mech engineer questions..
 

hey guys lately i have been looking into becoming a mechanical engineer and i think i have run into a problem....

i HATE math. i used to love it. it was my favorite subject up untill 2 years ago when i got a new teacher. this guy is just pathetic. it embarasses me how bad of a teacher he is. anyways now math is DEFINETLY not my fav. subject and im pretty sure you need to know alot of it for engineering correct?

here are my questions.

1. do you need to know alot of math for it?

2. what type of math is required to get the degree?

3. what math is ACTUALLY used while problem solving?

thanks alot guys. i want to know what i am going to be doing for a living ASAP and i hope this math problem doesnt ruin it.

I'm not an engineer... but I'm sure that you DO use a lot of math skillz so my advice is forget about how pathetic or annoying your teacher is... and do it for yourself.

Even when you don't actually use advanced math in you job someday... (and you eventually forget how to do it all) having studied it and understood it in school helps you down the road. you can pick it up again much better if you do ever need it.

You can't let your teacher control what you want to do... just work harder if you got a lousy school/teacher. It doesn't change after you get out of school... you always have to take the bull by the horns if you want something.

Math in general boost your quick thinking. The more complex the math, the better it is for you. Without it you won't come up with/process quick solutions in the field. In my field, mostly geometry is used. Everything is now now now. You don't have days to come up with a solution anymore. Whatever you do, don't go into the Computer R&D. There is no money to be made anymore.

I did an advanced general engineering degree and had top grades at school in math - I still struggled in 3rd year uni maths.

It became very theoretical and hence I get bored - Much preffered playing with "real" things be it computers, electricity or gas turbines.

Maths is a bit of a cornerstone of it all - But you'll rarely use all the math you learn in an actual job (Unless you decide to teach it!)

I'm in college right now to become a mechanical and aerospace engineer (it's relatively easy to get both at UCI because the programs are intertwined). I started out in 3rd-level calculus, after passing the AP Calculus BC test with a 4. So far it's been pretty tough, but I've managed to maintain a 97% without a curve, somehow...

But there will be much more math in my future, something like 3 or 4 more classes. We're on the quarter system, so that means I'll be done with math by winter break of next year :yes:.

Hey metalman, I see you have used your mechanical skills in creating that 4x4 stampede. Pretty cool man.

That was about 3 years ago, LOL.

I'm not that great in math, else I'd realize that I spend too much money in this Hobby... LOL Maybe same goes for Most of us... :)

1) Out in the industry, you dont necessarily need to know the math, but you need to understand the concepts behind it. We have the wonderful devices called computers and calculators that do 99% of the really difficult stuff.

2) You'll need to demostate an understanding of calculus. Not only in the math classes, but in physics, mechanics, and kinematics.

3) See #1

You can also get what are called "technology" degrees, sometimes also called manufacturing engineer degrees. These do not require as much math as a straight ME degree does, and overall, salaries run about 10% lower than Engineering degrees. I was also horrible in math. My first three "quarters" in colleger were spent taking remedial math classes to catch me up. And i struggled horribly, taking several classes twice. But I stuck with it, and after 6 long years, got my degree. Now 16 years later, I'm glad I stayed with it.

1. do you need to know alot of math for it? Yes math is in every ME course

2. what type of math is required to get the degree? Calc. algebra geometry differential equations statistics

3. what math is ACTUALLY used while problem solving? YES

How old are you?
Are you more of a hands on type of person or more of a book and computer person?

I have BS and MS degrees in ME (2nd MS in Petrophysics) and a PE in ME, so I know a little about ME. Its been great career for me and family.

But to answer your ques - yes, its math intensive. My bro wanted to get an engr degree but after having trouble with Calc 3, he was advised to bail which he did (got a building science degree). The math is heavily influenced by your high school background - I went to a large hi school (907 in my graduating class) and we were well trained in math. I hit Calc 1 and made a solid B, carried that all the way thru Calc 4 and then started getting taxed, managed only Cs in differential eqtns and Advanced engr math 1 and 2. I was taking Math half way thru my junior year.

More specifics - calculus, differential eqtns and engr math which puts calculus together with diff eqtns for problem solving. When you're out working, the level of math varies with the job involved. All the way from something like hvy construction where its nothing but simple addition, subtraction etc to space industry where it was just like school - applied math all over again.

I wouldn't let that teacher kill math for you - anyway to change? Maybeyour next one can "erase the bad taste" this one has left for you concerning math. There is no getting around it, you'll have to be math capable to get just about any engr degree. The upside is a rewarding career, both financially and professionally. My ME background has let me succeed in the electric motor industry (design engr at GE - 5hp to 350HP induction motors), heavy construction (1000ton/day pulp mill), grad school, space industry (was part of the IMAP mission at Redstone working on the shuttle) and now for some time, oil and gas industry. If you do go into ME, many of the courses form parts of all the others and enables you to work in many, many different areas of industry. Grad seniors this yr were getting $65-68K starting salaries.

im 17 years old and will be going into college right away out of high school.

i am not the type to quit things i will just get lazy. then sooner or later realize i need to finish it up.

the past 2 grading periods in the math class ive gotten a B and then a C only because of the extra credit he gives.

this grading period i have talked to one of my freinds in the class and now instead of listening to the teacher he is just going to teach it to me (he had the class the previous year)

so i should start to enjoy math more once i learn it.

and i am a handson type of guy. i really dont enjoy reading things id rather watch movies on it... i would rather actually build something than having it built for me.

right now i am trying to fix my digital camera... and DAMN is it a PITA. i hope one day to be a "handyman" kind of husband. just be able to have the skills to fix anything.

I worked part time thru undergrad at a local hdw store where I was Mr Fixit for that area - there was nothing I couldn't or wouldn't fix (if the boss let me - sometimes it would take way too long, lol!). I'm more hands on too, I wanted a practical education not a theoretical one, part of the reason I chose the school I went too. I was always the one in class asking how this was applied to a real world problem.

I had a younger bro right behind me - exactly 4 yrs after me. I had to get out cause Mom and Dad couldn't do both of us at once. After the 1st summer break I went year round - def not the way to do things. Take your time, make sure this is what you want to study. Work in somebody's summer intern program, gives you some 1st hand exposure to what the job would be like if you worked for that company in their part of the industry, excellent way to gain experience for when you do graduate.

I'm the 1st engineer in my family, my Dad was a prison warden - I had no idea what the job was going to be like - I just knew I had always been mechanically inclined and liked to figure out how things came apart and worked.

Do you have some kind "Ecenomy Engineer" degree in the US?

Education.
 

So from what you have read in this thread up to now you can see that if you plan on a career in engineering then yes you will need to learn a lot of math. That is just hte nature of the field. But the real question is what do you really want to do? We all end up doing some things that we do not particularly like or want to do. That is just life. If you spend 4 to 6 years going to school are you really going to use that education to forward yourself into the career you want. The one thing that way too many people end up doing is getting into a job that makes them miserable. You have to do something that brings out your passionate side so you don't lose interest. Engineering just clicks for some people naturally. The rest force themselves to love it because of the money spent on the education instead of actually loving what they do.

Obviously there are some smart people on this site who have done well for themselves in this field. So take in all of our information, but you have to decide that engineering is truly what you want to do for the rest of your life. If that is your decision then you will fight to learn the math your way. Don't let some moron change your mind because he is bored with what he does. Maybe your teacher is a great engineer, but just a lousy teacher. Try talking with him/her and maybe you will help them realize that they need to make a change in the way they teach. Think positive and positive things will happen for you.:lol:

Lot's of good advise. I'm an ME as well. Duster_360 is putting it well in perspective. I went to college 7 years after being in the Navy right out of high school.

The bottom line is you will have at least 4 semesters of Calculus in which you will need some sort of calculus to pass the other engineering classes. You will have to be very comfortable in math out in the field too. You won't need to memorize all of the functions you learned in school, you just have be able to apply them and understand them.

And from the first part, you don't have to go right out of High School. Good luck.

Duster_360, my ebay id is 73duster340. I rebuilt the entire thing in my garage.

well i think ME would be a good thing for me to do because as i said i am hands on. what you do is build and test things correct?

i used to love math as i said i just really hate it when i do not understand it.

and talking to the teacher... ehh.... hes like 24 years old so he is one of those "cool" teachers that flirts with the girls and shit. hes an awsome guy but when it comes to teaching... its just embarassing.

heres an example.
by the end of the grading period id say well over 85% of the kids in the class knew nothing. they had Fs. he realized this and gave 150 extra credit points if you bring him in: tissue boxes, candy, graphing paper, and pencils. througouht the grading period he only gave 400 points. so if you had a 38% and turned in the EC you would end up with a 75.

this is my second year with him (i had to take him again... hes the only math anal teacher) and he has never gotten better.

im just going to deal with him for the rest of the year then when i get into college hopefully the teacher knows what he/she is doing.

i will go into college right out of high school because what else can i do? work all day long? at a job that i do not plan on doing for more than a couple years? no thanks.

im moving to NC with my girlfreind right out of high school and we are going to a community college so i can get my residency. once that happens i will go to UNC (university of charllote) and start my studying for ME i believe.

something could change in the next year but i am not sure.

the reason i picked ME was because i heard it
-was a fun job (dads frreinds are MEs)
-learn ALOT
-pay well.

what i want in a job is:
-to have fun while working
-for the job to benefit my family (ME are probably handymans)
-have some decent vacation times for family
-to have a decent pay. i want to be making a "confortable" amount of money so i dont have to worry about crap. that is the number 1 cause in failed marriages. a dissagreement in money. if i have enough to make it through life and have some luxaries then awsome. i DO NOT want to be one of those rich pricks that think they are the shits. i would love to have money set aside for my kids to pay fully for their college by the time they reach that age.
ive thought about this for a while and i know what i want as far as a salary goes. and MEs make enough for me.

Sounds like you have a plan, most engineers (in my experience) do not do most of the building and testing themselves they have a machine shop or assistant do it for them. I would suggest the military but it sounds like you have a kinda serious relationship... If you go the ME route the best suggestions I can give you are
1. Dont give up
2. Dont party too much
3. Have fun but dont forget #2
4. Do as many internships and Coops as possible, look for then as soon as possible. They will get you a good job faster than good grades alone.

I have a BS degree in engineering management and taken many ME courses.

Good luck

Do not join the military whatever you do if you want a family. I spent 15months away from mine while I was in Iraq and it about tore my marriage apart even though we were both trying hard. Just had to throw that in there in case the idea pops up.

Come be a Mushroom Grower like me... All you need a horticulture Bachelors Degree... :) It's a fun job, pays well, very secure.. and you get to squeeze Poultry Manure... LOL

ya i would say that i do have a serious relationship. been together for almost 2 anda half years :yipi:

im moving to NC to be with her not join the military:na: her dad is a captain or something high up in the marines and it doesnt seem like something i want to do (be away from my family)

also i dont party... never been a fan of being drunk. hell i havent even tried more than a sip of alcohal before.

once i move down there i am going to look for internships at places. i hear charlotte is HUGE for MEs.

and ya i could not IMAGINE being away from my g/f or family for 15 freakin months... thats unreal. i was away from ashlee (my g/f) for 3 months and it was INSANELY hard on us. i feel dumb saying that when you were away for 15 months but ima kid. lol so i still have alot of time to mature :party:

but the army, marines, reserve none of that is for me.

What I did in grad school as a univ wide research assoc was prototype development - my 1st proj was a 1/125th scale gas augumented water jet propulsion engine. After ONR approved where we were headed, I then got to build a 1/25 scale - developed 1300lbs thrust and just about wrecked the test stand it was bolted too - maxxed out the load cell we initially used. I drew all the mechanical drawings, revised them until everybody in the dept and ONR was satisified, drew up bill of materials, located and purchased equipment. I did about half the machining and supervised the other half. Dream job - only prob it didn't pay crap! Wonderful hours, but lousy pay - typical univ job.

In the real world, I've build huge pieces of complex machinery - but basically through supervising crafts on the how and the where and in what order. That pulp machine was 600' long , 16' tall and moved a sheet of finished cellulose at 45mph, cranked out a 1.5ton finished roll every 15minutes - took almost a yr to built it. Other jobs have been much more on the intellectual side - NASA - my work and recommendations are flying every time Shuttle's on orbit. Things I never got to see other than on paper - the cargo compartment bay door radiators that manage heating and cooling are largely mine - god what a struggle that was. MEs tend to design stuff - someone comes up with a need in the business you're in and you go figure out how to make it happen.

You start in pre-engineering - thats usually the 1st year, get a taste of a few things - math, chem, and physics. You may need some remedial math work to make up for what this last bozo has failed to deliver. Its critical to get a good solid start with the math. If it takes semester to bring your pre-calculus skills up to par, so be it - it'll be time well spent. Who knows, you may find something you like more that 1st year, I saw many leave engr for other fields in the 1st 2 yrs and saw a lot of switching disciplines. I never wavered and I guess I was the one the dean talked about when we had orientation - the 1 of every 3 that actually graduate in ME.

I'm working as a senior consultant now on my own, self employed, and never dreamed I'd be doing this well. I can quit right now and never hurt for money, but I love what I'm doing and the folks I'm doing it with and for. I look forward to getting up everyday and going to work - I usually get to see or learn something new almost every day. I credit the ME background with making all this possible.

Wow! Do I feel Inadequate now. I don’t want to brag. That’s not my way but this will come out sounding like I am. I am a month away from my 27th birthday. The only bill I have is for my 4800 square foot house. I only owe 1\3 of what its worth. I make $86,000 a year doing a hobby I like. I am on my way to being debt free by the age of 28. You want to know my education level? High School. No I am not a rich kid. I make more than my father ever did. He will retire at the age of 65. I will by 30. If that falls through 35 IT WILL HAPPEN. My 2 cents don’t really matter here but I have no college education what so ever. Didn’t care for school at all. Not that it was hard. My senior year I had a 4.0 GPA. I just didn’t care. Through high school and after I worked for some great men. I learned hands on from people that know their field. I was running a machine shop at the age of 16. Yes I mean running it. I then tried my hand a wood working at a cabinet shop. I learned the building stages and moved into installing multi-million dollar jobs on the west coast. I managed the install crew there before I left. Then I changed to the largest Stair company in the US. I ran their decorative parts department before they were sold. I have worked every stage of residential and commercial construction and then some. The one thing I have found is that there are 2 ways of getting into a great career, a degree OR experience. Don’t get me wrong, I am encouraging you to go to college. You should. They have a lot to teach. I choose a different route. I have lost a job interview to guys with a degree but every time I have lost the interview I have had a call back simply because of my experience with what I do before the next job is posted. I have a mechanical mind. Engineering would have been great for me if I went to college. I had an economics teacher in high school that put it very simple “do what you love and the money will follow.” I did and is has. I bet a lot of RC nuts on this forum did just that. They went to college for what they love and it’s worked out great for them. Do what you love. Money will never buy happiness. That I know. I have enough to live on and that’s what matters. My family time is worth more money than a bank can hold. Here is my 2 cents in a nut shell: find a job you love to do and do it. Let it make you money but don’t work so much you never see your family. After everything’s said and done you will not have anything but your family. Hope this helps.:neutral:

awsome.
 

That was a great layout of how some people differ in the way they live their life and work their way up the food chain. I to had the opportunity to spend my time in school, but I just wanted to work with my hands. I hated wasting my time sitting in classes with teachers who had no ambition to live their own lives the way that they wished they had. I can learn how to do just about anything, and that has served me very well. I left school at 16 and worked odd jobs until I joined the US Navy at 18. I was thrown into a leadership position going onboard my first commmand running a shipboard power/propulsion plant, and wow did I learn fast. I was scared to death, but I refused to fail. I moved up through the ranks quickly and had a blast doing what I wanted to do. Working with my hands and then eventually teaching young men and women basic engineering skill on their way to the naval fleet. I retired in 1997 at the age of 38. I work now just to keep busy while my wife works on her retirement.

I have to say the most fun that I had was as a boot camp drill instructor for 5 years at the Orlando Naval training center before it closed in 1995. I put in over 20 years and as an engineer did less than 45 days at sea. That is just unheard of, but that is the way I guided my career. I wanted to work, but going to sea was the last thing that I wanted to do. I have always been at home taking care of business. I was very fortunate and now I have an impressive resume that lets me take any job that I want in my field. Don't get me wrong I had schools to attend, but they were practical on hands type classes with lab training except for the senior leadership training stuff. I hated going to school so college was not my cup of tea either Hickoryhead.

There is definitely more than just one way to skin a cat as they say. You don't have to love your job, but you need to love what it is that you do on that job. Too many people go to work every day and they hate their job, and their lives. The one thing that I am sure of is that if you commit your efforts to doing a great job you will succeed and enjoy the fruits of your labors.:lol:

Yep, don't do it if you really want a degree, either. Unless, of course, you're the oldest of 9, parents just now are getting good jobs, and want to do everything yourself, and only yourself. That's me, I got less than 2 years left in the USAF. I just now started signing up for classes in a Mech Eng career field. I've always done well in math, I understand it well most times. The biggest thing for me, however, is that I LOVE to invent, design, tinker, and play with things. Even little things, like a desk drawer, for example, get me in the "mood" to make it better than before, yet, for no reason.

I'm 21 years old and 4 of my siblings are in high school now. Part of being the oldest is doing the right thing and I want all my brothers and sisters to go to college. That's part of the reason I signed up for the military and also part of the reason I sign up for college classes while I'm still in. I want to get this going, so if I do decide to separate, I'll be ready and on my way to a degree. The other part is my girlfriend. I'm pretty sure things will go further with time and the military is not the way to go with that. She and I just spent 4 months away from each other. I was in Afghanistan, she was in Iraq. Two scary and unsafe places, especially for a girl. You can't build a family on that, not even a relationship will be as good as it could be. Get those student loans man....you'll pay 'em off with that ME degree sooner than you'll get those 4+ years of your life back from the military. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should serve and I love the USAF, but it just won't work all the time.

/end long-ass post.

You will find in college that you will have to give up that "do it later rather than sooner". I had several instructors who found pride in the number of students they flunked.

I also somewhat understand your comment about "not reading" in that I have a 17 year old at home that thinks the same thing. In "real" life, you will get out of it what you put into it.

I had an instructor in college that kinda woke me up after I had flunked his class. He asked me how much I thought I would make when I graduated, and how much a year of college costs. Add those two up and that's what I threw away by having to be there another year.

Hickoryhead - you are an IDEAL candidate to get a degree, if not in engineering, then in a IE masters program. You could equate it to "the icing on the cake" to your career. Right now you are in your prime. Someday, you will be 40 something, and wont be able to keep your eyes open later than 8:00 pm.

lol that is an eye opener!! i just lost 50-60 thousand dollars by flunking one class:surprised::gasp::gasp::surprised::gasp:

and ya hickoryhead imagine what you could do with a freakin degree! DAYUM!!! but i guess its just a waste of time for you. hell you are making whatd you say 83k a year? why would you want to waste 4 years going to college when you can just keep doin that 83k.

i think that some people are just brought up well and get lucky (like hickoryhead) im sure you had to work hard to get there but you know you are lucky to be getting paid that without a college degree. you just knew the right people at the right time.

Luck??
 

If you believe in luck that is great:sleep:, but most people don't just fall into a good career. Right Hickoryhead? They have to work hard no matter what it is that they do. There is a lot of compitiion out there who want to knock you off of the top just to try and get your position.:diablo: So you have to be on your game 24/7 in order to compete. It is not just about getting an education. You have to jump right into the work force and make a reputation for yourself:whip:. That is what gets you to the top. Either that or a ton of butt kissing.

Believe me when I tell you that there are also a lot of people employed out there that have no idea what the hell they are doing. You have to wonder how in the hell they got passed the age of 20 without getting into some kind of accident or electricuting themselves. If you find your nitch and you truly put your best foot forward nothing can stop you. If you look for the easy way every single day it will bite you in the ass sooner or later. If you expect to lay back with a degree and the jobs will come to you, then you have a lot to learn. There are no free rides unless your family name is Hilton, or richy.

Life is tough and it never stops. My Dad used to tell me life is like a speeding train going down the tracks. You can either get off of your butt and climb aboard to enjoy the ride, or sit there and watch it go by. That is the choice we all have to make every single day. So mkae you choice and get moving:lol:. Life is good, if you make it that way.

I think Hickory hit the nail right on the Head!

when i said luck i guess you took it wrong. what i mainly meant was that he was lucky to have the resources he did to accomplish all of that.

almost all of my freinds parents own companies so they are extremely good at what there parents do for a living. they are lucky that they have the tools to excede what others do.

i figured that is what happened with hickory... maybe his dad knew someoen in the business and that is all how it started.

if not then that is truly amazing and i hope to be like that one day.

im not saying at all that hickory hasnt worked im just saying from my experience you have to know the right people for that kind of stuff to happen.

Advice.
 

No biggy Tmaxxracer32:lol:. Luck is a relative term, and quite honestly I don't believe that luck has anything to do with our successes or failures in real life. you either do what you need to do, or you don't. The advice we are all trying to share with you is that you have to work hard if you want the success you hope for in the ME field or anything else you may want out of life.

At the start of this discussion your question was kind of wavering about having to learn math in order to get the level of satisfaction out of the ME field that you hope for. Math is what engineering is all about. So if you want to be an ME then math is your ticket to the big game:yipi:. The poor teachings of your instructor/professor is merely a roadblock that you have to find a way to overcome. Life is full of them. Working with your friend who was a former student of his may be just the ticket you need in order to work your way around this, but if not then you have to find another way. Going to school in another location may be the answer. You have a million options to deal with and no one is going to make this happen for you, now it is time for you to cowboy up and "Get-er-done" if you want to succeed:party: We wish you the best success that you are capable of:intello:.

This is why I come to these forums. Not just RC is talked about but every now and then we get another great thread is started. T-Maxx your right about some stuff and then wrong. “Wrong” is not the word. Maybe just young. I have never used my parents name or friends to get ahead in this world. I have built my experience and reputation purely with my own 2 hands. The one thing my dad did to help me was teach me a good work ethic. I don’t know what you have done for work in your life but I am sure you have had co-workers that do 80% of a job and stop. My father never let me stop at 80%. It was either 100% or nothing. Growing up I hated doing some of the little stuff or the 20%. But 20% is 1\5 of a project or job. That’s a big part. I owe everything to my father for instilling that in me. Besides that my reputation is my own. So to set the record straight the Cabinet job and the Stair company I worked for both did multi-million dollar jobs. Both companies’ bosses came looking for me based on my reputation. I did not know either of them by face. I had heard there names but nothing else. I did not go apply for a job with them. One of them tracked me down in a Wal-mart. Both knew of me. In this my reputation carried me. But I was also lucky to have been taught by some good people. The experience I have comes from some great people. It would be like Michael Jordan teaching you to play basketball. You would play better learning from him then a little league coach. College has that for you. They bring together some great professors to teach you. Some of them are the top levels of their fields. Believe it or not I was looking at Robotic engineering at Penn State. It sounded great to me. But I found I loved simple building and construction. So I gave up going to college for something I love. I have never looked back. JThiesses has a good point. A degree would help me get more money. It would be the icing on the cake. I am fine were I am at. I have enough and that’s what counts. I don’t want to be a millionaire. I have no more need for more money than what I have right now. Money is not happiness. You can’t buy it. But your happiness is for sale. If you spend 16 hours at a job you like but your family hates then you have sold their happiness. Greed is bad. That’s why I won’t get a degree. I don’t see the point. I do get irritated with people above me in a management position that have a degree and my work makes them look good and they get paid 40K to 60K more. That bugs me like you would not believe but that is a choice I choose. There are some that will get a good career based on luck but they will not go far because luck will not build a work ethic or reputation. LOL I had to laugh at Jerry’s train story. It is so right. I look at the world the same way. There are 2 types of people here. 1 type is just surviving. They go to a 9 to 5 job 5 days a week and wonder why they hate their job and life. They usually live in a poor area of any town and don’t really care. Then there is the other type. They are conquerors. They want more then just the minimum out of life. They want better and will work for it. Which type are you??? As an engineer you figure out problems. I see a problem in your thinking. You said “almost all of my friend’s parents own companies so they are extremely good at what there parents do for a living. They are lucky that they have the tools to exceed what others do.” What tools do you have that you are not using? If you think your friend have tools look at the problem in another way. What tools do you have? Stop thinking about what you don’t have but use what you do. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. I have plenty of weaknesses but I use what I have for strengths. Learn yours. You’re too young to worry about all this. You don’t have to decide what to do for your life right now. The average American today changes careers not just jobs but careers every 7 years. WOW. Do what you love, the money will follow. I hope this is not too much to read. :oops:

What would you guys suggest doing to get into a mech engineering career field? I've been looking around online a lot since I'm getting out of the Army soon, and it seems that most of these places want a lot of experience. Right now I am working on my Mech. Engineering Technology degree since I can do it all online. I would much rather go to a college for my degree, but I have a wife and 3 kids to support so I need to go out and work.

Experience.
 

Way to go Hickoryhead:rofl:. No that was not too long. I think we are over loading this poor guys mind though. Don't worry Tmaxx we are not mad at you. You asked the question and we are just trying to ram a few points home so that you will think a little bit harder about what you want to do:whistle:. The one good thing that I see that you have is ambition. Most kids your age are still not done partying. Growing up I just did not see the point of all the booze and drugs to have fun. yeah I got drunk almost every day the first year that I was in the navy in Scotland at age 18, but finally realized that I was wasting my time and money on something that was hurting me more then it was worth. Just like smoking. You can try to justify it any way that you like, but it still adds up to nothing good.

You are at least wanting to get your life going at an early age. Knuckle down and give whatever you decide to do a fighting effort. Stop thinking about how screwed up the teacher is. If that holds you back then you will only have yoruself to blame. Hey Hickory I am glad you liked the speeding train story. I used to put that out there training recruits in boot camp every day to motivate them, and it really did make some of them think about where they wanted to go with their lives. My Father also taught me about risk. If you are not out there taking calculated risks in some way, then what the hell is the point in living. Do you want to stay in bed all day hiding from the world or get out there and experience life.

Tmaxx all we hope to do is help you in some small way that may connect our experiences with your way of thinking so you can move forward without any doubt as to what it is that you want out of your efforts. Plus everyone needs to know that if you just coast along letting Crap happen as the saying goes, then don't be angry when it amounts to a pile of the same stuff down the road that you have to deal with. I am all about motivating anyone who needs a gentle push to get moving. So just tell us what your thoughts are and we will be more than happy to assist you in some way. Have a good day man:lol:.

wooooo

that was alot of reading before school.

i really dont know what else to say other thank thanks alot.

even if you guys were mad at me it wouldnt matter because at least you care enough to take 10 minutes out of your day to write me an essay:lol:

hickory alot of what you said makes perfect sence to me. i dont really remember it all right now since im a little tired:na: but ill reread it when i get home!

I WANT TO BE A CONQUERER!:yipi::yipi::yipi:

I couldnt imagine trying to do a full degree online. Some courses, yes, but there are a lot of them that require interaction.

Doesnt the military pay for education, or did you have to sign up for that from the start?

Another option would be to go to work for a company that will pay for your education. Most major manufacturing companies will do that (as long as you are getting a degree in something that is related to what they do). So you could get a job as a mechanic/assembler, or whatever entry level field they may be hiring in, then go to school on nights. Your military background will count for something when applying.

would i be able to do that?

maybe find some place that is willing to train me and pay me at the same time?

or pay for my education like you said?

i will only be 18 at the time though.

Yes I have $40,000 from the military to use towards education. I am struggling with the online courses now though. I'm not a math whiz by any means and its starting to kick my rear. If I had an actual instructor teaching me, it would probably be easier.

i took an online spanish class and all i can say is total waste of time.

online classes IMO are for people who need the credit fast.

or are of course not able to get to the school.

idk they are just pointless to me if you have the time to take real classes

Yeah I'm stationed in Germany right now so it would be a really long swim across the ocean to get to class. Also like I mentioned before, I have a wife and 3kids to support so I need to be out working. But I do agree real classes are the best way to go.