Should I Pursue Grad School or another undergrad degree?

[I_Need_Help]

I graduated with a Telecommunication degree from the University of Florida in the fall of 2009. I have tried to be employed in my field ever since with no success. I've barely been able to get ANY job, even something remedial.

So I'm left going back to school. I will get out of Florida ASAP. But there's a dilemma. I don't know if I could even get into a grad school of recognition in time for Spring 2012, and since I don't have any relationship with any of my professors from when I was in school, I have no clue how I'd scrounge up recommendation letters.

Given the circumstances, which option makes sense. Also, if I went back for another undergrad degree first, wouldn't I have to apply as a transfer student?

Base stats

Graduated in Fall 2009

3.13 GPA

700 QUANTITATIVE/550 VERBAL/5.5 ANALYTICAL GRE (took in February of this year)

Interests in Business related field but NOT an MBA since I feel I should make it in a company before getting that (preferably Advertising)

Interest in some aspects of psychology but only if it doesn't require going to school for a hundred years for a PhD.

*Would likely start in grad school if applicable as a non-degree student until I figure this out

[Bobbi]

Have you had any internships during summers off from college? You might do good contacting some people you knew through those internships and finding out from them where you could go with your degree.

Does your alma mater have a decent career services office? If so, I would suggest that you contact them and ask for advice. They might be able to give you a Myers-Briggs personality test, which would help you figure out what kind of career you are best suited for. If your school also has a strong alumni network, you could contact some graduates who work in a certain field and ask them what it is like, etc. There is also some potential for making connections which would lead you to a job or internship.

If you answered no to the above questions, you might want to consider relinquishing some credits from your degree and use them towards a whole new Bachelor's at UF. Communications is supposed to be a hot field right now, and it might not be that different from Telecommunications, your original major.

I would not recommend that you go for a graduate degree, degree or non-degree, unless you are certain what it is you want to do. You will just be wasting money and time. Have you ever considered going to a community college for an Associate's degree in Nursing? At the end of those two years, you will be qualified to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, which would certify you as a registered nurse.

If nothing I suggested so far appeals to you, you could also get in touch with some people you went to college with. What are they doing now? Does any of that sound like something you would like to do?

And if you like to read, here are 2 book suggestions. I did not read them myself yet, but I just ordered them off Amazon:

(1) Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher

(2) The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction & Success By Nicholas Lore

Originally, I would have suggested, "What Color is Your Parachute?" because it is very popular, but reviewers of (2) said that is a far better choice for people who want to figure out a career path.

Edited May 5, 2011 by Bobbi