Home | Community | Message Board

MushroomCube.com
This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.


Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Shop: Bridgetown Botanicals Bridgetown Botanicals   PhytoExtractum Buy Bali Kratom Powder   Kraken Kratom Red Vein Kratom   Original Sensible Seeds Bulk Cannabis Seeds   North Spore North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1 | 2 | 3  [ show all ]
OfflineSBT
.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉


Registered: 12/31/15
Posts: 39
Last seen: 8 years, 26 days
College in your 30's * 1
    #22728108 - 01/02/16 01:27 PM (8 years, 27 days ago)

I'm tired of working low to mid paying warehouse jobs(except for one that paid $40k a year) and think that going back to school will benefit me.  :sad:

I have been self schooling myself on technology and have learned JAVA and Android development quite well.  I just started reading and leaning about embedded programming and started reading 'AVR Microcontroller and Embedded Systems: Using Assembly and C' along with following some online tutorials that have me playing with a breadboard and Atmel microcontroller.  :frown:

I asked this question on another forum that shut down and the general answers were to actually go to community college and then transfer to a university.  I think this might be a bit to much for myself, but not because I have kids(which I don't) or because of the time, but because of the finances and general time it'll take me to actually get a degree.  :sad:

I've looked into trade schools and it appears that they are basically a waste of money.  I think an associates degree would probably be better for me but I'm not sure about how to go about it and what it'll get me as far as a job goes.  :frown:

Instead of technology education like I was originally planning, I think an associates degree in accounting might be better.  Two years of community college shouldn't cost that much, and I can always further my education if I so desire.  I did see some city jobs that required two years of office-type education and they paid quite well.  :sad:

But what type of job will an associates degree in accounting get me, how much would it likely pay, and how to I go about contacting the community college?  :frown:


--------------------
:sad:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblefuzzipeach
Stranger Danger


Registered: 12/13/15
Posts: 176
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #22728488 - 01/02/16 02:58 PM (8 years, 27 days ago)

Call up a college and make an appointment with an advisor, they'll tell you what the school has to offer, payment estimates, tell you your options with the particular major, and let you know what classes are transferable if you do decide you want to continue further with your education. Maybe they offer certificate programs you could do instead of an associates, or they might have something more suitable to your needs that you didn't think of/weren't aware of.
It's a lot to look up yourself and try to figure out especially because each school is different and can be extremely overwhelming.
Best of luck


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleAhab McBathsalts
OTD Windmill Administrator
Other User Gallery Ultimate Champion: Blackjack


Folding@home Statistics
Registered: 11/25/02
Posts: 35,107
Loc: Wind Turbine, AB Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #22731507 - 01/03/16 10:49 AM (8 years, 27 days ago)

Accounting is fairly awful. I have a bachelors in accounting and started at a firm at $16/hr. I only lasted a year before I went back to trades to make > $30/hr.

Trades for the win.

Accounting is also at a very high risk of automation  over the next 10 to 15 years. 


--------------------
"Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody's going to die."


Edited by Ahab McBathsalts (01/03/16 10:54 AM)


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineSBT
.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉


Registered: 12/31/15
Posts: 39
Last seen: 8 years, 26 days
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Ahab McBathsalts]
    #22731788 - 01/03/16 12:29 PM (8 years, 26 days ago)

Quote:

Ahab McBathsalts said:
Accounting is also at a very high risk of automation  over the next 10 to 15 years. 




What does this^ mean?

Also, what trade school did you end up going to?  :sad:


--------------------
:sad:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleMadcaps
mushroom stalker
Male User Gallery

Registered: 06/17/11
Posts: 1,643
Loc: north-south-east coast fl... Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #22731809 - 01/03/16 12:33 PM (8 years, 26 days ago)

I went to wyotech Daytona FL, making US $90.00 a hr. Marine mechanic.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineSBT
.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉.҉


Registered: 12/31/15
Posts: 39
Last seen: 8 years, 26 days
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Madcaps]
    #22731860 - 01/03/16 12:53 PM (8 years, 26 days ago)

Quote:

Madcaps said:
I went to wyotech Daytona FL, making US $90.00 a hr. Marine mechanic.




What exactly do you do as a Marine Mechanic?


--------------------
:sad:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleMadcaps
mushroom stalker
Male User Gallery

Registered: 06/17/11
Posts: 1,643
Loc: north-south-east coast fl... Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #22731872 - 01/03/16 12:57 PM (8 years, 26 days ago)

Fix yacht engines.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offline3Beatles9
Psychonaut


Registered: 04/18/15
Posts: 153
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #22738573 - 01/05/16 06:40 AM (8 years, 25 days ago)

Quote:

SBT said:
Quote:

Ahab McBathsalts said:
Accounting is also at a very high risk of automation  over the next 10 to 15 years. 




What does this^ mean?






It means that in 10-15 years there is the potential that a computer could be doing your job for your employer, which means they would have no reason to keep you employed.


--------------------
LSD


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleMadcaps
mushroom stalker
Male User Gallery

Registered: 06/17/11
Posts: 1,643
Loc: north-south-east coast fl... Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: 3Beatles9]
    #22739730 - 01/05/16 01:13 PM (8 years, 24 days ago)

Quote:

3Beatles9 said:
Quote:

SBT said:
Quote:

Ahab McBathsalts said:
Accounting is also at a very high risk of automation  over the next 10 to 15 years. 




What does this^ mean?






It means that in 10-15 years there is the potential that a computer could be doing your job for your employer, which means they would have no reason to keep you employed.



Meaning you wasted your money for school...


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleDieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Madcaps]
    #22745453 - 01/06/16 07:14 PM (8 years, 23 days ago)

College is a risk for sure.  Not only the money, but the time.  There is opportunity cost with that lost time.  I will be in debt, unable to buy a home for the rest of my life thanks to college.  :shrug:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisibleenlightened seed
Utopia is a state of mind
Male User Gallery


Registered: 05/04/07
Posts: 2,117
Loc: amongst civilization
Re: College in your 30's [Re: DieCommie]
    #22759767 - 01/09/16 11:27 PM (8 years, 20 days ago)

what did you go to college for?


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineIce9
3X Ban Lotto Champion
I'm a teapot User Gallery


Registered: 03/20/14
Posts: 11,229
Loc: daterapeville,USA
Last seen: 27 minutes, 59 seconds
Re: College in your 30's [Re: enlightened seed]
    #22788748 - 01/17/16 12:23 AM (8 years, 13 days ago)

You seem like self education is working for you pretty well.  My suggestion is to continue it, create projects for yourself to finish (android apps etc) and when you apply to appropriate jobs highlight the projects you self completed, what you learned doing them and don't be afraid to show them off at your interview.  It can be hard to get an interview but if you do, having tangible evidence of your abilities will trump any level of education.  Also if you feel capable, try looking for internships.  Again highlight actual functional projects you completed, challenges you face during them and how you overcame them.  You might be surprised at the doors that open for you via this method as it shows a strong sense of self management, a willingness to learn and most appropriately the ability to produce results.

EDIT: programming and computer.IT related jobs are a strong growth area with large earning potentials.  Don't just focus on software companies.  Companies that produce advanced devices, and even companies that produce things like refrigerators need people to create programming for them as more and moe devices get "smart".


--------------------
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -- George Brenard Shaw


Edited by Ice9 (01/17/16 12:26 AM)


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisiblehTx
(:
Male User Gallery


Registered: 03/27/13
Posts: 5,724
Loc: Space-time
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Ice9]
    #22821237 - 01/24/16 11:23 PM (8 years, 5 days ago)

Well, you have financial aid if you cannot afford college, and yes they offer fin. aid at community college.

I'm actually taking programming classes at my local CC and its going quite well.

I started last august, got an A in intro. to prog. w/ Java, now i'm in an intermediate C++ class.


--------------------
zen by age ten times six hundred lifetimes
Light up the darkness.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisiblehTx
(:
Male User Gallery


Registered: 03/27/13
Posts: 5,724
Loc: Space-time
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Ice9]
    #22821251 - 01/24/16 11:28 PM (8 years, 5 days ago)

Quote:

Ice9 said:
You seem like self education is working for you pretty well.  My suggestion is to continue it, create projects for yourself to finish (android apps etc) and when you apply to appropriate jobs highlight the projects you self completed, what you learned doing them and don't be afraid to show them off at your interview.  It can be hard to get an interview but if you do, having tangible evidence of your abilities will trump any level of education.  Also if you feel capable, try looking for internships.  Again highlight actual functional projects you completed, challenges you face during them and how you overcame them.  You might be surprised at the doors that open for you via this method as it shows a strong sense of self management, a willingness to learn and most appropriately the ability to produce results.

EDIT: programming and computer.IT related jobs are a strong growth area with large earning potentials.  Don't just focus on software companies.  Companies that produce advanced devices, and even companies that produce things like refrigerators need people to create programming for them as more and moe devices get "smart".



Yeah, this seems to be true based on my own research.

apparently a lot of CS majors with bachelors degrees come out not knowing how to code at all, so if you can land an interview and actually code, explain your thought process, etc, you should be able to get a decent job even without a degree.

My school offers a trade degree in programming, I figure that can land me a few interviews and then I can show off my skills.

I'm doing a lot of self-learning with regards to programming as well, currently self-teaching myself Ruby.


--------------------
zen by age ten times six hundred lifetimes
Light up the darkness.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinebrowny
Dude just trying to improve

Registered: 11/10/15
Posts: 86
Loc: Milk Carton
Last seen: 7 years, 14 days
Re: College in your 30's [Re: hTx]
    #22849201 - 02/01/16 05:06 AM (7 years, 11 months ago)

Trades have been highly underrated for a long time, seems everyone believes a person needs college and a white collar job to have success.

College and the white collar jobs are good, i'm not suggesting they aren't, but that's not all that is out there. Learning a trade and working up through a trade union can be a very good choice. Many of my family had great success doing just that, some ending up in a white collar position (like my dad, no college degree, but tons of practical experience)

Someone else mentioned how even a degree in accounting doesn't mean your job can't be either automated to a degree or outsources. Service industries/ trade jobs imo are a different matter.

When was the last time a computer fixed your heat pump/ ac unit? When was the last time you had electrical work done from a call center in India?

Mike Rowe talks a lot of good stuff about how the trades are good jobs, and how society has put such an emphasis on college educations that the trades have been somewhat neglected in terms of people being recruited into them.

That same emphasis on college also seems to have given the trades a bad rap, people sometimes tend to look down on those who choose that path...so unfortunate in my opinion, I know many good tradesmen that are honorable, hard working, talented people that earn good money.

I try to encourage people to keep the trades in mind when looking for a career, though I'll never discourage anyone from going the college route.

As far as programming goes. It's a rough job. Programming languages change and I know a lot of people that spend a lot of time and energy on trying to keep up with the changes.

I took some programming classes, I liked them. I learned along the way that it's a tough field to get into and tough to maintain earnings if you don't keep an eye on the rapid changes in technology.

Something like 20 years ago having a certification in umm- ....was it MSCE or Cisco?... - meant big bucks. But a few years ago I was in classes with people that rested on their laurels of having that cert and ended up having their earnings decrease...and they were back in community college trying to find another aspect of tech to regain their worth in the marketplace.

I'm no expert on programming and certs, just my experience talking to people when I tried changed careers some years back. Others may have better input on that. But my conclusion was programming didn't give me the idea I would be happy and feel safe in my job. But the world keeps changing, maybe programming is changing too. Just my 2 cents on programming.

Having said all that. Those with the proper programming skills can thrive, I've seen that too; but like I said they continually evolve as the tech world does....it's just too fast a pace for me for one thing, and not enough job security for me once you consider how much effort you would put into being a good programmer.

I also considered networking, gen pc repair and maintenance, as well as network security. I was more interested in those to be honest.

I also found a lot of overlap in all these things. Knowing unix and pc command promp-ish stuff helped a lot in networking and security.

If you were to go into computer technology as a college degree, you'd likely dabble in a bit of all this anyway. Along the way you would hopefully find what area fits best, hopefully before you have to declare a major.

I also am a fan of community colleges for two years. Where I live if you go to a state community college they have programs set up to put you on track to transfer to a State Uni for the other two years. Where I live it's practically guaranteed admittance if you follow the program your adviser sets out for you.

Far as I could tell it wouldn't take you longer to get your degree like you were mentioning. If anything it might be less time, less money, more flexible schedule of classes in CC, while still allowing you to work.

Or join a trade union and let them educate you for pretty much nothing while you earn money and advance towards being a journeyman to make better money. Practical experience right away, help finding jobs and no college loans to pay back.

Damn, I am babbling like mad. Sorry lol. But I'm went through the same thing in 06, wanting to change careers, matter of fact I never found the right answer and am going through it again.

Damnit, babbling again lol

Good luck. Feel free to message me, sounds like you're going though a lot of what I have, and am going through for that matter. Happy to listen and give what feedback I'm able.

You've got a killer attitude though, you can do this and be exactly the type of employee someone is looking for. :grin:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineEywa_devotee
Goddess Worshiper
Male User Gallery

Registered: 10/04/10
Posts: 1,088
Loc: State of Confusion, Arkan... Flag
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: browny]
    #22878060 - 02/08/16 07:11 AM (7 years, 11 months ago)

I hate to be blunt, but your best bet for more cash would be find a trade you love and do it. College is overrated, and this screwy economy is so bad that unless you are exceptional in class, and you know people in high places, you will be bitterly disappointed. If your intent is learning for it's own sake than do it. Also, some things like chemistry and math have a lot of useful potential in real life.


--------------------
"Love one another." "To Love is to know me." "Love is the Law, Love under Will." "In Compassion, all sorrows end." Regardless of the Master, the message is the same- Choose love and you shall live, Choose Fear and you shall die. Help bring peace to this Earth: Love one another, and serve others before yourself.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleDieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Eywa_devotee]
    #22880355 - 02/08/16 07:30 PM (7 years, 11 months ago)

How do you use chemistry and math in real life?


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisibleenlightened seed
Utopia is a state of mind
Male User Gallery


Registered: 05/04/07
Posts: 2,117
Loc: amongst civilization
Re: College in your 30's [Re: DieCommie]
    #22880731 - 02/08/16 09:02 PM (7 years, 11 months ago)

well chemistry comes in pretty handy :meff:


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleLSDollar
Trans-female

Registered: 02/09/15
Posts: 2,361
Loc: Up Up and Away Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: enlightened seed]
    #22886137 - 02/10/16 03:14 AM (7 years, 11 months ago)

I have actually been thinking about this myself, but im 22 not in my 30s..I got out of high school and just worked. Got in trouble and had to do just a day under a year for breaking into cars..

Thats the downfall for me, I don't think I can get any type of grants, or be lucky to even get finacial aid in my situation with felonies. I make 13$ a hour at my job working 3-11AM. Kind of sucks, but most jobs are right at min wage, and this one is 4$ over with no further education, just have exp in the food business, been night manager at a couple fast food places, about 2 years exp in that.


Edited by LSDollar (02/10/16 03:14 AM)


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineEywa_devotee
Goddess Worshiper
Male User Gallery

Registered: 10/04/10
Posts: 1,088
Loc: State of Confusion, Arkan... Flag
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: LSDollar]
    #22892030 - 02/11/16 02:37 PM (7 years, 11 months ago)

As long as your felony isn't drug or fraud related you can still get into most colleges and get financial aid. Getting a job after college that makes it worth it is another story, the economy sucks even for squeaky clean people who haven't gotten caught... If you have a drug related felony you're pretty much screwed because of employer insurance underwriting, the sad truth is even kid diddlers have a better chance at employment. Goes to show how sick our world actually is!


--------------------
"Love one another." "To Love is to know me." "Love is the Law, Love under Will." "In Compassion, all sorrows end." Regardless of the Master, the message is the same- Choose love and you shall live, Choose Fear and you shall die. Help bring peace to this Earth: Love one another, and serve others before yourself.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleBacchus
Lurker
Male User Gallery

Folding@home Statistics
Registered: 10/10/06
Posts: 914
Loc: ::1
Re: College in your 30's [Re: DieCommie] * 1
    #22959798 - 02/29/16 08:01 PM (7 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

DieCommie said:
How do you use chemistry and math in real life?




Calculating tips and selecting solvents for cleaning :rolleyes:


--------------------


Living on a no-Flash diet is way easier than you think. Give it a shot.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleDieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Bacchus] * 1
    #22963569 - 03/01/16 08:42 PM (7 years, 10 months ago)

Shit, I have trouble finding use for either in my professional life.  And its certainly not for lack of trying.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineNorthernerM
splelling chceker
 User Gallery

Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,137
Loc: FNQ
Last seen: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Re: College in your 30's [Re: DieCommie]
    #23000271 - 03/12/16 05:27 PM (7 years, 10 months ago)

I decided to change careers at 30, for a 2nd time. Settled in my new vocation now (almost 10 years later)... I feel good about this one, I don't think I'm going to change again.

You can do whatever you want as long as you know what you actually want. If you just want money you're unlikely to get it, everyone wants more money. Choose with your heart and actually pursue something you have a genuine interest in, not with your wallet. But for crying out loud don't decide to become an artist... lol


--------------------
The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinekeyser_soze
Truth Bomber
Registered: 03/04/16
Posts: 1,417
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23174416 - 04/30/16 10:46 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

you need to look up jobs in your area that are open for new hires and correlate that with the bureau of labor statistics. Look at the salary and the average/median salary. If you are brand fucking new be prepared to take the hit and learn the in the lowest 10%.

If you really want to get a job and not just sit back and get fucked up your whole life and coast through your career making a measly 40k a year (that is peanuts dude), you need to look into professional trade schools that you said "are a rip off".

Machinists make a shitload of money. If you can pass a pre-employment drug screen and not act dumb and get hurt on the job, you're golden.

There are apprenticeships also.

and for god's sake remember, you are not worth what you think you are, so dont pass up job opportunities that don't pay what you expect. Lot's of motherfuckers don't have jobs.


edit: and ITT tech is NOT a professional trade school.


--------------------
People in my Fan Club: Masked (President), Ballsalsa (VP), The Ecstatic*don't waste your time "debating" with him, he uses 3rd grader tactics (Director of Bullshit), Koods (Fake News Anchorman), Falcon - Devout Communist

*Word your posts carefully if they contain right wing values. The moderators here like to keep it left leaning, they will use every excuse to ban you but not the others. You've been warned.


Edited by keyser_soze (04/30/16 10:59 PM)


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblemicro
bunbun has a gungun
Male User Gallery


Registered: 05/09/03
Posts: 7,532
Loc: Brick City Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: DieCommie]
    #23199340 - 05/07/16 03:34 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

DieCommie said:
How do you use chemistry and math in real life?




You can do what I'm going to do, and make legal drugs...

That requires some real good chemistry though, which is hard to do out of your own home :V

RE: Thread title - My original plan was to volunteer at UW here in a lab and go to school for free ... >.>


--------------------
Any research paper or book for free
(Avatar is Maxxy, a character by Mizzyam, RIP)


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineOne Love
Surrealist
Female User Gallery


Registered: 07/02/12
Posts: 297
Loc: Gotham
Last seen: 9 days, 4 hours
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23206134 - 05/09/16 01:41 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

Have you been to college or your local community college before or are you starting fresh?

I'm back in college from dropping out and I'm turning 27.

Aside from feeling a little out of place with some of the younger students, I feel way more confident about college now. You have experienced life and know better of what you do and do not like and can proceed with your education with a sense of direction.
Personally, I think bachelor's degree minimum is worth it. IF you're going for an AA, it's not much more so long as you don't need to repeat semesters and get your degree on time. Even if you go part time, which I think is about 11 or 12 credits, you could accumulate nearly half the credits for general  degree program in three semesters. Of course it's different for everybody, but most schools are good about showing what you need. Also free academic counseling services also worth it.
As you said, you can get your AA then decide if you want to keep going. While it's common people look to transfer to uni out of community college, I know some do offer 4 yr programs so look out for that.

I don't have any experience with trade schools, but from what I know if you know exactly what you want to do and it happens to be something they offer in tradeschool, that requires a lot of hands on skills, shouldn't it be good? To be able to work in a mentorship type situation.

School has been a refreshing blast since going older, and if I had known I was going to do this I Would have just ditched school entirely in my teens to avoid dropping out! (and wasting money)

another factor, since I had credits already from before, in choosing my degree program was seeing what credits I could already apply towards them. If you're not starting fresh, it may be worth considering comparing more than one degree program. I am sure accounting isn't as hard to find a job as say like philosophy or history degrees.

Also I read non traditional students (25+) have the spotlight these days, employers are taking into account they are more mature and may have a better sense of direction.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineNorthernerM
splelling chceker
 User Gallery

Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,137
Loc: FNQ
Last seen: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Re: College in your 30's [Re: One Love]
    #23207451 - 05/09/16 07:46 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

After finishing my last diploma at 33 I found work in my field within 6 weeks. Was never so easy in my life. Going back to college was the best move I made for many years.


--------------------
The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineOne Love
Surrealist
Female User Gallery


Registered: 07/02/12
Posts: 297
Loc: Gotham
Last seen: 9 days, 4 hours
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Northerner]
    #23207619 - 05/09/16 08:22 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

Northerner said:
After finishing my last diploma at 33 I found work in my field within 6 weeks. Was never so easy in my life. Going back to college was the best move I made for many years.




Out of curiosity, may I ask what field?

I'm a bio major, so I'm not too worried, but feeling like I'll go for the lesser path because I'm already 27.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineNorthernerM
splelling chceker
 User Gallery

Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,137
Loc: FNQ
Last seen: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Re: College in your 30's [Re: One Love]
    #23207823 - 05/09/16 09:08 PM (7 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

One Love said:
Quote:

Northerner said:
After finishing my last diploma at 33 I found work in my field within 6 weeks. Was never so easy in my life. Going back to college was the best move I made for many years.




Out of curiosity, may I ask what field?

I'm a bio major, so I'm not too worried, but feeling like I'll go for the lesser path because I'm already 27.



IT general, though I have diplomas in sound engineering and electronics also. If there's one thing we should all keep doing is studying. I've done 2 major related certificates in the last 3 years and I've just started a new one now also. We should never stop advancing our brains.


--------------------
The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleDieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: College in your 30's [Re: One Love]
    #23229214 - 05/15/16 08:58 AM (7 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

One Love said:
Quote:

Northerner said:
After finishing my last diploma at 33 I found work in my field within 6 weeks. Was never so easy in my life. Going back to college was the best move I made for many years.




Out of curiosity, may I ask what field?

I'm a bio major, so I'm not too worried, but feeling like I'll go for the lesser path because I'm already 27.




You are not worried because you are a bio major?  Do you think there is a big demand for biology graduates?  I don't think there is...  In my experience most bio majors are pre-med.  I hope you have some kind of graduate school aspirations.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblemillzy
Male

Registered: 05/12/10
Posts: 12,404
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23410304 - 07/04/16 12:55 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

SBT said:
I'm tired of working low to mid paying warehouse jobs(except for one that paid $40k a year) and think that going back to school will benefit me.  :sad:

I have been self schooling myself on technology and have learned JAVA and Android development quite well.  I just started reading and leaning about embedded programming and started reading 'AVR Microcontroller and Embedded Systems: Using Assembly and C' along with following some online tutorials that have me playing with a breadboard and Atmel microcontroller.  :frown:

I asked this question on another forum that shut down and the general answers were to actually go to community college and then transfer to a university.  I think this might be a bit to much for myself, but not because I have kids(which I don't) or because of the time, but because of the finances and general time it'll take me to actually get a degree.  :sad:

I've looked into trade schools and it appears that they are basically a waste of money.  I think an associates degree would probably be better for me but I'm not sure about how to go about it and what it'll get me as far as a job goes.  :frown:

Instead of technology education like I was originally planning, I think an associates degree in accounting might be better.  Two years of community college shouldn't cost that much, and I can always further my education if I so desire.  I did see some city jobs that required two years of office-type education and they paid quite well.  :sad:

But what type of job will an associates degree in accounting get me, how much would it likely pay, and how to I go about contacting the community college?  :frown:




from my impression, if you're just wanting skills to get a better job, an associate's might work for you if you are near a school that offers two year programs in the field you're wanting to go into. community college isn't expensive at all. you can probably get most of it covered with pell grants.

university is expensive and extremely demanding. but for me, it's been a life changing experience. my studies (i'm a double major in english studies and philosophy with a history minor) have given me a broad (but marketable) set of skills that look great on paper with my former work experience. i worked a trade for 12 years before the downturn, lived overseas for a little bit and then became a supervisor in automotive sales and service (online CS) for a little over 4 through my undergraduate coursework.

i'm at the point where i'm deciding on which path i'll be taking. i'm set up for two BA's and professional school if i want to go - i've been offered one scholarship so far and i'm under the impression that i would have a lot of support from the philosophy department if i wanted to pursue a phd. it's been quite the journey; i've bled to get where i'm at now.

so for me, after years of work, it's just a matter of deciding on what i want to do. all i can say about that is that i'm working on it. part of me wants to be an academic; part of me wants to just go back to work after i bet my phil BA. at this point i just don't know.

hope that helps. best of luck in any case. :sun:


--------------------
I'm up to my ears in unwritten words. - J.D. Salinger


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleShroomismM
Space Travellin
Male User Gallery

Folding@home Statistics
Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23415796 - 07/06/16 01:57 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

If you want to get in the tech / IT / programming industry... my (probably unpopular) advice is don't even waste your time and money with college at this point.
Learn as much as you possibly can on your own, pay to get a few certifications under your belt and start getting into it.
Unless you want to get into a specialized field of science or medicine or engineering.. I don't think college is really worth it. Go in huge amounts of debt for a piece of paper that may or may not help you find a job? Unless you are wanting to devote years and years to it. And then hopefully you have related job experience at the same time?

Plus a CS degree means mostly shit in the IT industry, all they really care about is what you know (experience) and if you have certs.
I was in all the "gifted" and advanced classes in early school, but I ended up dropping out of high school and dicked around for 10 years. Never could afford college.
But I was always super into computers so that's what I went into and I just started from the ground up from nothing and worked my way up the IT chain, got a couple certs under my belt and after shifting through a couple companies over the years I'm now working at a great company making a very respectable salary and I'm well respected by all my colleagues and just really happy with what I do, and there's still shit tons of room for growth or even lateral career shifts within my company if I desire. And I'm a high school dropout.. I make more than some of my friends that were in college for 6+ years.
But I was working and gaining experience the whole time my friends were in college ..
by the time most of them graduated I was making way more than them heh.... IF they could even find a job.
At no point in my career have I felt like I was held back by a lack of college, or even HS diploma, LOL.

Anyway point being in this field it's all about what you know for the most part. So learn. You don't need to go to college to learn, I didn't.
Want to become a master programmer? Do it. Learn like 5 programming languages and become a master C++ coder.. get a couple certifications.. they are expensive but they pay off later. Senior programmers around here makes upwards of 120K-150K a year. Learn SQL too.

And plus you have google. Basically all the world's knowledge is at your fingertips already.. if you have the patience and willpower. Who needs to pay 150k for college? Doctors and shit.
Teach yourself. Read and fucking read and absorb and learn and apply. With google alone you can get at least like 79 PHDs, way cheaper than college.
Shit even Harvard posts free courses online. You need a piece of paper?

Never ever stop learning. Always progress. Fuck college... unless it's handed to you I guess. My 2 cents.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinejasen
Nerd
Male User Gallery

Registered: 07/03/16
Posts: 42
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Shroomism]
    #23421130 - 07/07/16 06:52 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I'll have to agree with Shroomism, speaking as an IT nerd/software developer myself.  Been getting paid for fucking around on computers for 20 years now. :smile:
I personally went back to college and finished my degree in my 30s, however, my employer was helping pay or I probably wouldn't have.  (but I was glad I did, because no matter how good you are, there's always more to learn)

In this field, some companies may require a degree, but most will accept commensurate experience. Keep learning and get some relevant certs.  I've been in the position to interview and hire before, and I was always more impressed by people that taught themselves but knew their shit, than some kid with a title on paper.

If you have the aptitude to teach yourself Java and Android development, don't waste that.  Keep going.  Write your own apps.  Keep teaching yourself and thinking of app ideas.  Get a Google Dev account and publish some things, even if they're cheesy.  Having even a little bit of passive income from some app you publish is still money coming in, and is a learning experience.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleShroomismM
Space Travellin
Male User Gallery

Folding@home Statistics
Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: jasen]
    #23421437 - 07/07/16 08:31 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Yeah after re-reading my post, I can see it may come across kind of the wrong way to some people.

I'm not really trying to shit on college or anything. If I had the time and resources to pursue it (I don't have the time anymore), I'd definitely do it... just to expand on my knowledge and learn in a "structured" environment (even though I generally don't do well with that). And perhaps that degree would help a little bit more if I was looking elsewhere...
I fully support learning - I just don't think you have to go to college to do it. I'm completely obsessed with learning... I self-taught myself practically everything and I'm just constantly devouring knowledge. I've been a computer nerd since like 4 years old starting with a Commodore 64, I've been PC gaming ever since and building custom computers since I was like 12, so it's only natural for me to go into that area.. it's my passion.

I'm sure it's a great experience and all that and many people benefit from it.. and to be sure certain fields REQUIRE it.. but I learn way better on my own.

College just wasn't in the cards for me... and everything worked out quite fine. I was just trying to illustrate that point to the OP.
I'm actually really excited for my career. I started with more Tech Support and Service Desk type stuff.. moving to supervisory and lead roles.. worked some QA.. and did some Networking.. Active Directory and Account Management and SQL stuff.. now I'm in a position where I wear multiple hats at my company and do all kinds of different stuff and our team is basically one of the cornerstones of the IT dept, the glue that holds it together. Kind of want to branch out more into Information Security or App Support/Programming and I have the opportunity to if I want it, just need to decide what direction I want to head and I have backing for it.
It's one of the only jobs I've ever had where I get along with pretty much everyone, I'm always satisfied at work and never come home stressed out or taking the day with me, I'm happy. And there's tons and tons of room for growth. 
If you can excel in any field without a college degree - IT is one of them.

Quote:

jasen said:
In this field, some companies may require a degree, but most will accept commensurate experience. Keep learning and get some relevant certs.  I've been in the position to interview and hire before, and I was always more impressed by people that taught themselves but knew their shit, than some kid with a title on paper.




This, so much this. SOME companies may "require" a degree but those are usually the same ones that drug test and not worth it usually. The vast majority of IT accept experience as a substitute for an education, but not education as a substitute for experience. I've also never been drug tested for any even serious IT position and I'm pretty sure like 80% of IT guys are potheads.

I also was in a supervisory position at my last job and did most of the hiring. I cared WAY more about someone's practical knowledge and how they could PERFORM, over any college degree. Oftentimes, I met people with super impressive college degrees but they didn't know jack shit and had hardly any work experience, so I would often choose the other guy over them. So having a degree doesn't mean much at all, if you can't back it up with something. You have to show them something tangible, real results. That's all we care about. Can you perform? From what I learned, all a college degree means is you had the money and showed up to class. It doesn't necessarily mean you know anything.. I've met people with CS and Networking degrees that don't even know the BASICS.. so it doesn't mean much if you can't execute.

Quote:


If you have the aptitude to teach yourself Java and Android development, don't waste that.  Keep going.  Write your own apps.  Keep teaching yourself and thinking of app ideas.  Get a Google Dev account and publish some things, even if they're cheesy.  Having even a little bit of passive income from some app you publish is still money coming in, and is a learning experience.




Seconded. If you are going to do it, dive in head first. Put in 120% effort, learn as much as possible and create and produce. Nothing teaches better than hands on experience. Keep pushing and pushing
IT and software development is one field that has extremely good job security as well. It's not going anywhere. The demand is just increasing and will continue to. Good people are hard to find, so become one.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblenooneman
Male

Registered: 04/24/09
Posts: 14,555
Loc: Utah
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23421472 - 07/07/16 08:42 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I went to college, got my dream job, and live an amazing life. College does work, but you have to know what you want. It's about more than money. What do you want to spend the rest of your life doing? If it paid next to nothing, what would you want to do?

Sure, you might make $15 an hour getting out, but you could end up making that money diving under the ocean as a marine biologist, or hiking through mountains with some kind of forestry job. College is more about opportunity than money.

If you do want money from college, there's engineering, both civil and mechanical. Not to even mention electronic engineering. Also you could get an MBA from an ivy league if you're really good.

You have to be smart though. Know what you want. Is it just about money, or is it about the job?

Also, always go to the best school you can, and take out the least amount of loans you can. And, I highly advise continuing on to grad school for even better job opportunities (especially in fields like chemistry where an MS is virtually required).


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblepsi
TOAST N' JAM
Male User Gallery

Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613 Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Shroomism]
    #23430609 - 07/10/16 09:41 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

I'm doing a computer science degree part-time and it's kinda taking forever, not sure if or when I'll actually finish. You definitely could learn all the material on your own without paying, but I think the offered/required courses lay out a pretty good roadmap for useful topics to learn.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleShroomismM
Space Travellin
Male User Gallery

Folding@home Statistics
Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: psi]
    #23432120 - 07/11/16 01:31 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Yeah... I'm sure it gives a good broad foundation to grow off of. I'm just going from my experience with people with CS degrees that seem to know virtually nothing. Obviously, that will vary from person to person and how much they actually applied themselves or expanded beyond that. I think it's probably just some people go to just get that degree and don't actually LEARN anything.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblepsi
TOAST N' JAM
Male User Gallery

Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613 Flag
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Shroomism]
    #23432255 - 07/11/16 02:27 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Yeah there do seem to be some people who try to get by doing as little as possible, coasting on group projects and choosing the easiest upper year courses possible and so on.

A lot of the theory/proofs stuff I probably wouldn't have bothered with if I was just programming on my own, but it has definitely influenced the way I think.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineExceed19_2000
Stranger
 User Gallery
Registered: 04/15/16
Posts: 265
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: psi]
    #23438487 - 07/13/16 05:36 PM (7 years, 6 months ago)

One thing to think about though, is why slave away for someone else.

Be smart, make your money on something where you don't depend on a boss eventually.

I think going to college in your 30's if thats what you want to do - is great, because you understand more how the real world works, how people function, and what life is really more about. When your trapped with people the same age bracket (say, all 20-24) it's hard to grow beyond that maturity age.

I would rather dip my toes in the work pool, check things out, then come back and destroy schooling and rip it up when I get out - then "expect" to get a job because your some rookie college kid. Trust me, we chewed up and spit out college rooks as junior trader associates. They were soft, naive, and green. Some of them are better as "life-time schoolies" than an actual employee.

After a while I decided I didn't want to work/share profits with idiots, and did my own thing.

If I could go back and do it all, I wish I could of gotten into high end car racing, like the LMP racing, or factory racing or something. Some things, your family has to have endless buckets of cash and connections.

I think one of the best things you can do, is find a hobby your passionate about - and be able to make money off of it. If someone could just pay me to sleep, I'd be golden.

Either path you end up on, I wish all of you guys the best of luck. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinepinedownpioneer
Male User Gallery
Registered: 03/28/10
Posts: 2,536
Loc: TX
Last seen: 4 years, 8 months
Re: College in your 30's [Re: Exceed19_2000]
    #23569668 - 08/23/16 04:42 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Work at a chemical plant or nuclear plant if you don't do drugs(or ones that dont show up in tests).  2 yr degree in Nuc ops you'll be making $30 or so an hour starting out that includes FULL benifits.  Chemical plant about $25 starting out plus full benifits. Lots of Chem plant hire without degrees for operations.  Ops is shift work..It's a double edge sword.  Equates to working 6 months of they year...not bad being off a week when everyone is going to work their 9-5 gig.  Plus making good $ for 6 months of work.  Overtime is readily available if you are hungry.


--------------------
Trade list

Need kratom? Message me now.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinemandrin13
Stranger
 User Gallery

Registered: 07/08/14
Posts: 1,111
Loc: Socal
Last seen: 2 months, 5 days
Re: College in your 30's [Re: pinedownpioneer]
    #23585726 - 08/28/16 01:54 AM (7 years, 4 months ago)

I don't see why not


--------------------
Even Jesus got stoned.


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineLarrythescaryrex
teardrop on the fire
Male User Gallery


Registered: 07/19/00
Posts: 11,004
Loc: further down the spiral
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23586764 - 08/28/16 12:27 PM (7 years, 4 months ago)

I don't see how your question is related to being in your thirties. I am in my thirties and I just started grad school. Regardless, you can get government student loans and possible even grants depending on your state and exact situation. There are also scholarships available. I personally would not go to a community college because they are dependent on students remaining enrolled and therefore are too easy in their curriculum and their grading.


--------------------
RIP Acidic_Sloth

Sunset_Mission said:
"larry the scary rex
verily scary when thoroughly vexed
invoke the shadows and dust, cast a hex
mercifully massacring memories masterfully
relocate from Ur to 8th density and become a cosmic bully
mulder and scully couldn't decipher his glyphs
invoke the shadows and dust, smoke infernal spliffs"
April 24th 2011


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleautomanM
blasted chipmunk
 User Gallery

Registered: 09/18/03
Posts: 8,272
Re: College in your 30's [Re: SBT]
    #23589505 - 08/29/16 10:01 AM (7 years, 4 months ago)

I went to college off and on over 15 years for a total of maybe 2 years (and the first one was just partying and fucking up as an 18 year old.) I'm in IT as a Linux SysAdmin and fucking love every inch of it. I took zero tech classes in college (mainly because the www was only 3 or 4 years old when I was in college.) I got into Linux because I was interested in at and was always learning how to do things with it for fun. After leaving a shitty sales job, I went on interviews and finally found a cool, young company and talked to the CEO. He saw my passion and that I had 15 years of Linux experience but zero work history. I agreed to come on as an intern with zero pay so he could throw projects at me to see how I did with them. He told me that he really only expected me there a day or two a week because he wasn't paying me. I was always the first one there and the last to leave, 5 days a week. After a month, he gave me a key so I wouldn't have to wait for someone to show up and unlock the doors. After that, I made sure that coffee was made and fresh when the first person got there, the trash was taken out, and everything that he gave me was done early. This was me being an unpaid intern in my mid30s to be able to do what I love. Fast forward a few years and I am the Senior SysAdmin for the entire company. I report to the CEO and CTO directly with no other supervision.

I did the same thing at 18. I wanted to learn how to build guitars so I put in an application at the Gibson Custom Shop and then called them every Tuesday and Friday for 5 months until they hired me. Once I got hired doing menial hand sanding work, I spent lunch breaks and all my extra time learning, off the clock, from the people that had been doing it for decades until I got good at all aspects of building guitars.

Step 1: Figure out what you want to do, not what you want to make.
Step 2: Learn everything you can about it.
Step 3: Be relentless in finding a job with people that do that thing, even if you work as a volunteer sweeping the floor.
Step 4: Always be early
Step 5: Out work everyone around you
Step 6: Do every task ever given to you to the best of your ability and if your ability isn't good enough, figure out how to learn what you need to learn to exceed expectations.


--------------------
No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical. ~ Niels Bohr


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1 | 2 | 3  [ show all ]

Shop: Bridgetown Botanicals Bridgetown Botanicals   PhytoExtractum Buy Bali Kratom Powder   Kraken Kratom Red Vein Kratom   Original Sensible Seeds Bulk Cannabis Seeds   North Spore North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order


Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Middleman
7,294 topic views. 0 members, 0 guests and 1 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2024 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.051 seconds spending 0.011 seconds on 15 queries.