<p>Let me start by first presenting my situation. I am 35 years old and
graduated in 2005 from UIC with a degree in Electrical engineering. I was
very dedicated with very strong drive. I succeeded to achieve the
highest GPA (4.0), which didnt mean much to most employers. I have spent
more than a year looking for a job in my field and because I never had
any internships or working experience in my field, it was a major set
back for me in most interviews. In addition to that, my communication
skills are very poor. After all this, I totally lost interest in Electrical
engineering and trying to do something different.
I have worked for four years for the water department in my native
country and been working for a construction company in the USA for six
years doing mainly office work.
I was considering becoming a surveyor, but I find the work not
challenging enough in addition with the prices of GPS coming down, I foresee,
that most surveyors will be out of work soon. After doing some research,
I am more interested in civil or mechanical engineering. I am
considering transferring to UIUC in fall of 2007, that s if I get accepted. I
will have to take between 60 to 66 credit hours. The other option I am
considering is applying for the Masters in civil engineering and take the
necessary undergraduate courses, but dont know if that s feasible and
not sure how long that will take.
Is going back to school the right choice for me? Does UIUC have a
program for working adults? Will I be able to compete with the young guys
and succeed? And once I graduated, will companies prefer young guys over
me?
Please advise</p>