Is it near impossible to work towards a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a full time job?

Question

Ok, I went straight from high school into the military. I'm a helicopter mechanic and have the desire to become a mechanical engineer to take my career to a much higher level. However, I now have a family and still have to provide for them. I'm a hard worker and believe that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I know it would be difficult, but how hard would it be to obtain this degree and still work a full time job. Also, I must add that I did not take physics nor chemistry in high school and have not really taken any college. I have management and other classes that I could apply towards the degree. My military career (8yrs) is finished and I want to start working towards the future, this is where I want to start. Could you guys please give me your best advice? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hopefully there is a junior college near you where you could get credits toward your degree, and make up the courses you missed in high school.Check with your university to see what courses they would require you to have for entry.

Maybe you can get a job as a watchman or clerk at a motel so you can study on the job. You will have to work closely with your college to see if they have courses convenient for you.

I was in the military and then I went to veterans high school so i could qualify and get into the university. They will tell you what you need.

Wishing you the best!

Answer 2

I think it will take you some time while working a full time job. I'm assuming that means you would only be able to take one class at a time and if that is the case, definitely take a look at summer courses as they are usually at night and the class lasts mere weeks. I never had a knack for chemistry and it honestly isn't remotely important for a BSME but I would look into getting a well rounded knowledge of physics as many of your later classes are based on it. Also, see if your company will help pay for it. If they do you will also be able to go to classes in the daytime and may complete it faster.

All in all I think you picked a good field (I'm biased of course :P) that will give you options for very interesting work (especially with your prior military experience, that will open job doors for you if you would ever look at civilian defense contracting). It is very doable but for some of your later classes (junior level in my case) you will need to up your studying and time spent.

One last thing too, some positions are looking for associate internship level applicants. With your mechanic experience and some classes (associate level) under your belt, you may be able to get a different job that allows you to spend a significant amount of time going to school while working part-time for them.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

I graduated with a BSEE degree from West Coast University, Los Angeles in 1969.

I held, while studying, a full time job.

Classes were at night, and many hours of home study.

My employer paid 75% of the expenses, provided I got at least a C+ on each course.

It was hard, but I did it.

My wife helped a lot with her understanding.

Answer 4

I was in a kind of similar situation as you.  I didn't take physics or other science courses in HS required for my BS in electrical engineering.  I started from scratch in a community college and work my way in to a university.  I turned out to be pretty good in math, which is a must for a career in engineering.

     Also, many of my classmates were working full-time, and were married with kids.  They always talked of how difficult it was to find time to study.  however, many of them graduated with me.  you probably would have to take 1 or 2 classes per semester, and it will take you a long time to complete your degree.  If you put all your effort, i'm sure you could do it.  Your background will also open lots of doors in the engineering field.  I wish you good luck.

Answer 5

I spent 8 yrs in the military myself enlisted. I work in the aviation field designing helicopters for the defense department. I'm around helicopter mechanics trying to earn their degrees all the time.

Simple take some tests to figure out where you are mathematical. From there just sign up for community college/Junior college and get your base for the sciences. After a couple of years transfer to a 4 yr institution. I know at the base I work at universities have programs for working professionals. Just make sure you don't spend to much time in community college or that whatever university you transfer to will accept your credits.

You might only be able to take 2-3 classes a semester, but eventually you will pull it off. It might just take longer than a normal student.

Good Luck if you need anymore advice e-mail me

Answer 6

I did it in Electrical Engineering!  Most of us worked day jobs.

Answer 7

I did it. I earned a BSME in 6 years taking 1 semester off half way through. It was very difficult. I often slept only 3-4 hours each night in order to keep up with the work. You have to be very self-disciplined and have a high tolerance for being able to function on very little sleep.  I also had kids and was the sole income provider for the family.

Apply for Pell Grants and financial aid to help with the finances. Get as much of the work out of the way at a community college as possible. Just be sure that every class counts toward your future university degree (not just towards general credit). It helped me to be going to an urban university with a lot of other adult/married students.

Try to get an engineering co-op or internship once you have a couple of semesters under your belt. They often pay well and are accommodating of your school schedule. You will also develop the non-technical skills required to practice engineering ahead of your classmates.

It is of prime importance to plan your schedule carefully. Get a good class schedule of all necessary engineering courses  for several years into the future. You may have to talk to the department chair for this. Otherwise you could get to your last semester an be stuck with a class schedule that you can't work around. Also, if a class meets your schedule but you don't have the pre-requisites, etc, talk to the department chair or dean about an exception.

I began taking 9-15 hour semesters. Towards the end I bumped it up to 18-21 hour semesters. In hindsight I should have take the heavy loads up front in order to have more time to devote to senior level project courses.

I always registered for more classes than I could take in a semester. I would attend all classes for the first week of so to get a feel for the workload. Then I'd withdraw from whichever classes would overload me.

Make friends with students a year or two ahead of you. They can give you good advice about the best courses, professors, etc.

I never could have done it without some very deep motivations (provide for my kids, prove naysayers wrong). I made up my mind when I started that the only thing that would keep me from earning a degree was physical exhaustion and providing the very basics for my family. Even my mom and wife told me that I should quit because of the difficulty, time consumption, stress, etc.

So it is very difficult by also possible.