Second Bachelors... Help

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Alright, I'll try to keep this short, but who knows.</p>

<p>Anyway, I graduated from SUNY Binghamton with an accounting degree and about to go to the masters of accounting program. Unfortunately, I never really enjyoed accounting. I mean, it was okay, but pretty easy/boring. My internship was much of the same, but seeing as a good starting salary and high potential salaries later (or so they say), it seemed a logical enough choice.</p>

<p>I just wish I did engineering, mechanical specifically.</p>

<p>Now, while I don't know much more about engineering than most and have only gone up to Calc II. I still feel a passion for it. I love applied mathematics and have always excelled in math. I am actually pretty clueless as to why I didn't jump at engineering, or even math or physics... but I guess the whole accounting thing clouded my judgment. </p>

<p>ANYWAY!</p>

<p>Now I'm here... scared of the future. Should I go back to school for engineering? And if so, where (I'm from NY and want a cheap school, maybe Binghamton would more easily accept me)? How long will it take (would want to do it as fast as possible)? How much would it cost (already have 35k in loans)? Would I even like it after all that work? And if not... what a waste... I mean, to do engineering, I'd really have/want to leave my masters program and start taking basic courses to transfer into some degree program once I can apply and get accepted to one. So, if it then doesn't work after all that effort to change, I dunno if I can handle that. </p>

<p>So, just want some suggestions from you guys. Not just on what I should do, but perhaps on the logistics of if I did it... basically answering some of the above questions. </p>

<p>It just sucks cuz on the one hand there is the fact that I want to get my life started with, stat making money, start working, not deal with school, etc. Yet on the other hand, accounting is boring and easy. I graduated with a 3.98 and didn't really try. Sure, I studied hard when I needed and did my work, but it was not a challenge. Not to be conceited or anything because I don't think I'm a genius or something, I just don't think accounting or business classes in general are very difficult. </p>

<p>I'd LOVE to challenge myself with math and science. Something to really make me think. Really allow me to understand parts of our natural world and how things work. I think I actually have a more underlying passion for physics perhaps but love the idea of applying it practically to design/build machines and so forth, so mechanical engineering seems like a good choice.</p>

<p>Anyway, sorry for the long rant.</p>

<p>I just need advice. Appreciate any and all help. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Also, what would one suggest if just knowledge is something I’d love to have?</p>

<p>How hard is it to learn the material on your own? If going for a second bachelor’s is not an option but I still want to learn more.</p>

<p>And if I still really enjoy math/physics, would either of those be a bit less in terms of length perhaps but still offer some good/interesting job opportunities.</p>

<p>Lastly, while money isn’t super crucial, it is important, especially with the debt and the fact that I wanna do well by my family and so on. How can engineering compare to the accounting field for instance? Especially if going back to school here means I probably won’t go get an MBA… </p>

<p>In the end, I think I’d love to start my own business (be own boss, probably make more money, etc.) and still go to school or class or learn on my on the side. But dunno.</p>

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<p>Btw, probably terrible basis for why I love applied math and physics.</p>

<p>But basically, I enjoyed physics, calc I and calc II. I read science news all the time. And constantly watch the science channel. </p>

<p>I just think at the heart of what I love is really wanting an understanding of things around me. I dunno. I can’t explain it. I hate that I have a degree in accounting and all I know is some BS rules humans made up for business. I couldn’t care less about that. </p>

<p>But to know physics? to really understand the workings of our world, regardless of us humans, interests me. And I think physics is more specifically what I like, but it’s a bit too theoretical perhaps and thought engineering would be best fit to apply it practically. </p>

<p>Anyway, sorry for all this posting.</p>

<p>Also remember, if there are options for masters programs or something maybe (would assume some prereqs needed though), I’d try that if faster.</p>

<p>Basically want the degree and education, but quickly. Summer courses and so on too. I wanna get life started… so that’s my dilemma.</p>

<p>I wish I could go back and change my major, but can’t, so if decide to make the change now. Well, want to reverse things as quickly as possible.</p>

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<p>Accounting isn’t a bad lead in for engineering, and I wouldn’t look at it as some BS rules humans made for business, that’s probably just the frustration talking. It’s frustration you’ll probably feel once you get a MechE degree and find you are stuck in front of some CAD terminal for 9+ hours a day making less than you would with a MSAcc and 2 years at a consulting firm. </p>

<p>Here’s what you should know as an accountant; how to influence people and ensure a profitable business. That’s a pretty good thing to know if you want to start a company one day, and not necessarily something an engineering degree nor an MBA really teaches. Now, I’m not going to tell you what to do, because it is a big shift in gears to move into engineering from accounting, but I would suggest you find another way to fulfill your education desires besides schooling. Some accountants I know work there way into manufacturing analyst roles and then eventually end up running the operations of the place and get to toy with the workings of the place without having to do any of the “real work”. Also, if you want to start your own company maybe you should as soon as you can, and feed the need that way. I just think you are smart enough to learn what you need to do without the schooling.</p>

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<p>If you want to learn some stuff on your own, here’s a good website to get you started.</p>

<p><a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/[/url]”>http://ocw.mit.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>click engineering tab on the right, then mechanical I suppose! :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for that. Still looking on advice for possibly pursuing engineering.</p>

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<p>Well, an accounting degree is definitely a valuable degree to have; you are highly employable with one. You can work practically anywhere with that. As some have suggested, you could consider working as an accountant for an engineering company, or a company that is somehow involved in engineering. This may be a way for you to feel satisfied, without going for another degree. You may want to try that first, because an engineering undergrad could take 3 to 5 years of full time study.</p>

<p>Also, you dont necessarily have to become an accountant; you could take a job in finance or marketing, or sales or something and look at engineering as a hobby too. You might find a job that you enjoy and you might feel differently about getting an engineering degree.</p>

<p>But hey if you have a huge passion for engineering, if you have both an accounting AND an engineering degree thats a pretty powerful combo.</p>

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<p>Look into CMU, Penn, and Stanford type schools. I’m not going to do the research for you, but I do believe there are MBA-Engineering and MBA-Product Design degrees out there. </p>

<p>Might be an idea.</p>

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<p>really the best thing to do is, if possible, speak to engineers about their work and get them to describe it to you.</p>

<p>If you cannot find any engineers to do this, check out the engineering departments at different colleges and speak to faculty there because many of them are engineers. They will be able to answer many of your questions.</p>

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<p>Thanks for replies again. I wish I would have noticed yours before, Japher. It was incredibly insightful and helpful. I appreciate it a lot. I think you are right in regards to schooling not being the answer. I feel a lot of it is frustration talking and that there are other opportunities that will be open to me that I’ll enjoy taking my current path. </p>

<p>I can always learn more about engineering/physics on my own to satisfy my own crave for the knowledge.</p>

<p>And can sneak my way into that field if in other ways, as you suggested. Plus, I think starting my own business and being my own boss, despite not knowing what I specifically want to do, but I don’t mind waiting to refine some ideas. Perhaps getting that ball rolling sooner, rather than later, will be helpful as well.</p>

<p>And winbacker, appreciate your input as well. I can give this all a chance and keep engineering as a hobby.</p>

<p>If for some reason 5 or 10 years from now I really still want engineering. I guess I can pursue it then for a career change, but I don’t think I put myself in a terrible spot. Sure, I might have enjoyed the engineering field, I don’t doubt that. But I need to continue on my path and see where it leads me. I’m sure I can find something I enjoy… it’s too early to switch back now. I don’t think I’ve given it a fair chance just yet.</p>

<p>Lastly, thanks pandem for the school info, appreciate it.</p>

<p>You guys can feel free to continue with advice. But think I’m coming closer to making up my mind on a decision. </p>

<p>I wonder if I can use my electives for my MS in accounting as engineering ones. I doubt that though, lol. Cuz can only register for graduate level stuff, that alone is a problem, and it’s a business degree. Oh well.</p>

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<p>What about studying for actuarial exams? Since you love math?</p>

<p>You don’t need school for that, just do it on your own with self-study material.</p>

<p>You should consider entering the actuarial field and becoming an actuary. </p>

<p>Pass a couple exams, and get hired as an actuarial analyst</p>

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<p>Look for courses like this;</p>

<p><a href=“http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/pdf_web_files/epd/L015.pdf[/url]”>http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/pdf_web_files/epd/L015.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>as well as certificate programs, or my brother-in-law, for no real reason, went and became a certified mechanic</p>

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<p>Thanks you guys. Those are both interesting options I will seriously consider. Hell, while I’m in school this year I could just self study (have far more time in school than when working) and do that. It helps satisfy my wanting to learn more and gives me more options and things to do, if I wanted. Never hurts.</p>

<p>The one thing I always think about–at least about the accounting field, it’s probably far different than science/math/engineering–is how a lot of schooling can be easily self taught and that since a bunch is either forgotten and/or never used in the real world that many things you learn in your degree program simply don’t matter. You just learn on the job anyhow.</p>

<p>The foundation is nice, but I believe anyone can learn a great deal on their own with some determination. And there is always the internet for extra help too, since you’d be lacking a formal teacher.</p>

<p>Anyway, we’ll see where life takes me, but will go on with masters program and hope for best in terms of my job next year and any possible opportunities I take in the future.</p>

<p>Just gotta never allow myself to stand still. I will definitely try teaching myself things, possible doing the certifications you were both talking about, keep options open and keep myself well-learned. I definitely don’t want to be an accounting/auditing drone my whole life. The more I know, the better I’ll feel, happier I’ll be, and hopefully the better my career will be.</p>

<p>Thanks again for help.</p>

<p>GL to all you engineers. I do have some envy for you all. Could be unfounded, since maybe the grass is just greener… but I guess I won’t really know.</p>

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<p>

It only LOOKS greener… It doesn’t mean it actually is…</p>

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<p>^Yes, more what I meant. Guess used incorrect version of that one.</p>