Can I get back on a prestigious track? Ideas?

I don't know if someone already answered your question about pharmD.

PharmD usually takes 6 years for an all-inclusive program (freshman-grad) or a usual 4+4 track, can be somewhat done via distance, and is the only degree that will allow you to become a licensed pharmacist. Some pharmacists only have a BS in Pharmacy because they were licensed when the new(ish) regulations went into effect. Pharmacy school requires a TON of math and sometimes will not accept pass-fail courses as part of the program. Good luck.

 

Well after more research and thought, AA is still at the top of my list. Relocating would be the worst part, the rest I could definitely handle. I am thinking that if I worked hard at it I could even apply next summer for next fall. But I may need more time to decide if I want a career of that type. Unfortunately I did find that I would be unable to practice in the state I currently live in (and I planned to stay in). That is not a deal breaker to me either though.

But I am unsure if I should head down a path that leads to a normal job. With a B&M work schedule that isn't flexible and probably has morning hours. That is one big appeal to me of being a sleep lab tech, I would like working nights. Of course AA pays well; sleep lab is good but not great. It seems like with AA I could possibly stay kind of 'freelance' and pick and choose what days I work and work less (both of these meaning I take home less money) -- not the same as having the really flexible self employed schedule, but that helps some.

Anyway I'll have to keep thinking about AA... versus some non-traditional self-employment career... versus maybe going for the 'intellectual' route where I feel like the degree isn't as practical (except for teaching which I am not too into and research)... and maybe other options. Part of me does want to do DL for a masters (and maybe doctorate) instead of getting involved in the career that needs clinical and B&M prereqs.

 

I found this interesting. It's about careers for ADD people and people in general. What is said about INTP does apply to me. I am somewhat INFP in personality too, but feel like I am not good at the things they typically suggest for INFP -- I could probably be good at some of it with practice or motivation.
http://borntoexplore.org/addcar~2.htm#NTs

That page kind of explains how I'm the type to jump around. So that is part of why many times I've been seeking out careers that were quick to get into. Thinking that I would not want to do the career for long. That is something I could keep doing in life I suppose. Just that lately I feel more like getting the benefits that come from focusing on one thing and sticking to it... who knows how well it would work.

 

Today I am more sure that I should go for the AA program. So I am starting to plan everything out for AA and start some of the process. Hopefully nobody here minds that I am "journaling" the process I am going through. I will look back at what I've written here to help me.

Today I read the majority of this book called "Life's a Bitch and then You Change Careers" and I find it helpful. I would recommend this book to others who don't know which career to choose, or even if they know what they want to do, but are just having doubts. I plan to read the rest of the book and spend the time to actually complete the exercises in the book.

I still want to keep my mind open to other careers but it's hard because AA is so attractive to me. Surely it's not "perfect" for me, but most likely it will be the clear best fit for me personally. When I do the book exercises, I feel like I might be biased towards AA and trying to make it fit, but that could be good in a way.

One of the most immediate plans I have is to enroll in a local school so I can take those science courses. I am thinking I might even be able to start this fall if I apply very fast (like, this week). Most likely it won't take long for me to research and choose and apply.

Something that I am unclear on and I hope to get answers on from this forum is about my current plan. Does it need changing or is there a better way to go about it? (I can probably search this forum and figure it out but maybe someone would be nice enough to explain it here - Thanks.)

The plan would be: 1. Enroll soon in the local place and take the science courses as fast as I can while still getting all A's. 2. Meanwhile also enroll in Excelsior again and test out of all the non-science stuff with CLEP/ECE/DANTES basically as fast as possible but making sure everything is either an A or a Pass. 3. If necessary to fulfill degree requirements, take one or two actual Excelsior courses (or possibly local but DL would probably win out). 4. I am thinking it would work to my advantage to apply for ACE credit for the non-cert Dental Assistant work I did to have it on my Excelsior transcript. And maybe certain volunteer work if they take volunteer work. I know this adds $$$ but if it looks nice on the transcript, great. 5. Transfer in my local science credits to Excelsior and graduate from Excelsior with the Biology degree (probably BS not BA?).

Alternate plan which is probably better: Basically the same but in the end, try to transfer the credits out of Excelsior and into the local college so that my degree is from a B&M. If I am trying to do this, I need to ask the local schools in advance if they would take the CLEP/ECE/DANTES/ACE credits and my old transcribed AP credits and the Excelsior classes? Is it typical for a local place to accept all these things? What else comes into play if I am trying to do this?

Other alternates: Please suggest. Other schools instead of Excelsior, would any of them have some benefit? Still enroll in Excelsior but at the end transfer everything into TESC since it looks better than Excelsior (still DL but better)?

Re: What someone else suggested before. Do the quickest easiest Excelsior degree that I am okay with, then get into the post-bacc program. Very cool, but I do not like this option because I believe it will take longer and I would have to live elsewhere sooner, move twice, etc. I believe that it would be harder to get good grades in the post-bacc and the other way my bachelors looks better. I think I have a good chance of getting into the AA program without post-bacc.

I know that I can get accepted with less than a 4.0 GPA however as I mentioned before I have the old college stuff that is probably going to be averaged in. Also of course while aiming for all A's I might slip and get a B once or twice, so I need to aim for all A's. Also, I need GPA to be higher to help me because a lot of my competition will be going in with 2-5+ years of actual working experience (as an RT, paramedic, PA, etc).

I would also start studying for MCAT/GRE/etc, shadowing, volunteering in something applicable, and other things towards the admissions requirements or whatever else would look better than the minimum. Possibly going for EMT-B cert since that is only 3 months part-time, but I'm thinking that I might find something else to spend my time on that looks even better (other volunteer work, certs, etc) or I might be too busy with the other school things I need to do (and some other things in my life need some wrapping up and attention).

All the stuff above would also be great if I wanted to do most anything in healthcare, psych, librarian, research, etc. Is there any reason why diving into the above might be taking me away from a different career? It would be fine if I wanted to go for an MBA or many other things I figure.

 

Did even more research.

Not sure how realistic it is but I am thinking of trying to get everything done so I can apply to my top three locations (two schools) by their mid-Feb deadlines and maybe a third school with a deadline of the end of this year. I really prefer to get into one or both of those favorite two, and for next year would be really nice! I can have my prereqs be 'in progress' for that Dec one (and possibly one or both of the other schools) so it's not as unrealistic for that reason. Additionally, I would be skip the MCAT and just take the GRE which I would find much easier and much less stressful (since I would not be applying the two schools that require it).

I likely have a really decent chance of having my AP credits accepted by the AA programs, so I would only need to take Organic Chem with lab, BioChem (without lab may be okay), and Statistics. I possibly should take Calculus too (despite having AP credit for it) because of my really old college Calculus class grade, but for that one just ECE. For Statistics, seems like they wouldn't care if it was DL course or ECE but I don't know. Did a lot of research about B&M schools near me... hoping I can still get into fall semester for the best one, there is one I am pretty sure I can get into but they don't have Biochem. Anyway I'll ask the AA schools and figure out what meets their requirements and see how it can be done.

It seems faster and easier if I get my bachelors from Excelsior...? This part I am confused about.