position since she wanted to go back. And it isn't like there aren't any hospitals here. Just something to think about.

 

[DawnCt1]

Not many! I have a dear friend who has her degree in this and has been looking for about 15 yrs for a position. She did this before kids but has not been able to find another position since she wanted to go back. And it isn't like there aren't any hospitals here. Just something to think about.

That was my thought too. A large children's hospital may have two or three. When you consider the number of personnel that is required to make the hospital operate, that is a very small number.

 

[Hannathy]

That was my thought too. A large children's hospital may have two or three. When you consider the number of personnel that is required to make the hospital operate, that is a very small number.

Yep that is exactly where she worked at a large University children's hospital.
We have 3 Hospitals in town including 1 with a satellite section from the childrens hospital and they employ 1 part time. She did love it while she did it and believe it or not but when she was down at the Hospital that was with the childrens hospital for her Mom one of her chronically ill kids actual came up to her and said her name-now of course he was all grown up and at the "big" people hospital but he remembered her. She was so thrilled she called me right from the lobby on her phone to tell me!