<p>So here’s my situation. I love learning. I want to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. So far I would like to major in English, Theatre, History, Political Science, and Spanish. I know this is an extremely lofty goal, and maybe even impossible. However, a thought occurred to me the other day that just might solve my problem. </p>
<p>I’m being offered several full rides at small colleges. I also have a sufficient amount saved for college. If I were to take a full ride for four years at one of the small schools, could I later enroll at a larger school and pay full price? Would I receive two diplomas? Would employers like this? Would law schools like this?</p>
<p>Thanks so much. You are really putting my mind at rest.</p>
<p>There is such a thing as a second bachelor’s degree, but I don’t think that you want that. It’s mostly for people who get liberal arts degrees and want to become practicing engineers or study something technical. They need to go for a BS because they lack the years of foundation required for graduate study. I can’t imagine law schools seeing it as a positive. </p>
<p>The best option is probably a bunch of majors and minors or an interdisciplinary major that touches on several areas. I can imagine a background in Spanish complementing nearly any area of study. </p>
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<p>That’s impressive that you have so many interests. My advice would be to spend a year or two exploring all of these disciplines (which you can do, since you have a full ride). My guess is that eventually you’ll end up deciding that you like one of these areas more than the others, but if you have deep academic interest in several areas you’ll have a few options. You could try to combine your interests. For example, History and Political Science and Spanish could all complement each other (i.e. Spanish history or international studies). Or you could just study one area and keep intellectual hobbies.</p>
<p>In general, once you have a bachelor’s degree, universities/colleges won’t admit you and will instead direct you to a graduate degree program. You can double-major, though, and do interdisciplinary studies, or both. In early high school, I was like you and thought it’d be worthwhile to go back and get a degree in other stuff I’m interested in, but as it turns out, I was able to combine them in an interdisciplinary program. I also took classes outside my major that satisfied my interests. And I learned a lot of stuff on my own, simply out of interest.</p>
<p>But in the end, having a bunch of different undergrad degrees won’t make you more competitive for jobs or grad school, so it’d be best to figure out which ones will be in your major, which ones you’ll just take classes in, and which ones you’ll just learn about on your own. I think you’ll be surprised that you aren’t as interested in some of those subjects as you are in others, so you’re okay ‘marginalizing’ them in your studies.</p>
Community colleges, for sure, will let you keep going. I don’t know if you can take a class or two at every local university, but at least Colorado State University allows it. [Credit</a> Courses | Online | Distance | Classroom - Colorado State University Continuing Education](<a href=“http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/credit/]Credit”>http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/credit/) And taking a class every semester or so would be only a couple thousand a semester (yes, a lot, but not as much as the $50K a year for full-time at a private college!).</p>
<p>I know a number of people who have completed second bachelors degrees. If you don’t need financial aid, it wouldn’t be all that difficult to arrange. The routes that they followed include:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>LAC degree, followed by three years at home-state public U.</p></li>
<li><p>OOS public U degree, followed by three years at home-state public U.</p></li>
<li><p>Part-time job-related coursework at original U after completing BS in a related but different field, that eventually added up to enough credits for a second degree.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I also know several people (myself included) who enrolled as “senior transfer” or “non-degree” students in order to get the coursework needed to apply to grad school in a new field without completing a full second bachelor’s degree. And, I know a college professor who left a permanent position, went back to school at a community college, earned an associates degree, and started a whole new career.</p>
<p>Formal education can go on forever if you enjoy it, and have enough cash to pay for it. You don’t have to make a final decision about your education just yet. Try a bunch of stuff once you get to college this fall, and then see where life takes you.</p>
<p>Why not take the full ride…and then use your college money for law school?</p>
<p>Right now, your idea may sound good, but think about this… when you get your first degree, you’ll be about age 22. If you were then to go to a pricey school with your college money, it won’t be the same experience. You may not like taking classes with a bunch of 18 year olds. </p>
<p>I think you should take the full ride and then use your college money for law school because then you’ll be ready to move on with your life.</p>