BS and MS in Acct... I hate it... waste of my time... best way to do engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Or is it remotely possible at all? If so... give me suggestions.</p>

<p>****The following is simply my story, to answer the question... you don't need to read, but feel free if you're interested, lol...*</p>

<p>Basically, I did accounting because I got sucked into the prospects of people saying it's a good career choice, stable, and so on. I neglected to really think, will I enjoy this. Actually, I realized I didn't exactly like accounting, it's pretty boring and generally too easy (not too brag, but graduated with 3.98 undergrad gpa, 4.0 grad gpa. More of a challenge is welcome!)... but I didn't realize until I've now started working in the field for the past 2 months that I cannot take this BS for my whole life. I don't want to look back in 30 years and realize I've done nothing but accounting. </p>

<p>I've always loved math. I've only taken calc I and II, and enjoyed them. I excel in math and really love the sciences. I know stuff on the science channel and in science articles makes physics and engineering look more glamorous than it is, but I've always just enjoyed the nature of it. I want nothing more than to know what everyone else knows. How physics and math plays out to gain an understanding of how everything works.</p>

<p>And to me, it's similar to looking up to a musician who is really great. Meanwhile, you don't know how to play the guitar or piano. You wish you could do what they could do, know what they know... and I feel like with physics, engineering, etc... I had that chance. And I threw it away!!! I majored in something so mindnumbing easy and boring. Something I do not care about in the slightest... what was I thinking?! Hell, I'm in halfway done with CPA exam.</p>

<p>To add insult to injury, I had this epiphany last summer before my masters program (needed credits to meet CPA req). But I already had a job secured and everything was set. It was a big jump to go to engineering. I didn't do it. Should have.</p>

<p>****I digress... I made a big mistake. And now I want to see if it's possible to change it. Yes, I spent 5 years in school and accumulated some debt and wasted time. But I will (hopefully) live a long life and why not have the majority of it be happier because I'm doing something I (hopefully) truly enjoy...*</p>

<p>So, I want to do engineering. Specifically, mechanical engineering. </p>

<p>I do not think it is possible to go back and get a second undergraduate degree. For one, schools do not really accept people going for second undergraduate degrees, and two... it'd probably take far too long.</p>

<p>My thinking was:</p>

<ol>
<li>Take prereqs for a masters program. This is likely a long list, but perhaps it could be done in a year? </li>
<li>Then, go to get my masters. Which would be 1 or 2 years? </li>
<li>Pass licensing exam of some sort.</li>
</ol>

<p>Is this possible? What is timeline? I wonder if I can forego any specific degree and take courses on my own and pass the licensing exam? Obviously, this is not some small task, but if it's possible... it could save me time and money perhaps.</p>

<p>Any help appreciated. Or am I doomed? Feel free to give other advice about career changes without obtaining an engineering degree perhaps. I just know I cannot take accounting. I am just not satisfied with it. At all.</p>

<p>And that's all. Sorry it was so long!</p>

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<p>To answer your questions, in my opinion:</p>

<p>1.) If you have no prior engineering classes, I see no way that prerequisites for a MS in engineering could be completed in a year. I have seen people with undergrads in physics or math jump to engineering grad school (and even they have to take prerequisites) but I don’t know how it would be possible with a business degree.</p>

<p>2.) Take it from someone who earned an MS in engineering after already having a BS in engineering. Graduate level engineering courses will be very difficult without the proper background in mathematics and undergraduate engineering. Everything kind of builds on itself. You will need higher level calculus, differential equations, and many of the core undergraduate classes in order to be prepared for graduate school.</p>

<p>3.) Don’t worry about licensing yet.</p>

<p>To sum it up, I think the BS in engineering would be the next step. With all this being said, I think engineering degrees are very worth while, if you enjoy it. The degree is versitile and can lead to many opportunities.</p>

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<p>I want to do accounting after completing BS and MS in Chemical Engineering. It’s so easy to get a job in accounting.</p>

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<p>^Who cares if it’s easy to find a job… I used to care. But ultimately, accounting sucks. And I wish I would have known sooner.</p>

<p>And now, if I need more courses uner my belt to even think about getting an MS, and the BS is better… how long will a BS take? At it’s fastest. I would hopefully need to take zero classes outside of the engineering coursework. That’s really the goal, take the bare minimum of engineering stuff that I need. I don’t wanna be taking the stupid core classes again, it’s why I was trying to opt out of a BS… Just take all pre-reqs needed, and an MS would be very specific coursework as well.</p>

<p>Any other information or guidance is helpful. Thanks.</p>

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<p>If I were you, I would pick a couple of schools I was interested in, and CALL them. Ask someone in the engineering school your question. For example, I KNOW my dad would tell someone interested in civil or architectural engineering at the University of Texas that they HAVE to get a BS first. Just because you’d like to opt out of a BS doesn’t mean you can!</p>

<p>What ME 76 said about graduate courses is very true. As a master’s student in structures, you would take classes such as prestressed concrete design or seismic engineering. Both of those are built on knowledge learned as an undergraduate. Also keep in mind that everyone else in your grad classes will be pretty sharp and have already studied all of this stuff, and if you hadn’t, you won’t make very good grades!</p>

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<p>It is not realistic for you to be an engineer.</p>

<p>I got a BA in History in 2.5 years and just started an engineering degree. It should take me 6 years total for both degrees. </p>

<p>It’s not that you can’t be an engineer, it’s that you will realize that it would devastate you financially. If you spend 3 more years getting a bachelor’s in engineering, you will have lost the equivalent of about $150 or $200k. How would that be? Also you will not fit in very well with the other students. Most are straight out of high school.</p>

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<p>^Not fitting in with the other students because of your age is NOT an issue. I had several friends who were five to ten years older than I was. I thought they were “old” (25, OMG!) but cool. My husband was 28 when he went back for engineering. He said that being older was better, because he took studying more seriously and made better grades than his first time around as an education major.</p>

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<p>I agree with Andrewsky, in some respect. While you will be doing homeworks, studying for tests, etc. (that in reality, you may not encounter in real practice) while you friends are working, making money and settling down with family…etc, etc. I can understand your point, but as time passes…it will be really tough. I am feeling that right now.</p>

<p>Oh by the way, an engineering degree does NOT guarantee you will have an engineering job.</p>

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<p>I DISAGREE with Andrewsky - I got my BSEE at 30, married with a daughter. While it is true that colleges are really designed for the 18-22 set, most programs have no problem accommodating older students, and there are several advantages to being an older student. The only downside is that much of the college party scene will be less available.</p>

<p>As to the OP’s intent, I think a BSME will be necessary (probably including the general education requirements) - you could in theory just take the engineering coursework, but that will save you relatively little time and will have significant long-term consequences. Many schools also have contigencies that allow students to substitute courses when they already have similar credits. For example, since you have already taken “freshman English”, you may be able to replace the credits with another English course or even with “open credits” (perhaps a technical elective!).</p>

<p>I knew a business major who returned to school for their BSEE and the biggest problem is funding - many loans and grants are not available to people who already have a bachelor’s degree. This means going back for your bachelors will be expensive, and that may be funds you never in your career recoup. Still, if this is what you want, go for it! As Maine noted, contact some schools and see what your options are! With your past GPA admissions should not be a problem, and you may have the best success by returning to your alma mater.</p>

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<p>Heck, a lot of my CCNY students are older folks. My data structure classmate is around 50+ at least. He has PhD and is an adjunct at Columbia U. He just return to school for fun, I guess.</p>

<p>He’s enjoying the class and is very friendly. Usually 1/2 of my classmates are of 25+ years old students. In some schools it might not be the case. Obviously, there is pressure! If you are man enough to return to school, you can be man enough to work against the pressure!</p>

<p>1 year is not going to happen, you probably have to retake calculus (if not all, at least you have to complete the missing one). If I am not mistaken, business major take lighter calculus, which may mean retaking. I don’t know. I am only a sophomore. LOL but true that you have A LOT OF PRE-REQUEISTS to make up. </p>

<p>You should instead seeking for a second degree in Bachelor. Your liberal arts are done.
That’s the best way to prepare you, instead of getting stress out about not knowing what the heck flux across the whole surface means. LOL</p>