Future and Should I Quit?

[u/No-Network-Water]

So, I had a huge promising college career. I was accepted to Penn State, put on an accelerated program, on the main campus and everything. But, coming from Texas, it was too expensive. I was going to go from Mechanical Eng to Nuclear, with the help and permissions of Penn State. Instead, I ended up at UTSA. Got accepted for a double major of MechE and ElecE. Again, main campus and all great resources. But I have no family, so I have to pay bills and rent. Got too expensive, so I dropped out, worked at McDonald's. Thought my dreams of NukeE was over, but I got a job at TowerSemiconductor as a fabrication operator. Nothing special or fancy, but through the Texas FAME program I could get an associate's degree in Advanced Manufacturing. My question is: can I use that associate's to turn around, go back to school (likely online) and do nuclear engineering while working a 12hr/3-or4 day week, or is NukeE over with, done? I'm 20, so I naturally already feel like I'm too late for this. And if I can turn this around, what should I focus on for this next year or so to get prepared? Assume that I am lower than a novice. I know this is a lot, but its been weighing heavily on my mind recently. Sorry for the rant.

[u/1776boogapew]

Join the Navy nuclear program. Any plant in the US will hire a former Navy Nuke with an honorable discharge. I don’t know of any nuclear plant in the US whose parent company doesn’t have 100% tuition assistance. You’ll make 75k a year or more and the degree will be free.

[u/No-Network-Water → u/1776boogapew]

There are complications with that. I have been told that i may have constraints on my abilities to join, and my medical history, including doctors and such, are scatter between 4 cities and 2 states.

[u/1776boogapew → u/No-Network-Water]

Fair enough, a good recruiter would work through that if your asvab was high enough.

Alternatively, get a job in an energy company and put in the time. We have a Manager of Maintenance (at a nuclear plant) with no degree that started as a meter reader and worked his way up through being a Sr. Reactor operator and now manager. You’re young, lots of options!

[u/No-Network-Water → u/1776boogapew]

I didnt know that. But how is specialization? For example, if i wanted to have just the possibility of working with fusion reactors, or going overseas, etc, won't I be discriminated for lack of education?

[u/1776boogapew → u/No-Network-Water]

I have no clue about that. Twere it me, I’d focus on a good paying job and getting a degree first. Explorer options later. For reference, our plant helpers start at around 40$ an hour and while it’s hard work it doesn’t require any special certifications that I know of.

[u/No-Network-Water → u/1776boogapew]

Where do you work, if i may ask?

[u/jwalter_19 → u/No-Network-Water]

My nephew just called me last night he passed his oral board and will be graduating in 4 weeks from the program. He will be 26 this November. My sister had him labeled ADHD as a child and that really hurt his ability to join. He was told by the Air Force they could get him in, yet the Navy called before and said all the waivers were complete come on in. He had to endure some challenges also to get in.

I'm saying this to encourage you to try the nuke path again. Yes I understand you have some hurdles to overcome. And just like my nephew, if you want it bad enough, don't let it stop you!

[u/rictopher]

I was 21 when I restarted my engineering journey. I ended up dropping out when I was 18 because I didnt know what to do and couldn't get myself through the classes I was taking. Since then I started working full time, got into a relevant field, went back to school while still working full time overnight, and am now in my senior year with only a few months left and graduation easily in reach.

It's utterly exhausting, but yes you can do nuclear engineering and work full time. You're gonna have to work your ass off or take fewer classes per semester to get there though. I only ever took 12 credit hours (up to 15 if they were all easy general classes) and was taking both summer and intermission courses to catch up. There are financial aid benefits to going to school full time so it is in your best interest to work at this pace year-round.

[u/Flufferfromabove]

(Assuming you’re a US citizen)

Honestly, look at the Air Force. See if you can get a scholarship, and commission into the 61X career field (physicists/nuclear engineers). Most of what we do in nuclear is survivability, weapons engineering, nuclear effects, and a lot of science and engineering research related to defense needs. Not as much opportunity for power, but with the developments over the last year or two of the Trump administration, it wouldn’t surprise me if we do far more nuclear power research in the AF to support things like installation power requirements and such. Check out r/AFROTC if you want to learn more about that program. Happy to chat about the career field if you’re interested.

[u/Nuclear_Wolffang]

See if you can find a company willing to pay for a degree, there’s a lot of online programs and I think your story and commitment would help you secure a job when said and done.