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| Contemplating a degree? |
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| trilerian:
So let's just say, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, lol. The problem is, I'm grown up... So maybe a little about me. I'm a network engineer, I've been in IT almost 15 years, only recently transitioned from being a systems administrator to a network engineer, about 2 years ago. I have an associates degree in physics, but really that doesn't mean much. And it has been so long since I have taken a class I'm pretty sure I have forgotten almost everything. If I decide to go back to school, I only hope I can skip the humanities classes. Ok, so without going through my life's story, which nobody wants to know anyway, I'll shorten the story and just say that I struggle with the small things. I like the big and flashy, well maybe not so big and flashy, but I generally tend to skip the tiny nuances of the subjects. I study what I need to study to complete a project. While this can be great, and to others it may seem that I learn something really fast, what really happens is incredibly inefficient, as I don't learn the basics. most of the time I find the basics too boring, and I struggle with my attention span while learning. Anyway, I find myself in a predicament, my current career is starting to get, let's just say a little dry. I am not intending on quitting my day job and going to school, but I get no enjoyment out of my job anymore. But that is also status quo for me. I thrive on new knowledge, then move on to something else. Working in IT that has led me through all sorts of different jobs, but still in the same relative field. Now though, I have started my own business as a "maker" for RC racing products. No, my business isn't profitable, lol. I think I may be down about $10k this past 8 months. But alot of that is all the tools I have had to buy, plus R&D is expensive, lol. Then distributers want huge margins... Anyway, I digress. The point is I have found this new hobby that I have turned into a business, and kind of want to pursue it. But I think I actually may need to learn a bit more of the small details. All that to say, I maybe want to go back to school. Or if not school some other structured form of learning what I need to know. I am a one man shop as far as my business is concerned. I've learned CAD, 3d printing, basic electronic theory, how to use KiCad for schematics and designing pcbs, and how to stumble through programming a 328P mcu. I'm scared of all the other mcu's out there, lol. Again though, I'm not planning on quitting my job, so it will be school, job, and side gig. Which means my wife won't see me a lot, but that is alright because I stood by her when she worked a full time job and got her MBA at the same time. If I get a degree maybe, maybe I get a job as an EE. But I can't say for sure that would happen, also it will take quite a while, and like I said, I'm already grown up. Let's get to the brass tacks here. If a degree, online vs in person. Good school vs unknown. If not a degree, what structured programs are out there to learn. Left to my own ends, I'll skip the boring stuff and be right back here, so I need some structure. But I'm a little scared. An EE degree isn't an easy degree, and my mind isn't what it was 20 years ago. But a 4 year degree would be nice to get. Despite my experience in IT, not having a 4 year degree has hurt some of my career choices. Well, anyway, I appreciate any responses. Thanks, Andrew |
| abeyer:
--- Quote from: trilerian on December 31, 2023, 07:14:45 pm ---So let's just say, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, lol. --- End quote --- Can we start a greybeard peter-pan club pinned thread? ;D --- Quote from: trilerian on December 31, 2023, 07:14:45 pm ---Despite my experience in IT, not having a 4 year degree has hurt some of my career choices. --- End quote --- I suspect you're right that even though it may not be better/necessary from an educational perspective, having that piece of paper opens some doors that wouldn't otherwise -- it's usually a silly box-checking thing, but it is what it is. I otherwise don't really have any answers to the fundamental question, but actually am in a vaguely similar position and curious to hear what others say. |
| SiliconWizard:
Well, we all know what we'll be when we eventually grow up. |
| Veteran68:
Do you really want to be an EE, or do you just want a working knowledge of electronics to allow for the design and repair skills necessary to support your business? If the former, you don't have much choice than to go for the degree if you want a new career as a "real" EE. Not that I believe the degree is necessary to be a great EE, but you wouldn't likely be formally recognized as one, or more importantly, hired without one. As was said, it's a door opener more than it's a requirement for competency. If the latter, then I'd say at this point in your life/career, you might be better served by a trade/vocational program. You will learn much more practical skills, not have to waste time with those humanities, and the cost will be considerably less. It sounds like you need/want the structure, but if you had the self-discipline you could even go with a self-driven course of study to pick up those fundamentals you say you lack. For most smart people, degrees are highly overrated. My career is in IT as well, and I've been an IT leader for the past 15+ years. Some of the best programmers I've known had no degree. Some of my best hires did not have a degree (I told HR years ago that I would not consider a degree a requirement for a job if they had work experience), while my two worst hires had multiple graduate degrees. My mentor, the smartest person I know who made his first millions in his 30's, didn't finish his degree until he was in his 50's and mostly retired, and then it was only as a personal goal thing and not because he needed it (he's owned his own business since before he dropped out of college in the 80's). I'm not discouraging you from pursuing a degree, I'm only suggesting you ask yourself what your end goal is. If that goal IS the degree, or if that goal is to become a "bona-fide" EE, then go for it. But don't think it's necessary to grasp the fundamentals and skills necessary for practical work. Especially in support of your own business. |
| nctnico:
--- Quote from: Veteran68 on January 01, 2024, 03:19:41 am ---Do you really want to be an EE, or do you just want a working knowledge of electronics to allow for the design and repair skills necessary to support your business? If the former, you don't have much choice than to go for the degree if you want a new career as a "real" EE. Not that I believe the degree is necessary to be a great EE, but you wouldn't likely be formally recognized as one, or more importantly, hired without one. As was said, it's a door opener more than it's a requirement for competency. --- End quote --- For HR droids a degree is a checkbox item. Still I think a degree is worthwhile persuing because a big part of the training is learning to analyse a problem methodically and getting tools in your toolbox to do so. Or put differently, a degree doesn't make you an excellent engineer but it provides to tools to become one. So it is a good idea to get some education. I have come across a few self-thaught engineers but they always lacked the ability to approach a problem in a structured manner leading to be inefficient or outright incompetent due to lacking basic math and physics knowledge. And don't be afraid to be old. 2 years ago I wanted to pick up wave surfing but since I had no idea on where to begin, I booked a few classes for adults. I was the oldest 'student' by far every time. |
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