Very atypical background. Is engineering right for me?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Here's the cliff notes version:</p>

<p>• 26 years old female
• A few years of middle management experience at your typical middle-management office job
• Went to college for a degree in English Literature</p>

<p>I've always had a strong interest in sciences ever since I was little. However, after graduating high school, due to family problems I couldn't get into engineering and instead chose an easy path at the time, which was English. Needless to say I hated every minute of it.</p>

<p>So now I've decided to go back to school to study something I'm actually interested in. I want to do maths/science and engineering seems like a good option. I've been back in school for 6 months now as a part time student and I'm pulling all As so far. I'm also extremely motivated and have very good discipline. </p>

<p>I'm not sure which branch of engineering I'd like to get into. I'd like to do something with alternative energy sources but I will probably stay clear of the environmental engineering degrees and get a degree with a strong core (Electrical, mechanical and chemical are probably what I'm looking at).</p>

<p>Another thing: I'm going to be working full time and studying part time for freshman and sophomore, and then probably study full time for junior and senior. I will have no loan debt till junior year since I am paying everything out of pocket for the first two years - however I will borrow some money for the last two years so I can have time to study (also hoping for some scholarships).</p>

<p>I've calculated I will probably graduate at 32. Now, is this a bad idea? Will I be too old? I heard there was age discrimination in the engineering field, and it may be worse being a woman - just being realistic, especially after being exposed to the workplace, discrimination is everywhere. </p>

<p>I'm also planning to get into an evening MBA program before I hit 40. I will graduate from either ASU or U of A.</p>

<p>Feedback? Good idea or ridiculous one? Would I be better off studying finance (please, no accounting, I'm simply not cut out for it) and opening my own financial consulting business? I'm afraid that may be more practical.</p>

2

<p>Graduating at 32 in engineering is not unreasonable at all, if that’s what you really want. The questions that occur to me, which you have not asked explicitly but are perhaps implied in your question are:
-Are you willing to start at the “bottom” in a technical field at that age? You will have to accept the fact that people your age will have been in the profession for 10 years when you are just starting out. You can easily obtain a “good” job and perform meaningful work, but it is a fact that when it comes to promotability many companies are looking at how many years of future leadership they can expect from potential candidates for promotion. I dispute that this is really age discrimination, but still it is a business consideration.
-How committed are you anyway to science and technology? After expressing your great interest in science you are already planning to go for an MBA “before you hit 40”? Do you feel that 6 or 7 years is all you want to give to developing into a skilled and knowledgeable engineer? If so then why bother, when you apparently already have a successful business career?
You have expressed concern over being discriminated against as a woman but in actuality, that may be an advantage in an engineering field. Engineering schools and technically-oriented companies (it appears to me) are desperate to recruit more women. Far from holding you back, that and your prior work experience may give you a leg up, making up for your age disadvantage. But frankly I am not hearing a proper appreciation for the science/technology itself. Do you just see it as a stepping stone?</p>

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<p>Don’t worry about age. My college roommate STARTED medical school at age 30. She has dyslexia, so it was really hard for her. She failed her first year, but passed it on her second try. She’s 47 now and has been an ob/gyn for years. She’s happy she went back to school!</p>

<p>I’m a female engineer. Sure, there are some male turkeys out there, but that’s true in every field. Just be good at what you do, and you’ll be fine.</p>

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<p>With regards to being a women in engineering, not that I would know…but imoa I don’t think it’s something to worry about. In fact it can help you. </p>

<p>You sound like you know what your doing, go for it!</p>