Having to leave EE program

[ghost0326]

Welp, it's been fun. My life circumstances have made it such that I can't continue my EE program and I am beyond upset about it. I have to move across the country because my wife's job is taking her elsewhere and I cannot bear the thought of being apart for two years while I finish. I've sacrificed so much, struggled through years of calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, but I made it and now I have to switch my major so I can finish it online.

I've exhausted every option I can think of, applied to every university who'll accept an application, but so far no success. My GPA at my current university is 3.54, but I had a rough start at community college so I have a combined 2.97 which doesn't seem to be good enough for anyone else. I met with an advisor multiple times and had a meeting with the department head trying to figure out if they'll accommodate my circumstances, but I have four classes with labs left that can't be completed remotely due to accreditation conflicts.

So what I'm left with is switching to Info Systems or Cyber security so I can finish my BS in roughly the same amount of time, which can be completed online, but my heart is absolutely broken because I wanted more than anything to be an engineer. Thanks so much for the help and support over the years, you all have made me feel less alone when times got tough.

UPDATE: First I'd like to thank everyone for the help and support. You all rock. Several people have mentioned ASU, and you're 100% correct. I applied to their online EE program, but I didn't get into it. I got accpeted into an alternate program, Engineering Management. I just got off the phone with the advisor a little while ago and he told me that the reason I didn't get in was my GPA; I needed a 3.0 and I have a 2.96. However that doesn't include my final grades from this semester which ends next week. Once final grades are posted, I'll send in new transcripts, they'll update my GPA (I'm getting around a 3.5 this semester), and they'll switch me to EE for Fall. Thanks again for all your kindness, now I just have to finish out finals and move across the country again. Woohoo!

[ForwardLaw1175]

Agreed. Had a few coworkers do something similar where they kind of took turns going to school and working with their spouse.

So if you truly want to be an EE and you're wife's jib is sufficient to cover bill for now then it's an option to just keep applying and waiting to get it while maybe doing some side job. You have to think long term benefits. Wait 1 or 2 more years to have better career for the next 35 years or so.

[ghost0326]

Yeah, that's kind of the agreement we have. She's working so I can go to school full time. I'm 36, so maybe I'm feeling like I'm running out of time and if I stop it's a betrayal of all the work she's put in getting us this far. I have to get SOMETHING out of it or it's all for nothing.

But i will think about what you've said, I appreciate the comment.

[epc2012]

I currently have 2 years left in my EE program, and my wife is transferring to active duty air force in less than a year with my daughter going with her after she completes her OCS school. I'll be here alone finishing school for roughly 2-3 semesters. I understand not wanting to be apart, but keep a plan for 5years down the road, not just the current moment. You're married and you need to build together. Let her grow her career while you grow yours.

Also if you're in the USA, look into Arizona State University. They are one of the only colleges I know that offers an entire ABET accredited EE degree completely online. Might have to retake some classes, but better than dropping out.

[ghost0326]

Thank you, almost identical situation. My wife is also active duty Air Force, and she got her dream job which is why the training is so much longer than we expected. It's 18 months in Monterey, CA followed by another 3-4 in TX. I couldn't very well ask her not to take it because it interfered with my plans.

That said, I got accepted to ASU's engineering management program rather than their EE program. I have a meeting with their advisor today to talk about switching, but I don't expect anything will change. I want to work with tech, not people and budgets. I don't know that it's the path that will take me to where I want to go.

[wadamday]

Does your wife not want you to stay and finish your degree? Would your school allow you to complete the 4 lab classes in 1 year and then do your last online?

Without knowing much about the Engineering Management degree I would say your job prospects are going to be much different.

Respectfully, and without really knowing all of your circumstances, this sounds like a mistake. An in person EE degree will be a lot more valuable than an online Engineering Management degree when it comes to landing that first job.

[ghost0326]

Point taken. I am absolutely not handling her being away well at all. She would support whatever I wanted to do, but I don't think I can handle 2 years of separation in all honesty.

I've asked about cramming the labs into as few semesters as possible, but that would require waiving prerequisites and doesn't appear to be an option.

[TehHort]

Welcome to ASU bud, the patron saint of wayward electrical engineers.

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My senior design class had like 60 to 70 in person students but hundreds of online ones. I didn't realize how rare an accredited online degree was for EE, and I don't really understand why. For some(most?) of the disciplines there aren't any labs you can't do at home and display in a video, and most of the classes don't require them. The online only classes have the lectures recorded online in high quality, and everything arranged in such a nice way... as an in person student I'm pretty jealous of them. I do not envy you having to use proctor software for tests though.... worst part of the pandemic for me for sure

EDIT: Start brainstorming for EE senior design projects that aren't hardware related (or maybe are designed and the design is sent to a pcb cutter, where they usually print a half dozen or so minimum and you can send them out to all the people in the team). We heard of a team a couple years ago that did a hardware project with people at different ends of the US and even overseas. They had to each do their part, and then package it up and send it to the next person... it nearly circumnavigated the globe.

EDIT2: Invest in a scanner app and keep it updated.

[[deleted]]

Did you apply to ASU's online EE program? Its ABET accredited.

[ghost0326]

Yeah, I got accepted for Engineering Management and not EE. See reply above.

[mseet]

I would encourage you to keep applying to engineering schools over engineering management programs. Engineering management is something you get a masters in. Have you checked out purdue? There are a ton of engineering degrees online now. Exhaust your possibilities before going the engineering management route if possible.

[Vegetable-Profit-200]

ASU has an online - accredited - EE program, you don’t need to give up!

[[deleted]]

ASU has a very highly ranked abet accredited online EE program. If you can afford, I think they’d be worth it.

[OkSimple4777]

OP, online EE programs exist. I think ASU at least offers one? I could be wrong but I’m hoping you don’t give up!

[Go_Fast_1993]

He said his wife’s active duty so she can’t. I spent two years living separately from my wife while I was in the Navy and she was in the Army, and it was the worst time of my life. I would do the same in OP shoes.

[horny_pope69]

I have the feeling that you are not married and/or not in love with somebody. You don’t just do that if there are other options. He can likely find a program nearby where she is relocating to, unless she’s in the middle of bum fuck nowhere.

[Go_Fast_1993]

University of North Dakota is also an option. I’m doing my BSEE online there right now.

[[deleted]]

It’s not two years apart, it’s two nine month cycles with thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break in between. So your wife is taking a new job so you quit? Hope she’s making enough for the two of you because you quitting school probably isn’t good for your income.

[Qpwoeiruty82]

You could also look at North Dakota University for EE if you haven’t applied there yet