Merits of a second degree

I'm considering getting a second degree in geology after I finish my Masters in civil engineering, as I am specializing in geotechnical engineering. I feel it would serve me better than a Ph.D. because all that does is let me teach, which I just can't do. A major concern I have though is what would happen if I wasn't working but got too old to stay on my parent's insurance...

Some school have an insurance plan you can buy? you might need to a get a part time job to cover some additional living costs etc?

Can your parents tell you when you no longer are eligible to remain on their coverage? Their agent should be able to tell them if they do not know.

This article may help: http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/..._insurance.htm

I believe I can stay on until I'm 26. However, if they move, I'll have to get my own insurance.

Why will you have to get your own if they move? I have moved to three different states and have stayed on my mom's insurance the whole time. Plus, most colleges will have certain services for free simply for being a student. Even though I do not have insurance through the school I get free counseling and some other stuff.

Just remembered something....at least here in Northwest Arkansas, there are several people who do work specifically for uninsured people. Like there is a clinic the next town up that only works with people who don't have insurance. It's like 35 bucks a visit which isn't much more than a normal copay. And my bf's therapist is one that specifically does therapy for uninsured people. So keep that in mind. There are people who WANT to help people in those situations.

Many professional organizations (American Society of Civil Engineers) have good plans; my husband has some insurance through the IEEE (electrical engineer :-)

http://www.asce.org/nocostlife/

@salukigirl
There's some ridiculous stipulation with the insurance company where I have to be a full time student and living at home; plus if my parents moved it would be out of city and my dad would have a different employer.

I may try to go and look at insurance because this insurance just doesn't cover what I need until I hit the $2200 deductable...

@Perna
I hadn't heard that ASCE had insurance. I'll have to see if I can get anything as an EIT.

First I need to found out how feasable a second degree is for me...
Sorry, my mind is kinda trailing off there...

Something else I thought of - a PhD doesn't necessarily equal teach. Have you checked out the USGS? There are a lot of federal jobs for geologists/civil engineers that don't require teaching. As well as private industries. Hope you can figure it out!

A couple things.

in the United States, you are guaranteed coverage on your parents insurance until the age of 25. However, this could change at any time since this was an Obama thing and certain people want to get rid of certain aspects of the health care bill

Also, most universities require you pay a health fee every semester or quarter. Most people are unaware they even pay these fees because they are often lumped in with a bunch of other fees. Check and see what kind of health fees your university has. With these fees you have access to basic medical care, family planning, counseling, preventative care as well as reduced cost entail and vision. Check with your university's health center to find out what they have available on campus and what is available off campus to students.

I don't know; it was just some stupid idea that floated into my head...

What were you planning to do with the degrees you already have? Do you have any work experience at all? Maybe you could get a paid internship somewhere to get some experience, which might also help you decide where next to do educationally, and if you need to get another degree. If your ultimate goal is to get a job, experience is going to help you get that just as much as the education.

Moonbeam has a good point. Have you thought about an internship or fellowship somewhere? A lot will be unpaid but there are a ton of paid positions that will house you for a summer or even a year where you can get a ton of experience. If you have an idea of what you want to do, why don't you contact a hiring manager or someone high up and say "if I wanted to apply for this position in the future, what would be the most important things to look for?" and they should tell you which path would be most appropriate for you.

Or, since you are talking about geology with w federal service or along those lines....go to usajobs.org and check out some jobs that look interesting. They will have requirements on there and key things they look for when reviewing applications. That will also give you a good idea of what you need to be competitive.

Feel better today...

I got one internship through pure freak luck; unfortunately that was a year ago.
One of the biggest problems is everyone is cutting their budget and things like internships and student research are up towards the top of the list.

I suppose that part of the reason I'm considering this is that it's one of the few areas I actually enjoy...

What you may find is that you can get started in this field without the second degree. Like perhaps you could get a civil engineering job at a geotech firm, and pick up a lot by working there, attending professional conferences, taking a course here and there. Then maybe after a couple of years you could go back to school part time and get the official degree if you felt you needed it for your specialization. I think there's a lot to be said for getting out there and working for a few years before committing to another graduate program. How is the engineering job market?

Something I have been thinking about

right now, the job market seriously sucks. Trying to go out and find a job is really really difficult. However, if you can continue your education for a while longer you will be set in a better position once the market has picked up. I have chosen to go for a double major which delays my graduation by one year. It may cost me a little bit in the short term but in the long run it will make me more marketable when plces start looking for employees again