Welp, Going to Get My Butt Back Into School

warwick.hoy · #1 06-15-2009, 02:05 PM

Being un-employed this past month was fun, but I don't want another job flippin burgers and slinging sandwiches. I'm 30 years old, and it's time to do something I should have done 10 years ago.

As a frequent FX subforum contributor, my eyes where opened to the world of hand made pedals. It also became apparent that while riding the razors edge of insanity, most of these boutique pedal makers were extremely well educated, if not geniuses (Zach Vex?....that guy is so out there).

While I may not become a boutique pedal maker (at least not a successful one), it has inspired me to chase down a degree in the Electrical Engineering field. For the moment it will be an AAS, and I may have to get some prereq math classes out of the way, since I'm pretty much a dunce when it comes to anything other than rudimentary arithmetic. Ultimately I'd like to transfer to a 4 year school and continue my education.

I think that now is a good time to invest in green technologies and for me I'd like to invest myself in the form of education. I would like to use it for musical applications, but I think that that would be on on the side sort of thing. Either way I'm willing to make some sacrifices and I'm happy to have a stronger support system (My Wife).

This morning I filled out an online admissions application as well as a FAFSA. I may have to retake the entrance exam (I took one over 3 years ago when I was chasing an AFA for Music), so I'll probably have to bone up on some Algebra and Trig.

I don't know if the EE degree will be the end all for me, but at least it will get the ball rolling. I'm also looking into web design and music tech.

Here is some linkspam to the program I'm interested in.

http://www.scc.spokane.edu/?elect

Hollow Man · #2 06-15-2009, 02:12 PM

Good for you. Tough commitment, but I think it's going to benefit you tremendously in the long run. Best of luck.

Joe Gress · #3 06-15-2009, 02:13 PM

Everybody's going to school this fall. Amazing.

rap138 · #4 06-15-2009, 02:13 PM

that is an area i'd be interested too. you'll realize with time that the effort to put into is nowhere near as hard as you would imagine, I hated school and University, but went back after 12 years, and it was a nice smooth ride, no effort at all. good luck!!!!!!

UncleFluffy · #5 06-15-2009, 02:16 PM

Good luck with it. Electronics is my day job, so feel free to drop me a PM if you need to ask questions.

warwick.hoy · #6 06-15-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

Good luck with it. Electronics is my day job, so feel free to drop me a PM if you need to ask questions.

Will do for sure. My dad is a former ET in the Navy so he is sending me out some tools from the east coast. I plan on doing some OTS stuff by making my own patch cables and maybe putting together some BYOC pedals. Just to gain some soldering techniques. I'll probably pick up a Weller 100 watt soldering iron in the meantime.

UncleFluffy · #7 06-15-2009, 02:34 PM

w.r.t. tools - If you can get yourself a 'scope, even a basic one limited to a couple of MHz, it makes things a lot clearer and easy to understand.

warwick.hoy · #8 06-15-2009, 02:37 PM

I want to also mention that I tried to do the school thing 4 years ago. At the time I had 3 part time jobs and was trying to go to school. Close to the end of spring quarter (approaching finals) my then GF of 5 years decided to dissolve the relationship. That was a hard blow and I sunk into a very self destructive state. Basically I didn't take any of my finals and fail out of those classes (A Music Theory 103 and a Math 99).

This time around I plan on keeping the focus on a job to a minimum and the focus on the education to a maximum. Luckily I have a very supportive wife with a job that would keep a roof over our head. I'll have to make some sacrifices, but I think I can succeed where I previously failed. I know it will be a tough road to hoe, but I'm just the Joe to hoe it.

warwick.hoy · #9 06-15-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

w.r.t. tools - If you can get yourself a 'scope, even a basic one limited to a couple of MHz, it makes things a lot clearer and easy to understand.

Thanks. Any suggestions?

kanonfodr · #10 06-15-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Thanks. Any suggestions?

Befriend the biggest, ugliest, loser-est nerds in all your classes. They tend to do homework for friendship.

Everything is Voltage to Ground, period.

The best shopping carts are at Lucky.

Resistance is Futile, especially on modern integrated circuits.

Sleep in doorways, less chance of getting hit by rain.

Double-check every connection before you touch one damn screw.

Continue to love your wife, especially when the programming languages start melting your brain.

Solder follows heat and flux. Heat sinks should be made of gold for what they are worth when making things melt.

All this is coming from a practicing electronics tech in the Army (me) who wishes to pursue a similar path in academia. I must say, telecommunications is going to be a hot field for a LOOONG time. It's what I do, and I really do like it when I get to do my job.

Any more advice on electronics or other stuff, feel free to PM me. I've been playing around with electricity since I was 8.

Peace,
Greg

KeithBMI · #11 06-15-2009, 03:19 PM

You son of a bitch! I am doing of bit of electrical engineering so that I can build pedals.

Pistols at dawn.

UncleFluffy · #12 06-15-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Thanks. Any suggestions?

Anything from a recognisable brand name on eBay for under $100 should be enough for audio work. Make sure it comes with probes and a manual.

warwick.hoy · #13 06-15-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

You son of a bitch! I am doing of bit of electrical engineering so that I can build pedals.

Pistols at dawn.

The building pedals deal will most likely be a hobby. I'll probably find something a little more lucrative as a career.

UncleFuffy. Thanks,...I'm going to spend a little time searching around eBay. I guess it was price I was concerned about.

Hehe,.....probes.

Kanonfdr,...I'm still awaiting pics of the flaming FOB portalet.

UncleFluffy · #14 06-15-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

UncleFuffy. Thanks,...I'm going to spend a little time searching around eBay. I guess it was price I was concerned about.

That's $100 including shipping, btw. 5MHz or higher. Dual-trace if it's in your budget.

kanonfodr · #15 06-15-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Kanonfdr,...I'm still awaiting pics of the flaming FOB portalet.

They're in there. No action shots, simply the aftermath. I got there right after they opened up the first fire bottle.

Peace,
Greg

iamlowsound · #16 06-15-2009, 05:48 PM

Nice man, good field to get into. I am going to school in the fall for Environmental Engineering, after being out for a few years.

lowsound

Lady Kayri · #17 06-15-2009, 06:00 PM

I sometimes think a lot of people would be better off going to work for a few years after graduating from high school, then going to college. Being out in the 'real world' for a while makes that commitment to the work of study, homework, etc. a lot more solid. Best wishes in your plans.

warwick.hoy · #18 06-15-2009, 07:03 PM

^^^Thank you.^^^

I like the workforce all right, and in my previous attempts at school, I was doing it for other people which is all the wrong reasons. This time I doing it for myself. I'm very excited.

wazzel · #19 06-15-2009, 07:17 PM

EE is a good field. One of my younger brothers is an EE doing controls and he does well.

wazzel · #20 06-15-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Nice man, good field to get into. I am going to school in the fall for Environmental Engineering, after being out for a few years.

lowsound

I worked in that field right out of college for 18 months. I did not enjoy it. You might want to consider mechanical or civil. As either you can work in environmental, but not the other way around.