<p>I've become dismayed with my current academic environment. My teachers don't put a lot of effort into their classes, my peers are either disinterested or functionally retarded, getting great grades is hardly challenging. Plus, I have a more solid idea what I'm after career-wise. I've been pursuing an Econ/Finance degree, a subject which I enjoy academically, but am not overly interested in as a career, at least insofar as the opportunities available to me from my current school would realistically dictate. </p>
<p>Really, I just want to live out in the country, but don't want to live ALL hardscrabble like. The two good options I see are either working in hydro plants or in oil & natgas production (which pays well and offers abundant time off). I still have the means to switch directions, and I've been thinking about pursuing an engineering degree, either in mechanical or petroleum engineering, to give me a path into some of the more desirable positions within these industries. </p>
<p>Friends working in both capacities have told me that this is probably overkill for the work I want. But in today's employment environment, its hard for me to see how you can get in where you want without an edge of some sort. Part of the reason I'm interested in going this direction is also the challenge of it and intrinsic reward. I really like school when its stimulating, I like to work hard, and want get something useful out of my education, which I don't feel like ATM. I've finally matured enough to really apply myself to something and start thinking seriously about my future, and I don't want to look back at my years in college as a waste.</p>
<p>My first concern is that I don't want to be in school forever. I don't have much background in the core engineering subjects (chem, physics, calc). It'd probably take at least 3 years if I started today...maybe more? This would be a big setback, as I could finish what I'm doing now in about a year--but that might not really get me anywhere. On the other hand, I'm still young enough that this is probably the time to make up my mind if there ever was one. </p>
<p>It'd be stupid to ask other people what I should do; clearly, that is a choice I have to make. I'd be grateful for some input about what such a switch would mean for me academically, or some things I should know about making such a move. Are there many engineering students who begin at age 23? How hard is it to transfer into engineering programs? My grades have been stellar for the past two years, but I don't know how much that counts for. I really appreciate any insights offered.</p>
<p>One thing you might consider is finishing your current degree while taking some of the basic engineering classes, then going for a master’s in engineering. They don’t always require a strict engineering background, and while you might have a few prerequisites to take care of first, you should still be able to get in and out in about the same time it would take you to get the engineering bachelor’s, but you’ll end up with an even higher degree to show for it.</p>
<p>There would be more than a few prerequisites. There is no way one could manage a graduate engineering degree without a lot of the fundamental courses. Coming from finance, you would have to take probably 3 years worth of courses to be properly prepared for an engineering masters.</p>
<p>I’m have no calc credits currently. I’m taking pre-calc this winter, an intro physics class, and chem 1. Hopefully I’ll take calc 1 in the spring. I realize this is a formidable obstacle for me; I used to hate math and never wanted to step foot in a math class again. That was many years ago, and I’ve since had a change of heart about this. I never really applied myself and I think I had really bad teachers. Anyway, nothing is set in stone yet. I suppose that by taking these classes I’ll see if I really have it in me for this or not. </p>
<p>Like I said, I don’t really have any background with the core E subjects. While I really want to pursue this, it could be hard to justify if it necessitates another 4 years in school, especially since I’ve been repeatedly told that an engineering degree is overkill. But all the doors that are opened with an engineering background appeal to me for their own sake. Wish I would have had a better idea about what I was after when I started school…</p>
<p>Nah, it’s not impossible. Look at BU’s LEAP program. One or two years of undergrad prep courses (basic calc and physics, some intro engineering), then dive into the grad program. Take as many of those before you get there and you won’t have as much do to later.</p>
<p>How many programs are there like LEAP? There are several schools that will let you take a small jump (chemistry -> chemical engineering, physics -> electrical engineering, etc) with a semester or two of leveling courses, but next to none that will allow for a big jump (business -> engineering). Even if a program like LEAP allows it, it would require 2 years of leveling courses + a 2 year degree. That’s 4 years, which the OP stated is too long.</p>
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<p>You would be surprised. At any college, you’ll see many ex-military students that start at age 22-30. In “commuter colleges” or colleges with night programs, you’ll often see people in their mid to late 20’s taking classes part time.</p>
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<p>That is a question for the engineering department at your college. Sometimes it’s as simple as submitting a form, sometimes it’s impossible.</p>
<p>Although most MS programs have no problem with you going econ - - > engineering, it seems like you are much too far behind in the technical subjects. **(G.P. I spoke with both UF and Purdues MS programs (for EE) as a business major (econ) and both said I could be admitted to the programs by completing the same courses required for an undergraduate minor in the subject.)</p>
<p>More to the point, I would try to exhaust your other options first. Have you tried doing all that you can do to get a job that you want with your econ degree? Networking, career fairs, resume blanketing, cold calls, emails, etc Im talking exhaust that list of alternatives completely its the difference between another 2-3.5 years of your life and one year, only to end up at the same place.</p>
<p>Once you have done that, I would try to self-study most of the first/second year engineering subjects and test out of them. This seems hard, but the scores you need to test out are really not that high it is possible. Maybe take Chem1, calc1, physics1, and a CS class to get a firm footing then self study the rest of them over summer break. Test out of as many as you can and jump into the engineering load full throttle. You can manage 18 credits fairly easily if youre devoted to the work, and you could probably even take 21 at a lower tier school without too much problem. If you succeeded with this approach you could end up with a BS in about two years I would think. If you take the standard approach, it sounds like the only thing youre going to have taken already is your general eds, which is about one semesters worth of an engineering degree meaning youve got about 3.5 years ahead of you.</p>