How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
(OP)
After a misdirected youth I'd like to go back to school and pursue a BS in either Mech. or Materials.
I'd be 38 at graduation. Too old? Be honest, I can take it.
I'd be 38 at graduation. Too old? Be honest, I can take it.





RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
My wife is finishing up her residency at age 44.
I recall reading a news story about a woman who passed the bar at age 77.
TTFN
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Good luck!
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Mr. Locock has a good suggestion, though, upon which I'll expand. If you have an engineering university nearby, investigate their curriculum through their catalog. Then check out the bookstore for the textbooks you will be using. "Advanced Engineering Math" is only one of ~30 classes that will be required for a 4-year degree. Then go surfing the net on Monster.com & others to see what companies are actually hiring engineers to do. My personal philosophy after surviving a graduate engineering program is that (1) a BS degree teaches one how to solve problems and therefore engineers are problem solvers, and (2) industry is chock-full of problems and will always need problem solvers. You may really enjoy problem solving and occasionally find an engineering job quite rewarding. You'll have a decent lifestyle but you will probably never get "wealthy".
Mr. Locock: why oh why did you have to cite "Kreyszig" ? Aaauuuuggghhhhh! I thought I buried that painful memory years ago! The pages of my copy of Kreyszig still has the blood stains from when my head exploded.
TygerDawg
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
How old will you be in 6 years if you don't go back to school?
Still 38.
Are you worried that companies won't hire a new grad who's 38? Mine does all the time.
Don't know where you live, but in many parts of the States there are community colleges (or 2 year colleges.) Often these will offer classes at night. You can take a class - in math(s), if you want - and see how you do while you're still doing your regular job.
Patricia Lougheed
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I graduated when I was 38 with a BS in EE. I found my maturity level to be an advantage for me. I had flunked out of college at 19.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
The trick is going to be lining up a job afterwards. If you can figure that out beforehand then you'll be way ahead of the game.
TD, just to make you even sadder I have two copies of Kreyszig, one on each desk. Now I'll remember your note each tme I open them, and get an even odder reputation - "he laughs when he opens maths books"
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Regards,
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
He retired from his sales career, and started college 2 weeks later. Graduated in 4 years with a BS in Engineering Physics. I think he got a MS in Applied Physics @ 71... and continued schooling. My dad actually lived across the hall from him in an apt the year before he started school.
Wes C.
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RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
He graduated in '98 I believe. He is now doing really well, enjoying his job, living in a really nice house, etc...
I think you'll be fine.
Ed
www.engineerboards.com
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
The only 2 real considerations I can think of are:
Are you really sure you want to do it, the 'try before you buy' idea would help with this one.
The second is the financial. Can you do it in a way where the finanical payback once you graduate compensates for the cost, and potentially lost income while you do it. Obviously if you're indepentantly wealthy and doing it for ***** & giggles then not an issue.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
BSME @ 43.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
It's never to late to pursue an educational goal. I graduated at age 28. My wife will graduate at age 38. I say go for it.
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
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o
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RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I would agree you should go for it. Alot of good advice here. I graduated at 31 (not quite 38). At school there was a club for "Non-Traditional Students" and the oldest one in the group was in his early fifties. I do believe your maturity can be an asset.
Rik
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
At 38, you still have approx 25 years until retirement.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
If you want a good taste of what the schooling with be like. Sign up for an online EIT/FE study aid like www.eitexam.com and start working the EIT practice problems. Because working those problems is how your gonna spend most of your time pursueing such a degree. You also need to test your math skills.
I am thirty and after studying for the EIT for the past couple of months. I know there is no way I would want to start pursueing an engineering B.S. degree. I am happy I did it, and happy with my career, but I couldn't do it again. Everyone is different and if its something you are willing to sacrifice for, etc... go for it!! However, I would not encourage you to pursue the degree if you think it promises big dollars.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
In 4 years it will be 2010. If you start now you'll have a BS degree.
If you don't start in 4 years it will be 2010.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Honestly, I do not enjoy engineering entirely. I certainly don't like number crunching all day long and sitting in front of a monitor.
There are aspects that I love. I love manufacturing, product design, application engineering (helping others to solve product application problems), etc... However, there's not a whole lot of that in my area and I am not doing the things I would really like to be doing.
Keep that in mind. Try to be sure that the job opportunites that you want will be available to you.
Its not all the way that I thought it would be in that regard.
Ed
www.engineerboards.com
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I agree with rday that maturity is an asset. You will be surprized to find yourself abosrbing more relevant information compared to "traditional students". Hence, better grades.
Once you are out, you can expect faster career advancement compared with younger graduates.
One of the posts mentions math. Most high schoolers who are afraid of math don't generally go into engineering. Even those who like math, some will be weeded out in the first few years of college because of math. Importance of math is a very good point. But in practice (I am a licensed structural engineer) math I use involve basic arithmetic and a bunch of empirical formula. If you can "pass" college level math, you will not sweat the math used in practice.
Regards.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I would guess that the #1 reason 38-year olds don't go to college is they're too busy putting food on the table for the family. If you can work it out, go for it.
When I was in college, out of perhaps a 100 ME students in my class, there were 2 I think that were older, already had families, etc. They took education seriously.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
There again that was back when A levels were hard.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I once encountered a man who had gotten a ChE degree at an age similar to yours and he found an age ceiling working for a large corporation whereby the company favored younger workers (he got work but stagnated) for promotions because they had more years to give to the company as they moved up. He felt by passed and eventually left the profession and when I knew him, he was building houses.
I don't know if that was true, or just his perception but give it some thought.
rmw
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
It was this kind of thinking that got me started on my degree. Plus make sure you are doing it for the right reasons (not just financial gain but self improvement as well) and make sure it is a subject matter you can enjoy.
My background and education is Instrument/Electrical yet I have gone on to do a Chemical Technology degree which I have found really interesting. If I had continued down the doing more I/E path I think it would have bored the hell out of me.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
I agree very fully with many here that being older will be an advantage compared to the "kids" you will be surrounded with.
There a handful of "old guys" who were working on their EE degree the same time I was. MOST did well. SOME crashed and burned.
Generally the ones that did well: Had full support and understanding from their families, worked very part time (as opposed to trying to hold onto a full time jobs), were in a position where there was little financial burden while attended school.
Generally the ones who crashed and burned: Tried to hold onto their existing career by working too much, were single, tried too much to "party" with the young guys, and were under financial burdens.
If you have the support of your family, and the money is either there or available, and you treat the schooling like a Mon.-Fri 8-5 job. Then most likely, you will be successful. AND finding a good job afterward should be easy. Especially if you have contacts in the mech world already who respect you. Good luck with whatever you decide!!
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Regards,

Qshake
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
38 isnt old! if you want to be an engineer to be rich, i say forget about it. I am still jealous of my wife's attorney starting sallary. If you want to be one because you want to be one, then go for it.
RE: How old is too old ? (to begin a BS in ME) ?
Regards, best whishes, do well!!!