NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

...for quite sometime.
I think I want to go back to school to get my masters in education. I think every single day while I'm stuck behind a desk what a dummy I was to not follow thru with my education major and switch it to a communication major (which IMO now means the same as liberal arts). So, I can't afford to go back full time to a classroom setting (gotta work too), but I'm considering doing online courses to complete my masters.
Any feedback?
One more question... should I take my certification test first or do my masters first, or does it not matter. Any help would be wonderful!
TIA

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

You might have to take your certification tests before you start the masters (I had to).

A friend did her masters through the university of Albany (i think) and only went there for graduation. she did it all online and said it was great. You just have to dedicate enough time to the classes to get them done.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

You might as well take the cert. tests and get them out of the way so you can focus on the classes you need to take. I don't know anything about doing it all online but it sounds like a great option. I know lots of people who've gone back to school at night taking 1-2 classes per semester(while working full-time) to get their teaching certification and masters in education so that's an option too. It's funny because I'm a teacher and when I'm in the classroom dealing with the kids, or doing grading & planning lessons all night, I'm always thinking 'I wish I had a different career'... so I guess the grass is always greener lol. The only time I appreciate it is during the summer! You may really love it though! Good luck & I wish you the best!!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

I am finishing up my masters now and while it was a lkot of work, but current job had become too stangnant and not enough growth.

The loans are the worst part for me...but the classes are doable if it's worth it for you.

I did not have to take the exams first, but for my program they needed to be finished before student teaching.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

Take the certs first.

You will have to take time off to do student teaching and classroom work once you are certified - so I would save save and SAVE right now.

Now... as to the on line thing. I would say don't bother. I know I will get in trouble for that one... but when I am reviewing resumes and I see that someone took correspondence courses or got their degree online, I put it in the same category as someone who doesn't have the degree.

Before you all go crazy and tell me how WRONG that is, I KNOW that a degree doesn't automatically mean that a person has common sense or even extraordinary intelligence. But I feel like a lot of schools - including Dowling - have some excellent programs designed to work AROUND your work schedule. More and more people have to work while they continue their education. I think there may be more value in getting your degree at night and on weekends than online. It does involve some sacrafice and a serious work ethic. The kind of work ethic I look for when we are hiring.

*DISCLAIMER* I am sure there are very motivated and very intelligent individuals who have gotten their degrees online. I am sure there are very successful people who have opted for the online route for their degree. I say KUDOS! And the education is not the ONLY thing I look for - you have to have a well written and well laid out resume for me to even GET to your education. But if it is down to 5 resumes in a tight job market... I will probably choose the Dowling guy over the University of Phoenix On Line girl.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

I say go for it. I was in your same shoes. I worked at big corporations for 10 years but found myself dragging at work & saying this isn't what I really want to do.. I started my Masters at night & was still working full-time. I took the LAsT & ATS-W during my masters & then took the specialized test at the end.

The route I went was halfway through my Masters I got a job teaching in a private/parochial school that only required a Bachelors (in any area). Turns out I'm still in a private school b/c the competition is so fierce on LI for a public school job.

But I say follow your heart. If you have any q's feel free to fm me.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

There is alot of time invested so be prepared. I am graduating from LIU in Dec with my masters. I had to spend 100 hours in schools doing strctly observations which I know was very hard for my friends who worked FT. (I bartend so my hours are different). And I am student teaching from Sept through Dec so we will be living off any gifts we recieve from the wedding and FH's paycheck. It is not going to be pretty. but the bottom line is

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do not sit around unhappy you will regret it. And the more time that passes the more you will question it. Just get on the track and do it. It will go soooo fast! Then you will be teaching and have summers off yay!!!!!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

i continued to work full time while i got my master's in elementary education, until i needed to leave the job to student teach. it took about 2 years to complete the 37 credit program, taking 2 classes at a time at night. i took the LAST and the ATS-W while i was in school. then, while i was student teaching, i took the content specialty test.

all i can say is go with your heart and everything will fall into place. my undergrad was in communications and after 10 years in the public relations industry, i decided that what i was doing was just not rewarding enough for me. that's when i applied to grad school. yes, it's been tough finding a job, but i've managed to find something each year so far (a teaching assistant position right out of student teaching, a yearlong leave replacement and now a position in a private school). looking back, it's the best decision i've made! good luck ... let me know if you have any questions!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

I think you should definitely go back to school! It will be worth it in the end and you will be very happy that you did! It sounds like this is really what you want to do, so I say do it while you have the drive and motivation!!! Good Luck!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

Thank you guys so much for all your advise and encouragement. Just be prepared that I may use you for all the info you've got! This is huge for me and I finally spoke to FH about it last night and he thinks it's a wonderful idea and is fully supportive (emotionaly and financially... we'll make it work).
Can anyone give me some insight into what is involved in the cert. tests?
Again.. TIA

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

Look into Touro part-time. It's very affordable. I did it while I was teaching full-time and finished in a year and a half.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

The certification tests are pretty easy. I think the fee is now around $90 per test. You can register online, I can't remember the website offhand but if you type in google 'NY teaching certfication examinations' it'll come up. There are different test sites to choose from, I know one is nassau coliseum. They give you 3 hrs per test I believe. It's scored out of 300 and I think 220 is passing. I found it to be mostly common sense. Multiple choice and one essay. There are 3 tests to take: LAST (general knowledge), ATS-W (teaching skills but it was just common sense stuff), and CST (content specialty).
FM me if you like if you have any other questions.
Good luck!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

Thanks!!!!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

i work with few girls who are doing the Teaching Fellowship in N YC. They did not do their under grad in education, so they were eligible. Basically, they are getting paid to work full time as a teacher and go to school to get their masters. they are paying for nothing!!!! I wish i went that route. instead i am still paying off my masters for the next 20 years or so! Definately look into it.

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

I've heard of this!!! Can you tell me more about it??!?!?!!? I don't have my undergrad in education but I do have a minor in English (which I did just in case I ever decided to go the teaching route).
TIA!

Re: NWR: I've been knocking this idea around in my head....

go to the nycdoe website www.nycenet.edu and follow the links for the teaching fellows. I think it involves a three year commitment. You basically get placed in a high need position (bilingual special ed, IEP teacher, and self contained classes). I dont know about other schools, but my school is pretty good and the teaching fellows all have mentors that visit the school to help them and answer questions and such in addition to their graduate work. they all seem happy.