Cordell Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Well, I've been rolling the idea around since high school, obviously after vocational school for electrical tech I stopped going to school. I have had various 1 or 2 day classes related to specific automotive functions, but my current job as an automotive technician has been learned entirely on the job, and through lots of headache. I would consider myself very proficient as a technician and I like most of the job. As my back issues get worse, and I've pretty much reached the top of working as a factory trained tech, I am really thinking of doing something that will take me farther in life. If I was to start pursuing a different career, something with much more potential, how would some of you that have already done it go about it? I am interested in the judicial system. It seems the obvious choice is to be an attorney, but what else is there? My wife is working on that very same thing as I type this, but I doubt that going to Columbus State's transfer program, getting an associate's degree, and now starting at Franklin is the only way to do that. Obviously I'm at square one, trying to figure out if this is even a path I want to travel. My high school transcript says 2.0, and thats a 0 GPA as a freshman, and a 4.0 my senior year. I had a hard time in high school, never liked it, and is why I never pursued anything after it. Maybe at 33 I'm adult enough to get through it. Thoughts and ideas feel free to share them, lets just keep this mostly on topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson1647545504 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 1) Leverage mechanical skills to get job at OSU on the facility team 2) Get free education and you'll be on campus anyways 3) Profit I'd go get a semi-technical degree like computer science, maybe law, or something else with a concrete skill outcome ... not philosophy Hardest part will be getting though the hazing and weed-out classes Where there is a will ... there is an A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Is your wife working while she's in school? One thought is to wait until she's through before you go back...keeps money coming into the household... I think it's a great idea, but you'll really need to figure out not just what you want to do, but what school will get you there. Lots to think about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRD2BDF Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Age should never be a factor period. I strongly suggest shadowing your possible interests first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharris89 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 If you have not already look at the schools you are thinking about online and see what is the most appealing in terms of degrees and field of study. Then make an appointment at each and go talk to a counselor. Find out and plan your path, otherwise you will waste time and money on BS classes, especially your first year or two. Ask about testing out of courses you are good at and financial aid (if needed). I would also check on what scholarships you are eligible for. I think there are 2nd chance ones for people over 30 and Pell Grants. The gov't pays for everybody else...save some money for car parts. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations, you will do fine. Maybe even network a little before hand. Ask some head hunters what degrees are the most desire able and bring the best salary. Keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaddyBuiltRacing Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 I go to school with a lot of people that are in their early 40's and older. As someone else said it's never too late to go back. Hell one guy in my nursing class is mid 40's and has been a masonary worker his entire life, just one day decided he wanted a different career/life path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Being in the IT field, I can say certifications have helped me way more than any degree I could have received. I'm not sure how those play out in your field, but in my case I interviewed well and had the skills and certifications to backup my work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'm 35 and a Junior at DeVry. Teenagers/20-somethings are a minority in college anymore; almost everybody in my classes is over 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewtoys Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'm 35 and a Junior at DeVry. Teenagers/20-somethings are a minority in college anymore; almost everybody in my classes is over 30. That's because you're at Devry :lolguy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewtoys Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'm 35 and a Junior at DeVry. Teenagers/20-somethings are a minority in college anymore; almost everybody in my classes is over 30. Double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 So much so that you had to post it twice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'm going back to school in 8 years, if all works out well. I'm be well into my 40's. At that point I'm going back for me, to learn what I'm interested in. Do it. Never too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Plan your financials well. If you get a student loan you might be paying it off until nearly retirement. Otherwise, it's never too late to improve yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief8one Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I vote for the medical field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 As a professional in the legal field I can tell you I wouldn't wish becoming an attorney on my worst enemy. The market is too saturated due to the financial crisis wiping out a lot of the large employers while law schools churned out JD's in record numbers. I went to a tier 1 law school and before I left NYC I was waited on by a classmate of mine at a restaurant (to be fair it was a high end restaurant). When I was between law jobs after the financial crisis in 2008, I actually worked as a motorcycle tech to keep afloat. The only reason I have a job now is because I have business expirence as well and I am even considering getting an MBA to help further my prospects. It's easily 7 years plus $100k+ debt to become a lawyer now for an average $50k starting salary (if you are not working for the govt). Not a good return on investment. That being said a good friend of mine was a tech for years and then went back for an engineering degree at 30. He just graduated and has told me that the caliber of his job prospects has increased exponentially. Instead of a jiffy lube grease pit he is interviewing for jobs where he gets to break stuff as part of testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinHawk1647545499 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Once your wife graduates and gets a good job, quit working, have her pay all the bills, and mooch off her success. 4.profit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I've been debating on going to school to be an Aircraft mechanic. Still use your mechanical skills and get paid well also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 If I was to start pursuing a different career, something with much more potential, how would some of you that have already done it go about it? Best way to tackle it is to set goals, write them down and commit. I am interested in the judicial system. It seems the obvious choice is to be an attorney, but what else is there? My wife is working on that very same thing as I type this, but I doubt that going to Columbus State's transfer program, getting an associate's degree, and now starting at Franklin is the only way to do that.Great gig. Ask me how I know The three real paths there are public sector, private and corporate. Wife chose private and hung her own shingle out for years. Lots of work but pays off better in the long run. Her friends that went the public/state and corporate made more for the first 2-3yrs but worked their asses off for others. In the long run she out paced their income by far and it enabled us to have her semi-retire at 45. she'll likely go teach at Capital or OSU in the coming years. Her friends that are on their own still love it and while it's hard work, being your own boss is the way to go. Others however are content with good money working for someone else as there's less responsibility / stress. Hell that describes me in a way. Get ready to read and write a lot! Maybe at 33 I'm adult enough to get through it.You are. You have to just ask yourself where you'll be at 43 if you do or don't do something different and if you're good with the answer. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted July 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Thanks for the ideas guys, any more feel free to post. It's an on going thought process right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Columbus State has plenty of "older" folks. In almost every class i have taken there are 30-50 year old students so don't feel stupid for returning. However, i did NOT see this at Ohio State. Like Jewtoys basically said, it depends on the school. Big schools have alot of students from rich parents that send them off right out of high school. Smaller school are for the less fortunate but for folks who still want to make something of themselves. One thing i would keep in mind is that curriculum is constantly changing, so any classes you have taken in the past will probably be of no real value towards a degree. Hell, i have been going part time for the last 4 years (2 year school might i add) and the classes have changed just during that short period. Another thing to consider... If you're going to get some sort of aid, I recommend going full time and here's why: If you don't go full time, it takes forever. During that extended time the interest on the loans adds up big time. Ill be at nearly 25k for a fucking associates because i go part time. If you're only going to go part time really try to pay out of pocket. It will save you endless amounts of interest in the long run. None of this is relevant if you want to be an attorney. Going to need to go bigger. Much bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewtoys Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Columbus State has plenty of "older" folks. In almost every class i have taken there are 30-50 year old students so don't feel stupid for returning. However, i did NOT see this at Ohio State. Like Jewtoys basically said, it depends on the school. Big schools have alot of students from rich parents that send them off right out of high school. Smaller school are for the less fortunate but for folks who still want to make something of themselves. One thing i would keep in mind is that curriculum is constantly changing, so any classes you have taken in the past will probably be of no real value towards a degree. Hell, i have been going part time for the last 4 years (2 year school might i add) and the classes have changed just during that short period. Another thing to consider... If you're going to get some sort of aid, I recommend going full time and here's why: If you don't go full time, it takes forever. During that extended time the interest on the loans adds up big time. Ill be at nearly 25k for a fucking associates because i go part time. If you're only going to go part time really try to pay out of pocket. It will save you endless amounts of interest in the long run. None of this is relevant if you want to be an attorney. Going to need to go bigger. Much bigger. Indeed. Before you take the plunge make sure it's what you truly want. Also note you will not be guaranteed a job just because you have a piece of paper. College will end up setting you back a good bit, and you could possibly be worse off after the fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDHG940 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 In my opinion, you should go for it. Try to find an employer to pay for it. Cardinal Health, various universities and other companies offer good tuition reimbursement programs. Anyways, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 I think some one wants to be an attorney so they can get out of tickets if the end up doing a 4 gear pull with the bottle on... Personally im dumb when it comes to classroom teaching. I would find a good tech type school to get you into a field of choice. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS69 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Look into the medial field, there is a lot of opportunity, engineering/it and healthcare jobs. My wife is an attorney and that is a long and expensive path ahead of you. If you really want to do that, go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 My wife is an attorney and that is why I have such a baller house and ten cars :megusta: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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