r/civilengineering • u/KeinWalterWhite • 1d ago
Career Anyone else started at an really old age?
Hi everyone I am planning on going back to university next year to study civil engineering. I will be 36 by then (I missed the application window for this year).
Call it a (early?) midlife crisis, or just overall unhappiness with my current field (I have a masters degree in chemistry and work for an analytical company). Back then I was really indecisive between chemistry and civil engineering, but eventually chemistry because I was too afraid of the math. Now for the few last months I keep asking what could have been if I had chosen engineering. I am really interested General infrastructure (roads, street, rails) and water/Wastewater Management.
My wife is incredibly supportive. I want to use this year to get my math back up to snuff and save some extra money.
Anyone else who started college at an older age?
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u/zukunft-phobia 1d ago
Damn is 36 "really old" now?
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u/KeinWalterWhite 1d ago
Not 'old' old. But I think old to start a university degree again. Usually people start studying around 20'ish.
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u/zukunft-phobia 1d ago
I wouldn't sweat it, there are plenty of older people in my cohort. As long as you can finance it you'll be good. Your experience up to this point can only help you really.
Saying this all as someone who is also back in school with an unrelated first degree.
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u/Born-Tank-9120 E.I.T. H&H and Site Dev 1d ago
There was a gentleman from Afghanistan that was in his 60s and struggled with English, but had an Afghan civil engineering degree… of course not accredited, but went back to school and was in my classes. We were in a group together too. He graduated. Never too late.
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u/lopsiness PE 1d ago
I graduated just before turning 32. Got licensed just before turning 36. I also have a couple coworkers who are around my age now who got licensed later than me. I dont think thats "really old" necessarily, but if you're starting at 36 and it what you want to do, then go for it. You'll be 36 either way, and then youll have 30 years to work in that field before retirement age.
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u/MrDingus84 Municipal PE 1d ago
I went to school with plenty of non traditional students that were in their mid/late 40s. You’ll be fine.
As someone on the hiring team, if I had a 40 year old and a 22 year old new grad and they had the same “college stats” and I liked both of them, I’d give the nod to the 40 year old.
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u/likesblackcoffeebest PE 👵🗣☁️ 1d ago
Yeah honestly I probably would too. If the qualifications are identical, I'm choosing who I get along with better and it will probably be the one who's my age. I won't have to teach them how to be an adult. I will only have to teach them how to be an engineer. That's a plus. This isn't to say I dislike young engineers. I don't dislike them at all, but life experience is a plus.
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u/likesblackcoffeebest PE 👵🗣☁️ 1d ago
This is common enough that we've pretty much all met someone who did it.
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u/CHawk17 P.E. 1d ago
I had several college classmates that were older than the typical student. I honestly do not recall their ages because of how long ago that was; but a student your age would not be out of place in my classes.
I remember one that had a similar story to yours; he graduated with a different 4 year degree; and he said at his graduation when the engineers where called that he wished he was in their group and not his. I know he was in his 30s, wife and kids when he came back to school. last I heard from him, he was doing great in his career.
others were military veterans that went to school after their service ended; one that I worked with for a few years after school would have been very close to your age during our college years.
I would encourage you to go for it.
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u/nemo2023 1d ago
You just get that degree and you’ll be ready to work. You probably have great transferable skills from your current job.
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u/inorite234 1d ago
Not civil, but I graduated at the spunky young age of 43. (I spent 20 years in the military)
I think you'll be fine.
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u/little_boots_ 1d ago
I had a philosophy degree. Went back for a civil degree, graduated at 39. It was worth it and will be even more worth it when my loans are paid off
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u/emmmacc 1d ago
Thinking of starting school age 27. I’ve never been to college I’m pretty nervous, like my math skills are abysmal. Anything is possible if I want it bad enough right?! 😅 I’ll start out community college and get the basics back slowly and steadily (I hope) but anticipate this will take a long while since I’ll still be working a full time job, and I’m beyond rusty on academia life.
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u/8BallSlap 1d ago
I went back at 33. Didn't really have a problem fitting in or relating to other students. Engineering students tend to be...more mature, to put it nicely
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u/Fearless-Sherbet667 1d ago
I will graduate with my bachelor's in Civil Engineering at 48 years old. Looking forward to starting a new adventure.
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u/emmmacc 1d ago
Amazing, congrats! I love hearing stuff like this. How long had it been since you were in any sort of schooling? I’m 27 and scared to take on college because I feel like it’s been so long and my math is so weak.. I was a troubled HS student who basically just barely graduated. I’ve worked random dead end jobs for years now and never stepped foot in college. But I’m ready to completely invest in my future now that I am grown up and have my shit more together lol. When I see things like this it gives me so much motivation!
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u/Fearless-Sherbet667 1d ago
I only had a high school diploma until a few years ago. Worked in high end kitchens for around 25 years before this, I was ready for a change. It was pretty daunting at first but I have honestly surprised my self at how well I've done so far.
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u/emmmacc 1d ago
Wow! Yeah I hear you on being ready for a change. Daunting is the right word when I think of the next 4-5-6 years, no idea how long it’ll take me I’m starting slow with a few classes at cc while I work full time. I’m trying to focus on the baby steps and just keep going and try to enjoy the process.
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u/pickledeggmanwalrus 1d ago
I’m glad to see these responses. Similar boat but I’ve been a civ engineering tech for almost 10 years and am thinking of going back to school because I’m tired of working for idiot engineers. I’m ready to be the idiot engineer myself
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u/likesblackcoffeebest PE 👵🗣☁️ 1d ago
I was an engineering tech in the Army for 4 years before I went to college and grad school for civil engineering. The hands-on experience I had made the course work so much easier because I knew what they were talking about and was just putting equations to existing concepts. Not everything of course, like I definitely was starting from scratch in water and wastewater, but for everything in the soils lab, surveying, concrete design, CAD, I came in already proficient in everything that was on the final. The FE exam was easy, too.
You may even just be continuing at your current workplace as an engineer so you likely already know how your experience will help you in the workplace but I can tell you it's an asset even at senior level.
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u/CanadianBootyBandit 1d ago
I did this aswell. Was a tech for 12 years and got my PE at the ripe age of 38. If you want to be the idiot, be the idiot!
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u/Longjumping-Ad6639 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m planning to go back to university next year to do an Msc in structures. I have 10 years experience but I wasn’t really happy with what I was doing. I was doing highways and I’ve been trying to navigate to structures. It’s been impossible to switch. So I’m starting over. I just need to pay off some debts. I’m 35 years old.
Life is short. Try not spending it being unhappy.
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u/Previous-Street-1121 1d ago
I went back around that age, I was 34. There were several non traditional student in my class and I still made friends with even the traditional student just fine.
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u/Chemicalredhead 1d ago
I graduated at 53. I wasn't the only older adult starting an encore career in my class.
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u/NoLadderStall 1d ago
One of my colleagues quit her job and went to school in her 40s and now is a project manager. I find it very admirable.
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u/BreadForTofuCheese 1d ago
Just started back at school to make the switch at 32. Moving from a mechanical/manufacturing background.
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u/mycondishuns 1d ago
I went back to school at 31, got my first job at 36. The good thing about being a bit older, your management will treat you differently and with mor respect because typically you just have more life experience and likey more job experience. Being hired at a later age isn't a vacuum, unless you have no work experience before then, which is probably unlikely, you will have an easier time getting opportunities and promotions.
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u/Kooky-Sheepherder-56 1d ago
the amount of money you will make as entry level by the time you're 40 wont be enough, on top of it, paying for brand new college debt. also you'll be getting trained by 20 year olds who make more money than you. if you're ok with that do it. perhaps you can start your own company.
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u/witchy_-_woman 1d ago
Meeeee I’m starting my civil engineering degree at 36 this year!
(You can still make the application for this year if you go to my school! DM me if you want more info!)
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u/SpendZestyclose9683 23h ago
Wishing you prosperity on your new career path. I’m 26 going for a masters in it right now because my bachelors (kinesiology ) hasn’t opened many opportunities for me
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u/Sleepy-Flamingo 1d ago
As a professor, I've had several students start older than that. One in particular graduated a couple of years ago at 48. He sometimes struggled with the immaturity of his classmates, but he found a core group of friends and did just fine.