Already decided Grad school, how do I get back in the game?

[kontiki99]

It's been years since I got my BSEE, I haven't been in a line of work that exercised any of those skills.

Anybody got any suggestions on how to work back into it?

Thanks,

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; experience suggests that in practice, there is.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Take some of the higher level undergrad classes to ease back into it. I doubt you'll need the 101 level courses, but a few 3-400 level courses might be useful (or 3-4000, depending upon your university's numbering scheme). Once you're back in the groove, start grad school.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[metengr]

Not enough information to provide any specific guidance. What have you done for the last x years (flipped burgers or sold used cars)? Most likely you will need to start entry level in the profession and based on your current age and work history this could be a problem.

 

[loki3000]

if you want to go back to grad school, will you be doing it alongside the work or is it fulltime? in the latter case, how do you plan to finance it?

 

[kontiki99]

My OP didn't contain much detail, because the vision isn't really in focus.

Background, carrier #1 was a licensed A&P mechanic for various airlines, Eastern Airlines and other places. After major strikes, I went back to school to get a BSEE.

After degree, I went to work for a couple years in flight test, (lots of sensors) but didn't stay with it. I returned to aviation and have a background in modification certification rules, configuration control, field support of modern com nav and data systems. Lots of US federal aviation rules. I did a lot of support on air traffic collision avoidance systems and a lot of planning for compliance with traffic control transponser and compliance regulations internationally.

Everybodys sky doesen't have the same regulatory requirements. Everybodys air (and geopolitical situation) represents a vastly different problem.

In addition I'm now an instrument rated pilot developing a pretty fair understanding of how ground and space based navaids interact to provide the national and international transportation systems. I'm getting curious about how various approaches are designed etc.

My regular job is in an airline 24/7 engineering support center, supporting maintenence that needs exception paper cut to get planes out on time globally. I handle avionics.

I think added credentials would be great. My goals and end applications are fuzzy. I'm thinking math. I'd like to investigate how to apply eveloutionary design principles and game therory to airline transportaion networks? Don't know if it's a personal passion or if there is a market place.

I'll probably want to teach my way into retirement flying my planes in some nice part of the country.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; experience suggests that in practice, there is.

 

[kontiki99]

I'm currently working in what I call an engineering fire house. If there are no aircraft in the system that need engineering support, it's OK to study.

We drop everything for AOGs and research lingering reliability issues on individual ships. But were not part of the fleet project group.

When hail hammered some of our ships in DFW last week, we sent someone.

I have a great job! I can't count on the free time, but would hate to waste it.

I'll work, and attend school part time on line. Money isn't an issue. I'm single and live well below my means in a small apartment. No debt whatsoever. I don't plan to finance a house, fix a house, mow the grass etc ever again.



In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; experience suggests that in practice, there is.

 

[moon161]

Great job, good that you're working on yourself instead of planning on it lasting. Life has a way on changing, especially if you work in a cost center.

I studied for an passed the FE exam when I was laid off, did me some good, sharpened up my math & problem solving. Get the FE review manual, grind through it, you need no other book, except maybe your old texts.

Try and develop some contacts, old perfessers, other engineers, etc. Read current research, & industrial development topics. If you have something to shoot for, that will inform lots of your decisions and keep you motivated.

 

[Forensic74]

I got my masters after working for 8 years. The worst part was doing all the mindless work you know is irrelevant, while all the naive younger students are gun-ho to spend countless hours on stupid assignments.

The second worst part was the higher level math that you may or may not have seen in years. I luckily had my books from my bs and went through them prior to even starting the program.

I got more out of research and my thesis than the coursework. Worth a consideration to give you a specialty.

 

[graybeach]

I went to grad school after 4 years working. My first class was dynamics, and the teacher jumped right into it. At one point he said, "and we all know that the derivative of e to the x is e to the x." OMG - I had not thought of that in years! I really had to cram to catch up on math.

 

[FeX32]

1) Study all the math you may or may not need to brush up on: Calc, Linear algebra, Differential equations, Partial differential equations, statistics, Numerical methods.
Focus on the ones you know that you will use in grad school. For example, I love stats in uni. but in grad school I didn't use it etc.
2) Read up on any piece fundamental physics related to your grad school topic
3) Relax, have a beer or 2 and have fun in grad school!

Cheers,


Fe (IronX32)