Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I know schools offer counseling for this, as well, but I prefer to get "real world" advice. I know 2+2ers have done just about every job known to man, so this seems like an OK place to start.

Condensed story: I dropped out of school in the tenth grade. I will turn thirty years old on September 1st of this year. I didn't even get my GED until last year. Since I've gotten my GED, I've thought more and more about going back to school and I am hoping to get suggestions and advice from the 2+2 community on possible degrees to work toward and, maybe more importantly, degrees to avoid.

Ideally, I would just pick and choose classes that interest me and take them at my leisure but more realistically, if I go back to school, I should probably pursue a degree. The problem is, I can't think of a degree that really interests me!

My entire life, my inner compass has just swung wildly. I'm no closer to knowing what I want to be when I grow up than I was fifteen years ago. I'm just looking for general advice like, "I took an ___ degree and it's useless," or, "Hmm, you're interested in ____, maybe you should look into _____."

My interests:
I don't necessarily intend to jump into the workforce but I would like a degree that makes the option available to me. I don't want to end up with toilet paper in a frame.

I am very interested in spending a year or so overseas teaching English as a Second Language but I do not wish to make a career of it. ESL recruiters generally require any three- or four-year degree, so I don't have to major in English (or Japanese or Korean for that matter).

I am good at math (generally 99th percentile on all those stupid tests in junior high and high school) but I don't particularly like it.

I am talented with computers. I taught myself C++ at about the age of twelve and since the first computer given to me as a gift, I've never owned one from a store, I always build them myself from components I buy, trade or salvage. I am well versed in C++ (way rusty, but I have the fundamentals, still), PERL and BlitzMax (a newish BASIC-style language). I have no problem picking up new programming languages. I can set up and administer networks, troubleshoot just about anything and am generally the geek everyone calls for help. The thing is, the college catalog requirements for a CS degree sound boring.

I love acting and singing and have a fair talent for both but I have grave doubts about the usefulness of theater degrees.

I am interested in languages and did well (particularly in French) in high school but I'm not sure which language-oriented degree(s) might be worth the effort.

I am deeply fascinated by science in general. I don't care for biology (excepting marine biology) but chemistry, astronomy, physics and similar fields interest me. I subscribe to (and read) Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and Discover. Again, the question is what jobs are available for a 33+-year-old graduate in those fields?

Engineering interests me, specifically electrical engineering and structural engineering. I considered architecture, but I can't draw so much as a circle. Seriously, I'm the worst. Can one learn the necessary artistic skills to go with architecture or am I just screwed on that one?

I write well (insert joke about this post here) but I am clueless as to what degrees one would pursue in the field of "writing". I don't want to be a journalist.

I'm not hugely interested in medical fields but I've also been considering pharmacy school after undergraduate work. I have a friend who is pursuing (chasing, really) that degree and I've learned a lot about it from him. I understand the pay is good but that'd be pretty much the only reason for me to work in that field.


Thanks,
SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

What have you been doing since you were 20?

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

tl;dr

cliffs notes?

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
tl;dr

cliffs notes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I don't know you so I am going from the assumption your at least a moderately successful poker player. At your age, with a full 4 years of school in front of you, and an entry level job waiting at the end of it, I would focus on starting some type of small business rather than going back to school. Save some money, do some market research, and take a stab at working for yourself.

If I thought you would finish the pharmacy degree I would say go for it, but you seem rather unmotivated, I doubt you'd finish it, and it's essentially a high payed cashiers job. No offense to any pharmacists. Study the market and try to find a niche in internet marketing. You may end up with a few small home based businesses that will net you far more than an entry level job that cost you 50k in college loans to get. Also your computer skills can help you on the technical side as you grow. This is not an anti-college rant, just at 30 with no credits I think you would be wasting your time.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

It sounds as though you are talented but somewhat of a dilettante. I therefore suggest law: it requires some facility with thinking and writing but it doesn't really build on itself the way engineering disciplines do. And there are a wide variety of jobs available to someone with a law degree, even at 36 or however old you'd be after you got through with both your undergraduate and law degrees.

It'll seem like a long haul at your age, though.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
What have you been doing since you were 20?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
tl;dr

cliffs notes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for bringing even more SomethingAwful crap to 2+2.

If you're not interested enough to read it, why reply?

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
At your age, with a full 4 years of school in front of you, and an entry level job waiting at the end of it, I would focus on starting some type of small business rather than going back to school.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not actually looking to start a new career, necessarily. I want to go back to school because I like learning. I just figure that if I go to school, I may as well pursue a degree with potential in case I decide to use it to seek employment.

I am not particularly motivated by the pharmacy degree as an intellectual pusrsuit, but I like the idea of a decent-paying job that allows me to play poker when I want instead of because rent is due.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
What have you been doing since you were 20?

[/ QUOTE ]

I spent most of that time in the internet adult industry. I have since become sick of that entire sector of business and humanity. For the last two years(ish), I've mostly played poker.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

Life report?

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
It sounds as though you are talented but somewhat of a dilettante. I therefore suggest law: it requires some facility with thinking and writing but it doesn't really build on itself the way engineering disciplines do. And there are a wide variety of jobs available to someone with a law degree, even at 36 or however old you'd be after you got through with both your undergraduate and law degrees.

It'll seem like a long haul at your age, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the reply, Howard. My interest in some of those subjects is deeper than dilettante would imply, but I guess that's not an unfair assessment overall.

The law is an interesting suggestion. I intentionally left it out of my initial post. My girlfriend has been studying for the LSAT and, by helping her, I've discovered that the material on the LSAT is not really tough for me to handle but I am not really sure what I can do with a law degree that doesn't include 100 hour weeks as an associate somewhere.

I am not worried about the challenge of school or how long the haul will seem. I've overcome much worse in my life than returning to school. I would just like to leave school with a degree worth more than the paper it's printed on.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

If you want to use your degree to acquire a job, make sure you pick a field with the least ageism. Finance is pretty bad in terms of this. My guess is computer science is the most flexible, but even there you might have a tough time.

And there are jobs for lawyers with normal work hours, but salary is less obviously. And by the time you graduate your gf might help you get a job too.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

First off, anyone telling you that you are too old to pursue a degree is wrong. You can always pursue a degree and most fields will still be wide open to you in your mid-thirties. Secondly, in 2012, inexorably, you will be thirty-five; with or without a degree is the only question.

IMO, before you decide what degree. I think you need to decide what are your priorities. For example, I don't want to make less than 70K per year and 100K is really the number I want to earn. More than that is nice. But, I don't necessarily need more. Therefore, social work is out, teaching at the k-12 level is out, etc.

After you decide on income level, then you can decide on whether you need to specialize. Doctor obv equals med school. But, selling insurance can be done with any degree. Most companies don't care what it's in, only that you have one.

Whether it's in sales, management or HR, if you want to work in the business world, there are many degree programs (traditional, on-line, accelerated) in management, marketing, bus. admin, etc. etc. All of these are good for that general career path.

Regarding your specific questions:

Engineering is solid. Architecture, specifically commercial architecture, requires little to no artistic skill. Most of the work is done on computers (Auto-Cad) and your inability to draw a circle is not a detriment. For that matter, your other interests and skills would be a huge benefit for any occupation in the construction world.

Commercial construction project managers earn excellent money; high-five figures and up. With your interests, this could be another option for you.

Some writing options could include technical writing or desk-top publishing (I don't know if this is still good or not. Back in the early 90's you could make 90-100k per year).

AS far as the sciences, I think that your options would be still be open. But, you would have to be sure your financial requirements were not in conflict with earning potential in whatever field you chose.

I definitely think some career counseling could be helpful even if it's just to confirm what you don't want to do.

Finally, (sorry this is so long) I definitely think that thirty is still young, yet you have the benefit of some life experience and maturity. You are in a great spot to be able to do some research and choose a new path.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

First, a key question, and I know it has already been asked to some extent, but I want to get it on the table:

What are your precise financial needs and goals? Are you in a position (most likely do to having rich parents or relatives), where you can choose your career without money being a factor? If not, how important is money to you, and how much do you feel your annual income needs to be when your career has plateaued?

Now, a related question:

If money (or the potential to make a lot of money) is a big priority for you, are you willing to pursue a career that you may not enjoy as much as a much lower paying career?

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you want to use your degree to acquire a job, make sure you pick a field with the least ageism. Finance is pretty bad in terms of this. My guess is computer science is the most flexible, but even there you might have a tough time.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for those thoughts. Ageism is definitely on my mind and I am not too sure which fields have the biggest age barriers. Now I know finance may be one of them [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

Thank you very much for this reply, BPA234. Your post is very thoughtful and very much the sort of thing I was hoping to see in this thread.


[ QUOTE ]
Secondly, in 2012, inexorably, you will be thirty-five; with or without a degree is the only question.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly what I've been telling myself. Especially when I feel like I might already be "too old"; I simply remind myself that five years from now I'll be older still and still not have a degree. That usually clears up my doubts.


[ QUOTE ]
Engineering is solid. Architecture, specifically commercial architecture, requires little to no artistic skill.

Commercial construction project managers earn excellent money; high-five figures and up. With your interests, this could be another option for you.


[/ QUOTE ]


Thank you again. I've wondered about architecture and engineering the most. On the rare occasions when my TV manages to get turned on, I simply cannot turn off any show about bridges or skyscrapers. I would probably pee my pants or die of dehydration if those shows didn't have commercials. I also find home floor plans fascinating.

"Construction project manager" is one of those jobs I would never have thought of on my own. I guess I have a vague notion that such a thing must exist, but I know nothing about it. I will definitely be visiting Google to find out what that job entails.


[ QUOTE ]
AS far as the sciences, I think that your options would be still be open. But, you would have to be sure your financial requirements were not in conflict with earning potential in whatever field you chose.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am willing to sacrifice money for job satisfaction or to work in a field that interests me. I can always continue playing poker, programming applications/games and operating websites even if I take a job.


[ QUOTE ]
Finally, (sorry this is so long)

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, not at all. I have nothing but appreciation for the effort you put into your reply. Thank you very much for the thoughtfulness. You actually made me feel a little more cheery about the whole thing and clued me in on at least two things that may help me out.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

hey, assuming you are tired of poker, i would just ( i sat here for 5 mins thinking up things i've done/will do, and noting will fit for you sorry [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )
good luck to you though, i like this attitude of doing something new

what exactly is wrong with the internet adult industry?

i think you need to have a story thread to repay OOT for these nice replies,


oh fwiw, i wouldn't get a finance degree, it's pretty tough to do it at your age and it's nothing as easy as the pursuit of happYness....

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
First, a key question, and I know it has already been asked to some extent, but I want to get it on the table:

What are your precise financial needs and goals? Are you in a position (most likely do to having rich parents or relatives), where you can choose your career without money being a factor? If not, how important is money to you, and how much do you feel your annual income needs to be when your career has plateaued?

Now, a related question:

If money (or the potential to make a lot of money) is a big priority for you, are you willing to pursue a career that you may not enjoy as much as a much lower paying career?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have specific financial goals. If I were to give up all other forms of income for a standard job, I would want to be able to comfortably support myself. To me, comfortably means a modest home, one or two vehicles, enough money to raise a child or two (at least when combined with my spouse's income) and enough spending cash to eat out and go out with friends regularly. All this while socking away a little something in my 401(K). Again, that's assuming I make no money from anything other than my job which is not likely.

As for job vs. money, in general, the more I like the job, the less I am willing to accept in pay down to a certain point. I'm simply not going to reenter the workforce to make $10/hour.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
hey, assuming you are tired of poker, i would just ( i sat here for 5 mins thinking up things i've done/will do, and noting will fit for you sorry [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )
good luck to you though, i like this attitude of doing something new

what exactly is wrong with the internet adult industry?

i think you need to have a story thread to repay OOT for these nice replies,


oh fwiw, i wouldn't get a finance degree, it's pretty tough to do it at your age and it's nothing as easy as the pursuit of happYness....

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, that's two for "no finance", which is OK with me since I'm not dying to work in that field or anything.

There's a LOT wrong with the adult industry in my view. There's way too much to go into here, but the gist of it is I don't like the direction the industry is heading. I feel like many of the negative stereotypes about the industry are actually becoming true and I'm tired of the scene.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

im finishing up 2nd year biochemistry and would not recommend it unless you are truley committed to the subject/field. lots of molecular biology and chemistry involved, but mostly it is the study of proteins in different biochemical pathways...take that for what its worth.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

One of the great things about undergrad is that you can explore different things. In fact, the well-rounded education many still extole can only be attained by playing the field as it were. So, I would encourage you to go into the thing with the idea that you are going to play the field and that you needn't decide before entering where the exit is. Getting more than a piece of paper may really point to what you take away from it rather than a "useful" major.

Also, many professors will be more than willing to engage in discussions with you about opportunities, possibilities, etc.

So, rather than trying to figure it out now. Let the process of deciding what direction to take your education be part of the education process. In some sense, it cannot be any other way.

Good luck.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I am a psychology major, and although its mostly worthless in the job force, it seems like it may be interesting to you. There are lots of different directions you can go, from engineering psychology to clinical psychology, to biopsychology. Each can cover a pretty good amount of biology and involves some statistics.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I tried beach bum as a career path for 3 years. Worked out just fine.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
At your age, with a full 4 years of school in front of you, and an entry level job waiting at the end of it, I would focus on starting some type of small business rather than going back to school.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not actually looking to start a new career, necessarily. I want to go back to school because I like learning. I just figure that if I go to school, I may as well pursue a degree with potential in case I decide to use it to seek employment.

I am not particularly motivated by the pharmacy degree as an intellectual pusrsuit, but I like the idea of a decent-paying job that allows me to play poker when I want instead of because rent is due.

SpaceAce

[/ QUOTE ]

That's cool if you just want to have a backup. I wasn't by any means saying you are too old for school at 30. I am 35 and just think it would be hard at this age to finish a degree I wasn't highly motivated to get.

I am also just a strong proponent of working for yourself if possible as most wealthy people I know are employers rather than employees. There is just so much oppurtunity with the global economy right now to start your own business. With cheap goods and outsourcing of everything, I just feel your either taking advantage of the new economy or risk falling victim to it. There have been some good suggestions in this thread from others that I hope help you.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I think pursuing engineering will pay off the quickest and you'll feel at home in most civil/structural engineering programs or any other construction related degrees. There were a good bit of older students in the program I was in at Georgia Tech. If you're able to start in the fall or the spring, you could be interning within a year or two and easily have a job lined up by graduation time in 4 years. Absolutely no problem with the age thing either. Pay won't be quite as good as electrical or computer engineering, but it's an easier degree and probably an easier day to day job after school.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

Out of what you mentioned, I think engineering is a great option, chemical if you can handle it. My friend who just got out a year ago just got a raise to 71k, and hes chemical. I'm not sure about everywhere, but in the LA area an engineering degree almost guarantees you 50-60k to start, even jobs for the city of LA pay that and more. the other benefit is if one day you want to become a lawyer, you can take the patent bar and be an IP attorney, which is one of the highest paying fields.

as for pharmacy school, i have a cousin who graduated 2 years ago and a friend trying to get in right now. the pay is not bad, but you kind of "cap-out" from what i understand. you may start out at 75-85k but its really hard to get past that 120k mark oneday unless you open up your own pharmacy. also take into consideration the amount of work you are putting in to make that much money when you could have become a doctor or lawyer, both which generally start out higher than that, and both which have a much much higher earning potential. the thing with being a doctor, the school you went to doesnt limit you that much, so even if your undergrad kind of sucks, you can, as a last resort, get your med degree in the dominican republic. my godfather and my uncle went there, as well as one girl i know through a friend at law school, all seem to be doing well. the only bad part about it, which wont hurt you if you study enough, is they usually have a lower pass rate for the boards.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
im finishing up 2nd year biochemistry and would not recommend it unless you are truley committed to the subject/field. lots of molecular biology and chemistry involved, but mostly it is the study of proteins in different biochemical pathways...take that for what its worth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you, I definitely can't see myself "committed" to biochemistry (from what I know of it), so I'll stay away [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
One of the great things about undergrad is that you can explore different things.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, I've been keeping that in mind, too. I know I don't have to make the decision ahead of time, I just want to get some sort of feeling for for what I should maybe keep an eye out for.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am a psychology major, and although its mostly worthless in the job force, it seems like it may be interesting to you. There are lots of different directions you can go, from engineering psychology to clinical psychology, to biopsychology. Each can cover a pretty good amount of biology and involves some statistics.

[/ QUOTE ]

Psychology is interesting to me on a personal level. As you said, though, I don't know what I'd do with a psychology degree short of pursuing a PhD. Since I'm just now thinking of going for undergraduate classes, I can't even pretend to know whether I'd continue on to post-graduate levels.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
I tried beach bum as a career path for 3 years. Worked out just fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, that doesn't sound bad. I don't think I can get the significant other to go for it, though.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]

I am also just a strong proponent of working for yourself if possible as most wealthy people I know are employers rather than employees.

[/ QUOTE ]

I also hold this attitude.

[ QUOTE ]
There have been some good suggestions in this thread from others that I hope help you.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have gleaned several useful nuggets from this thread, thanks for the well wishes.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]

I think pursuing engineering will pay off the quickest and you'll feel at home in most civil/structural engineering programs or any other construction related degrees. There were a good bit of older students in the program I was in at Georgia Tech. If you're able to start in the fall or the spring, you could be interning within a year or two and easily have a job lined up by graduation time in 4 years. Absolutely no problem with the age thing either. Pay won't be quite as good as electrical or computer engineering, but it's an easier degree and probably an easier day to day job after school.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the information. I am definitely going to take a deeper look into civil engineering disciplines.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
Out of what you mentioned, I think engineering is a great option, chemical if you can handle it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think my brain is strong enough for it but I don't know if I can "handle" it in the other necessary ways. I think this is one of those fields where I will just have to take a few related classes to figure out how I really feel about it.

I just don't want to end up taking dozens of classes in dozens of fields that each only count toward specific majors. A friend (another poster here) was just telling me how he knows a guy with something like 160 credits and no degree.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

SpaceAce, I only skimmed the thread, but if you like computer programming, then why not pursue it?

I'm not talking about CompSci, there are lots of those guys who can't write a line of code. I'm talking about being a code jockey, for which you may earn a nice piece of change and choose all variety of worklife.

I'd encourage you to go for engineering, but you said you don't particularly like math.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

I would not particularly recommend chemical engineering. I undertook this degree and found it incredibly boring. Whenever i visted a factory such as dupont and met the people that worked there i just couldnt see myself sticking it out for 40 yrs plus. I would also say that it was a LOT of work and that if your not fully comitted to an engineering pathway you can end up pretty miserable. I wasnt fully commited to it and it essentially cost me three years of my life. You seem like a very knowledgeable guy though and im sure you wont make the same mistake i did and not fully research your chosen degree, if that is what you choose to do.
The best advice i can give two degrees later is to find something that makes you happy and you can enjoy and it wont matter a [censored] if you make $10/hr or $1000/hr.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

Sometimes people have to do things they don't particularly enjoy.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

SpaceAge -

I recently completed my MBA, and have been on the job hunt for 8 months. I can tell you from experience that the VAST majority of job postings are either a)I.T; or b) Engineering. I don't foresee the need for either dissipating anytime soon.

Focus on something that has a well-defined body of knowledge, preferably finishing with a professional designation. My biggest challenge, being a 'marketing guy' is that it is too loosely defined.

Best of luck.

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would not particularly recommend chemical engineering. I undertook this degree and found it incredibly boring. Whenever i visted a factory such as dupont and met the people that worked there i just couldnt see myself sticking it out for 40 yrs plus. I would also say that it was a LOT of work and that if your not fully comitted to an engineering pathway you can end up pretty miserable. I wasnt fully commited to it and it essentially cost me three years of my life. You seem like a very knowledgeable guy though and im sure you wont make the same mistake i did and not fully research your chosen degree, if that is what you choose to do.
The best advice i can give two degrees later is to find something that makes you happy and you can enjoy and it wont matter a [censored] if you make $10/hr or $1000/hr.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the advice. Chemical engineering is one of the fields I have considered on and off over the years when I've thought (less seriously than I am now) of going back to school. However, it doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to.

As I said, I like to learn. A few months ago, I taught myself basic atomic physics from an Asimov textbook I picked up at a local bookstore. I also taught myself basic chemistry (I did have a little of it in high school) and found it to be rather more tedious than I had remembered. I don't think I have the commitment necessary for that field and it's not really in the running, anymore.

SpaceAce

Re: Help a decrepit old fart dropout choose a new path in life
 

[ QUOTE ]
SpaceAce -

I recently completed my MBA, and have been on the job hunt for 8 months. I can tell you from experience that the VAST majority of job postings are either a)I.T; or b) Engineering. I don't foresee the need for either dissipating anytime soon.

Focus on something that has a well-defined body of knowledge, preferably finishing with a professional designation. My biggest challenge, being a 'marketing guy' is that it is too loosely defined.

Best of luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Egnineering was already high on my list and this thread has helped to cement that. I am going to pick up some course catalogs from CCSN and UNLV today and I will try to speak to an adviser while I am at it. I think I will angle toward engineering-related classes and see how the first semester or two go.

Thanks everyone for the replies,
SpaceAce