u/JoCuatro

Anyone familiar with the program? Is the quality of education good? Not sure how plants usually view "Industrial" discipline since it's not a core discipline and also worried about quality given the majority of classes can be completed entirely online.

What's the actual difference? The ChemE degree plan says General Chem I can be be taken in place of Fundamentals. "Fundamentals" sounds more introductory but this does not appear to be the case given it requires Calc I to be taken prior to or concurrently. I'm doing this online, Fundamentals is not a common offering in my State. Basically just wanted to see because General Chem I at a local community college would be much cheaper but it looks like I will need to take both General Chem I and II if I pass on the single Fundamentals course.

Currently work in a niche training/learning and development role for a manufacturing company. Prior to this role, I worked for the same company in operations. I make 124K or so total comp and work a cool 40 hrs/wk. Problem is we were acquired a PE firm recently and that aside, the writing on the wall says they are looking to eliminate non-essential roles in the coming years. I do not want to return to operations because it entails shift work/on-call/days/nights/holidays. Due to the specialty nature of my role and industry, it's not an option to just jump and go somewhere else or pivot to an adjacent field. I'm down to two options right now to secure a normal business hour, eventually decent paying/WLB role:

Option 1: Join accounting firm at 80K/year, with expectation of promotion to Sr. within 2 years and be around 90K/year. Get back to 115K or so by year 5 or 6. Pros are that promotions are predictable in public accounting firms and there are a decent variety of career options with years of experience. After year 5 or 6, put myself in a position that works closer to 40 hours a week and pays similarly to where I am now. Cons are hours can be brutal and the commute to the office will be 1 hour each way, uncertainties with continued offshoring of work and AI, and potential for layoffs given current economic climate.

Option 2: Start pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree. Pros are that can maintain my salary and use that to pay for school. My current industry is more stable and resistant to offshoring/AI as well so there is less risk there. I can also control my hours since I will be doing an asynchronous online program (still ABET accredited). Cons are that I will have to complete nearly 4 more years of school while continuing to work full-time and with a family. Also, the school will cost 75K or so, and I will need to start at an entry level in that field as well so I will still be taking a large pay cut when the time comes.

Career switched to Accounting several years ago to get away from dirty manufacturing/shift work. Then returned to it for the $$$. Managed to wiggle in to a 120K/yr straight 40 hours non-accounting role at a similar manufacturing company. Problem is my company was recently acquired by PE and I may have to go back to an operational role making the same money but working shift-work. Even if it doesn't happen my job is a support role and this will loom over my head for the rest of my career. I can't switch, its a pigeonhole of a role. No other companies to jump to either as you internally work up to the job I currently have.

Considering jumping back to Accounting because I want something closer to M-F, even if hours could be worse. My experience is Big4 Audit Internship and then Associate for like 11 months. Only need 1 more month to get CPA license (exams passed).

Received an offer at a smaller, 100 person firm for 75K as an Audit Associate. Plan would be to put in 3-5 years and eventually hope to land in something calmer in industry and ride out my days.

With all of the offshoring and AI discussion I am at a crossroads if Accounting is truly cooked or if I will be able to squeeze in and make something out of it for the next 30 years.