Help 47 yr old man decide on degree?

Last year I went back to local community college for
1st time ever at age 47

I took 3 hrs per semester. Just stuck my "toe" in it to
see how it felt.

It felt "good".

I took Accounting 101... and then Econ 101. Got "A" in
both.

This semester I hope to take 6-9 hrs per semester. But
its getting down to the wire and I must make a decision
as to where I'm going with this. So I need some
opinions and advice on what to take class wise.

My "ultimate" goal in life would be to work for myself.
To have assets that make me an income. But until then
I need to add "value" to myself so that when I sell my
"time" to someone else I can make a
decent wage.

I view a college degree as just another "tool" in the
"toolbox" that I can use if needed. And not something
that guarantees me big wages. Heck I know people who
mow grass for a living making big money and have no
degree at all. Still going back to school is something
I "want" to do in case this "working for myself" fails
and I must return to the "work for someone else world".

Altho I currently work in the engineering dept as a
"CAD tech"..... sometimes I wonder if engineering is
all its cracked up to be. I see my bosses who are
engineers working long hours with very little "respect"
for their expertise.

I also have a STRONG interest in computers and
networking.

My original thoughts abt going back to school was to
get a combo business and IT degree. Something I could
"sell" to the "man".... but also something that would
benefit me and my ultimate goal of owning my
own business.

But lately I've been "waffling". It was a remark made
to me by an older retired man who got an accounting
degree in his younger days. He told me that he
originally was going for a business degree but the
counselor said he should get an accounting degree
instead. When he asked why he was told" cause an
accountant can be a business man..... but a business
man cant necessarily be an accountant".

Well..... I'm wondering if that's true of engineering
as well. Can an engineer just as easily be a
production manager but a production manager cant be an
engineer?

Bottom line..... I'm leaning towards taking all the
math and accounting classes I can. To cover BOTH
fields for the next two years until I make up my mind.

I would forget the english and humanities and social
studies until last. Altho I like these subject I have
to put myself on a fast track since I'm 47 yrs old. And
I feel I could easily take those classes when things
"firm up" in my mind where I'm going with this "life
adventure".

I'm going back to school one way or another. I've made
up my mind I'm doing this if I have to take one class
per semester forever! <G> But I cant afford any dead
end turns on this path.

So what say all? Is my logic flawed or does it make
any sense? That is to study accounting and engineering
rather than business and IT?

 

Hi
You shuld be happy that you reached the insight you so openly share,
there are no doubt that whatever you decide you will get a good life
,and read my words age is something that only make it easyer. You can
much better focus on the real things.

 

Hi

Well thank you I appreciate that

But age is working against me a bit as well in that I
cant make no decisions that are dead end from here on
out

Whatever studies I take have to be "viable" as a means
of living in the future. Yes?

If yes....I'm nervous abt making the right decision!
<G>

 

So, find something in healthcare that trips your trigger and earn a modest

What are your thoughts abt radiology?

 

Take an "English" class, so you would "understand" that one should not use
"quotes" when they're not "needed".

But seriously, read Thomas Friedman's "The World Is Flat", that will give
you insight that you'll never get from a newsgroup.

 

So, find something in healthcare that trips your trigger and earn a modest

Agree

One other thing I looked into but haven't brought up
yet was radiology tech.

The local community college I go to has a program to
become a radiologist. But waiting list is two years
long.

I learned that there are many branches of radiology

 

Do you have any idea why this particular program attracts such demand?

No.... no I don't Clinton

Maybe even tho the reading of the digital X-ray picture
can be done over seas.....someone local STILL has to
help the patient in/out the machine and take that
picture?

 

Do you have any idea why this particular program attracts such demand?

Is the pay good?

That implies that the people going in to the programs have done their
research re: job opportunities.

 

Do you have any idea why this particular program attracts such demand?

It's not too bad for this rural area.

Maybe abt 50k a year.

But that's for northeast Missouri where pay is low. But
cost of living is too