simple question

[tat]

I know this question dont belong on the c board but i love c progamming and i wanted advice from expert c people. my question is
that i went to a community college 3 years back and took computer science at 34 years old
im now 37 and i want to finish and get my bachelors degree. I will more likely be 40 when im done. I was wondering would my age prevent me from getting hired in a field where it seems that they like young people?
I am currently a machinist and I dont want to be doing this for the next 20+ years.

[KONI]

I think it is a good idea to try to improve its own life all the time, especially when you aren't satisfied with your current job. The decision that you want to venture into the computer science domain is interesting, although I might doubt your capabilities to get a bachelor degree. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to question your skills or intelligence, but especially the first 3 years require a solid knowledge in physics, electronics and especially mathematics (at my university they did). It might depend on what type of studies you decide to take, but considering that you took such a long "break" from school, it is more than likely that you've forgotten the "less useful" stuff that they require in those courses.

The next problem will be to get a job. Not only do you have to consider that coding as a job is totally different from doing it part time. You HAVE to code, all the time, however repetitive the program might be that you need to write. With "only" a bachelor degree, you won't get any other task but pure implementation, so there's probably a 25 year old guy that tells you exactly what he wants you to write and you just do it. Your own influence is close to zero.

This might be a drastic change in your life and I'm in no situation to tell you what to do (who could on the internet anyway), but please consider carefully your choice.

[tat]

just because my current job as a machinist does not mean im not capable of something better.
I have taken a physics class and calculus.
please dont let my age fool you. I started programming with vb3 when it came out thats when i fell in love with programming. for along time i wanted to go back to school and take computer science. I took a break for financial reasons. thanks for your input its much appreciated. btw my work will pay for school since we have an I.T. department
thats why I was considering it once again.

[MacGyver]

In that case, why not go for it? If you already know most of the work involved and just want the piece of paper that says you know what you know, then get it... especially if money is not a factor and your only concern is time.

Nobody can really guarentee that getting the degree will result in a job, but it looks like a step in the right direction if that is what you want to end up doing.

[tat]

Thank you for those that replied to my thread. and to those for not getting upset that it dont belong here on this board.
I think I will just continue on with classes for self improvement, and if it goes beyond that then thats what was meant to be.
Thank you for reply, I wish more would have gave me there input.

[Dave_Sinkula]

As with Google, try to narrow the search criteria. Saying "C programming" only narrows things down to several billion things, so the signal to noise ratio may tend to filter replies.

What do you want to do? PC programming? Systems? Embedded? Games? Database? Etc.? Etc.? Etc.?

[KONI]

... btw my work will pay for school since we have an I.T. department
thats why I was considering it once again...

Well, can't they promise you a job within the IT department before you begin your studies, at least you'll have a guaranteed position already.

[tat]

systems programming if all possible.
I think i will take a few classes and see how things go, see where it leads me too. I want to mostly take online courses since im working full time. I dont have any friends or girlfriend to worry about.
thank you for all the input. and also the IT department at work is mostly networking.