<p>In 2003, I got my B.S. in Industrial Design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, which, in my opinion, is an overrated and overpriced trade school that poses as a college. Anyway, despite my feelings towards this institution, I have managed to build a successful design career. I have learned a lot about the industry, and I still remain very passionate about the design profession. However, throughout my career, I have also been exposed to the world of engineering, and I have really developed a strong interest in it, particularly in Mechanical Engineering. I initially thought that I was probably just going through a phase, but at this point, I am convinced that it is much more than a phase, and I truly want to obtain a Mech. Eng degree from either Columbia University or Cooper Union. The problem is that I am not quite sure how to go about it. Considering that my undergrad program did not contain a lot of math and science courses, I have pretty much ruled out the idea of applying for engineering grad school. This said, it seems I would probably have to start from the bottom, and earn my undergrad in Mech. Eng first. This would not be a problem if I were not 28 years old and did not need to keep a full-time job. The only way I would be able to do this would be to either attend school on a part-time basis, or take some type of distance learning program. As far as the part-time option goes, I don't know of too many reputable schools that allow this, and it seems distance learning programs are typically offered only for graduate or doctorate students. I am very motivated, but every now and then I find myself a bit discouraged considering my circumstances. Is there anyone out there who is or has been in a similar situation?</p>
<p>not me personally, but a friend of mine restarted his undergraduate career at 24 (graduated at 28). his partner went back to undergrad to update her nursing credentials when she was 30, finished at 34. he went to school full time and used his time off to work on oil rigs, which were soul crushing but paid really well. she worked part-time the entire time she was in school full-time. they both made it through quite successfully.</p>
<p>some reputable schools will indeed let “mature students” (that’s you) attend on a part-time basis. you need to talk to the advising staff of the schools you’re interested in. sometimes this stuff isn’t really laid out clearly on their website, but it’s definitely possible to do.</p>
<p>also, a lot of people in your position end up having their employers pay for their undergraduate degrees. you get time off work with your position held for you when you finish and they cover your tuition. sometimes they even pay for some of your living expenses. a friend of mine did this at arizona state.</p>
<p>distance/online education will not be good enough to get you into a graduate program in engineering if that’s what you’re after. if you just want the undergrad, i can’t really advise on how useful the distance/online degrees are, but my sense is that they’re not looked upon as well as traditional degree programs.</p>
<p>the reality is that you may have to give up your job and take student loans or financial aid in order to get an engineering undergrad. it sucks to knowingly downsize your life and feel like a college kid all over again, but this may be the route you have to go.</p>
<p>in any case, i would advise talking directly to either the advising staff at a university near you or do the undergraduate advisor in an engineering department and getting more advice. each school’s policies are a bit different and you may find it’s possible to get into a part-time program.</p>
<p>Thank you StrangeLight!</p>
<p>Many students who make the kind of career change you are considering start out part-time at their nearby public university or community college. Make an appointment with the advising center at your local community college and ask about articulation agreements that they have with engineering programs. You may be able to complete the first two years of of your engineering program there while staying on at your current job.</p>
<p>This may sound strange (it does to me right now) , but my husband and I in the early 80s both went back to college. My husband went back for a BS in Chemical Engineering. We found that City U of NY was a great option for him. He was a Pharmacist, so what he did was work for 2 years before he went back to college, save up and then we lived on our savings and some loans for about 2 years until I got a job. My husband went to CUNY for about 3.5 years and got his second BS in Chem. Engg. Basically he was a Pharmacist, so he did not have much of a preparation in Mathematics and Physics. He did have some High school Calculus and Physics.</p>
<p>Not the same situation as yours, granted. But we essentially lived on summer work, some savings from previous employment (not a lot),some loans (not a lot, around $15,000 but those days 15k was a lot) and some school employment at the minimum wage level. Now, I realize it was a risk but it paid off for the two of us. There was a year, when living in Queens, NY, we lived on around $7,500 a year (not including tuition, though)!! But then this was around 1980-1982 and the rent was $200 for a studio apartment in Sunnyside, Queens. I still find it pretty unbelievable but then we were both young (I was 23 and my husband was 29) and very new to the country, so what did we know?</p>
<p>oh and forgot to mention, both of us were on green card at the time and had no family here!</p>
<p>Cooper Union is tuition free but only for qualified candidates. Columbia is expensive unless you qualify - but then you’d need to get your Math and Sciences to the level of being accepted by Foo (school of Engg). Columbia has a school of general studies but that is expensive, so you have to be able to afford it or take loans.</p>