Unending desire to go back to school

[SVT Lurch]

It sounds like you should do it. If it the cost and time involved to get the degree won't put you out then I can't think of a good reason not to go back. Like several others said even if you don't earn the money back in the long run at least you'll have a degree to show for it rather than another car you're selling or a bunch of hangovers. You sound like you'll enjoy either, so why not choose the one that at least has potential to pay off?

[talisman]

Everyone else has convinced me. Go for it.

[mustangguy289]

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.

That does sound like a nice degree but the job oppurtunities would be smaller than say that of a generic MSME or MBA. What school?

Anytime a degree gets "too specific" and you are not already in that field it can hurt you compared to a more generic degree.

Compare jobs for AE students to that of ME students.

[Silverback]

That does sound like a nice degree but the job oppurtunities would be smaller than say that of a generic MSME or MBA. What school?

Anytime a degree gets "too specific" and you are not already in that field it can hurt you compared to a more generic degree.

Compare jobs for AE students to that of ME students.

He's already in that field, working for Cummins... or did you miss that part

[mustangguy289]

He's already in that field, working for Cummins... or did you miss that part

Missed it. My bad.

[fitzwell]

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?

.

What he said..

Besides, that 20k sheepskin might open doors, (or windows) you never knew were out there. Do it man...

[Cooter]

fuckin' do it man... no brainer IMO

[CJ-95GT]

Money aside, school sets you schedule and a hobby is done at your own leisure. Education is always worth it. It just sounded like you were looking for something to fill some extra time. Like a hobby.

[Cooter]

there are worse hobbies

[Baron Von Crowder]

Fuck it Matt, you'll always have it, hotrods and houses come and go.

[DaisyDoesDallas]

Pancakes solve nothing here.

I beg to differ!!!

[Strychnine]

This is a good omen for the guy wanting more education... i miscalculated.



Cost is double what I originally typed. $40k. Suddenly the "I just want it" might not cut it.

[Silverback]

Any educational reimbursement through work?

I know here at Dell it's only 3000/year, but that's better than nothing

[Strychnine]

Any educational reimbursement through work?

I know here at Dell it's only 3000/year, but that's better than nothing

$2k/yr. $40k is taking that into account.

[Silverback]

Ohhhh