Going back to school.

[Roysneon]

I'm 25, going back to school to learn Aircraft Maintenance. I'll be 26 when I'm done. Starting a bit behind most but I guess it took me this long to figure out what I needed to do to get where I want to be.

[xAZxE30x]

I'm 25 and wanting to go back to school for an MBA. Wish I would have some it straight after graduating

My job doesn't require a degree but I want it just to leave some options open for upper management down the road

My friends always laughed at me for going to college out of high school because I was making half their income at that time. Know I wonder who is laughing as they are slowly going to school now because they cannot advance and that $20 an hour doesn't sound that good anymore for someone in their mid twenties

[BobombETA]

I'll repost what I wrote in a similar thread a couple months ago:

Like some others: I started college when I was 17 and didn't finish my Bachelor's until I was 26.

I started at a community college and majored in slacking off. Ended up on academic probation and left the school.

Lot's of working / partying made me wake up and go back full time. Had to earn all A's just to get above a 2.0 to graduate with my AA.

After that I transferred to a 4 year school and kept up with the A's and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2011.

I've been climbing the ladder since and now I'm a VP for a medium sized credit union.

Do it. Do whatever it takes to pay for it. Apply for grants, sell some things, buy textbooks cheap, etc. Once you're in the groove it will fly by and you'll be happier for it.

[freeride53]

This is very inspiring. Hats off to you, and I wish you the best of luck. Also, congrats on the kid!

[kalib0y]

Nothing wrong with finally being ready for school. I took the long route in college and was glad to finally get my act together. If I only knew then....

[Exodus_2pt0]

Going to do some self studying on calculus before I take the class. I'm pretty rusty on my math. Confident in everything else, but calculus scares me after 10 years of not writing a single mathematical problem down on paper.

I'm sure I'll get back in the groove quick, but Yea.

Still want to meet with a counselor, but they let me go ahead and enroll in class so I'm not sure if I really need to at this point.

[freeride53]

This fall will be my last year of undergraduate studies, going to get my degree in International Studies with focus in Political Science & Economics.

Since my school doesn't have a Business/Finance major, I've done a minor in Finance.

My biggest goal is to get either my MBA in 3-5 years, or CFA/licensed up.

With Business/Finance, the biggest thing for me was realizing that I could break into industry without an undergrad degree in Business, Finance, or Pure Econ.
So I chose to take applied courses, with a well-rounded major at an accredited school.

[Steveb68]

ME, eh? Been there, done that, 22 years ago. ME is dead, especially around DC. At 40+, I'm 2/3 way through a little undergrad cert in Networking. Bits 'n Bytes are the future, Mr. Exodus. Switch to CS while you can.

[e30saam]

ME is dead. Switch to CS while you can.

Ok lol.....

I'm an ME too. I don't know if its Engineering in general, or just Georgia Tech. But ME is one of the harder majors to acquire. But if you think about it as an investment. All the hard work is totally worth it. Congrats on the kid!

[Exodus_2pt0]

ME, eh? Been there, done that, 22 years ago. ME is dead, especially around DC. At 40+, I'm 2/3 way through a little undergrad cert in Networking. Bits 'n Bytes are the future, Mr. Exodus. Switch to CS while you can.

I don't understand how ME could ever possibly be dead... Unless we just stopped building anything.

[Steveb68]

I overstated for fun.

And then I wrote a lovely, poetic response, right here. And then I hit send, and R3V claimed I wasn't logged in. That was right after I had logged in. So here is the abridged, poorly reconstructed, boring version, 'cause the second time is never better than the 1st. :

ME isn't dead, but there's a lot less ME opportunities in the DC area than EE/CS. Manufacturing and Oil&Gas are doing well, but they're not around here. If you don't mind moving about half way across the country, you'll be fine.

Understand the bigger picture before you commit resources, and don't fall for the "Do what you love" nonsense. On the other hand, engineering, of any kind, is a better "Do what you love" thing than, say, Sports Marketing, or Medieval History. Remember also that you have a family and a retirement to feed.

As noted above, it's a tough degree, and it feels good to have it.

Best of luck!

[IronFreak]

Man......right on! Props for the guys like us that finally decided to go to school for what we like to do!

I started back to college when I was 27 after a 9 year break...1st semester was tough, just wasn't used to the homework and studying required, took awhile to dust off the cob webs. by the end of my first year back I got my schedule under control and life became normal again. I'm also married and have a 40+ hr. a week job. Once you start going to school for what you want, your purpose and drive is totally different, I didn;t give a crap when I was 18, but now I won't settle for anything less then an A in my classes. Not to mention I'm really enjoying school, a lot. I'll be done this fall with my BA in Project Management but plan on rolling into some ME courses for fun. I took some as electives and I had a blast.

Best of luck, keep your head down the first couple of months, find a grove. You'll have to sacrifice your time and schedule to make sure you spend time with the Lady and Baby, Family always comes first.