Unending desire to go back to school

[Treasure Chest]

That's pretty much where I am now; there's just that small nagging voice in the back that says, "Dude degree you might not even use... or project car? Possilbly useless degree or money in the bank? Possilbly useless degree or home improvements? Possilbly useless degree or more free time?"

But then I read the course list and it honestly excites me. Which none of the other school ideas (MBA, law, etc) ever did. Tell me these courses don't sound like the most badass degree plan ever:

• Engine Design I
• Engine Design II
• Thermal Systems Engineering
• Engine Performance and Combustion
• Engine Fluid Dynamics
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Legislative Drivers and Alternative Fuels
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Powertrain Technologies and Manufacturing Constraints
• Perspectives on Engine Modeling
• Engine Systems and Control
• Engine Project Management

Hanging a "Master of Engineering in Engine Systems" degree on the wall would give me an intellectual chubby.


But there's a >50% chance that this would literally be a $20,000 piece of paper on the wall. I wonder if my boss would pay for some of it. He would instantly know that for me to use if he'd lose me to another division of the company. LOL.

A MS in Engine Systems would be beneficial if you're applying somewhere along the lines of Southwest Research Institution in San Antonio.

http://www.swri.org/HR/ViewJob.asp?JobID=2257&Type=Exempt

SUMMARY: Provide engineering support and manage projects in heavy duty highway and non-road engine emission control systems involving conventional and alternative fuels and exhaust treatment system applications; plan, coordinate and control the progress of project work; keep client informed of technical and financial project status; interact with laboratory staff for project activities; interface with support departments in handling contractual, legal, accounting, patent, fabrication, purchasing, etc.; maintain expertise with technologies applicable to work; write reports and prepare and deliver presentations; apply engineering skills to enhance laboratory capabilities in response to client needs; assume responsibility for quality improvement initiatives; establish and maintain working relationships with current and prospective clients; apply technical knowledge to develop innovative solutions to project problems.


EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Requires a BS or MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or equivalent with 0-3 years experience in automotive research. Master degree preferred. Must have at least a 3.3 GPA. Must have good written and verbal skills. Must have experience in PC based presentation, spreadsheet, and word processing software; ability to serve as a project leader in heavy duty highway and non-road engine emission measurement and control projects; experience with exhaust emissions testing, emission analyzers, and heavy duty and non road engines desired. Knowledge of electromechanical systems and skills related to data acquisition and controls is desired. Experience with Matlab/Simulink is desired. A valid/clear driver's license is required.

[Sean88gt]

Chicks

Pretty solid argument. Although hookers would be cheaper.

[Snatch Napkin]

That's pretty much where I am now; there's just that small nagging voice in the back that says, "Dude degree you might not even use... or project car? Possilbly useless degree or money in the bank? Possilbly useless degree or home improvements? Possilbly useless degree or more free time?"

But then I read the course list and it honestly excites me. Which none of the other school ideas (MBA, law, etc) ever did. Tell me these courses don't sound like the most badass degree plan ever:

• Engine Design I
• Engine Design II
• Thermal Systems Engineering
• Engine Performance and Combustion
• Engine Fluid Dynamics
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Legislative Drivers and Alternative Fuels
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Powertrain Technologies and Manufacturing Constraints
• Perspectives on Engine Modeling
• Engine Systems and Control
• Engine Project Management

Hanging a "Master of Engineering in Engine Systems" degree on the wall would give me an intellectual chubby.


But there's a >50% chance that this would literally be a $20,000 piece of paper on the wall. I wonder if my boss would pay for some of it. He would instantly know that for me to use if he'd lose me to another division of the company. LOL.

Dude, you're fucking young with an opportunity that a vast majority would only dream of. That certainly includes myself.

This may open up a door in 5 or 10 years that has you sitting in Texas with an operation of your own. Who knows?

Education is key. When the world goes to shit, I want to know as many smart people as possible. Money won't mean jack. Intelligence will.

Seriously, do it while you have the chance. Build a cool hot rod on the cheap to beebop around in and keep you happy enough to finish more schooling. Then goes balls out on your big project.

[Silverback]

how about a project car, where you use some of this education to benefit it later on?

I say do it. In fact, you made me just say fuck work and finish my second essay I need to turn in to finish my application to the McCombs School of Business at UT.

[Leah]

I know how you feel. I have been wanting to go back for a few years now and I finally got the opportunity last summer to start on my Masters. I know it will be a year or two after I finish before I want to go back, but hell, I'm already thinking about my PhD or another MA. Not sure in what, but I have always liked school and wanted to be in it. Weird, I know...

[Strychnine]

A MS in Engine Systems would be beneficial if you're applying somewhere along the lines of Southwest Research Institution in San Antonio.

I'm already an engineer for Cummins and have my name as lead engineer on some ground-up designs. SWRI sounds cool but I'm on a "how's the family, let's go grab a beer" level with VPs, GMs, engineering and market leaders, etc... so anything I try to do w/ this degree would be w/in the company. It's way too fun here to think about leaving right now. Oh, and SWRI were real dicks back when I was in college and looking around for jobs. LOL

I say do it. In fact, you made me just say fuck work and finish my second essay I need to turn in to finish my application to the McCombs School of Business at UT.

The more I think about it the more I want it, even if it isn't instantly beneficial.

I think I'll start on an app this week.

[Leah]

Tell me these courses don't sound like the most badass degree plan ever:

• Engine Design I
• Engine Design II
• Thermal Systems Engineering
• Engine Performance and Combustion
• Engine Fluid Dynamics
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Legislative Drivers and Alternative Fuels
• Analysis of Trends in Engines: Powertrain Technologies and Manufacturing Constraints
• Perspectives on Engine Modeling
• Engine Systems and Control
• Engine Project Management

Hanging a "Master of Engineering in Engine Systems" degree on the wall would give me an intellectual chubby.

Yeah, none of that appeals to me IN THE LEAST!

However, I'm pretty sure these don't sound very appealing to you, either :

SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS (18 hours)
EDSP 5710 Special Education Programs and Practices
EDSP 5560 Assistive Technology
EDSP 5321 Authentic Assessment
EDSP 5330 Discipline and Management Strategies: Classroom Approaches for Exceptional Learners
EDSP 5520 Legal Aspects of Educational Assessment
EPSY 5210 Educational Statistics

INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES (12 hours)
EDSP 5510 Educational Appraisal of Exceptional Learners (no transfer of credits allowed)
EDSP 5530 Individualized Diagnostic Assessment 1: Practicum (no transfer of credits allowed)
EDSP 5540 Individualized Diagnostic Assessment 2: Practicum (no transfer of credits allowed)
EDSP 5320 Functional Assessment (no transfer of credits allowed)

LEARNING THEORY (6 hours)
EPSY 5550 Theories of Learning as Applied to Exceptional Populations
DFST 5321 Human Growth and Development

[Snatch Napkin]

The more I think about it the more I want it, even if it isn't instantly beneficial.

I think I'll start on an app this week.

Good man, Charlie Brown.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

Why do you need any real justification at all except to do something that interests you? If you are actually excited about the coursework for the sake of learning it, then whether or not you will recoup the money in the long run is immaterial.

And fundamentally, what's the difference between a $20,000 piece of paper on the wall and $20,000 sunk into some other hobby or interest? Is it really a dollar figure, or what it costs to pursue what really grabs you most?

I feel you though, I've been out a year, and really getting stirred up about going back too.

[Ruffdaddy]

Here's another way to look at it. If you're not going to actually use the degree why not just do independent studies? Buy the books and materials but say screw actual classes. If it's online, there's no drawback to going your own route.

[Forever_frost]

I got my bachelors Dec of 07 just because I had started it before I went in the Army. Now? I am squared away to graduate with a second bachelors and a masters that I don't think I'm actually going to file the papers to graduate. I'm tired of school. I understand the draw of going back, hell, I'd do it just because it's good to pad a resume showing you are constantly looking to better yourself

[46Tbird]

I'm glad to see someone get excited about classes. I have to say, I just never got engaged in studies while at A&M, even for Mech Eng. It was painfully boring and I never saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

You are the posterboy for getting a badass education and using it to its fullest. I say go for it, especially since it gets your motor revving, so to speak. Your ego is telling you to build a car, but your inner nerd tells you to hit the books. As a guy who has known you pretty well for a while now, I think you'll enjoy them both the same.

[lowthreeohz]

I don't see any reason not to, Matt. If this new job offers assistance with tuition for a post grad degree, i'm definitely taking advantage.

[Silverback]

I've been in the IT field for 15+ years, and I'm very good at what I do.

But I'm getting older and looking to get further up in the management ranks here at Dell, and I know a degree would help with that. I left Texas A&M in 1993, and started in the IT field during the .com boom and worked my way up from hardware repair to a Microsoft MCITP: Server 2008 specialist and a Cisco CCNA. But unless I want to completely change gears and go into networking, or something else entirely my progression in my career means management. I've been back in school for the last year and I finish my associates in Business in May. I'm applying to UT in Austin to finish my Bachelors in Business: Management this fall.

While I'm there, I'm also looking into minoring or even earning a second degree in Nutrtional Sciences. Not to be used in any sort of job, but because it interests me.

[junior]

Do it!

U will either spend 20k on a paper that might help in the long run or 20k in booze.