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

[TaperPin]

You’ll have a fresh new perspective on what you might enjoy doing. Wyoming is a good place if you’re feeling out options. It should be said, in many BLM/Forest Service natural resources jobs, it can require a number of years of low paid seasonal work until a permanent position opens up and it probably won’t be anywhere near where you started out. The number of grads that give up and either go back to school or do something else is significant. Delivering potato chips for Frito Lay requires a bachelors degree in some Wyoming towns.

My ex went into geology at Laramie and found funding for water resource projects was where new grads were being hired, so transferred to Boise to finish out a hydrology focused degree, landed a great internship that transitioned into a great full time gig right away. Geology grads were a dime a dozen at the time.

If you’re good at self learning don’t overlook Western Governors University online courses for many foundational general purpose classes. They are fully accredited, credits transfer well, you go as fast or slow as you want and the price is right.

Mining engineering is big out west. Western Water Consultants in Laramie is one of the larger mining and environmental consulting firms in the state, or at least it was. Mines hire a lot of recent grads they like. Mines have money - think of jobs where money is there for your specialty. If you enjoy physics and math I’d think hard about it.

Anything with an advanced technical side will be much easier to sell than a generic broad degree. Every person in natural resources is impacted by technology.

My experience is to look for specific professors that specialize in what you want to do. They have the best contacts, give the best referrals, and companies are familiar with graduates from their programs. If you’re hot for a certain flavor of engineering and there isn’t anyone in the faculty that focuses on it, you’re already at the bottom of the list for guys who will eventually be interviewed for jobs.

 

[wyosam]

One thing to consider in that type of work right now- there are a lot of people with those types of degrees losing fed jobs right now. That probably won’t continue long term, but will settle out to a far lower number of fed employees in those fields. That means a bunch of people competing for positions that exist elsewhere. My wife’s job may or may not get cut, but she’s growing tired of the added stress of the current environment. She was already working far more than her 40 every week (salaried), for the last couple months is been closer to 60 trying to ensure existing projects get to a better spot to be stopped, so previous work isn’t wasted. I’ve been suggesting she leave the fed government since the election, since this was clearly where we were heading. I think she’s finally decided on leaving before it goes further. We know a lot of people in various natural resources fields, some already out of work, some expecting to be. All worried about finding other work in their field. It’s not just the direct fed employees, as programs go away and grants to nonprofits and state/local governments are reduced/eliminated, private and state jobs are already being lost as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SWOHTR]

Regardless of what your options are, I don't think you'll find college/university courses to be as difficult as you would've 22 years ago. My second go-round was significantly easier than the first go-round, simply due to maturity and life experiences.

 

[KenLee]

Regardless of what your options are, I don't think you'll find college/university courses to be as difficult as you would've 22 years ago. My second go-round was significantly easier than the first go-round, simply due to maturity and life experiences.

Most now just want $ and a student to show a little effort

 

[CorbLand]

I briefly read this entire thread so I apologize if what I am about to say has already been covered.

1. Make sure this is something that you really want to do. Its very hard to get rid of dealing with the general public. The general public becomes your coworkers. If you do go Government jobs, its generally the worst of the general public and remember that the general public decides the elections and those become your "boss."

2. Do not rely on the counselors at the college. Most of them suck and are just there for a paycheck. I got an Econ and Finance degrees. When I spoke with my counselor about jobs, she told me to "work for Goldman Sachs and that I should be looking for jobs in New York." I told her I didnt want to go to New York and she said "they have an office in San Francisco." I looked at her and said, "I have boots on, a camouflage backpack and a gun on my hip, do I look like the type that wants to go to San Francisco?" Her response was "Why, I would love to live in either of those places." She now works for the IT Department on campus. She had zero interest in the job. It was a paycheck. Many of them are the same way.

3. Can you really take the pay cut? Most people think that they can and then reality sets in. The question is more can your wife and family actually take the cut? Most guys would be happy living on an acre, in a single wide, with a good dog, a running pickup and three basic meals a day. Its our wives that generally arent.

4. Remember that fun jobs generally dont pay well. Theres a reason that crappy jobs pay.

5. If you do go for it. Take out all the student loans you can while your there, even if you can pay cash for it. They dont accrue interest while you are in school and for six months after. Keep your cash in a high yield savings or bonds and then pay off your loans when your done. Congrats, you just made free money.

Have you looked into going into something that leverages your skills you have but gets you away from turning wrenches? I know a guy that was in the same boat as you but with less time invested. He was sick of wrenching and was able to transition into equipment sales for an implement store. He loves his job.

Have you looked into just working less of your current job? Truly look at the pay cut you are thinking of taking and see if you can get down to that while just working less.

Just some thoughts and I would not take my number 3 lightly. Most people think that they can take a pay cut to have a "better" job that they "like" more but for many reality sets in that its hard to be happy when you cant pay bills and that sometimes its hard to go back on a standard of living you have built over years.

 

[Rotnguns]

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

I'm a retired professor of mechanical engineering and I say go for it! We've had many "nontraditional" students in our program and they are dedicated to learning and make fine students. I enjoyed having them in my machine design classes - they greatly enhanced the class with contributions based upon their life experiences. Sounds like your choice of natural resources might be best served by one of the land-grant schools in the mountain west - University of Idaho, Montana State University, Utah State University, and of course, University of Wyoming. Good luck!

 

[wyosteve]

I didn't read all the thread so apologize if this has been covered. But, figure out the economic side of going back school. Just an an example, say you currently earn $80k per year. 2 years of school will mean you don't have $160k of income. If you can finish school and make more than you do now, how many years will it take to be at the 'break even' point? Let's say you get a job at $100k, that's 20k more than you make now, so it would take 8 years to be at the same financial point you'd be if you continued working. Most likely a Fed/State/BLM job won't pay what you make now, at least not for a while, so you'll be behind financially. I realize enjoyment in a job has some importance, but will you enjoy the job if you might have to worry about financial issues? Or, you might not have enough resources to really enjoy the area you would be living in. Also, as mentioned above, you won't get away from dealing with the public in a government job. FWIW, I went back to school at 28 to finish my doctorate and it's been worth it. I doubt I would have done it at 41. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[SDHNTR]

If I were single, I’d do it in a heartbeat!

We’re going streaking!

 

[BowBaboon]

I’m one of those non-traditional students in a natural resources degree program at UW. I’ve got one more semester until I graduate.

From what I’m seeing right now, it’s about to get insanely competitive. My classmates are either looking to start their own companies or go get a masters degree. One of my professors posted a masters degree a couple weeks ago and he said he received 200+ applications.

I worked an internship with a federal agency last summer and am trying to get back for another summer right now. To be honest, I don’t think it’s really helped my chances of getting a job after graduation aside from meeting a few people that might be able to help later on. I’m not exactly a slacker either, I currently have a 3.9 GPA.

I say go engineering.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I'll admit, as big of an over sight as it is...the fact that alot of qualified folks are going to be or are out of work and looking in those fields hadn't yet factored in my mind as much as it should have.
Thats a very valid point thats likely to have pretty long lasting repercussions in competition for any remotely similar state or private sector type of work...
Man, I hated all that math in engineering school...I got through the worst of it but I'd need alot of refreshing there.
But perhaps that route is a better option to focus my research on. Have to poke around on what types of door that could open. I dont do well in front of a computer or desk for long stints. That was one of the biggest things that pushed me away from engineering in the first place. I had a coop/intern job at an aerospace manufacturing facility...it was all i could do to stay awake working on those CAD drawings and rewriting/updating manufacturing process manuals...that place scrapped a whole lot of very expensive metals. I moved to the quality control lab my second term there, that was more interesting but more chemistry based.
I'd have to find a career that got me out of the office more than in the office that justified an engineering degree.
I definitely hear the folks talking numbers, I've considered that aspect ALOT lately.
I feel the "if you don't try you'll kick yourself later" crowd...I really do...but my realist inner demons have almost always shouted above my dreams and ambitions. I'm hoping I can sort out some sort of balance there.

Its a rough cross roads to be at. Certainly first world American type of problem and that's not lost on me. As much as I'm dying for a different path and more enjoyment in my labors, I'm equally well aware that I'm not in a bad spot and life could certainly be much tougher from a work, family and finance perspective... but damn it's wearing me thin.
Alot of well thought and productive input here everyone. Much appreciate the conversation and replies.

 

[JustABritCrazy]

I have worked in forestry for 44 years. Stay away from wildlife management degrees. There are 10 graduates with those degrees for every forestry graduate. State governments will probably be a better source of jobs for the next several years, but Trump’s timber goals are going to need boots on the ground to make them a reality. Shop your transcripts around over at least a half dozen universities. This is the early 80s, I took a year off between my AAS and BSF degrees. When I decided to go back for the BSF the time frame between different schools ranged from an additional 2 years to 3.5 years. Credits transferred ranged from 6 to 70. Ended up at the school that had me out in 2 years. I can honestly say it’s been a great ride. I have been rarely bored and really enjoy solving land management problems. Don’t expect to get rich. If you work for government you will be dealing with the general public. Expect the same nonsense you are experiencing in the repair business, but at a greatly reduced level.

 

[Boarmaster]

Its a good idea. I wish I would have started with a career at 21 where I could retire with good income on benefits in 20-25 years. I did start a new career at 40. I am 62 now. But I started that new career with very little savings no benefits and no income. Honestly I didnt do all that well from 21-40. Fortunately my 2nd career took off and I did very well. It could have been a lot better and less stressful if I would have retired from a first career.
I would encourage anyone with a more physical job or a job that is likely going away to pursue a second career at 40 even up to 50. Or if your in a job you dont enjoy. Its a long way from your 40th birthday to 65 or 70.
I don't intend to ever fully retire. I enjoy what I have done for the last 20 some years and although I might not take every job at 65-70 years old I cant see giving it up. It helps as I work with close personal friends and hunting buddy's. Nows the time , do it.

 

[Mike Islander]

I really do wish you the best of luck but if you think you are going to get some college degree and miraculously jump out of school with some life changing job that makes you feel all warm inside making $50+/hour you are setting yourself up for some serious disappointment. Not many achieve that dream and end up settling on reality. And amongst all of this you are talking about moving? Sounds to me like you have a lot going on and this is going to be a struggle of epic proportions.

Again, I don't want to sound like a wet blanket it's just that you better be damn certain with your new career choice because this decision could financially torpedo you if done incorrectly.

Conversely, if done correctly, it could be the best thing you ever did!

Best of luck!

Totally depends on the degree. Get an engineering degree and get a job. Nursing equals instant job with good pay. Women's studies...not so much.

 

[Turkeytider]

Regardless of what your options are, I don't think you'll find college/university courses to be as difficult as you would've 22 years ago. My second go-round was significantly easier than the first go-round, simply due to maturity and life experiences.

Can agree wholeheartedly. Went back to grad school for a second Masters in my 40’s, was a better student than ever before. Did it at Tulane while working full time to boot!

 

[cowboyarcher]

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

I grew up in Laramie and have a Rangeland Ecology degree from UW with a minor in reclamation from almost 20 years ago. I never used them and now own a barber shop in Southern, UT, ha!

What I will say about the natural resources field (at least when I was looking) is that the jobs are VERY competitive and will require you to move every 2-3 years for a while, maybe your whole career. The moving was not the lifestyle I wanted for my family, so that's why I pivoted towards other things.

In regard to churches, I can put you in touch with lots of folks at Laramie Valley Chapel. They are a fantastic, Bible-teaching church that houses a seminary and hosts lost of small groups. They actually are the sending church that sent us down here to UT to church plant.

Shoot me a DM if you like, and we can chat more offline about any of this!

 

[StuckInTheEast]

The more I'm digging...the more I'm not seeing anything good for my prospects or potential opportunities for state or fed options especially for the next 4 years in this political environment...man I feel for you folks stuck in the middle of it now...what a mess.
As fulfilling as the natural resource work seems like it could be...man the pay is just not there either. Folks I've been talking to elsewhere are echoing the same things I'm seeing here in that regard as well.
I don't have any visions of getting rich but ones time certainly has to be properly valued. Heck I gotta pay guys in their 20s with just better than zero experience and little to no education after high-school as much or more than most of the job listings I'm seeing requiring a Bachelors in science just to get them in the door to work on cars and require constant baby sitting to do that.
I will have to re-evaluate my approach here i think and look towards private sector work and possibly engineering type of degrees if I'm going to go back.
Totally agree on the comments about being laser focused on your goal and having the job you want zeroed in on before pursuing the school/degree to get you there.
Will have to work on branching out my network.
My circle has gotten pretty small over the last several years, expanding that a bit will be a good step as well I believe.

 

[rayporter]

i can only speak for myself but i could not have gone back to school, no way , no how.

i kinda was put in that position and could not bring myself to switch jobs, at 44.

but then i retired at 51.

 

[jayhawk]

Go for it! You’re older and have experience and better perspective now.
My one piece of advice is to not waste time and money. Identify a clear direction and go for it. If it doesn’t work out, it’s ok. Change your plans are keep pushing forward.

Yes, federal work is iffy right now, but who knows what will happen in the next 4-8yrs. Don’t let that dissuade you.

Good luck and keep us updated on how it goes for you!

 

[tuffcity]

Government work in the bio field is a crap shoot up here, as I imagine the same in the US. One field that does seem to be expanding is in the private sector in the mining/oil field/forestry reclamation & rehab area. Even environmental consulting on big projects pays big money (but with long hours).

A combo of engineering and biology seems like it might fit your post secondary itch to scratch. You could try approaching a few smaller companies that do this work just for chat on educational requirements and job prospects.

Good luck! My wife went back to school for her masters at 45 and its been a major bonus for us.

 

[TaperPin]

I’m on the far side of what you’re going through looking back, so everything you’ve said seems fresh in my mind, even though it was two decades ago.

We can be successful at a number of wildly different careers and we often pick one based on our very limited experiences early in life and avoid most others.

I had an unrealistic view of many medical professions - there seems to be opportunities for almost all personality types. Many friends like me don’t like to sit still and love the variety in medical jobs. Even my neighbor who works in a lab has a day filled with a variety of machines and processes that are much more interesting than anything I imagined.

I was never around anyone in business to business sales - I assumed salespeople were all like the ones we have contact with and money just isn’t there except for top Realtors who are always over dressed. Over the years friends in all types of sales have amazed me at their lack of natural mechanical understanding and success at selling mechanical parts, machines and services. I literally don’t know anyone working for a large company who sells industrial sprinkler systems, supplies to apartment complexes, mechanical equipment to warehouses or manufacturing facilities, etc that isn’t well above $100k. Business to business sales lack the emotional bs that retail sales people have to contend with - rather than selling a used car it’s configuring a solution the client actually needs and appreciates now and as it gets upgraded through time. Industrial selling skills transfer really well between completely different industries and wearing khaki pants and a polo shirt isn’t so bad. Many top companies require a degree in something business or otherwise related. Over the years I’ve crossed paths with many engineers, nurses, lawyers, or others that have ended up in industrial sales.

Those are the ones that flew under my radar and until you get to know someone who can show you from the inside it’s not easy to even know what these careers entail. These are just the ones that I should have tried earlier on - everyone has their own, you just have to fine them.