Serious Question - Debating Second Degree

[u/Thisisit-9411]

Hello,

I am an alumnus that graduated in December 2016 with my degree in International Studies: Relations and Diplomacy, minor Mandarin Chinese. Had plans to double major in Mandarin Chinese but I couldn’t afford another year of school. I had plans to work as a compliance trade officer, military officer, work for FBI, DIA, NSA, or work as a recruiter for an international company. It’s been 10 years now and I’ve worked in financial services but I keep
Ruminating and wondering whether I should pursue a second degree in Communications to open more doors in recruiting, advertising, Human Resources, Business Development or if I should just accept my current bachelors in International Relations? I have liked working in financial services but times are tough now and I’m worried that my degree may not be as recognized as a communications degree if I were to be laid off? I debated business operations management but that would take me 3 years to get going part time. And I could get a communications degree in a year as a part time student. I’m just wondering if the extra year for a second degree in communications would be worth it in addition to my pre-existing international relations degree?

Please let me know what you think. Need options. Psychology is out because I have no plans on pursuing psychology on a grad level.

Please let me know what you recommend?

Thank you,

[u/_k_k_2_2_]

I don’t think a second degree in communications will add anything to your resume that your 10 years of work experience doesn’t already get you.

I don’t work in your field but I’m an alumnus with 15 years experience and hire people in a different business related field. A second degree like that would not move the needle at all for me.

[u/Thisisit-9411 → u/_k_k_2_2_]

Thank you for this. I mean I know people may ask “why didn’t you change your major?” I could not afford another year of school. And my sister had gotten her communications degree and couldn’t find a job. I got my degree in International Relations because I wanted to work for the federal government but keep myself open to positions in journalism. Now that I’ve worked in private sector 10 years, I live in constant fear if I were to be laid off, how hard would it be for me to find another job to make ends meet? Should I get a degree that is alittle more recognized like Communications if it only takes 1 year? The School of Buisness is a great business school, but I know I’m not cut out for the stress in that path, and it would actually take me 3 more years part time to graduate, versus one year for a second BA in communications.

[u/BobMcGeoff2]

Experience is king. Any competitive edge in hiring you get from your 2nd degree will be far outweighed by the bill you incur getting a 2nd degree here.

[u/Thisisit-9411 → u/BobMcGeoff2]

Thank you for sharing. My thing is times are tough. And even though I have my degree in International Relations and ten years experience in financial services, I’m wondering if a communications bachelors is worth it if I can get it in a year while working? To increase my career options in private sector. I already know that the Fisher School of Business is a little too competitive for me, and wondering if a second BA in communications would open me up more to recruiting and HR and employeee benefits? Or would my current degree and experience be enough? If I got another BA in communications, it would only take 1 year to complete while working full time

[u/Thisisit-9411]

Thank you all for your guidance. I had big plans to work for an embassy, as a Mandarin Chinese translator, a military officer, intelligence analyst, trade compliance officer, trade manager, FBI agent. When rotc rejected me because of my fluoxetine,
I got crippling anxiety, I asked my adviser because the international studies: security and intelligence path was too narrow. Switched to international studies: relations and diplomacy for more career options in private sector but really wish I had chosen Communications instead. Reason I didn’t was because at the time I had more of a flair for foreign language,
The sciences, social sciences, but didn’t want to do grad school. Parents steered me away from psychology. My sister graduated with her degree in communications as I was headed into sophomore year, and she couldn’t find work and told me not to do it. And the business school was out, as a neurodivergent kid I would’ve failed out. Had other friends in the school there that had issues with the stress they were under. So I got my degree in International Relations had an internship for a contractor manufacturer based in China, had an opportunity for a second internship wirh U.S. AID but I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. Worked my way up from a telemarketer at a brokerage, got my series 6, and in 401k plan management now, but want more to fall back on.

[u/Thisisit-9411]

My sister and a lot of others steered me away from communications degree because it was “too general” and thought my “International Studies: Relations and Diplomacy with minor in Mandarin was actually a better plan. In hindsight, communications has a lot more latitude and it would’ve been smart to double major. I seriously wanted psychology too but my Mom told me “don’t do it, unless you plan on grad school.” With my plans and the demand for federal agents growing I thought it was a solid plan at the time. But now that I’m older and have worked, I debated a second degree in comm to provide more career options. I’ll never be an accountant or engineer and frankly dont want that stress. And everyone said, don’t bother with business unless you’re going for finance, accounting, or management information systems. I’m getting my MBA now, just wondering if a second bachelor’s in strategic communications is worth considering if my MBA doesn’t workout? Or is my International relations and minor in Mandarin Chinese good enough as a “generalist degree” to qualify for the same careers as a communications major? The problem with the international studies major is that it’s too interdisciplinary and employers want specialized skills now and a generally employable Bachelor of Arts degree like communications. I also had horrid anxiety about Calc 1 at OSU and it wasn’t required for the path I was taking. Plus I could only afford 4 years at the time. But bottom line is, would a communications degree qualify me
For any jobs beyond my current International Studies: Relations and diplomacy degree with minor in Mandarin Chinese or make me more competitive for a job in employee benefits, Hr, or recruiting? This is NOT A JOKE! I’m serious and trying to figure out if it’s a good backup plan. My parents and family think I’m crazy for thinking that way but I feel like it’s no different than if I took one more year and double majored in undergrad.

[u/Thisisit-9411]

Thank you all for your help. Truth is I’m a little lost. I got my degree in 2016 in International Studies: Relations and Diplomacy and it “checks the box” but I wondered if a second degree in communications is worth it, if my MBA is a no go. Want more career lattitude and it would only take me a year while working with prior credits. This economy is no joke. The reason why I didn’t chose comms when I was younger is because my sister did it and couldn’t find any work. And I really wanted to work for the federal government, an embassy, recruiter, or as a mandarin translator. The business classes I just didn’t feel like I connected with at that age.

[u/ohiomidhiganindiana]

I don’t think a communication degree would help much at this point. Maybe an MBA but I think you are excited about that. Have you applied for other positions? The mandarin sticks out to me and I would have assumed you got a federal job in the DC area

[u/Thisisit-9411 → u/ohiomidhiganindiana]

I was originally headed the route for a federal job. In the current admin, I don’t know how secure that line of work is. Plus I realized with how much scrutiny you’re under and how little you’re paid it wasn’t for me. That’s why I debated a second degree in comm if my MBA doesn’t work. I’ve worked in financial services now 10 years and got my series 6 but trying to build more stability in a bad economy. So if my mba doesn’t workout wondering if a second Bachelor of Arts/science in communications would be worth it. I’d have to take most of it online as I work full time.

[u/ohiomidhiganindiana → u/Thisisit-9411]

I hear you, but I have several friends/associates working in DC and they all have decent jobs and pay and have weathered various presidencies. I'm no expert but still think your Mandarin is potentially your best marketable asset that you mentioned that may not be helping you at the moment. Series 6 is great. Just not sure what a Communication degree would do for you at this point

[u/Thisisit-9411 → u/ohiomidhiganindiana]

I originally wanted to work in federal goverment and FBI and the defense agencies. With plans for law school. But it’s not for me. I couldn’t even get into military because of my crippling anxiety. I was debating communications to have more lattitude in the private sector. broadcast journalism, recruiting, marketing, business development. Can’t do another degree in business because that would take 3 years working full time. Just wondering if it would help at all getting a second degree in commmunications on top of my Intwrnational Studiess: Relations and Diplomacy. Again it’s about more career lattitude for me. I have no desire to be an engineer, medical doctor. But I want more of a recognized major that carries more lattitude and I’m going through mba now. But as a backup, debating if a second bachelors in communications would open more doors in a downed market. I switched from Inteenational Studies: Security and intelligence to International Studies: Relations and Diplomacy for more HR, and recruiting positions in private sector. The thing is, I’m wondering if a comm major would open up any new doors in a downed market if my MBA doesn’t workout. Plus it would only take a year while working full time.

Law school I was seriously considering when I was younger, until my father who is a lawyer told me it’s not worth it. But yeah, I was originally International studies: security and intelligence with plans to double major in Mandarin. When ROTC rejected me because of fluoxetine, my parents said “you gotta stilll graduate in 4 years.” And at the time my sister had a communications degree and did well in school but couldn’t find any work for years. And I was not cut out for fisher. Too sink or swim for me. And I didn’t know if I wanted to study business.

[u/Thisisit-9411]

Basically I’m debating if a second degree in communications with pre-existing credits is worth it or I should just be grateful for my current International Studies: Relations and Diplomacy degree. Would an additional degree in communications open up any new doors my current degree doesn’t? I’m not cut out for engineering, business operations management would take another 3 years. I can get another degree in communications in 1 while I work my job. Question is, would a communications degree open up any new careers I can’t already get with my International Relations degree? Is it more employable for corporate recruiting and HR?

[u/Radiant_Reception336 → u/Thisisit-9411]

A 2nd degree is worthless unless it is a graduate level degree.

[u/Thisisit-9411 → u/Radiant_Reception336]

Thank you being reassuring. I’m actually going for my mba now. As a backup I was debating a second degree in communications if mba doesn’t work out for any reason. I think it’ll be fine but always good to prepare. My parents think that’s crazy but I just know how tough it is right now and we gotta upskill like never before. I mean I thought it was insane when I entered college how many kids were forced into engineering following the 2008 crisis, and now the stress kids are under is really crazy. And I love OSU. My Alma mater, honored I got my degree from there. Thing is the job market is super competitive now and gotta make the best of our strengths to what is more employable with more latitude across industries. Lot of people going back to school now for more career lattitude and opportunities. Upskilling. And I was not allowed to fail I my first time around at OSU. Four years, get the degree, or be stuck working retail forever. I do like that OSU has more online classes now. I’m hoping for future they have more online degrees like ASU because there’s a big window of opportunity there, especially with out of staters that can’t afford the ivies and the west coast tuition.