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Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
Firstly, I know this is a forum for professional engineers, and I am not.  But I think this would be the best place for some legitimate feedback.

After a solid semi-career in restaurant management, I decided that I wasn't using my brain enough every day to be happy.  I quit the 80 hours/week job and work much less now, so that I have time to school.  I've always considered myself a problem solver, and I'm strong in math and science.  I placed into calcI/analytic geometry on a placement test at the local cc after pretty much NO math for the last 12 years.

Thing is, I'm 31, and likely to be 36-37 before I have a degree in hand.  Is that too old to start a career in engineering?  I think I've had enough of settling, but is this a valid point to settle on a new career with faster training?

Thanks
Tony

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

That is not too old imo. As long as you enjoy what you do, you will never look back.
 

peace
Fe

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

turbomacncheese ... Check the logo at top LH corner. These fora are for engineering professionals (EPs), not just PEs.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

You're never too old to start something new.
You still have 30+ years until retirement.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Never to late to start.  Go for it.
"The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn."

Find Electrical Engineer Job listings
http://www.electrical-designer-guide.com/

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Think about thousands of others were out of work and can't find it back. You're still so lucky.
"Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others." Buddha  

Find Electrical Engineer Job listings
http://www.electrical-designer-guide.com/

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...


31 is too OLD!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Better done when you're younger, but, you know, I've found that mac&cheese is best served warm, and you are a lot warmer when you are doing what you like.  

Go for it dude.  You'll be happier with yourself, and that is what will make you successful. king

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto:  KISS
Motivation:  Don't ask

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Not even clos to the oldest I have seen.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

No different than many ex-military looking for a second career.  Your biggest difficulty will actually be choosing the engineering discipline that you want to study, i.e., mechanical, electrical, etc.  Choose wisely, padawan...

HOWEVER, whatever discipline you choose, make sure you get a full bachelor's degree from an accredited school.  DO NOT get a technology degree, DO NOT get an associate degree; neither will pass the threshold usually applied to entry level engineering jobs.

TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Agree with the others...Go for it.

Follow IRstuff's advice and choose your discipline carefully.  Follow your interests, not the published/touted starting salary data.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
"No different than many ex-military looking for a second career.  Your biggest difficulty will actually be choosing the engineering discipline that you want to study, i.e., mechanical, electrical, etc.  Choose wisely, padawan...HOWEVER, whatever discipline you choose, make sure you get a full bachelor's degree from an accredited school.  DO NOT get a technology degree, DO NOT get an associate degree; neither will pass the threshold usually applied to entry level engineering jobs."

First, thanks to everyone for the encouragement!  IRstuff, I can already see that this will be the hard part.  Perhaps not only because I need to find where my interests best intersect with engineering, but also because there is limited schooling in less than a 1 hour commute and I work full-time to support my wife and four children, and we plan on moving to Illinois sometime before I could finish.

Any tips on what kind of personalities/interests best suit particular disciplines of engineering?

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

I would offer this advice.  I was in a similar situation a number of years ago.  I graduated high school in a small town where everyone just finished high school, got a job at the local factory, got married, had kids, and went on their merry way.  I scored a 790 on the math SAT in high school and not even my guidance counselor sugested at least looking into college.

I got a job at the local factory, and even years later I was still doing calculus problems in my head while working and on lunch (proving to myself that the area of a circle really is pi*r^2 by using double integration with polar coordinates, and similar things).  When I was 24 I decided I couldn't take it any longer and started taking classes at a community college - at the time I wanted to be a math teacher.  The college was an hour away.  I took gen ed classes there for about 2 years while working full time.  When I decided to go into engineering I realized that I needed to step up the pace a little.  I started taking as many classes (gen ed) as I could anywhere I could find them.  I took classes at two different community colleges (in class and online), and at 3 different branch campuses of the university I finally graduated from.  

I worked full time while taking classes part time for 4.5 years and then worked part time while taking classes full time for 2 years.  During all of this I had a kid, got divorced, then got remarried.  I was 30 when I finally finished.  It was a long, hard road to hoe, but very much worth it.  I get to exercise my brain daily and love my work.  I make less money than I did in the factory (by a pretty substantial %), but am much happier.

I would say that if you are passionate about engineering, then go for it.  You will definitely be there because you want to and not just because you're good in math/science.  That will make a huge difference in your study time and how you take notes and pay attention in class. This will ultimately be reflected in your grades and the opportunities that open up to you.  

When I talked to my mother about going back to school and I expressed concern about how long it would take me to finish and how hard it would be she just asked me how old I would be in 7 years.  The answer was the same whether I went to school or not.  Why not go for it and be happier in 7 years?

11 years later I just found out my application was approved to sit for the SE I exam.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who has the fortitude to take this road.  It's not borne out of a need to please others or expectations from parents/family.  It's clearly a desire to better oneself and contribute as much as they can to society.  That being said, the bulk of the respect comes from that fact that it is a long, difficult road (I know this first-hand, obviously) and not everyone can make it.  Those that can (and do) automatically earn my respect.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Well said SEIT.  

I had this conversation with someone else recently.  We noted that of the engineers we knew, the ones that actually liked being engineers tended to avoid retirement.  I'm far from retirement but I could understand the logic.  My father is not an engineer but planned to retire a few years ago.  He found that he was bored and needed his own time away from my mother (ha!) so he went back to work.  If you're an engineer and spend your whole life bettering yourself at some profession that you love, why would you up and quit when you're at the peak of your knowledge base?  I could see slowing down but retiring completely?  Not likely, at least for me.

That being said, the reason I wrote that is that even at 37 years old, you may think you "only" have 25-30 years til retirement.  However, if you're in good health, you may end up doing this the rest of your life.  It's an addictive profession when the rules keep changing and the wealth of knowledge is so vast.  You just never stop learning something new.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Go for it man. When I was doing my Bachelor's degree about 2 years ago, there was this retired pilot who was in my year. He graduated with First Class honours with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He was about 55 years at the time!! So you're nowhere near close!

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Go for it! I wish more people would have the attitude like you.

Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

If you know you'll be moving in a couple of years, I suggest doing as much as you can at your local CC, then seeing what accredited engineering programs within commuting distance of your intended location in Illinois have distance learning components.  You can start with distance learning, then attend in person once you move.  I do advocate attending classes in person whenever possible as you will gain more from direct interaction.

Also see thread730-265061: When is it too late to pursue engineering professionally?

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

While there is the obvious personality stereotype of the engineer:
> Introverted engineer: looks at his own shoes when talking to someone else
> Extroverted engineer: looks at the other person's shoes when talking to them.

The main factor is really finding something that you like to do, can do, and are willing to do for the rest of your life.  Bear in mind that typical engineering is mostly an office job, but there are exceptions.

TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
Hell, half the reason I want to be an engineer is just to be "in" on the engineer jokes, lol.  Seriously, though, lots of great advice, and thanks for the little nudge.  I may resurrect this thread from time to time with progress, and hopefully one day, I'll count myself among the engineers WITH the answers.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

I think that the answer to your first qestion is pretty easy.  When you're 37 and looking back at the previous few years, are you likely to say that you were glad that you had skipped all the bull of an engineering degree?  Will you have preferred doing whatever it was you were doing between now and then?

As for deciding which degree to pick, I can only tell you about how I decided on mechanical.  If you find yourself fascinated by everything with moving parts and can spend hours leafing through manufacturers' catalogs of out-of-date machinery that you have already looked at a hundred times before, then you should probably pick mechanical.  Couldn't tell you what turns on the guys who build bridges or radios.   

Engineering is not the science behind building.  It is the science behind not building.   

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
When I think back to the things I really enjoyed learning, the things that stuck with me BECAUSE I enjoyed learning them, I come around to physics, biology, and math.  Chemistry a little, but not so much.  I see lots of civil, electrical, and mechanical titles in the screen names here, but I have come across a degree at University of Illinois in biomechanical engineering.  Anyone familiar with it?

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Go for it!! I spent 3 years in the IBEW as en electricians apprentice before I decided to go back to school and finished in less than 4 years, although I didnt have children I worked 30+ hours a week. Many guys in my office were in the same boat as you and did it. After you get through physics 1 and 2 you will have good idea on what discipline you want to focus on. And at any point if you hit the wall and question your ability, just remain stubborn and push through it and don't give up.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

I started at 37 and didn't graduate until I was 42, and I wasn't close to being the oldest in my class. It is one of the best decisions I ever made.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

bio is going to be a growth area in the next 40 years as more and more rich people get older and older. I think it is an excellent and interesting field.

Even if it doesn't work out the mechanical side of your degree will be a good fallback.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Completed BSME at 28, passed FE exam (Fundamentals of Engineering) at 40. If unattached, the physical proximity and your maturity difference from the young & attractive may be torture. Don't ignore campus life or activities, but moderation in all things.

I remember a father-son pair when I was in school. Both seemed sharp, Sr. a little more together.

My biggest weakness by far was study discipline, I thought sponge mode was sufficient, it's not for 95%, and a bad idea for all. If you study consistently start, and apply the threshold effort early, start projects early you will step into a world where the material become common sense that others don't.

Work experience and the madness of long-term unemployment (thankfully over this spring)helped me study the 2-5 hours / day for my FE review process. 2 children broke me in on the sleep deprivation.

Tour engineering departments, see what they have to offer, pick what you like. Make sure to participate in student design/build projects like ASCE steel bridge, SAE (formula SAE, Mini-Baja, methanol marathon, hybrid vehicle contests, DARPA autonomous vehicle). Posing & solving design problems, working hands on makes you literate & accomplished in engineering process. Study for & take your FE Sr. Year.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

If your inclined, you may be a candidate for the Navy Nuclear Power program. Now that flight wings accept lasik eye correction, NNPP is starved for smart people, and your education will be probably be paid for.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

I knew a couple of Biomechs when I was in college in the late 90s.  It involved everything from designing and building prostheses to joint replacement options to ergonomic designs and analysis.  It was a lot of mechanical combined with good doses of materials and bio knowledge.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

If you actually know what an engineer does and are passionate about doing that yourself, you are by no means too old to pursue that passion.  Life is too short to be stuck doing a job you hate!

Just don't pursue engineering, and all the effort and debt that engineering school might entail for you, without an understanding of the ACTUAL job market for engineers of the kind you plan to be, in the region you want to live in.  Don't buy the hype or the reputation- do your research and get the data before you decide.  At the risk of boring poor old FeX32 to death, I'll restate that the 2006 census in Canada had two engineers working OUTSIDE engineering for every three who have a Bachelors' degree or higher in engineering.  Not all of those folks are patent lawyers or medical researchers either.  Not all of them left because they saw greener pastures in some other field- many couldn't get a foothold in the profession after they graduated.

Engineering is still a pretty good gig for the top 10% of its grads.  Aspire to be amongst that top 10% from the get-go.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
I was just headed over here to post about all the engineers that reportedly can't find work because much engineering is being outsourced to foreign workers and because more people are taking up engineering.  It also seems like a lot of the advise for finding a job is "be willing to relocate."  Easier when you're 24 than when you have 4 kids and a spouse trying to land a career as well.  Any thoughts?

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

"At the risk of boring poor old FeX32 to death" LOL.
Too late, the thought of your "persistent-whimper" bores me to death.....
btw, I am far from old....I may even be you next door neighbor's kid or that young prof that you hated in uni. ...pipe.

OP, don't listen to those BS stats. Every good engineer I know loves their job and had no trouble finding one.
Look at the uni. stats, they are totally opposite.... I wonder why...duh!

peace
Fe

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

For what it's worth, engineering that requires a PE (e.g. civil and structural) aren't going to be outsourced anytime soon.  The additional pending requirements of a MS will help dwindle the supply.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

I also posted a link to an article recently that had engineering as a top ten "recession proof" degree to have.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Well, partially recession-proof, maybe.  When the recession hit, we laid off about 10% of our work force, and have allowed about 5% attrition to date.  

There are also a number of ET members that are currently, or recently, without a job.  YMMV, since there's different sectors of the economy as well as different parts of countries involved.

TTFN

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RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

Medical office visits have been substantially down in the last year.  Possibly because of lost insurance or copays being too high.

TTFN

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RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

My previous company (automotive components) had reduced staff before I left (my choice for a new and different position) and has had more since I left. My current company (engineering services to aerospace companies) has seen a reduction in workload but is looking to hire some experienced staff in the current recession.

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services
www.infotechpr.net

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

(OP)
That's the next thing.  With plenty of unemployed engineers looking for work, what are the odds of a new grad getting engineering work 5 years from now?  And if one could find a job, would it be enough to pay the bills?  Or would a second job be in line?  Hearing about guys/gals taking jobs for 8-15 bucks an hour just to get in the door is disheartening, because I make more than that now and just get by.  Of course, the wife will be working by then, but that would suck to just end up even with right now, albeit in a a more challenging, hopefully satisfying career.

RE: Not really an engineer, but I want to be...

In the 5 yr timeframe, it's probably pretty good.  Either the recession will be over, or we're fubar'd, in which case, it won't matter what your degree is, or is not.  Even now, we're still looking for good people, admittedly at a lower pace than before, but it's not so dead that everyone's hanging on for dear life.

As I mentioned earlier, we've had attrition, but that was losing people to other companies, 2 went off to an Evil Empire, while another went to a commercial company.

TTFN

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