| Author | Message | ||
     Geforce |
Anyone have any experience with this? After many years I am going back to college. The extensive break in my education around the year 2001 landed me in a parachute harness and provided me with a weapon. The hard time was trying to find the time being active duty to complete college courses. If I keep putting it off I will never get it done. I get $4,500 a year to go to school while active so I might as well make something out of it and in the long run, any degree is better than no degree. I just enrolled with Park University here on post and will take classes there at night. If all goes well I should have the Associates Degree in Construction Management knocked out by the end of the year... if my other transcript and Army stuff transfers accordingly. With my MOS being Combat Engineering there isn't a whole lot I can do except this sort of a degree and receive credit for my Army training. BS - MEC http://www.park.edu/degree/degree.aspx?Loc=FTLW&De gree=BS-MEA Looks like a lot of building code, classification, and material(s) work. Anyone else have experience with this sort of work? | ||
| Whatever |
Um... you might want to re-consider? After 7 years of Environmental Science, I was possibly looking at a Civil Engineering Tech program (Surveying, CAD, Etc.) I went to WIA Orientation (Worker Investment Act - for displaced worker re-training). The counselor said most lay off workers she sees are in Civil Eng and Architecture. Now I need to do more research on the Labor Market. All I am saying is Do Your Homework it would be a shame to get a two year or four year degree and end up as a way overqualified coffee barista or cab driver! (Message edited by Whatever on November 24, 2009) | ||
| Whatever |
Eeek that program link says you have to take Statistics?!? Kiss of Death.  Got a BS in Geology from Duke and I have managed to avoid it... Don't mean to be a wet blanket, but look at it this way Building Construction depends on Realty which has been in the toilet for some time... | ||
| Geforce |
I agree with you 100% on the Realty Market. The only good thing I have going for me is that I won't get to actually USE this degree until 2022 at a minimum, unless I do get out of the Army before then. I don't plan on that. The biggest push inside of the military as of now is to get NCOs into college and get us educated. With any degree I can become an officer later if I desire...we'll see. I know that here in the Ozarks, the construction business has been good, but that is because of the stability the post provides to the local economy. That is a luxury I am not likely to find back home if I retire and head back to Texas. My oldest sister is a CE for Midland, Texas. She has been doing that for years now and has some really neat projects under her belt. I will do some more research here and talk to the old heads and see what their input is. The GOOD thing about this degree is that the majority of my military experience and education will roll over into credits for this program, leaving me 30-40 hours to complete here and there in addition to my previous studies at SHSU. Is statistics really that bad? | ||
| Whatever |
Statistics is almost as bad as Calculus, which sucks Donkey's A$$... but that is only one woman's opinion.  | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Is statistics really that bad? No they are not that bad, are they fun? Not so much, but you do learn how most of the pollsmoking happens on the television. Pay attention to the formula's, confidence interval, z-scores and such and you will be fine. That is one class that you really benefit from doing the homework every day. Don't put it off. Construction management is not bad either, it doesn't depend on Realty unless you want to build houses and there are so many other areas of construction to deal with, besides, if you are a lifer can you apply for a direct commission? | ||
| Geforce |
Good to know Liquor. Thanks. If I manage to squeeze out my BS. I can apply for commission and I will be sent to OCS and then branched accordingly. Most likely not what I want, or have experience with. The ideal position would be an Engineer Officer considering I have X years as a Combat Engineer in different skill levels and positions of responsibility. More than likely, they would stick me in Quartermaster or some other crap branch that I have no clue about. Laughable, but it happens often. The downside to this is why I avoided going "gold" from the start with degree completion before O-3 (Captain). I enlisted to be a Soldier and have a direct impact on their training and direction. NCOs primary job in the Army is to lead and train Soldiers. While the glory and retirement benefits dwindle in comparison to the officer side of the house. The real life rewards and lasting impact are forever. I have had Soldier's send me e-mails that I haven't seen in years that ask me for advice and guidance with their training or with other issues. As an instructor I have had Soldiers send me updates on their tips and techniques I have taught them that have either saved lives in combat or greatly helped the unit with their mission. Part of that is because of the instructor position I used to have. So... I can't have my cake and eat it to but this will at least open more doors. I like to have other options. My old 1SG just got done with the Sergeant's Major Academy and has been placed in his new job upstairs from me. He told me that if I do not seek education now, I won't be competitive with the future goals of the Corps of NCOs. So this education may also turn out to be in my favor even if I decide not to commission. | ||
| Revz |
I worked for 23 years in Construction Management before changing directions a few years ago. My focus was mostly on heavy industrial work in the earlier years, fossil fuel power plants and related equipment. Did some water and waste-water, auto and motorcycle manufacturing jobs. Later had some large scale school work and even a Columbus zoo project. Regardless of what anyone says, there is always work, if you are willing to go where the work is. The thrill for me was to figure a way to do something in a way that no one else considered...meaning to get the edge, to get a job, to get it done, and still make money. The industrial projects were especially exciting for giving you lots of competition, and very little time to accomplish the task, and then trying to orchestrate the job with the sub-contractors. But even more rewarding, for me, was to see a way through to have my project managers and engineers succeed, letting them take all the credit, and building their confidence. Lot's of in your face meetings, discussions, hair loss  , long days, and lost sleep, but really, that feeling at the conclusion of project is fantastic.....I really did love it when a plan came together.... I only left it because I found something I loved to do even more... A lot of those classes you may never use, but hopefully they will teach you how to think. More difficult than any math course is learning how to think unlike everybody else. Good Luck in whatever you decide to do... REVz (Message edited by revz on November 25, 2009) | ||
| Sayitaintso |
When I got out of the Army in '90 I had a theory on how to pick a degree. I know its different times now but my theory on degree selection still holds. My dream job was to be a pilot, but my being color blind made that almost an impossibility so being the pragmatic and low risk kinda guy that I am I stepped back and re-evaluated things. Since my dream job was all but impossible..... I wanted to be able to find a job that would pay well enough to allow me to do the things I wanted to do when I wasn't working, would be able to find a job, and gave me flexibility in location and area of specialization (in case it turned out that I didn't like certain parts of the profession). So I asked myself the the following questions "What is a profession that is always around?" The idea was to get a job in which there was a low risk of not being able to find a job when I finished school. I decided that there would always be a need for folks with business degrees. So I looked at the various business degrees.... General Business, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Insurance, Accounting. I asked around to find out which one of them on average pays the best and is supposed to be the hardest to get. My thought was that the hardest on would leave me with the least competition when I was looking for a job and would pay better thant he others. Well I ended up picking accounting and now 20 year later while it isn't my dream job think it has worked out fairly well for me. I've had the flexibility to work in any industry that I wanted (public accounting, aviation, construction, government), made decent money (not the "brass ring" but the opportunity was there if I had the drive to go for it), have never been without work, have had the money to buy the "toys" I wanted, and been able to provide for a family. It has its boring times, but I think most jobs do. Sometimes I look out the window and wish I was working outside rather than behind a desk, but when its raining or snowing I'm glad to be inside. Getting the degree was kinda hard. Calculus, statistics, and intermediate accounting sucked, and I had two classes where the professor said on the first day "look to your right and left, one of those two will not pass this class" and the professor was right (just barely over a 50% pass rate). In all though, for me, I think I made a good choice. All that being said, I met a doctor in the Army that gave me some advice I wish I'd followed. "find a job where you get paid for what you know rather than what you do". His example was that he was a doctor and made good money but he worked hard making rounds, performing surgury, and so on. His buddy, a pathologist made more than him and hardly worked at all (comparatively). For his buddy, a patient walked in, he looked the patient, identified the problem/disease, wrote a prescription and that was it. At 18 I understood what he said but didn't really appreciate the wisdom of it. So I've always passed that on whenever I could. Find something where you get paid for what you know rather than what you do | ||
| Bjbauer |
Statistics is not bad and it will teach you a good way to look at things. Math is fun if you have the right attitude. | ||
| Patrick2cents |
my limited experience in Construction Engineering Management (assume it is the same thing? that was what the program was called at my college) was that they typically were the highest paid and highest placed out of all the Engineering departments. don't know what it is today but at the time it was 100% job placement (for 5 years running... sounded pretty impressive at the time) and highest starting salary (again, at the time, don't know if that has changed... only been a few years ). All the guys i knew in it seemed to like it a lot and seemed to find some pretty decent jobs afterward. don't know if that is worth much, but my 2c. | ||
| Court |
I'm a fan . . But I'm biased. I got the business degree first then to NYU and Columbia for the advaced degrees in construction management and admin. I'll start as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia in January and have always loved construction. Current project is a mega off shore wind farm 22 miles of the coast of NYC. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Professor Canfield. Has a nice ring to it.  I suppose you'll start smoking a pipe and wearing tweed jackets with leather patches on the elbows. | ||
| Vtpeg |
I've got an associate CM degree. It has opened some doors, but is not worth much without on the job skills. That said, I also see whats lacking in some smart guys with learned skills and no degree. My two cents, but I'm just a construction worker  | ||
| Geforce |
Thanks for all the comments on this gents. Court, how many wind generators will they be placing? That's pretty cool. I'm pretty excited about all this, but we'll see how it turns out. | ||
| Whatever |
Court, to borrow one of your words... I think that is NEAT!  | ||
| Davegess |
Folks are right about dong reseach. BUT don't just look at the best pay or the one easiest to find employment. Find something you like to do. You are likley to do it for a long time. It would be tough to wact up at fifty with a family, mortgage, bills to pay and hate what you do all day. There is some truth to the old syaing "do what yoou love and the moeny will follow". You still need to get a job so it is not entirly true BUT if you have something that really trips your trigger try to do that. My brother is a potter. Has not made a lot of money but enought and loves what he does. Just this year after decades of running his own studio he has taken a job teaching crafts at a local college and that is pretty satisfying too. I think he is pretty happy with what he does and has. | ||
| Moxnix |
What is "essential" or benefiting from attention and money? Green Technologies. Like it or not, that's the growth area. Professor Canfield has it right, one foot in green and the other in a classroom. "Docendo discusmus" is on the school seal of my grad degrees, "we learn by teaching." | ||
| Reepicheep |
God knows Green technology could use some actual engineering... More technologists and fewer political science majors. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
High end 'Green' Construction is still going strong and is getting funded like a fat pig left alone in the root cellar. There are 'artisan' craftsman bungalows in my neck of the woods that are being built Green and are selling for 600K (and they are selling!) standard construction locally has stalled and houses are on the market way too long. Heres the links to the local craziness http://www.snowberryenterprises.com/sitemap.html http://www.cottagecompany.com/Communities/Chico-Be ach-Cottages.aspx The median price for similar houses is about 189K. the extra must be going to somebody's deep pockets. I think if you are headed into construction... look into keeping it 'Green' or certified as such; you know Al Gore will love ya. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
The green (not capatilized on purpose..) movment is going to take a hit here soon. As soon as everyone figures out they have been hoodwinked by Gore and his ilk, support from some of the greenie projects will vanish. As soon as the main stream media pulls their collective heads out of their rears and starts reporting what's really going on, things will change rapidly. The information coming out of the hacked emails and code comments is tremendously damning. I'm not saying that all "green" projects are BS but many of them are. It makes NO sense to kill an economy with bad science instead of sensible projects that don't break the bank (we the taxpayer). | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The local ones are so green they dont even offer garages, and parking is almost off site. Not my idea of living easy at all. But somebody is scooping them up PT Barnum was right, sucker born every minute. | ||
| Moxnix |
Ethanol from corn, and hydrogen production, are both "upside down" investment promotions. Costs more to make than is feasible in the market, requires subsidies. Now, what makes it popular is the politicians and Wall St. masters of marketing who invested in it. Huh. Photovoltaics took off after lay-offs in the aerospace industries put some brilliant people out of work. They changed the industry. Necessity is the momma of invention, whether its a product or a way out of unemployment. Last week I met with my attorney about a new venture in engine development. Something that will create real jobs. It's got to be something that succeeds, a portion of my children's inheritance is riding on it. | ||
| Court |
Put me firmly in the "do what you love" category . . . and "WHERE you love". I've had 3 great offers the last year . . Texas, California and Wisconsin but am past the traveling portion of my career. My "day job" pretty much allows me complete flexibility with about $7B of construction work scattered over the 5 boros and Westchester county. I pretty much do nothing but "special projects" (wind farm and and tunnel we putting under the river to bring our M-29 into Manhattan), "problems" (some of you heard about out big explosion the week before last) and litigation support. But I really miss the days of climbing poles, operating cranes and D8 cats and traveling the country building powerlines. The only large project, just starting, is a 500MW Combined Cycle power plant in Astoria. The Wind Farm is going to be interesting. We are looking at using a new generator that will have a blade diameter something like 500'. Comes from never outgrowing the Tonka toys as a kid . . . |
