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Going back to college?

ImThere

ImThere

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
6,592
Location
Lewisburg, TN
Anyone here go back to college later in life? I’m 46 been out of college since 1998. I’m planning on going back for a mechatronics engineering degree. Any advice?


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I screwed up not taking advantage of my old company paying for my masters degree.

I should have taken advantage of that
 
I would tell you to be disciplined. We do not absorb the material like we did when were younger. Just be prepared for more study time
 
I think it’s just the opposite than BigJoe does (or maybe I’m just opposite, lol). Anyway, I first started college in 1983. By 2001 I was so sick and tired of nuclear power (and the NRC in particular) that I knew it was time for me to go work outside so I went to work surveying. Had to go back to school again for the surveying classes anyway so I doubled majored in Surveying and GIS. I was late 30’s then and thought it was easy because I didn’t have all the distractions I did right out of HS. Now I own my own company wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Yeah, there’s family issues to dance around, but more so at 36 than at 46.

And with Mechatronics you need to check around with the industries in your area and I think you’ll find most, if not all, will have a co-op program where they will pay for your school and pay you to work 20hrs/week. You could probably save some legwork on that end by going to the school and talking with someone in the department and they will point you to the companies that offer co-op deals.

Most will require you to take a test for selection so be prepared for that, but don’t be intimidated by it because it will be geared more towards you ability to learn the necessary material rather than how much you currently know.

If you’re in a situation that you can back off and work 20 hrs a week while you’re in school it will be a great way to make the switch.

There, clear as mud? Good, go for if it’s what you want
 
I went back to school at 36 to get a degree Mechanical Engineering. It's doable but +1 on bigjoe's comment, I didn't absorb material like I did at 18. My best advice is to hook up with other guys that are older, have families etc. Their study hours and lifestyle will be closer to yours and easier to work together. The kids will be in there studying all hrs of the night hopped up on Adderall. Can't keep up with that with just coffee :D
 
I've been through my time in college. If I could go back in time I'd have never gone. Doing my day job (teaching) then coming home and running my business (diesel performance / maintenance / welding & fabricating). I make more money and deal with less issues in my own shop. So if I ever lost my job I have no plans of ever working for someone else.

With that said, that's my reality. For you there is no reason you won't succeed going back to school. But I would recommend checking $$ spent for $$ earned especially later in life. I am still paying $800 a month on my wife's student loans. I've seen it many times with teachers that go to a university and come out 100k+ in debt to make 32k starting.
 
I'm in a similar boat, I don't have a masters and would like to get one, but work full time and I've just been putting it off, when I just need to start knocking out classes! If I had any advice it would be that we all learn in different ways, by now you probably have that figured out which in the long run can make a big difference, good luck!
 
I have never worked for anybody else. Having your own business has advantages, you can control your own destiny. College is great but it is a big money-making business. Degrees don't seen to mean as much these days. Just my opinion but be the wheel, not the spoke.
 
I chose to become a Maintenance man, I went to school for instrumentation and controls. I have no problem programming. I specialize in control circuits. but now days they don't want you to do just that so I find myself pushing my 1000 lb box all over the plant. I cannot see myself doing this at 65. What I'm thinking is going to work for one of these engineering firms that do upgrades on existing machinery in plants. I don't think I would get hired based on my work experience and to tell the truth I haven't kept up with the new Allen Bradley programming as I should have it hasn't been beneficial to spend the money the last few years
so Mechantronics seem to be right up my alley and will boost my skills to where they need to be
 
I don't know if I'm qualified as "later in life" but I went when I was 23/24 and just graduated at the ripe age of 28/29 with a B.S. I have a friend that is in the nuclear industry and went back to a trade school for a robotics degree. His company is paying for it and that would be the only reason why I would go back.

I have no interest in getting my Masters as I don't plan on going up another rung on the corporate ladder and I don't want to over qualify myself for other positions; nor do I care to be in management.

As far as the learning aspect, I could have probably learned how to do what I do now (SQL Developer) on my own but I had made good friends and networked during my time in college. If you can self teach yourself, that's a plausible route to take as well. Not sure what the requirements are for that industry to get a foot in the door.
 
I'm getting my masters now but only because my school has a program where we can overlap the bachelors/masters and just add one year. So 5 years of school and I get my bachelors and masters in civil engineering compared to 4 years and just having a bachelors. No brainer decision. And if classes were offered in my favor, I would graduate half a year sooner.

I applaud the guys who go back to school. I'm breaking down doors trying to get as far away from this place as possible. The job I'm probably gonna take in the next week or two (company needs to finish up stuff on their end) doesn't require a masters, but it's something that once you have, you always have it with you. I think I will be the only one in the department with a masters degree and I'll be the youngest by a good 20 years, so that will be interesting. In the long run I know the extra year will be worth it, especially when its only costing me an extra year of undergrad tuition, instead of the insane grad school prices.

If you do go back for a graduate degree, make sure its going to be worth it for you. A masters at my school is two years of schooling, and it ain't the lightest workload out there. Easier than undergrad but that doesn't say much. If the company pays for it, get it over with and just do it. Means they have big plans for you, and that would suck to have them turn to somebody else instead of you when a new position opens up.

College degrees can be very useful as long as you go for the right area. Once you get outside the engineering/computer/medicine/teaching field, not many degrees are worth the insane costs of tuition. Get a degree in one of the mentioned fields and as long as you can interview, you won't have a problem getting a job. My school is engineering based and we place darn near 100% of the graduates every year. Heck my department rarely has anybody left for hire the last 2-3 months per year. Most are signed well before graduation. The demand is there. There is always going to be jobs available because they can't be outsourced.

For what you want to go for, I think it will be worth it. You just can't quit halfway through. That's where college wins. Spend the money to get nothing. Gotta get it done. But I think you will be okay :cool:
 
I hope that i will never feel like i have to go back to college. Not always the answer and it has definitely screwed a lot of ppl financially. Just had a discussion with some good friends that never went or did not finish college. Ironically, they all make a lot more $$$ than my college educated self. Kinda funny


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I got my masters in my 40s - lots of research and writing but doable. I am sure an engineering degree will be challenging (time wise) but also doable - one thing I can say for certain - never heard these words ever come out of anyone's lips "Damn I wish I would not have got that degree"
 
Had a robotics tech degree at 23, just finished a bachelors relating to field in management at 31. Couldn't be happier. What others have stated about the added discipline is 100% correct. Trying to go through school with 2 young kids, and a full time job was by far the most difficult thing I have done. Hardly any sleep, mind cant rest all day from 5am-midnight. Requires a lot of stamina, but anyone can do it.
 
I’ll tip my hat to u.

My wife just went back. She’s part time right now being we have bills and a kid in private school. Trying to line some stuff up for her to go full time.

Myself? I need to get my masters to move up the $ scale of life. I just hate it and would like to get out on my own. Who knows.

It’s tuff, and I’m praying like hell it pays off. In money and happiness.




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Went and signed up last night. So there is my first step. I have to call and get transcripts headed this way.
They lady said some of my certifications over the last 20 years may count for college credit. That would be flipping awesome! Alas I’m not that lucky but it would rock! Lol
I could fill a 20 yard roll off dumpster with certificates!


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ImThere said:
Went and signed up last night. So there is my first step. I have to call and get transcripts headed this way.
They lady said some of my certifications over the last 20 years may count for college credit. That would be flipping awesome! Alas I’m not that lucky but it would rock! Lol
I could fill a 20 yard roll off dumpster with certificates!


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Good luck on your new endeavors!
 
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