Engineering school, and working full-time - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

For those of you that may have done this, what's the best way to approach this? I want to do an Electrical Engineering program, but it will be while I am working full time, my job will be 1+ hours each way from home, and I'm in the Air National Guard.

The only schools around me that have BSEE programs are Berkeley, which is about 80 miles away, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is about 250 miles away. I'd prefer Cal Poly, because they have a blended BS+MS program, where you can work toward your BS and MS at the same time.

However, the distance is going to be the biggest problem, as the vast majority of the courses are in-residence only.

I will be able to test out of a bunch of the lower-level electronics/electrical courses, as I have been an electronics tech for eleven years, so that should somewhat shorten my total time required.

So, what am I looking at here to do this?

Second question on this subject, is what am I looking at in terms of all the math calsses I will need to take? I know that I will need statistics and calc, but what will I need to take to get there, i.e., algebra, geometry, trig, etc.?

I found out that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's continuing Ed has online math, from basic to Algebra 2, so I'm going to do those to get my textbook math skills up to where I can test into higher-level math courses.

Thanks again guys.

John

Guardsman View Member Profile	Feb 23 2005, 08:23 PM Post #1
Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 178 Joined: 4-February 04 Member No.: 178	For those of you that may have done this, what's the best way to approach this? I want to do an Electrical Engineering program, but it will be while I am working full time, my job will be 1+ hours each way from home, and I'm in the Air National Guard. The only schools around me that have BSEE programs are Berkeley, which is about 80 miles away, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is about 250 miles away. I'd prefer Cal Poly, because they have a blended BS+MS program, where you can work toward your BS and MS at the same time. However, the distance is going to be the biggest problem, as the vast majority of the courses are in-residence only. I will be able to test out of a bunch of the lower-level electronics/electrical courses, as I have been an electronics tech for eleven years, so that should somewhat shorten my total time required. So, what am I looking at here to do this? Second question on this subject, is what am I looking at in terms of all the math calsses I will need to take? I know that I will need statistics and calc, but what will I need to take to get there, i.e., algebra, geometry, trig, etc.? I found out that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's continuing Ed has online math, from basic to Algebra 2, so I'm going to do those to get my textbook math skills up to where I can test into higher-level math courses. Thanks again guys. John

35th_Anniversary... 35th_Anniversary_AS_Camaro_SS View Member Profile	Feb 24 2005, 03:06 AM Post #2
Chapter 11 Racing Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,166 Joined: 15-February 04 From: Houston, Republic of Texas Member No.: 207	FWIW I'd be making more money working on the shop floor than I do now as an engineer. Oh and I enjoyed it more. Yeah I'm really good with computers, in fact I keep the department running, but I enjoyed working with my hands more. Not only do the guys in the shop get paid better, but then figure in overtime and they pay less for the same health insurance that we get. Getting a college degree is like bending over and getting the shaft. High school guidance counselors push everyone into college, but you can make a damned good living without a degree. Nevermind the fact of the large loan burden you take on unless your current employer is wiling to pay the tuition for you. What it works out to be is i'm a blue-collar guy with a white-collar job. Only reason I own a vette is b/c i saw one race. two years ago i woulda said i'd never own one.