<p>I'm a 25 year old from India and I've been pursuing a career in music for the past 6 years. I was studying EEE in Delhi and I studied for 2 semesters(1year) before I dropped out. I didn't like my college at all(a very shady institution) and when I was given a chance to do music full-time I didn't even think twice. Also I guess I was a bit immature back then and tended to be impulsive quite easily. These days, I've started feeling this strong urge to go back and finish my degree(not from the same college though). I'll be applying in universities in the UK including Southampton, Manchester, Nottingham etc. Mainly because their course is 3 years long instead of the usual 4 so I can finish my degree by the time I'm 30. I used to be a pretty decent Science student back in school, scored fairly well in my high school examinations(scored above 90 percent in both Maths and Physics) and I always had an interest in the sciences(especially applying theories in a practical situation). It's just that a combination of being over-excited, weird college atmosphere and uninspiring teachers turned me off the subject completely back then. </p>
<p>Do you think it's a good idea for me to get back to doing my engineering degree from scratch? Has anyone here been in this situation? I wish to do the same course i.e. Electrical and Electronics as I've always been fascinated with semiconductors and circuits and their analyses. Is that a good field to major in? What's the future of Electrical and electronic engineers? I've never been too great at programming so I don't think I'd do very well in a Computer Science/IT major.
Also I've been really out of touch with both Maths and Physics and 6 years of being a musician and indulging(heavily for 4-5 years) in recreational drugs has affected my grasping abilities a bit. Still, I'm quite determined to do this. Are there any tips on what all I should to brush up on if I'm planning to start my course next year? Are there any online resources that I can checkout? Something a bit structured would be great since its overwhelming to just start watching random youtube tutorials on different topics just to find out some things being mentioned that I don't remember at all.</p>
<p>Thanks and please excuse the really long post :)</p>
<p>I was in a very similar situation. I used to work in music/audio engineering (not traditional engineering), was heavily involved in the whole recreational acts you speak of, etc. Eventually I waned to go back to school at 24. I spent about 2 years picking away at preliminary classes for science/engineering (I did horrible in high school, had to make up a lot of classes when I went back) and am currently finishing up the 2nd semester of my sophomore year at 28.</p>
<p>Some things:
-If you haven’t seen math in 6 years, buy a used textbook/workbook on whatever the last math class you had was or go to khanacademy. org or a similar site to refresh yourself. The info is still in your brain, you just have to dust it off and clean off the cobwebs. As for physics/engineering classes, try the same tactic, see what you remember. You want to have a good grasp on that material, so unless it’s still clear it would probably be a good idea to retake them.
-If you feel you are too old to go back, don’t worry about it, and this isn’t me just politely trying to encourage you, it really is not that big of a deal at all. You’ll probably be at the top of your classes since your more mature and disciplined.
-As for EE itself, I do know that it is a pretty wide and good field to get into, but I’ll leave that for someone else to chime in on since I’m not an EE</p>
<p>“Do you think it’s a good idea for me to get back to doing my engineering degree from scratch?”</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>“Also I’ve been really out of touch with both Maths and Physics and 6 years of being a musician and indulging(heavily for 4-5 years) in recreational drugs has affected my grasping abilities a bit. Are there any online resources that I can checkout?”</p>
<p>You should see if your college offers a refresher course and take part in that. That should clear it. Otherwise, you’d need to specify, how much you’re lacking of HS material. HS material is not that important in uni, because it’s refreshed briefly in the form of definitions, and then all the other stuff that builds on that is fairly new (it’s just taught and studied more precisely by the definitions and not by rudimentary calculations or memorizing). Some courses start from assuming only the very basic algebra, equalities/inequalities and functions (the concept of a function and trig. functions).</p>
<p>“Still, I’m quite determined to do this. Are there any tips on what all I should to brush up on if I’m planning to start my course next year?”</p>
<p>I would pick up a calculus book and start going through that, that gives you an idea of the level and rigor required and you can see what you may want to refresh. As well as prepare you for reading mathematical text (which may take some time to grasp).</p>
<p>Just a heads up though that depending on how your resume looks and/or how old you look, some less than polite interviewer may prod at the subject of your age. I’m 30 now and will be 33 by the time I get my BS in Aerospace Engineering. I’ve had two interviews so far and both times age was brought up. One guy was subtle, the other flat out asked me how old I was. I went for broke on the second one telling him about how I juggled being a stay at home parent while I went to school full time and worked two part time jobs blah blah blah. It may have worked because I got a call back two days ago. Suffice to say, just prepare yourself in case it happens down the road.</p>
<p>I went back to school for Engineering at 29, will finish at 33.</p>
<p>What was the point of the drugs comment btw? Are you worried that you are burnt out or have somehow took it too far and aren’t capable of handling the information? That’s more than likely not the case, but you might want to lay of the hasheesh when you get back in school man. Tip #2, when you do get back into school, don’t freely admit to a bunch of people that you used to do a lot of heavy drugs either.</p>
<p>It won’t be easy though, picking back up engineering courses from years of no practice will be tough. But I am a true believer that passion and effort can do anything.</p>
<p>My husband dropped out of school as a college senior at age 21 because he decided he didn’t want to be a teacher. He hitchhiked all over the country and eventually worked as a rough carpenter in Alaska, where he learned about structural engineering. He went back to school at age 28 and completed his BS and MS by the time he was 32. I’m glad he went back, because I met him in school (I went straight through and was 9 years younger than he).</p>
<p>I agree there will be some age factors to involve but if you really want it than you should go for it. I’ve had some managers ask me how old I was and others have done so in a non-verbal and rude way. It’s hard but don’t let it get to you just keep going and eventually someone will give you a chance.</p>
<p>haven’t really read everyone elses responses (sorry everyone), but i went back at age 25, I found the hardest was my math. I actually re-did grade 12 math, then pre-calculus then i did university math. they offer these courses at the university, some schools will let you take then as you take other engineering/science courses.</p>