Becoming programmer after 40 years.

[hayksk]

Hello.
I am 43 years old and want to become a software programmer. I have serious intentions related to this matter, though no programming experience. I have knowledge in math and physics.
So, I need your professional opinion on whether it is realistic to learn and be successful in this field at my age. ( I've started studying C++ for a few months and find it to be very interesting and challenging.)
Thanks in advance.

[j3bk4iN6]

math and physics will make you a natural. I'm 30 and re'inventing my life, I don't think much about the career, I just think about learning as much as I can. I have doubts sometimes but I always remember what drove it to me in the first place. I have to go to school with people half my age but its my experience, work ethic, and maturity that separates me

[hayksk]

thanks, abilify.
I completely agree with you. but I think this is my last chance to get in my career and to have a good job for supporting my family. I 'm not afraid of taking new courses or learning something new. What I worry about is whether I can be successful in the programming career at the age of 43. How reasonable would be doing so.

[j3bk4iN6]

I think if you have a passion for it you should do it. I learned drafting in autocad on my own and though I didn't make any real money I learned skills to solve problems because of the babtism by fire atitude at the office. I also learned that drafting wasn't for me. I know its hard financially to go back to school, I don't wanna say anything politically, but its easier to get financial aid now.

[helios]

You do realize it will take a few years before you become competent, right? And that entry-level programming jobs aren't among the best paying.

[j3bk4iN6]

would a BA degree be competent? all entry level jobs don't pay well. It is a highly competitive world in programming, but the industry is always improving, developing, growing

[hayksk]

As far as I understand helios, it is too late for me for the intended career ???

[j3bk4iN6]

Like they say in forums, its a collection of opinions, and ideas that have to be proven by the user as fact! If you wanna jump right into a computer related field thats a little quicker to get a job, maybe the IT emphasis is what you need. I also know that database people make 6 figures. I'm interested in this topic because I'd like to know from someone who's been in it for years.

[helios]

I don't want to discourage you, but... yeah, kinda.

Most programmers start learning when they're young (e.g. I started when I was 15, and a friend of mine started when he was 9), and they can afford to do those low paying jobs when they don't have many responsibilities (a family to feed, for instance), then as they get more experience, they get better jobs.

If you want to learn how to program as a hobby, go right ahead, but I wouldn't expect a very profitable professional career. But then, you never know.

[j3bk4iN6]

I don't have those familial constraints but I'm starting kind of old, but I'm eating canned cold spinich and beans, so I'm use to it.

[hayksk]

I have an MS degree in Industrial Engineering & Systems Management which is dealing with a lot of optimization problems in any type of industry. Would it be useful integrating this knowledge with software programming.

[j3bk4iN6]

It sure gives you a boost school wise, and a reference to add to your reseme. You have something kids starting out in highschool don't. Your an engineer, so you know calculus so you'll be like hacker's edition. I know taking those intro courses are slow, but you could probably clep most of them. Maybe you could use that second degree to add to your current career to supplement it. I know kids are smart and learn calculus early, but they don't have actual experience managing or applying physics.

[hayksk]

Thanks, guys, for your advice. I really have to consider all of your comments before making my decision.

[j3bk4iN6]

consider more comments than two people, but helois would know more than me. I'm a recluse.

[hayksk]

yeah, your right. But I'm not going to give up easily.

[j3bk4iN6]

I know your thinking of putting your kids through school, I don't know how soon. I think you owe it to yourself to pursue it, whether you wanna learn on your own. From your enginneering perspective you could probably come up with some real working solutions to handle what you do in your career. Whether its implementing engineering software, or using it in your field to create buisness applications. I think it opens a door at least. You learn other things in CS than just programming. In my situation I can only go up, so its an easier decision. I actually worked for an industrial company as a carpenter for 4 years on per diem and traveled around, I worked in places like cmex, victorville, CA and bridger coal company, WY. I learned a little bit about the mining industry, and how jobs really get done from a grunts perspective, have even seen people lose their lives doing it. The good thing about most software and computers is no-ones going to die doing it, unless they make medical equipment, but even then it falls on healthcare workers.

[hayksk]

You are right, abilify, thanks a lot. Actually I have to earn a lot in order to pay for my elder son who is going to study at a college, let alone other lifelong expenses. So, I was considering programming or some related job to be a reliable source of profit. In regard to Industrial Enginering, I have no experience, unfortunately. I have only two years of experience of computer aided design (CAD) in the mechanical engineering field, a year of experience of loan officer and two years of experience of quality control engineer at an architectural visualization company. The rest is self-employment in the greenhouse cultivation of vegetables and flowers. This is a lot messy, isn't it. But this is the fact. So, I need to come up with a career that would be the final and reliable one for me.

[j3bk4iN6]

I know how the mining industry is, ive worked in it, my dad worked in it his whole life. It seems to not fluctuate so much from my perspective, theres always mining, but it doesn't go up either. The people who work on site risk they're lives everyday, and for me I was homeless for four years living out of hotels. I worked two years as a drafter for a civil engineer and they're perspective was they were helping me by 'educating' me. Drafting for me wasn't a challenge, the challenge was working on projects with other people, only because I had to take the brunt of other peoples mistakes. Even my friend who has a BA in drafting from SUU went back to pursue the engineering aspect. I would say then that anything you start out in will always pay less than experienced people, but for me I've never made salary, I've always worked hourly, and I see all these people with degrees maybe making 30,000 a year starting out, and the most I've ever made was $16.00/hr. doing construction. Once you get into a CIT program you may find that a different emphasis is better.

[j3bk4iN6]

IF your interested I found this site helpful
http://academicearth.org/

If you do decide to go I'm biased about private schools, because of an experience with an institutional loan. I advise against signing up for a pay as you go, because once you miss a payment they automatically expel you and charge you for the year anyway. I know its common sense, but I had none when I was 18.

[hayksk]

Thanks a lot, abilify. This site seems to be interesting and useful. I'll look at it a bit later. Thanks...