In today's world, getting a second bachelor's degree is a smart investment. In times of economic downturn, having a second plan of action or another career option to fall back on is a good idea. Whether you have already received your first bachelor's degree and are thinking about a second, or are currently in college and considering the pursuit of a second degree before you finish, there are a few basic steps you can follow to get your degree finished as quickly and simply as possible.

Step 1

Find a school that allows second bachelor's degrees. Just because you have completed your first bachelor's degree does not necessarily meant that you will be admitted to the school of your choosing to pursue a second bachelor's degree. Many colleges and universities will not allow a person to be admitted to pursue a second bachelor's degree except within certain programs that they offer. For instance, Ivy League schools, such as Cornell, will allow someone to apply and be admitted for a second bachelor's degree program in dietetics, interior design or apparel design only. The university does not allow students to pursue other second degrees.

Step 2

Assess your qualifications. Schools that allow you to pursue a second bachelor's degree usually have minimum qualifications just as when admitting students who are first time bachelor's degree candidates. Each school will have its own policy regarding admissions requirements. This generally involves a minimum grade-point average and perhaps some other minimal expectations. Make sure that you have met these so that you will not end up wasting your time trying to get admitted to a school that will reject your application.

Step 3

Know the program requirements. Double check program requirements before applying. Some schools will require you to pursue more credit hours than others. Some will only count so many of your credits from your last degree toward their program requirements. Knowing these facts can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, especially if you get accepted to more than one school and the program requirements are substantially different.

Step 4

Determine the purpose for pursuing a second bachelor's degree. Some schools are more likely to admit you as a candidate for a second bachelor's degree if you are clear about the reason that you are applying. If you are attempting to strengthen your profile so that you can pursue a master's degree in an area different than your undergraduate major, a college admissions committee will be more likely to consider you application than if you were simply applying because you had a change of heart about your current career.

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