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Need Math Professor Advice

by fdrhs1984

Aug 13, 2010

I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been considering returning to college for a second degree. Most of my friends believe that going back to undegraduate studies for a second degree makes no sense. They say it would be best for me to try graduate school.

I love math. I would need to complete undergraduate math courses before qualifying for graduate level math courses. This may take many years to accomplish. I do work for a living, you see.

I also will need a student loan. Financial aid paid for my first degree years ago. They will not pay for another college degree.

I know that age 45 is not age 95 but at the same time is not age 25. I don't what to do. I am currently reviewing math on my own and doing a decent job considering that math textbooks are not so easy to understan...See More

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D Have you met with SUNY Empire State?

On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: > I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I > graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but > to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end > job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been > considering returning t...See More

Aug 13, 2010

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fdrhs1984 On 8/13/10, D wrote: > Have you met with SUNY Empire State?

I went to CUNY not SUNY. Can you explain a bit more what you mean?

fdrhs1984 > > > > On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >> to...See More

Aug 13, 2010

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fdrhs1984 On 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: > On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >> to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end >> job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been >> considering returnin...See MoreOn 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: > On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >> to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end >> job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been >> considering returning to college for a second degree. Most >> of my friends believe that going back to undegraduate >> studies for a second degree makes no sense. They say it >> would be best for me to try graduate school. >> >> I love math. I would need to complete undergraduate math >> courses before qualifying for graduate level math courses. >> This may take many years to accomplish. I do work for a >> living, you see. >> >> I also will need a student loan. Financial aid paid for my >> first degree years ago. >> They will not pay for another college degree. >> >> I know that age 45 is not age 95 but at the same time is >> not age 25. I don't what to do. I am currently reviewing >> math on my own and doing a decent job considering that math >> textbooks are not so easy to understand. What is your best >> advice? What would you do in my case? >> > Before I respond, can you reveal what math courses you have > completed?

I completed pre-calculus in 1993 at one of the CUNY colleges. I never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I completed an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com DVD series and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, integration, etc. I also have been answering math questions online for more than 10 years through various math forums. I get decent replies form students expessing how they learned from my reply to one or more of their questions.

Have you taken any calculus at the college level?

I never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I completed an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com DVD series and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, integration, etc.

FYI. The President of Purdue University has her Bachelors's Degree in English. Her Ph.D. is in Physics from Cal Tech.

I guess there is hope for me yet.

What do you think about my answers to your questions?

fdrhs1984

Aug 13, 2010

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Dr. C On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: > On 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: >> On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >>> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >>> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >>> to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end >>> job with no benefits, no retir...See MoreOn 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: > On 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: >> On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >>> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >>> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >>> to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end >>> job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been >>> considering returning to college for a second degree. Most >>> of my friends believe that going back to undegraduate >>> studies for a second degree makes no sense. They say it >>> would be best for me to try graduate school. >>> >>> I love math. I would need to complete undergraduate math >>> courses before qualifying for graduate level math courses. >>> This may take many years to accomplish. I do work for a >>> living, you see. >>> >>> I also will need a student loan. Financial aid paid for my >>> first degree years ago. >>> They will not pay for another college degree. >>> >>> I know that age 45 is not age 95 but at the same time is >>> not age 25. I don't what to do. I am currently reviewing >>> math on my own and doing a decent job considering that math >>> textbooks are not so easy to understand. What is your best >>> advice? What would you do in my case? >>> >> Before I respond, can you reveal what math courses you have >> completed? > > I completed pre-calculus in 1993 at one of the CUNY colleges. I > never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I completed > an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com DVD series > and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, integration, etc. > I also have been answering math questions online for more than > 10 years through various math forums. I get decent replies form > students expessing how they learned from my reply to one or more > of their questions. > > Have you taken any calculus at the college level? > > I never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I > completed an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com > DVD series and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, > integration, etc. > > FYI. The President of Purdue University has her Bachelors's > Degree in English. Her Ph.D. is in Physics from Cal Tech. > > I guess there is hope for me yet. > > What do you think about my answers to your questions? > > fdrhs1984

Thanks for the info. I agree with your friends that getting another Bachelors degree is not going to get you much closer to your teaching goal.

If you take the right supplemental undergraduate courses in math, you may be able to get into a math or science related masters degree program somewhere. You could take two years of calculus and Differential Equations at most community colleges, for example. You can check with a state university that offers masters degrees and see what they say about that.

For example, I know of someone with masters in mathematical statistics, but he didn't have an undergraduate degree in statistics. He had to take 7 undergraduate courses in statistics to prepare for the masters level work.

The suggestion to take 4 semesters of Calculus & Differential Equations (at a community college or state university)would be a relatively inexpensive way to finalize your commitment to shifting into mathematics and give you time to research your true options.

Note. I was older than you when I started working on my last college degree. It was one of the best things I ever did for my career.

Aug 13, 2010

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Sspil I agree that you should start with Calculus and Differential Equations at the community college level. It is a much lower cost option than jumping into a full 4 year college and you will definitely need these on your transcript. My one suggestion in addition to this is that you determine where you would like to complete your degree (masters or bach...See MoreI agree that you should start with Calculus and Differential Equations at the community college level. It is a much lower cost option than jumping into a full 4 year college and you will definitely need these on your transcript. My one suggestion in addition to this is that you determine where you would like to complete your degree (masters or bachelors) and talk to them first. Each college has it's own requirements for entrance and what will transfer. Make sure you have a clear path before you start spending money on classes. Also, think about what you want to do with your degree when you are done. It will help determine your educational path.

Full time work and school is a challenge, but if you are really motivated you can do it!

On 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: > On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >> On 8/13/10, Dr. C wrote: >>> On 8/13/10, fdrhs1984 wrote: >>>> I want to share something with you. I live in NYC. I >>>> graduated from college in 1994 with a B.A. in Sociology but >>>> to no avail. I am now 45 years old and work in a dead-end >>>> job with no benefits, no retirements, etc. I have been >>>> considering returning to college for a second degree. Most >>>> of my friends believe that going back to undegraduate >>>> studies for a second degree makes no sense. They say it >>>> would be best for me to try graduate school. >>>> >>>> I love math. I would need to complete undergraduate math >>>> courses before qualifying for graduate level math courses. >>>> This may take many years to accomplish. I do work for a >>>> living, you see. >>>> >>>> I also will need a student loan. Financial aid paid for my >>>> first degree years ago. >>>> They will not pay for another college degree. >>>> >>>> I know that age 45 is not age 95 but at the same time is >>>> not age 25. I don't what to do. I am currently reviewing >>>> math on my own and doing a decent job considering that math >>>> textbooks are not so easy to understand. What is your best >>>> advice? What would you do in my case? >>>> >>> Before I respond, can you reveal what math courses you have >>> completed? >> >> I completed pre-calculus in 1993 at one of the CUNY colleges. I >> never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I completed >> an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com DVD series >> and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, integration, etc. >> I also have been answering math questions online for more than >> 10 years through various math forums. I get decent replies form >> students expessing how they learned from my reply to one or more >> of their questions. >> >> Have you taken any calculus at the college level? >> >> I never took calculus in a formal classroom setting. I >> completed an entire year of calculus through the graspmath.com >> DVD series and learned a lot about limits, derivatives, >> integration, etc. >> >> FYI. The President of Purdue University has her Bachelors's >> Degree in English. Her Ph.D. is in Physics from Cal Tech. >> >> I guess there is hope for me yet. >> >> What do you think about my answers to your questions? >> >> fdrhs1984 > > Thanks for the info. I agree with your friends that getting another > Bachelors degree is not going to get you much closer to your teaching > goal. > > If you take the right supplemental undergraduate courses in math, you > may be able to get into a math or science related masters degree > program somewhere. You could take two years of calculus and > Differential Equations at most community colleges, for example. You > can check with a state university that offers masters degrees and see > what they say about that. > > For example, I know of someone with masters in mathematical > statistics, but he didn't have an undergraduate degree in statistics. > He had to take 7 undergraduate courses in statistics to prepare for > the masters level work. > > The suggestion to take 4 semesters of Calculus & Differential > Equations (at a community college or state university)would be a > relatively inexpensive way to finalize your commitment to shifting > into mathematics and give you time to research your true options. > > Note. I was older than you when I started working on my last college > degree. It was one of the best things I ever did for my career.

Aug 17, 2010

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