<p>Hello CC! Just found this forum tonight, been reading for the past couple hours and thought I could get some insight to my own dilemma. Here's the situation: I am 30, yes 30. After working all over the country, I've decided it's time to pursue my dream of an engineering degree/career. Most of my q's have been answered, just looking to get a) other viewpoints from those who might have been in my shoes before, or b) any advice on things I might have overlooked.</p>
<p>Resident of IL. Money is a concern in selection. Thinking of attending the local CC to knock some gen-eds and core sequences out. Here, so far, is my list that I have created.</p>
<p>UIUC
Purdue
Iowa State
Ohio State
Texas A&M</p>
<p>Since reading through the forums, I'm thinking that the USNWR isn't where my focus should be, and will be looking at the likes of UAH, Missouri U-Rolla, and the like. My career goal is in aviation: Boeing, Lockheed, etc. Here are my concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My age: I know it <em>shouldn't</em> be a factor, but I can't help but think that, at a career fair, I'd get more than one or two sideways glances among my 21-year-old peers.</p></li>
<li><p>Money: I cannot digest that Ohio State and Iowa State OOS is the <em>same</em> as Illinois IS. Seems crazy to me. On that note, my sister has invited me to move to Tampa where she is. I've caught from other posts that the University of Florida and Central Florida are somewhat popular recruiting grounds for the aviation guys, and after that one-year residency, I could attend one of those schools for THREE years over Illinois' ONE. ...but then I go back to the age thing, and think I should graduate ASAP... ...then OSU has the Buckeye Scholarship (not sure if it's available to transfer students)... ...my head is a mess right not, so any insight/advice/experience appreciated! Cheers!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Are you starting from scratch? I went back at 30 in the fall of 2011, but I already had a BA so I had all the humanities knocked out. I was able to bypass the BSIE and am finishing my MSIE this December. </p>
<p>Age has never been an issue. I mean yeah, they know I am not 19, but most think im in the 26-27 category. I’m also a veteran, which their are plenty of at most schools, so you will not be the only late-comer to the education game at whatever school you pick. Internships have never been a problem either due to age.</p>
<p>If you can get a deal in Fl, go for it. For the year you are waiting for instate tuition you can do community college too, which is still pretty cheap even if you are OOS. </p>
<p>Chucktown, I have an AAS in Criminal Justice, so all my humanities/social sciences/communications are done. I’m glad to hear you didn’t have any issues with age. Like I said, I thought not, but there is that unease of going back to a world left over a decade ago. I’m thinking the FL route is better, financially, and if the program is ABET, who cares if it’s 84th right? Oh and, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!</p>
<p>If you want to go into aviation and money is an issue, check out Wichita State. It’s dirt cheap (OOS tuition is only $13,000, full COA is $20,000). Wichita has a lot of aviation companies so there are plenty of opportunities for internships and jobs. </p>
<p>Wichita=Cessna, Mooney 
I will look into them as well. I had a list of ~45 colleges narrowed to 6 (including IL safeties), but now the list grows again, haha! …I shake my head at Illinois’ 21k/yr for in-state engineering students.</p>
<p>Don’t ignore the smaller private engineering schools (<a href=“http://theaitu.org”>http://theaitu.org</a>). They may offer reasonable scholarships.</p>
<p>I definitely started looking at private colleges since I’m beginning to understand they have more financial aid/scholarship to offer than some state schools. Sad to say, but when I graduated HS, I didn’t have any family or mentor figure to guide me through the college search and application process, so at 30 years old, I feel like I’m learning this all for the first time <em>smacks forehead</em> </p>
<p>First of all, you have to get past your age. The potential employers won’t care, and you shouldn’t as well. I will be graduating at 31, and I will have a 45 year old and a 52 year old in my graduating class. Don’t let it worry you. Seriously.</p>
<p>Hopefully a AeroE can chime in with some specifics about schools, but in the mean time I would talking to potential schools career center and find out who is recruiting that school. I’ve found that it is much more difficult to land an internship with a company that doesn’t recruit your school than with a company who recruits your school.</p>
<p>nole, this board is getting me past the age thing. Seriously! Ha, but on the other point, I hadn’t thought of checking out the career fairs until reading it earlier in another thread. Since then I’ve checked all schools on my current list, and tomorrow will continue with the list of “look-intos.” And while I want to work in aviation, I am pursuing MechE as opposed to Aero (maybe a minor though). My biggest fear is getting the transfer merit aid, hence the possible relocation to a nicer-tuition state. (Nicer weather doesn’t hurt either)</p>
<p>ME is a good option. Lots of different kinds of engineering majors work in the aerospace industry, you don’t have to specifically get a degree in that to enter the field. There are a lot more ME programs than AE too so your choices are broader (climate, etc…).</p>
<p>True story. Plus a minor in AE shows my interest without narrowing my career options.</p>
<p>I always like to recommend New Mexico Tech or NMSU as options for those with tight budgets. Their OOS costs are dirt cheap compared to other states, and they both have solid engineering programs to boot. As a bonus, you would also get some great weather!</p>
<p>fractal, I do like the weather down there. Lived in the Four Corners area for a year, pretty country too. Thanks for the college recommendations!</p>