Hello folks,
This is my first post here in this community; however, for the last couple of months I have been trying to find success stories in this forum.
I guess, the reason that I am writing here is to find similar stories. I am having trouble recently with my motivation and I really need it for the next couple of years and, most likely, for the rest of my life.
Here is a little bit about me that I have never confessed to anybody besides my therapist:
I was always an average student in school. Always jumping from one hobby to another and never got better at anything.
Math was not my strongest point and never took interest in it until 2 years ago. I always had psychological problems and it took a drastic downturn around 2012 when I started messing with drugs. I got suicidal.
Finally, at the point of a suicide, I just couldn’t do it. Things were on and off since then. In 2014 things have started to change and my girlfriend has changed my life. Now, I am going to therapy and started community college for Computer Science.
My ideas about my future are more optimistic. I am also taking classes in Data Mining.
I have a Master’s Degree in Finance and my undergrad is Actuarial Science. It turns out that I am not bad with math and computers. I have the highest scores in computer class. The only thing is that I really need the fundamentals of programming so that I can combine them with my math skills.
My interest is in Data Mining.
I am 32 and thinking of ways to convince myself that I can go back to school; however, I don’t even know that if a 4-year college would accept me due to my age.
I am looking for similar stories but mostly success stories. Lots of people around me think that what I am doing is ridiculous and I think that they are ridiculous. Sticking to one field and simply not learning anything else is another depression reason for me.
I am life time learner.
Anybody with a similar story?
I don’t see a reason why a college would refuse you, there’s no age for learning.
If you think it’s a good idea go for it. People that say it’s ridiculous aren’t worth your time.
good luck
Many four-year colleges will not consider applicants who already hold four-year (let alone higher) degrees. You should probably look at Continuing Education programs at a variety of universities, or find colleges that have programs for non-traditional students. Would you want to attend full-time or part-time? Are you confined to a specific geographic region, or would you be willing to pull up stakes? What are your financial constraints? If your budget and mobility are flexible, you might be interested in Columbia’s School of General Studies. Otherwise, you should investigate some of the intensive “boot camps” for coding and programming. Maybe San Jose State has some good adult ed. programs.
Thanks for posting. I am pretty much stuck in San Diego for now. I guess I might have to apply for another master’'s, maybe statistics or even something in computer science who knows.
A Masters degree in Computer Science is certainly possible if you take the right pre-requisite courses.
How about one of the coding boot camps? You have an excellent background and can polish your coding skills to quickly get in the workplace.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/12/20/370954988/twelve-weeks-to-a-six-figure-job
xraymancs, does every school have their own prerequisites for master’s in computer science?
Some things:
- Colleges don’t care how old you are. 32 isn’t even old anyway.
- You already have a 4-year degree. At this point, I don’t think a 4-year degree path is the way for you. Seems to me that the Community College you are attending and then perhaps some Data Mining certifications would be enough. Computer science and IT and the like are fields where 4-year degrees don’t necessarily help (in some cases). Simple know-how and some demonstration of that is what matters. One of the best computer-savvy people I know has a degree from for-profit DeVry University. He’s a good worker and extremely valuable to the company he works for.
If you want to get a second degree in computer science, go for it. I did it at 43 and just finished my first year. Find out what you need to begin a career in data mining and create a plan from there. Look at job listings to see what employers require, etc. Search for and read articles about data mining in general, the career, career outlook, etc.
Also, don’t forget about the graduate certificate option. They can be cheaper than the bootcamps and the credits can be applied towards a second graduate degree at the same school. Don’t take a hodge-podge approach. Do your research and get the right knowledge the right way. Have a plan. Know how and skills demonstration may be fine for getting work as a programmer or software engineer or web developer, but that won’t work for every single sub-field in computer science and IT.