| Topic Name: |
Big switch |
| Message Name: |
Music to real estate via academia |
| Date Posted: |
06/29/2004 |
| Message: |
I have an Ivy BA in music and a masters' in music. Had worked in the music industry (classical) for 3 years, but got tired of long hours and iffy career advancement. I opted out for a job working at a large research university, where I am responsible for fundraising and development.
I originally thought that my job would qualify me for future work at a nonprofit doing development work or perhaps managing an organization, and so I thought I would apply to begin an MBA or MPA program after working 2 years at the university. Thereafter, I thought I could either find a specialization or work in consulting as an associate before moving back to the nonprofit world.
My dilemma is this: when I keep looking at various places I might logically want to work (universities, performing arts, museums) I am continually drawn to work in real estate development, consulting, or historic preservation. My ideal job would be to work for UNESCO directing large scale projects in heritage conservation (a lofty goal, but this should give you an idea of what I find interesting.) I think I might really enjoy working for a historical site,
I am now looking at several other types of career tracks, including landscape architecture and urban planning. I feel as though I need to make the next step by undertaking a degree program in one of these fields. This is because none of my prior education had any components of training in GIS, economics, or finance, let alone design or conservation.
My fear is that I could get hung up in academia all over again or rack up debt that I could never pay back on such a career track.
Am I chasing a pipe dream here? Or since I don't feel like this is the ONLY career track where I could be happy, should I be looking to capitalize on the background I already have?
Any advice someone could offer would be appreciated - it is scary to contemplate such a big switch.
Thanks!
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