Returning To School At 5o: 3

[tech4now]

I hold an Associate of Applies Science degree in Electronics and I'm thinking of returning to school for a Bachelors in Electronic Engineering. My employer offers 75% reimbursement which would leave me with another 20k towards student loans that I already have. My question is: Would it be a good investment for me at the age of 50 to do this, as I feel I still have several good years ahead of me. Would I have a good change of getting a job as anyone else? I really need to talk with someone about this other than a someone from a school. I do believe I should do this soon to get it behind me. By the way I'm also a woman. Are jobs good for women out there? I need all input. Thanks.

 

[desertfox]

Hi tech4now

I would go for it, it won't do you any harm and employers these days are looking at older people to employ because there more experienced and generally more reliable.

desertfox

 

[SomptingGuy]

I'd say no.

I've learnt more (relevant, applied stuff) on the job than I learnt at uni.

- Steve

 

[MikeHalloran]

If you want to do it for reasons that are entirely internal, e.g. as a challenge, or to learn more about stuff that you're interested in, sure, go ahead. ... but economically, it's more difficult to justify. You won't get more money there, and you'll have a hard time getting an engineering job anywhere else.

Fifty is kind of a magical age in the USA. Magical, in the sense that all of a sudden, you become, by definition, too old to learn new stuff, too old fashioned to have anything useful to say, and just generally too expensive to keep. Those are totally bogus excuses. Your health care costs will also start inching up. That's most likely true.

To my jaundiced eye, if you were a man, you'd already have been let go. Your gender makes it more difficult for them to just dump you, because you are a member of a protected class.

If they educate you and then discover to their utter shock and amazement that there is no work to match your newfound qualifications, you might just quit in a huff. ... instead of suing their ass off for gender discrimination when they really just wanted to exercise age discrimination.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Comcokid]

I worked for a engineer that did 22 years in the army as a master sargent, got out at around 40, got his BSEE in 4 years, and then started his second career doing electronics design.

It can be done, but you may need to choose the school carefully. Some schools overload the students and force them through a rat maze in order to filter-out the best. Only a young person can handle several years of cram-test-cram and 4hr/night sleep. Some smaller schools and mostly commuter schools are a little less intensive.

When I was 50 I audited a masters-level EE course at a nearby major state school. The class was same course to one I had taken 30 years before. Made me reaize that if I went back for a masters, I would only be able to handle a single classs like that per semester only if I didn't have a job. I could work the problems and get them right, but several problems in one hour time - NO WAY!

 

[ewh]

I think you need to define exactly why you want to go back, then do the math. 50 isn't axactly old, but neither do you have as long to recognize any financial gain from the investment as a 22 year old, if you get the chance to use it. If personal reasons weigh heavier, then definitely go for it!

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[tech4now]

Thanks for the answers. I'm thinking of going thru an on-line university for my studies. So being at home is much better than having to attend a class outside. I'm trying to do as much research about this as I can be prepared for this. Another question I have is: How good is the entry-level positions for engineers during this time? If I'm able to find a job in the field I would think I could get a few raises in before retirement, and think I should make more money than I am now. I think that would be reward enough in my life career. It would be awesome to achieve such a goal. Thanks again.

tech4now in Tennessee.