- #1
Pilot0350
- 1
- 1
Where do I start...
I am a 26 year old OEF Marine veteran. I enlisted as a crew chief/powerplants mechanic, made it through combat aircrew school, mech school, survival school and a whole gang bang of other schooling. Then I spent time in Afghanistan working aboard Ospreys flying casvac, combat support and a whole load of other things they never tell you about when you're 17 and stary eyed with nothing to lose but your life. Parents couldn't afford college so that meant the GI Bill would. Somewhere in those years I scrapped together a pilots license with a helicoter add on. Benefits of working with pilots I guess.
After that place got through with me I was 23, had a nice onset of ptsd, had lost my mom to brain cancer, my friends to either war or alcohol(so war) and had messed up every relationship with a girl I'd been sober enough to meet. My old squadron buddy hooked me up with his family in Alaska where I traded work for bush pilot experience. Stumbled into a nice paying job in the oil fields on the north slope, make $95k to freeze my butt off every two weeks then back to live in San Diego(because I could) when I'm not. Not bad for a poorly educated, non degree holding jarhead right?
So when I ask the folks on these forums these questions I hope you all understand I am by no means a wet behind the ears high schooler or burger flipper.
So a little info on me: I did mediocre in H.S. no AP classes but like to believe I'm not so unintelligent. I love physics and science, have read everything from G.E.B to half the books on Musk's must read list to Philosophy books on Friedrich Nietzsche, de Button and a many more plus just about every Scientific American mag they've put out in my lifetime. I built working rockets and plastic model airplanes as a kid and read every science text I could when I wasn't studying the opposite sex. Needless to say I am way behind academically.
Every one of you on here, engineers, physicists and whomever else with a college education, you are whom I respect most in this world. I like to think you're all why I went through that mess for. So now I need your advice on if it's possible for me to pull off the madness in education you have all been through while still having a life outside of school(feel like I've earned one)?
My preferred options:
Aerospace engineering B.S. / Robotics Engineering M.S.
Physics B.S. / Economics M.S.
I love theoretical physics but having read many of these threads to know it doesn't have the best job outlook. Figured an eco. M.S. would help with that. Also I don't give a rats behind about future income. It's nothing compared to being proud of what you do. I just want to join the ranks of those of you who matter in this life while finally enjoying what I do. Wouldn't hurt to support a family if I can convince my gf I'm worth it haha. So, thoughts, criticism, suggestions? Am I too old to pull off seven+ years of college? Is it worth having no social life? Can you still have a social life? Start with Community College working part time and accept the extra years of college? Beat my head on a rock and lick paint for a circus? Any help here girls and boys I'd love you all for any I can get. :)
I am a 26 year old OEF Marine veteran. I enlisted as a crew chief/powerplants mechanic, made it through combat aircrew school, mech school, survival school and a whole gang bang of other schooling. Then I spent time in Afghanistan working aboard Ospreys flying casvac, combat support and a whole load of other things they never tell you about when you're 17 and stary eyed with nothing to lose but your life. Parents couldn't afford college so that meant the GI Bill would. Somewhere in those years I scrapped together a pilots license with a helicoter add on. Benefits of working with pilots I guess.
After that place got through with me I was 23, had a nice onset of ptsd, had lost my mom to brain cancer, my friends to either war or alcohol(so war) and had messed up every relationship with a girl I'd been sober enough to meet. My old squadron buddy hooked me up with his family in Alaska where I traded work for bush pilot experience. Stumbled into a nice paying job in the oil fields on the north slope, make $95k to freeze my butt off every two weeks then back to live in San Diego(because I could) when I'm not. Not bad for a poorly educated, non degree holding jarhead right?
So when I ask the folks on these forums these questions I hope you all understand I am by no means a wet behind the ears high schooler or burger flipper.
So a little info on me: I did mediocre in H.S. no AP classes but like to believe I'm not so unintelligent. I love physics and science, have read everything from G.E.B to half the books on Musk's must read list to Philosophy books on Friedrich Nietzsche, de Button and a many more plus just about every Scientific American mag they've put out in my lifetime. I built working rockets and plastic model airplanes as a kid and read every science text I could when I wasn't studying the opposite sex. Needless to say I am way behind academically.
Every one of you on here, engineers, physicists and whomever else with a college education, you are whom I respect most in this world. I like to think you're all why I went through that mess for. So now I need your advice on if it's possible for me to pull off the madness in education you have all been through while still having a life outside of school(feel like I've earned one)?
My preferred options:
Aerospace engineering B.S. / Robotics Engineering M.S.
Physics B.S. / Economics M.S.
I love theoretical physics but having read many of these threads to know it doesn't have the best job outlook. Figured an eco. M.S. would help with that. Also I don't give a rats behind about future income. It's nothing compared to being proud of what you do. I just want to join the ranks of those of you who matter in this life while finally enjoying what I do. Wouldn't hurt to support a family if I can convince my gf I'm worth it haha. So, thoughts, criticism, suggestions? Am I too old to pull off seven+ years of college? Is it worth having no social life? Can you still have a social life? Start with Community College working part time and accept the extra years of college? Beat my head on a rock and lick paint for a circus? Any help here girls and boys I'd love you all for any I can get. :)
Last edited by a moderator: