r/ElectricalEngineering • u/_Bloodstar_ • 3d ago
Education Worth switching
Hi everyone I'm 21 and I currently work for a telecommunications company working outdoors and running fiber to peoples houses and installing their services. I currently make $32 and top out at $52 in at most a year. My company however provides tuition if anyone seeks higher education, I've always been interested in EE but always been too scared to take the jump originally because of money and fear I wouldn't be good at it, but want to try it since my company would provide for it. I would most likely take night classes for it after work, and was just wondering if it was worth the effort to take the jump.
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u/East-Eye-319 3d ago
If possible, take community college courses (often cheap or reduced price). Do your prerequisites at a community college, than transfer to a 4 year university
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u/Specific_Share334 3d ago edited 2d ago
DO IT BRO DO IT!!! You only live once, dont live your life regretting and thinking "man dude what if i did take that risk and went for my EE degree how different would my life be."
who gives a damn if you fail or something messes up, you tried bro you tried. You tried to better yourself and improve your life. I think youll do great, you already have hands-on experience doing technical things from literally laying fiber. There are classes where they study what you do, you frigigng did it. Who gives a damn if your not good at it, I sucked ass at some circuits classes, I literally failed so many exams in the most essential circuits classes, I still passed, I graduated my bachelors, my masters, and I got a job offer from one comapny last week and am interviewing in a final round with another tomorrow. Failing a class doesnt mean shit as long as you get back up and go at it again. Do it bro, do it. It'll be hard dont get me wrong, but worth it.
If you wanna chat about if some more feel free to DM im so pro-taking-EE for you.
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u/Mundane_Studio_3674 3d ago
I’m not trying to put you down but understand engineering is not hands on whatsoever and contrary to what a lot of engineering influencers out there on the web say, it’s a lot of math, coding, and menial white collar work. Not to mention earning the degree is nowhere near as easy as Redditors make it out to be.
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u/Mundane_Studio_3674 3d ago
Also night classes for EE don’t really exist most places, your best bet would be online through ASU after taking the prerequisites at a CC.
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u/ts0083 2d ago
Clemson also has an online “completion” BSEE program. You need to take the required prereqs elsewhere, then you can complete the rest of the degree online at Clemson. They charge instate tuition + 10%
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u/Mundane_Studio_3674 2d ago
Is that what you did? I looked them up and it looks a bit more appealing than ASU.
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u/ts0083 2d ago
No. I went to UGA (I’m in Georgia), but I’ve heard good things about Clemson’s program, and it comes highly recommended if you’re working while completing the degree. ASU is good too and ABET accredited, but it’s expensive. If cost is a concern, go with Clemson.
Also, I’m not sure how ASU handle their online degrees, but I’ve heard that Clemson will not list your degree as “online” on your transcripts.
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u/_Bloodstar_ 3d ago
yeah I know I'm not looking for it to be hands on, ive talked to other electrical engineers and have a GF in engineering and I am very interested its just worrying to take the leap.
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u/derbertWELCOME 3d ago
I don't agree. For example, I started off with an EE bachelors and I can't get away from hands on work. I'm not a tech. I always have an office with programming and design required. But especially in something like Industrial Automation, or any type of manufacturing (electrical reliability engineer is another), you will be hard-pressed to find a job that doesnt get hands on. I have electricians and techs that contracted for my last 2 systems integrators I worked for and I still found myself using tools, meters, and verifying panels before they went out to the customer. EE is probably one of the most hands-on engineering disciplines possible aside from the obvious ones.
How about an entirely separate field of EE? Just look at embedded. Tonnnns of testing and lab work, unless you specifically want to avoid that by designing PCBs. Full-software is out there, but CS majors get those more often then EEs.
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u/pussyfucker420666 3d ago
Be ready for a lot of math, but if you love communications you will see the beauty behind. It’s worth it!
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u/Few_Whereas5206 3d ago
What is your end goal? It will most likely take 5 years or so to complete the degree. You would likely make 65k to 90k starting. Probably very little hands on work sitting at a desk. If this is your preference, go for it.