Going back to college in your early 40s...sounds like a terrible idea...but Im considering it.

[StuckInTheEast]

Title pretty well sums it up.
I'll be 41 next week...and I'm more than lightly kicking around the idea of going back to college to finish out a 4 year degree in one of various natural resource related fields. Im still working on the specifics major wise.
Long of it short...my time turning wrenches and dealing with the general public in a customer facing manner will be coming to a close sooner than later for a multitude of reasons the biggest being that I simply dislike/loath every aspect of the auto/auto repair industry in general after 22 years in it. I can give specifics if anyone wants but I'm not here to b$%ch and moan about all the reasons my job makes me miserable...the fact simply is that the work hasn't brought me the slightest joy other than income for many years and I'm finally at that breaking point.

So I'm thinking hard about retooling to finish out my last 10-20 years of full time work chasing something I enjoy at least sometimes and find purpose in more than just getting POS cars down the road for a bit longer and earning a paycheck.
I'm leaning towards state, federal or oil and gas work that will get me outside and out of the same building everyday. Whether that be fish and game, BLM/Forest service or oil and gas production, etc... I need to do a bit more homework on specific paths, but all will require 1.5 to two years additional education at a minimum to get a foot in any door...and all will likeky be a staggering pay cut starting out I'm well aware. Oil and gas maybe not so much.

While I'm aware that federal employment options are a train wreck presently, I don't forsee that
to be a long term condition and hopefully be settled into a new normal by the time I'd finish my degree. Im not sold on Fed work though, honestly last option I'd likely consider even before the current chaos erupted after many discussions with my father who retires from the Corps of Engineeers in a couple months. Thats a whole other topic for another place and time...but it is still an option.

Any other late bloomers around here with input on returning to the higher education scene later in life?
Any state/federal/oil/gas guys that have any specifics on what to focus on course/major wise for a certain career path.
Any recommendations on colleges in the mountain west to consider for specific natural resources oriented degrees?
My secondary goal in this is finding a career path that gives me better potential in finding meaningful work in the mountain west.

We are moving, its just a matter of exactly when and exactly where...Im seeing schooling may play into that at least at first.
My wife is game for about anything, she knows I need a change more than I do I think. She didn't bat an eye when i threw out the random idea of moving to Larimie for a year or two and living cheap while I finish a degree at U of WY...She just started looking at realestate, elementary schools and churches in the area. Thats just one of many options currently being explored, but the point is she's on board.

Obviously I'm amassing information from many sources, but I figured it couldn't hurt to drop something here in a community of at least somewhat like minded individuals. Some of whom may very we do the type of work I may be looking for.

My next step is to get in touch with a few advisors and send transcripts of previous course work, as I have 2 associates degrees and couple years of early mechanical engineering courses under my belt, and see what kind of course schedules they can work up on a couple degree programs to help me get better grasp on timing. Perhaps see about knocking a few courses out through online programs before making a move to a specific school and dropping my paycheck for a year or two to just get it done.

If anyone has anything insightful...or just wanna tell me I'm an idiot for even thinking about it...Im all ears

 

[Mike Islander]

Good buddy STARTED at age 41. Went from truck driver to engineer in four years. Very happy man.

 

[AK4570]

I started an undergrad at 38 and finished a PhD 9 yrs later. And, yes, I would do it again. The benefits of waiting 'til later in life are clarity of focus and discipline. Do a cost/benefit analysis and go for it.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
John

 

[ODB]

I also went back to college (full time) in my 40s after having picked away at it while I was gainfully employed. I got laid off my job and my wife said, "Hey, now you can finish your degree!" I was a barely-C student in high school but graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Washington. It was a really fun time, and guess what - your older professors will probably LOVE having an adult in class. Most of mine did, big time. Your limitation is yourself.

At your age it's easier to talk yourself out of it than into it, so just do it and be done with it. You will be four years older anyway in four years, so you might as well have your degree too.

Get to it.

 

[Fatcamp]

Graduated nursing school two weeks before my 50th birthday. No regrets.

 

[180ls1]

Investing in yourself always has the highest ROI. I think you should go for it. A better income and a career you enjoy more has a lot of upsides.

Also, there are fully accredited colleges (WGU for example) that allow self paced study so you can expedite the process.

 

[missjordan]

Go for it. It’s definitely worth it going into a field of study where it makes sense. Which it sounds like you are. Skies the limit


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fowl Play]

Have gone to school with and worked with several individuals who started their 4 year degree in their 40's.... all of them were happy they did. Although they all went back to get an engineering degree. Quick ROI on most engineering degrees. You said you had some mechanical engineering classes under your belt, any particular reason you don't continue down that path?

Just choose carefully pursing a "natural resource" degree and ensure you know exactly how it is going to be worth it. Have several buddies who followed their dream getting biology/similar degrees and wound up making $30K a year after going almost $100k in debt.

 

[go_deep]

You could be the godfather

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Good luck getting a job with feds now.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I graduated in 69,74, 79 and 99 and my grades got better with age as did my ability to study and focus. The last time I graduated with a 4.0.

If you want it - you will get it.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Investing in yourself always has the highest ROI. I think you should go for it. A better income and a career you enjoy more has a lot of upsides.

Also, there are fully accredited colleges (WGU for example) that allow self paced study so you can expedite the process.

The income part is the biggest hurdle to get myself over actually.
Most of the pursuits I'm entertaining are likely to pay a fraction of what I earn now especially starting out. However, there are other benefits to weigh out as well and I'm at the point in life I'm well aware money isn't everything...but its still a big security factor.

Knocking out a few online courses to get back in the swing before hitting a campus for the stuff that often can't be done online due to labs or field studies may be a good start. We'll see what I get back from advisors over next couple weeks after I get my transcripts sent out and evaluated.
I'll look into WGU...I've not looked there yet.
Thanks for the input!

 

[FAAFO]

Do it! And good luck! You won’t regret it!

 

[Dmoua]

The 2 to 3 years in school is nothing compared to spending the rest of your work life doing something you hate. You’ll regret it later if you don’t start now.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Good luck getting a job with feds now.

Yeah...right now...not a promising prospect at getting or even keeping your job with a federal agency for that matter.
My Father is project manager for the Corps of Engineers and an employee's wife has been with The IRS for 15+ years...I've been pretty well informed on the kind of chaos going on in those agencies, I'm sure it's not better elsewhere in fed work.
Hopefully it's short lived. It's been pretty demoralizing for alot of folks that put alot of time and effort into their careers. There was fat to be trimmed in places, but alot of agencies run pretty lean staffing wise already and are going to likely be cut to the bone before things get any better... crazy times. Very curious if the supposed methods behind the madness will pan out as many are thinking they will. Time will tell.
Should be able to get a picture of what's to come in next year or two. If not it's gonna get really interesting.

 

[roadrunner]

Currently going back full time (again), but this time for Marketing to get better at building up a new business venture.

 

[Maverick1]

Title pretty well sums it up.
I'll be 41 next week...and I'm more than lightly kicking around the idea of going back to college to finish out a 4 year degree in one of various natural resource related fields. Im still working on the specifics major wise.
Long of it short...my time turning wrenches and dealing with the general public in a customer facing manner will be coming to a close sooner than later for a multitude of reasons the biggest being that I simply dislike/loath every aspect of the auto/auto repair industry in general after 22 years in it. I can give specifics if anyone wants but I'm not here to b$%ch and moan about all the reasons my job makes me miserable...the fact simply is that the work hasn't brought me the slightest joy other than income for many years and I'm finally at that breaking point.

So I'm thinking hard about retooling to finish out my last 10-20 years of full time work chasing something I enjoy at least sometimes and find purpose in more than just getting POS cars down the road for a bit longer and earning a paycheck.
I'm leaning towards state, federal or oil and gas work that will get me outside and out of the same building everyday. Whether that be fish and game, BLM/Forest service or oil and gas production, etc... I need to do a bit more homework on specific paths, but all will require 1.5 to two years additional education at a minimum to get a foot in any door...and all will likeky be a staggering pay cut starting out I'm well aware. Oil and gas maybe not so much.

While I'm aware that federal employment options are a train wreck presently, I don't forsee that
to be a long term condition and hopefully be settled into a new normal by the time I'd finish my degree. Im not sold on Fed work though, honestly last option I'd likely consider even before the current chaos erupted after many discussions with my father who retires from the Corps of Engineeers in a couple months. Thats a whole other topic for another place and time...but it is still an option.

Any other late bloomers around here with input on returning to the higher education scene later in life?
Any state/federal/oil/gas guys that have any specifics on what to focus on course/major wise for a certain career path.
Any recommendations on colleges in the mountain west to consider for specific natural resources oriented degrees?
My secondary goal in this is finding a career path that gives me better potential in finding meaningful work in the mountain west.

We are moving, its just a matter of exactly when and exactly where...Im seeing schooling may play into that at least at first.
My wife is game for about anything, she knows I need a change more than I do I think. She didn't bat an eye when i threw out the random idea of moving to Larimie for a year or two and living cheap while I finish a degree at U of WY...She just started looking at realestate, elementary schools and churches in the area. Thats just one of many options currently being explored, but the point is she's on board.

Obviously I'm amassing information from many sources, but I figured it couldn't hurt to drop something here in a community of at least somewhat like minded individuals. Some of whom may very we do the type of work I may be looking for.

My next step is to get in touch with a few advisors and send transcripts of previous course work, as I have 2 associates degrees and couple years of early mechanical engineering courses under my belt, and see what kind of course schedules they can work up on a couple degree programs to help me get better grasp on timing. Perhaps see about knocking a few courses out through online programs before making a move to a specific school and dropping my paycheck for a year or two to just get it done.

If anyone has anything insightful...or just wanna tell me I'm an idiot for even thinking about it...Im all ears

Go for it. If you have a passion to do something different, have at it.

A couple of things to consider, in no particular order:

• Going to a 4 year degree program may or may not pay off financially at this point. But, who can put a price on happiness and your mental health?
• There are many online degree programs to consider. May be a better cost option, may not. Could also offer flexibility to do the course work at your pace vs. being in person or on campus.
• Have you consider a two year tech school or another trade? The 4 year degree path can take more time and not necessarily result in more money. Many of the trades (such as welding or electrician) may provide the hands-on field experience that you are used to, with perhaps not as significant of a pay reduction. (It may be tougher to transition from a hands-on job to an office/desk job - - - or maybe not?! That's something to answer for yourself!)
• Checking with an advisor would be a good thing - to learn if the previous degrees/experiences can transfer over to a new degree program or if their statue of limitations has expired.

Good luck! You can do it!!!

=
=

 

[fngTony]

I tried at about your age. It didn’t work for me because I hadn’t been in a class setting (in person or virtual) since 1998 and my job isn’t something where I practice long thought processes so I was a fish out of water. The school is very important, mine was terrible so do your homework on that.

As far as getting registered and funding it that’s a job in itself but most schools have a department to help you navigate it.

Sounds like you have some recent class experience and practical experience with math? You’re going to have to either test out of or take some prerequisites of core courses, math, English writing or some sort of communication. That was rough for me whose math skills stop at writing out a division problem or following any formula. Surprisingly with all the sleep I got in high school English, writing etc I did ok with that prerequisite.

Back to the picking of a school. DO NOT enroll in one that has a broad range across time zones and countries. It was absolutely absurd trying to communicate with classmates two hours ahead of me and a professor in Europe. Online was a crap show trying to establish conversation because of the software they used, no direct communication or alerts so best to exchange personal contact info.

And just like an out of state hunting trip it will cost more than expected.

 

[westsloper]

I went back to school in my late 20's and changed careers entirely. I got into natural resources. The whole thing was really hard - harder than I expected. After two years of school, it took me another four years of job hopping and moving to end up where my family wanted to be. Now I'm happily employed (for the time being!) in my dream job.

If I get booted in the upcoming mass layoffs, I will probably have to go get some kind of training. Part of me thinks that if I did it once I can do it again.

One piece of advice is to get very specific with your goals and see what you need to do to get there. A general "natural resources" degree is probably not the best choice for most people.

If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a PM.

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Standard residential programs start semesters in August and January...You're already kinda late for Fall 2025. Normal (not early) acceptances and financial aid packages are already being sent out. Acceptance deadlines for an August start are typically May 1.

Online university stuff may be a good alternative way to get ramped up and then begin residency in January.

Consider corporate or consultancy over government jobs. These more stressful and higher workload employers pay more too. If outside work is part of the field, you'll do that early in your career.