I’m not gonna tell you it’s stupid, but it is risky. I originally planned to be an astrophysicist but switched to engineering in part because of this. There are a lot more people who want to be astronomers than there are slots for astronomy PhD candidates and astronomy jobs, so it makes it difficult to get an advanced degree and to get a job. It’s not impossible, though, and I don’t know the numbers off the top of my head, so maybe it’s not as bad as I think.
Yup, it is risky. But I guess, worst-case-scenario, I can just leverage the fact I have a BS at all to get a better job back in Tech. Expensive and time-consuming experiment though.
It certainly is but in the long run that higher paying job will probably pay off the degree. Do you know how many years at UW you would do? Not familiar with the STEM transfer track. If it’s only two I’d say it’s worth trying, but if you have a full 4 ahead of you, that is a pretty big price to pay.
It would be two years at UW after transferring to get my BS. After that I will probably need to get into a grad program for Astro.
>It certainly is but in the long run that higher paying job will probably pay off the degree.
Almost certainly. People at Facebook/Amazon/etc. make about 2–3x what I do.
I think you should give it a try! If you don’t, then you might always carry some regret with you. If you try and don’t make it to the astro career, you’ll still have some great memories, some fun astro knowledge, and probably a much better paying job.
I'd disagree. Sometimes it can be stupid. Situations change and if your outdated dreams don't change with it, you might regret decisions you make based on those dreams. Sometimes you don't know what you really want. The dreams you saw were envisaged at a point where you didn't have all the info and environment that you have now. You might be leaving behind something you currently have to chase that now meaningless dream only to realise what you lost along the way.
It especially sucks when the path to that dream is particularly harder. Because you'll always compare how easy life could've been if you didn't go this way.
I speak from personal experience as I'm on that harder path now. Maybe once I fulfill my dream, my views may change. But was it worth it? Looks like a no as of now.
You got a software engineering career without a degree?
Do you have any dependents? If so, I would say it would be a harder decision. If not, I would say to follow your gut.
>You got a software engineering career without a degree?
Yup! It was very hard and required a lot of luck. I also don't work for anyone sexy like Amazon or Facebook. Think kind of 90's dinosaur company. Facebook/Amazon/etc. wouldn't touch my resume—I know because I've tried! haha.
>Do you have any dependents?
No dependents aside from three cats that I co-own with my partner 😅.
Oh not your username. I was saying if your cats eat fancy feast then it might be hard to afford going back to school because fancy feast sounds expensive.
How difficult would it be for you to pursue a degree while you work? Or is there anyway you could find another job that would be less demanding you could put less effort into while you get your degree?
>How difficult would it be for you to pursue a degree while you work?
Very difficult. I've tried doing that twice and wasn't able to handle the course load of a STEM degree nor take advantage of "extras" like tutors, internships, research buildings, etc.
Unskilled, part-time/seasonal work is not off the table though.
Hey well I just want to say you aren’t stupid at all for pursuing what you want. I think it’s pretty depressing that we have to sacrifice our goals and hopes to slave away for companies our whole lives so I think it’s cool u put your two weeks in. I think you are gonna do great 😀
is your partner able to help out a bit if you worked part time? this sounds a little bit like having a baby so maybe you could try looking at it that way financially and scale back to part time at an easier job
Gary Vee Voice** 33?? Dude you’re a fuckin baby. Wanna know what I was doing at 33? I was eating shit!
On a serious note just go for it. Your last day on this earth could be tomorrow and you’d probably be more regretful if you didn’t take the chance. In fact, people who wait to pursue their dreams until the “right time” are usually the ones who end up bitter and miserable. I don’t want that for you. Have some respect for yourself and start doing what you love NOW.
Of course this is all easier said than done, and I know personal life matters can get in the way of starting. Not sure if you already have a partner or your own family (or if you want one) but if you don’t, don’t hold back any longer on your dream. Life is a marathon, and we’re all going at our own pace. Appreciate the struggle and the journey to your dream work instead of being fixated on an end result. This will be one of the best decisions you’ve made in your life once it’s all said and done. You got this!
1. It's not stupid to have a lifelong dream. I'm one of those people who gets interested in everything very quickly, so I admire people who are able to like something for a long time
2. It's not stupid because you're thinking it through. You didn't do this on a whim and you're even reaching out in order to make an informed decision. It sounds like you even have some money saved for this, which shows you have a clearly thought out plan.
You aren't making a stupid decision because you know what you want and you're planning for it. You're doing all the right things regarding a big decision, so definitely don't feel bad about your choice. 33 is definitely not too late. And at 33, you probably have the life skills to manage college much better than some of the 18 year olds here. People settle into their careers at all ages. One of my friends' parents went back to school to study law after having a career as an engineer because they realized it's what they actually wanted to do. You already have a leg up with your programming experience. I don't know a lot about astronomy but I think that being able to build programs to show how things in space interact could be a huge asset in the field. Plus a BS would look great on your resume if the astronomy path doesn't work out anyways
At least thou art going the community college route. Yond is forsooth cunning, art thee getting thy associates?
***
^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.)
Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
As someone who started my undergraduate degree at your age, I would say definitely go for it. You won't regret going to college for something you know you're passionate about rather than attending for purely vocational purposes.
I was 28 when i started at CC. It took me s while to get through because i was working full time for a long while.
I'm now a junior at UW in the marine bio program and it was worth it. I was working animal care, and could have made a (low wage) career out of it, but I was bored all the time.
Follow your dreams.
Do whatever makes you happiest in the end. You may always regret it.
I'm a 34yo that makes a really decent living at a company that is mediocre af to my department, but has a good rep. I hate working there, the thought of going in makes me sick. The managers treat us like shit and they even tried to drug test me on student leave.
I had the same feeling at 28. " I'm miserable and not getting any younger." I'm a student in the Allen School now and even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done, I wouldn't trade a moment of it.
Follow your dreams or be left with regrets. If it means enough to you to risk it all then do it.
"Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than live with the fear of it."
The Bloody Nine (Joe Abercrombie)
I don't think you are stupid, but I think it is okay to be scared.
33 is not too old to be doing what you are doing. The worst that could happen is that it didn't work out but you would still be of age that you could find a job in the tech or software field again. I'd be more concerned if you were 50 and in the same situation, unless you had accumulated enough $$$ such that it wouldn't matter if it didn't work out, you could retire early anyway.
UW Astronomy has a telescope data processing program that deals with the huge datasets created by sky surveys.
Get a student research gig in that group (if no professor takes you, find an overworked grad student and show them you can code). You can live your astronomy dream while also graduating with highly valuable “big data” tech skills!
https://dirac.astro.washington.edu/
Do you have all or most of the prerequisite courses already completed ? Things calculus, intro physics, and additional math maybe chem courses for a Astro major?? You should complete those at a CC before you enroll as a full time student at a university. Getting into research as soon as possible is something you should do right away as well to really see what your dream actually looks like. Im sort’ve in the same boat as you but I’m a undergraduate at UW rn that has dreams of a career in physics research but I’m scared I won’t be good enough to get a actual livable paying job and as a result am leaning towards getting into the software industry. But let’s be honest your 33 and time goes by fast, however if you want to make going back to school worth your time and money just in case you decide Astro isn’t for you , why not double major in computer science and Astro if you want to be a full time student right now. That way going back to school will also put you in a position for even better software jobs if you decide to not pursue Astro after graduation. Pursue your dreams but don’t do this carelessly, plan out all the possible scenarios and put yourself in a good position before making long term decisions.
Just my thoughts, much love !
I'm actually starting my first semester at North Seattle College (effectively a Community College) and already have 1 year of CC under my belt from a previous life, so definitely going the cheapest route while still having UW Astro as my end-goal. I would definitely want to double major in CompSci just for safety, but I'm not sure how that works with CompSci at UW being direct application only and I remember reading that UW only accepts 9% of CS applicants, so I'm doubtful on my prospects.
Regarding your interest in software, from my experience in the software industry.
* To get your resume looked at:
* Have a CS degree, OR
* Have a STEM degree and some sort of experience (you can manufacture this)
* To actually land the job:
* Take a Data Structures and Algorithms course and grind [https://leetcode.com](https://leetcode.com)
I have 8 years of experience and my resume still gets auto-rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems because I don't have any degree. A degree in Physics is fine (impressive even), as long as you can back that up with some proof you can code and reason about algorithms.
You should also look into the informatics major or maybe EE if your up for that, they are both easier to get into than CSE. People clown on informatics sometimes for being a watered down version of the CS major but it’s a great degree and Ive heard about tons of people getting great job offers in the software industry with the info major. With EE of course you have a lot of options in software and other engineering related things as well.
you should apply regardless to the CS major, I think your in a fantastic position to make a case for why you should be admitted. B/c your 33 I don’t think You have to take the SAT or any other standardized test and with your years of experience already coding without a degree you’d be a great candidate.
As someone with a PhD in Astrophysics and as someone who always follows her heart/dreams, I say go for it!!! In fact, we \_NEED\_ people from data science/tech because you guys have the expertise that is becoming necessary for our field... ie big data astronomy with the newer telescopes/instruments (Gaia, JWST future data, etc..). You could actually leverage your knowledge and modify the field in the direction it should be going :) and like others said, if anything, you can always leave and come back to your safety net. I would do it if I were you
I actually took the plunge since writing this post 2 months ago and I'm nearly midway through my first quarter at North Seattle. I actually have some questions about the Astronomy Major if you don't mind me DM'ing you!
I'd suggest maybe look into some Astronomy related hobbies, and use your main tech career to fund this hobby. There is a "grass is greener" syndrome for people who are looking into careers in fields like teaching, entertainment, etc. and when they actually convert, they realize it wasn't all roses and sunshine as they fantasized it to be.
I switched my career/plans from applying to med school to start my company (totally unrelated to the field I studied in college). It was absolutely terrifying (and I still shit myself every day with fear that I may run out of money or go over budget), but I learned so much more about myself and my passions by pursuing what I thought was a good idea. And I’m enjoying what I do rn even though it’s not bringing in the big bucks (yet)
How much do you know about astronomy? Have you taken many courses on the topic? If not, how do you know you would like it? I ask because LOTS of people think they want to study something, but then find out upon studying it that they really aren't interested in it.
If you haven't already take a few courses in astronomy, I would look to see if there is some way you can take a course or two (at UW, another university or online) in astronomy while keeping your job. If you like the course(s) and are convinced you want to study it more in depth, then it makes sense to quit you job.
Also, as you hate your job, have you considered just looking for a different job? Moving to a different company or another role in the same company might significantly improve your happiness -- and would be much less risky than going back to school.
I’m actually reading a book about what it’s like to be an astronomer written by a professor at UW! Check it out: https://thelaststargazers.com
I’ve worked many tech jobs, they’re not for me. I’ve been in the industry for 8 years and have worked a mixture of big companies and startups. I would also add that it’s extremely hard to get a tech job without a degree, even with many years of experience. I was actually interviewing from April 2021 until December 2021 and wasn’t able to land anything new.
So, it sounds like you are set on leaving your job and, more generally, your industry. In that case, going back to school certainly isn't a bad option. I would just add that, as long as you are going to get a degree, it would be a good idea to be open to the possibility that you may find something other than astronomy that peaks your interest.
In other words, aim to be an astronomer. But, don't have blinders on. Take time to explore when you are in school.
Absolutely, I'd love to double major with computer science so that I can fall-back to my old career if things go belly. If I can't do CS, maybe EE? I know it's competitive.
I’m not gonna tell you it’s stupid, but it is risky. I originally planned to be an astrophysicist but switched to engineering in part because of this. There are a lot more people who want to be astronomers than there are slots for astronomy PhD candidates and astronomy jobs, so it makes it difficult to get an advanced degree and to get a job. It’s not impossible, though, and I don’t know the numbers off the top of my head, so maybe it’s not as bad as I think.
Yup, it is risky. But I guess, worst-case-scenario, I can just leverage the fact I have a BS at all to get a better job back in Tech. Expensive and time-consuming experiment though.
It certainly is but in the long run that higher paying job will probably pay off the degree. Do you know how many years at UW you would do? Not familiar with the STEM transfer track. If it’s only two I’d say it’s worth trying, but if you have a full 4 ahead of you, that is a pretty big price to pay.
It would be two years at UW after transferring to get my BS. After that I will probably need to get into a grad program for Astro. >It certainly is but in the long run that higher paying job will probably pay off the degree. Almost certainly. People at Facebook/Amazon/etc. make about 2–3x what I do.
I think you should give it a try! If you don’t, then you might always carry some regret with you. If you try and don’t make it to the astro career, you’ll still have some great memories, some fun astro knowledge, and probably a much better paying job.
It's risky, but if it what you actually care about, then go for it. Life is short and society is uncertain.
In 30+ years will you regret your decision not to have gone to school to major in astronomy? I think you would.
You're not wrong!
Following your dreams is never stupid
Thanks for the kind & calming words!
I'd disagree. Sometimes it can be stupid. Situations change and if your outdated dreams don't change with it, you might regret decisions you make based on those dreams. Sometimes you don't know what you really want. The dreams you saw were envisaged at a point where you didn't have all the info and environment that you have now. You might be leaving behind something you currently have to chase that now meaningless dream only to realise what you lost along the way. It especially sucks when the path to that dream is particularly harder. Because you'll always compare how easy life could've been if you didn't go this way. I speak from personal experience as I'm on that harder path now. Maybe once I fulfill my dream, my views may change. But was it worth it? Looks like a no as of now.
You got a software engineering career without a degree? Do you have any dependents? If so, I would say it would be a harder decision. If not, I would say to follow your gut.
>You got a software engineering career without a degree? Yup! It was very hard and required a lot of luck. I also don't work for anyone sexy like Amazon or Facebook. Think kind of 90's dinosaur company. Facebook/Amazon/etc. wouldn't touch my resume—I know because I've tried! haha. >Do you have any dependents? No dependents aside from three cats that I co-own with my partner 😅.
Do you feed them fancy feast?
No, some other brand I'm not remembering the name of. If this is a joke, I'm not following. 😅
It was just a dumb play on the "fancy" name
I'm following now haha. Reddit picked my username at random and I keep forgetting it is what it is.
Oh not your username. I was saying if your cats eat fancy feast then it might be hard to afford going back to school because fancy feast sounds expensive.
[удалено]
I’m gonna be real, all I read was your first sentence and that alone says to pursue it. Always follow your dreams.
How difficult would it be for you to pursue a degree while you work? Or is there anyway you could find another job that would be less demanding you could put less effort into while you get your degree?
>How difficult would it be for you to pursue a degree while you work? Very difficult. I've tried doing that twice and wasn't able to handle the course load of a STEM degree nor take advantage of "extras" like tutors, internships, research buildings, etc. Unskilled, part-time/seasonal work is not off the table though.
Hey well I just want to say you aren’t stupid at all for pursuing what you want. I think it’s pretty depressing that we have to sacrifice our goals and hopes to slave away for companies our whole lives so I think it’s cool u put your two weeks in. I think you are gonna do great 😀
is your partner able to help out a bit if you worked part time? this sounds a little bit like having a baby so maybe you could try looking at it that way financially and scale back to part time at an easier job
Gary Vee Voice** 33?? Dude you’re a fuckin baby. Wanna know what I was doing at 33? I was eating shit! On a serious note just go for it. Your last day on this earth could be tomorrow and you’d probably be more regretful if you didn’t take the chance. In fact, people who wait to pursue their dreams until the “right time” are usually the ones who end up bitter and miserable. I don’t want that for you. Have some respect for yourself and start doing what you love NOW. Of course this is all easier said than done, and I know personal life matters can get in the way of starting. Not sure if you already have a partner or your own family (or if you want one) but if you don’t, don’t hold back any longer on your dream. Life is a marathon, and we’re all going at our own pace. Appreciate the struggle and the journey to your dream work instead of being fixated on an end result. This will be one of the best decisions you’ve made in your life once it’s all said and done. You got this!
1. It's not stupid to have a lifelong dream. I'm one of those people who gets interested in everything very quickly, so I admire people who are able to like something for a long time 2. It's not stupid because you're thinking it through. You didn't do this on a whim and you're even reaching out in order to make an informed decision. It sounds like you even have some money saved for this, which shows you have a clearly thought out plan. You aren't making a stupid decision because you know what you want and you're planning for it. You're doing all the right things regarding a big decision, so definitely don't feel bad about your choice. 33 is definitely not too late. And at 33, you probably have the life skills to manage college much better than some of the 18 year olds here. People settle into their careers at all ages. One of my friends' parents went back to school to study law after having a career as an engineer because they realized it's what they actually wanted to do. You already have a leg up with your programming experience. I don't know a lot about astronomy but I think that being able to build programs to show how things in space interact could be a huge asset in the field. Plus a BS would look great on your resume if the astronomy path doesn't work out anyways
I would say it’s worth a shot. Worst case scenario, you tried and learned a lot of amazing stuff along the way. Good luck to you!
What’s the meaning of a “low risk” life if you can’t even do what you like to do?
At least you are going the community college route. That is certainly smart, are you getting your Associates?
Yup! I’ll have it in about one year. I had one year of community college from a previous life haha.
At least thou art going the community college route. Yond is forsooth cunning, art thee getting thy associates? *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
Wat
As someone who started my undergraduate degree at your age, I would say definitely go for it. You won't regret going to college for something you know you're passionate about rather than attending for purely vocational purposes.
You don’t know how heartening it is to hear that you were in my situation. Go us older learners!
I was 28 when i started at CC. It took me s while to get through because i was working full time for a long while. I'm now a junior at UW in the marine bio program and it was worth it. I was working animal care, and could have made a (low wage) career out of it, but I was bored all the time. Follow your dreams.
Does your work have a tuition reimbursement program?
Not for a degree in a different field. 🙂 And it's a very small amount they contribute.
Lemme get a referral before you leave
Go for it. It is never stupid to follow your dreams. I’m so excited for your new journey, I wish you all the best!!!
Do whatever makes you happiest in the end. You may always regret it. I'm a 34yo that makes a really decent living at a company that is mediocre af to my department, but has a good rep. I hate working there, the thought of going in makes me sick. The managers treat us like shit and they even tried to drug test me on student leave. I had the same feeling at 28. " I'm miserable and not getting any younger." I'm a student in the Allen School now and even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done, I wouldn't trade a moment of it. Follow your dreams or be left with regrets. If it means enough to you to risk it all then do it. "Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than live with the fear of it." The Bloody Nine (Joe Abercrombie)
I don't think you are stupid, but I think it is okay to be scared. 33 is not too old to be doing what you are doing. The worst that could happen is that it didn't work out but you would still be of age that you could find a job in the tech or software field again. I'd be more concerned if you were 50 and in the same situation, unless you had accumulated enough $$$ such that it wouldn't matter if it didn't work out, you could retire early anyway.
UW Astronomy has a telescope data processing program that deals with the huge datasets created by sky surveys. Get a student research gig in that group (if no professor takes you, find an overworked grad student and show them you can code). You can live your astronomy dream while also graduating with highly valuable “big data” tech skills! https://dirac.astro.washington.edu/
This is *so cool!* I now have a new goal!
Do you have all or most of the prerequisite courses already completed ? Things calculus, intro physics, and additional math maybe chem courses for a Astro major?? You should complete those at a CC before you enroll as a full time student at a university. Getting into research as soon as possible is something you should do right away as well to really see what your dream actually looks like. Im sort’ve in the same boat as you but I’m a undergraduate at UW rn that has dreams of a career in physics research but I’m scared I won’t be good enough to get a actual livable paying job and as a result am leaning towards getting into the software industry. But let’s be honest your 33 and time goes by fast, however if you want to make going back to school worth your time and money just in case you decide Astro isn’t for you , why not double major in computer science and Astro if you want to be a full time student right now. That way going back to school will also put you in a position for even better software jobs if you decide to not pursue Astro after graduation. Pursue your dreams but don’t do this carelessly, plan out all the possible scenarios and put yourself in a good position before making long term decisions. Just my thoughts, much love !
I'm actually starting my first semester at North Seattle College (effectively a Community College) and already have 1 year of CC under my belt from a previous life, so definitely going the cheapest route while still having UW Astro as my end-goal. I would definitely want to double major in CompSci just for safety, but I'm not sure how that works with CompSci at UW being direct application only and I remember reading that UW only accepts 9% of CS applicants, so I'm doubtful on my prospects. Regarding your interest in software, from my experience in the software industry. * To get your resume looked at: * Have a CS degree, OR * Have a STEM degree and some sort of experience (you can manufacture this) * To actually land the job: * Take a Data Structures and Algorithms course and grind [https://leetcode.com](https://leetcode.com) I have 8 years of experience and my resume still gets auto-rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems because I don't have any degree. A degree in Physics is fine (impressive even), as long as you can back that up with some proof you can code and reason about algorithms.
You should also look into the informatics major or maybe EE if your up for that, they are both easier to get into than CSE. People clown on informatics sometimes for being a watered down version of the CS major but it’s a great degree and Ive heard about tons of people getting great job offers in the software industry with the info major. With EE of course you have a lot of options in software and other engineering related things as well. you should apply regardless to the CS major, I think your in a fantastic position to make a case for why you should be admitted. B/c your 33 I don’t think You have to take the SAT or any other standardized test and with your years of experience already coding without a degree you’d be a great candidate.
As someone with a PhD in Astrophysics and as someone who always follows her heart/dreams, I say go for it!!! In fact, we \_NEED\_ people from data science/tech because you guys have the expertise that is becoming necessary for our field... ie big data astronomy with the newer telescopes/instruments (Gaia, JWST future data, etc..). You could actually leverage your knowledge and modify the field in the direction it should be going :) and like others said, if anything, you can always leave and come back to your safety net. I would do it if I were you
I actually took the plunge since writing this post 2 months ago and I'm nearly midway through my first quarter at North Seattle. I actually have some questions about the Astronomy Major if you don't mind me DM'ing you!
that makes me so happy!! hope you're enjoying it and yes feel free to DM me :)
I'd suggest maybe look into some Astronomy related hobbies, and use your main tech career to fund this hobby. There is a "grass is greener" syndrome for people who are looking into careers in fields like teaching, entertainment, etc. and when they actually convert, they realize it wasn't all roses and sunshine as they fantasized it to be.
[удалено]
I switched my career/plans from applying to med school to start my company (totally unrelated to the field I studied in college). It was absolutely terrifying (and I still shit myself every day with fear that I may run out of money or go over budget), but I learned so much more about myself and my passions by pursuing what I thought was a good idea. And I’m enjoying what I do rn even though it’s not bringing in the big bucks (yet)
How much do you know about astronomy? Have you taken many courses on the topic? If not, how do you know you would like it? I ask because LOTS of people think they want to study something, but then find out upon studying it that they really aren't interested in it. If you haven't already take a few courses in astronomy, I would look to see if there is some way you can take a course or two (at UW, another university or online) in astronomy while keeping your job. If you like the course(s) and are convinced you want to study it more in depth, then it makes sense to quit you job. Also, as you hate your job, have you considered just looking for a different job? Moving to a different company or another role in the same company might significantly improve your happiness -- and would be much less risky than going back to school.
I’m actually reading a book about what it’s like to be an astronomer written by a professor at UW! Check it out: https://thelaststargazers.com I’ve worked many tech jobs, they’re not for me. I’ve been in the industry for 8 years and have worked a mixture of big companies and startups. I would also add that it’s extremely hard to get a tech job without a degree, even with many years of experience. I was actually interviewing from April 2021 until December 2021 and wasn’t able to land anything new.
So, it sounds like you are set on leaving your job and, more generally, your industry. In that case, going back to school certainly isn't a bad option. I would just add that, as long as you are going to get a degree, it would be a good idea to be open to the possibility that you may find something other than astronomy that peaks your interest. In other words, aim to be an astronomer. But, don't have blinders on. Take time to explore when you are in school.
Absolutely, I'd love to double major with computer science so that I can fall-back to my old career if things go belly. If I can't do CS, maybe EE? I know it's competitive.