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Going back to finish my Degree at age 40: Civil Engineering or Computer Science?

acklac7

acklac7

Ex-Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
1,861
Location
Michigan
Looking to go back and finish up my degree in the Fall, trying to decide what route to take, as I see it there are two options I really want to pursue:

Option 1: Civil Engineering > Build SkyScrapers > Develop Cities.

This is the route I want to go most, I mean I would love to be a Civil Engineer. That said, I would be re-entering the Workforce at age 43 with little work experience from a Professional standpoint, and I'm afraid this may lead to problems gaining meaningful employment.

That said, I have several extended family members and friends that are worth Hundreds of Millions, and Billions. I'd like to play the connection man and connect them all togeather, along with maybe @arrall and @negrogesic and their connections in an effort to form some sort of massive major development corporation, and build some crazy cool shit. The likelyhood of that happening? Probably not so great, but hey, dreams are dreams, right?

Option 2: Computer Science > Stable Job Security > No Building SkyScrapers

The safer, more boring route. I'd be sitting at a desk all day playing with code, but I would be guarunteed a stable, reliable job right out of school, and bascially for the rest of my life.

Which would you all choose?
 
Our sweetie pie said:
The safe route, that's what my son does. I stopped my education at an associate degree due to young and didn't really understand the full pic at 20 yrs old. No one gave me advice or encouragement. 50 odd yrs later, I understand !
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Yeah, but the safer route is the boring route. I mean it would be a job, it would pay the bills, but nothing really too exciting.

Just I'm in a rather unique position being linked closley to 3+ plus different people who are worth hundreds of millions, and billions of dollars. I'd love to bring them all togeather and create some massive developements, like SkyScrapers and stuff. That's basically my dream now.

To follow my dreams or follow the safest, sensible route in life, oh this is tough...
 
i'd suggest you have a thing for what's called "brutalism" at least an intention of, which consist in dystopic shaped like stones structures and well that's not possible in this current century, now if you plan to build just a plain 2 store hotel then yeah. You need to talk to yourself first and I don't think this thread is nor positive nor negative but more a reflection of one thyself
 
acklac7 said:
Looking to go back and finish up my degree in the Fall, trying to decide what route to take, as I see it there are two options I really want to pursue:

Option 1: Civil Engineering > Build SkyScrapers > Develop Cities.

This is the route I want to go most, I mean I would love to be a Civil Engineer. That said, I would be re-entering the Workforce at age 43 with little work experience from a Professional standpoint, and I'm afraid this may lead to problems gaining meaningful employment.

That said, I have several extended family members and friends that are worth Hundreds of Millions, and Billions. I'd like to play the connection man and connect them all togeather, along with maybe @arrall and @negrogesic and their connections in an effort to form some sort of massive major development corporation, and build some crazy cool shit. The likelyhood of that happening? Probably not so great, but hey, dreams are dreams, right?

Option 2: Computer Science > Stable Job Security > No Building SkyScrapers

The safer, more boring route. I'd be sitting at a desk all day playing with code, but I would be guarunteed a stable, reliable job right out of school, and bascially for the rest of my life.

Which would you all choose?
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Computer science

But neither preferably. Arts.
 
Shady's Fox said:
i'd suggest you have a thing for what's called "brutalism" at least an intention of, which consist in dystopic shaped like stones structures and well that's not possible in this current century, now if you plan to build just a plain 2 store hotel then yeah. You need to talk to yourself first and I don't think this thread is nor positive nor negative but more a reflection of one thyself
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Man, I want some of that shit you smoking...must be pretty powerful shite.
 
I think Civil Engineering is one of those professions where the degree is a ticket to entry but requires several years of structured and progressive on-the-job experiential training and development.

Typically graduates join the Graduate Program of a major firm and spend a few years being rotated through different kinds of projects before being given their own clients/projects. So they work on smallisj components of bigger projects without being able to influence the larger project very much.

It is a long time before they are master planning a high street let alone a city.

Computer Science on the other hand can be a bit lke that If you work for a major consulting company (I was a Partner in a top 5 firm for a little while working on SAS and PeopleSoft implementations even though I do not have a CS background.

However, comsulting companies are also flattening their structures and creating more nimble project teams based more on an indovidual’s demonstrated competence and skills portfolio rather than seniority or qualifications.

So there is a lot more opportunity to control your own destiny and speed up your career by investing in your own development through self-learning and short courses beyond your degree (eg through Coursera)

In either case though your age will be a challenge as you try to get selected by a major firm. Even though age discrimination is illegal, firms informally calculate the Net Present Value of employees just like all other investments. They discount your estimated career length client billing time using number of working age years you have left (usually to age 55).

With only 15 years in your case you would need to either have some skills now that can be utilised and billed at a higher rate than average or convince them that your rate of skill acquisition (and therefore billability) once hired will be exponential compared to younger recruits.
 
Our sweetie pie said:
Maybe you need to look more into building community housing for low to moderate income. My cousin owns a construction company and has large lot subdivision type projects where homes are about $700,000, I don't know how he got that together since we grew up on the same street. My brother lives in one of his homes, but he bought it himself. My friend's brother is a federal judge.
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I want to start by copying the design plans from the CE LA VI (Singapore) and place it overlooking downtown Columbus, Ohio. I was thinking one tower for a Hotel (Ritz Carlton) another Tower for Office Space, and then the last tower for Condos/Apartments. Then place a 5-Star Casino on the top. That's my thought, at least. Pretty sure it would work.

srFYEJx.png
 
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Atomic_Decay said:
I think Civil Engineering is one of those professions where the degree is a ticket to entry but requires several years of structured and progressive on-the-job experiential training and development.

Typically graduates join the Graduate Program of a major firm and spend a few years being rotated through different kinds of projects before being given their own clients/projects. So they work on smallisj components of bigger projects without being able to influence the larger project very much.

It is a long time before they are master planning a high street let alone a city.

Computer Science on the other hand can be a bit lke that If you work for a major consulting company (I was a Partner in a top 5 firm for a little while working on SAS and PeopleSoft implementations even though I do not have a CS background.

However, comsulting companies are also flattening their structures and creating more nimble project teams based more on an indovidual’s demonstrated competence and skills portfolio rather than seniority or qualifications.

So there is a lot more opportunity to control your own destiny and speed up your career by investing in your own development through self-learning and short courses beyond your degree (eg through Coursera)

In either case though your age will be a challenge as you try to get selected by a major firm. Even though age discrimination is illegal, firms informally calculate the Net Present Value of employees just like all other investments. They discount your estimated career length client billing time using number of working age years you have left (usually to age 55).

With only 15 years in your case you would need to either have some skills now that can be utilised and billed at a higher rate than average or convince them that your rate of skill acquisition (and therefore billability) once hired will be exponential compared to younger recruits.
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Great feedback, agree 100%.
 
Our sweetie pie said:
I would feel bad to have been the engineer who built that Florida high rise on the waterfront that collapsed. Eerie ! In better days, my husband with my help ! Built a deck. Nothing fancy but it didn't collapse. Maybe I served as someone to yell at, get this or that !
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Its likely not his fault. Buildings often times need maintenance, they’re not built to last indefinitely maintenance-free. Nothing lasts forever.

The burden likely lies with the Condo Association for not having the proper structural inspection protocols in place.
 
Our sweetie pie said:
Sad, as you know, you aren't forced to. A week ago I told my family I think this one guy doesn't like me for some reason. Your response says I'm right. Oh ridiculous me again not remembering hurtful people are everywhere !
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How the fuck am I Hurtful? Are u 10 years old? You know how lame it is to be asking 👍???? And why am I supposed to 👍 if I don't want to? You're a joke, Grow up for real.
 
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