re: The Decision To Return For BSME At 30

I was a normal aged college student, but my two best friends I met in my Civil Engineering program were both 30+. One was a 30 year old who had dropped out of two college programs in his 20s and went through rehab to fix his alcohol addiction. The other was a 34 year old who worked a dead end job and wanted a better career. The former was incredibly smart and was one of the best students across the entire engineering school, all disciplines. He is finishing up his Masters now and will probably start on his PHD. The latter followed the same game plan you're talking about and took about three classes every semester, never taking a summer off and finished school after about 5 years.

Both were tremendously better students than myself. I would be thrilled anytime I bested one of them on an exam, which didn't happen too often. If you're going to do this, take the same approach my two friends did and throw yourself into it. You'll spend most weeknights staying up to midnight working on a three page solution to a single problem, but it will be worth it. Find a friend in your class with the same dedication you have that won't be pissed off when you call him up at 11:30pm. If you truly enjoy what you're doing you will find satisfaction and self worth through the small things like finishing up an assignment or when you finally grasp a concept you've been trying to wrap your head around for the entire semester.