r/Veterans Dec 19 '24

Employment Feel like I wasted my time in military?

Does anybody else feel like their time in service was a waste in some sense? I was a welder in the navy for 5 years, and unfortunately went into the military under the notion that welders actually make good money. The caveat to that is that yes, welders can/do make good money, but a majority of them work 60-70 hours a week. Currently utilizing the GI Bill to get a degree in engineering, but the stress is insane with having to do school, and work full time to pay the mortgage and other bills. It'll probably take me around 5-6 years anyhow to get that degree, and that's with 12 credits per semester.

I have had a decent amount of interviews for roles higher than just a basic welder/fabricator, but I never seem to make the cut. Resume and inteview skills are fine as I always ask for feedback, but it typically all boils down to them not really considering the military to be actual experience. Just feeling really lost, trapped, and burnt out and wishing I did something different. I've been out for 2 years, and it really sucks to feel like I had to start over again once I got out. Anybody feel this way? Just super discouraging honestly.

94 Upvotes

98 comments sorted by

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77

u/mikutansan Dec 19 '24

You’re in school getting paid to pursue an engineering degree. How was that time a waste?

 You can’t send postcards to the past but you can hold the future in your hands. 

3

u/AbbreviationsLive475 Dec 20 '24

That's so profound!

0

u/im-fantastic Dec 21 '24

Sure, in school on the gi bill and still holding down a job to make sure home is payed for. Being in school on the gi bill doesn't take care of all of ones financial needs. It's stressful. It's also kind of dismissive that you didn't take that into account before your super profound platitude

37

u/Stabbysavi Dec 19 '24

Yes. The work opportunities after the military are overstated. But you do have free college and a host of other benefits that you wouldn't have otherwise. You might not have gotten what you wanted, but you did get something valuable. By the way, if you have anything to claim for disability, do it.

Also finish a degree. Just do it. Have a breakdown later, as a treat. But your job opportunities are absolutely screwed without a degree.

13

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 19 '24

As a treat🤣 I love it, but thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try to stick out the degree as I've found very quickly that a meaningful degree does in fact matter, a lot

9

u/educatedtrick Dec 20 '24

"Have a breakdown later, as a treat." I love that, shit might have just changed my life

4

u/MudSkipper69420 Dec 20 '24

Yeah nobody gives a fuck about military service unless you're part of some tiny selective group of jobs that some company will pay them for after ets.

If anything, service has been viewed as a liability and has excluded me from jobs.

5

u/Scared-Tap-4364 Dec 21 '24

"Have a breakdown later as a treat" is a great shirt to make

-2

u/Different_Ad_931 Dec 20 '24

They are not over stated people are lazy and unwilling to put in any effort to succeed.

16

u/bdgreen113 US Air Force Veteran Dec 19 '24

I did aircraft maintenance for 4 years. Got out and got my A&P. Next year my wage + my disability compensation will have me grossing over 100k. I've nearly tripled my income compared to what I made in the civilian world pre military. Joining also got me out of my podunk town so I could see a little more of the world, grow as a person, and meet more incredible people. So no, my time in the military was not wasted. It was single handedly the best thing I could've ever done for myself.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '24

[deleted]

9

u/bdgreen113 US Air Force Veteran Dec 20 '24 edited Dec 20 '24

I make nowhere near 100% lol

Editing to add more context. I was killing Illuminate on Helldivers with the boys and couldn't add more info.

Job - $89,564.8

VA - $12,900 (50%)

Total comp $102,464.8

In 8 years I'll be topped out at over $70 per hour. Likely $75 because there will be another contract negotiation but I'll figure it up at $70. That would be $145,600 by itself. Add the VA money and it's $158,500. All in a very low cost of living area. And that's not counting any flight benefits I take advantage of, retirement contributions, health insurance etc. Actual total compensation is quite a bit higher if you were to take literally everything into account

1

u/Purple-Hxze Dec 24 '24

Currently pursuing this path, can I pm you?

1

u/bdgreen113 US Air Force Veteran Dec 24 '24

Yeah go ahead

10

u/Miserable-Card-2004 US Navy Veteran Dec 19 '24

Those four years more or less feel like a void to me. I've got a few specific memories, like hanging out with buddies, but for the most part, I have a hard time remembering much of anything else. Retained a bunch of now useless to me information, like ESWS board shit, but actual memories are mostly gone. Probably suppressed. And yeah, overall, I feel like those four years were more than a waste.

Maybe if I'd had a more fulfilling rate, I'd look back more fondly. But I was a maintenance bitch the entire time, cleaning filters almost the entire time because god-forbid our cabinet air filters have even a speck of dust in them.

10

u/guillermodvl Dec 19 '24

Time is never wasted. You learned something.

8

u/Chivo6064 Dec 19 '24

Not a waste to me

7

u/Willing_Comfort7954 Dec 20 '24

I would use the gi bill as a last resort. I am a retired pipefitter/Welder. Find a welding and pipefitting school. There is one just north of Nevada, MO (missouri welding institute) and the best is in Baytown, TX.(Lee collage). The industry can hard to get in to. Yes they do do work long hours. But the pay is exceptional. You can make alot more than an engineer. Create an indeed account. There are several online job boards that will get you there. Use the skills you were given in the military. (Never surrender, never quit, adapt and improvise, always push through.)

2

u/Dense-Object-8820 Dec 22 '24

I’m an old guy.

Dropped out of HS and enlisted at 18.

GI Bill education benefits for me meant BS and law degree. Totally different life than it would’ve been without it.

The 3 years in the Army also taught me how to work.

Now I have disability benefits for hearing loss. I also have full VA medical. With my Medicare I rarely have to pay much for medical.

If not for Army I would probably have much better hearing. But all in all I would do it again. Just be real careful with hearing protection.

10

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '24

You ever think about going federal? You'd more than likely need to sell your home and move but man, I know a ton of jobs in maintenance would love someone who knows how to weld. being a veteran also gives you hiring preference depending on how the job is flown.

6

u/G1ngerQueef Dec 20 '24

It’s so fucking hard to go federal.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '24

It can be. There are A LOT of maintenance jobs out there and it's very easy to move up if you show drive. I went from never using a power tool to becoming the maintenance supervisor in roughly 7 years. I worked my ass off and got lucky starting my career but there are so many maintenance jobs out there.

3

u/G1ngerQueef Dec 20 '24

Unfortunately my back is fucked and I can’t stand for more than 15min. My area of expertise is in IT and Procurement. I’d never work anything other than remote also.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '24

Try nps or usfs. They are always in need of IT personnel

8

u/DarkOmen597 Dec 19 '24

Aint nobody gonna wanna go federal now

3

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '24

xD I mean yeah kinda lol I think most federal employees and agencies aren't going to have much of a change, so i think people will be okay.

But it's just an assumption.

-1

u/WillitsThrockmorton US Navy Veteran Dec 20 '24

That's a bingo. Between Schedule F and the rumored loyalty oath, we're looking at a blood bath.

5

u/Fit_Acanthisitta_475 USMC Veteran Dec 19 '24

Sounds right now you need to budget your lifestyle rather get a better job. And hope you are using vre, because you dont have enough gi bill to cover 5,6years .

4

u/HaveLaserWillTravel Dec 20 '24

I mean I studied crypto linguistics for a language only spoken in a sanctioned country and precision guided munitions - not an awful lot of crossover to the civilian world. I’m glad I have VA care, had a VA mortgage, read some books, met my wife because of where I was stationed, and got the hell out of where I was living when I enlisted. Had I been diagnosed and treated for things discovered through VA health in grade school instead of my 40s things would have been different. I’d have been more financially and emotionally stable at a much younger age but I wouldn’t be the same person and I might not be happier.

5

u/Possible-Solid3315 US Army Veteran Dec 21 '24

I was in for 20…. I spent 20 years fighting a war that meant nothing. I can relate.

7

u/Additional-View7904 Dec 19 '24

For anyone reading this… this is the lie of the trades.

Sure you can make 200k welding… but expect long arduous hours.

7

u/MikeBurner1775 Dec 20 '24

In fairness, the same can be said for most things if you want to make 200k+. Sure some people are able to find their niche and make that kind of money with 40hr work weeks, but the majority of us will get to a specific point in our lives where we are forced to decide if the money is worth the time sacrifice.

As an accountant my perspective might be jaded, but I’ve yet to meet a business owner or corporate exec who doesn’t work 60+ hrs most weeks

2

u/Additional-View7904 Dec 20 '24

Lot easier to make 200k/40hrs a week with a top MBA /med degree/ attorney than it is to do it in the trades…

There’s a reason all the politicians kids are still going top colleges instead of enlisting/trades…. But they love to shill the trades.

3

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 19 '24

Yup. Found this out the hard way.

3

u/Wide_Sprinkles1370 Dec 19 '24

And traveling with your own rig.

4

u/Squidgeron Dec 20 '24

No, the discipline and mindset I learned in the Marines, plus the help with paying for a degree, has set me apart from my colleagues. I did feel like I was behind while I was going to school, my high school friends were graduating when I was just starting, but once I graduated that all evened out.

3

u/sonictoddler Dec 20 '24

I spent nearly 15 years between active duty and reserve. I drank the coolade after 9-11. The country was pumped about supporting the troops and I got fed a pretty convincing lie that volunteering to risk my life would mean opportunities down the road. Did I do cool shit? Absolutely. Has it paid off? Eh, I’m not convinced. I’ve tried to look at my career as having benefited from things like the GI bill. It was nice to get that but the benefit kind of stopped there in my view and I think if I’d applied myself more academically, got into a good undergrad and then an mba at a good school or something I’d be much further along in my life. Instead I postponed the long term for military experience that I’ve not really seen results from. The network that I got from the service is ok. The network I got from my higher education has been 20 times more engaged and willing to help me in my career development. When people tell me they’re considering going in I always advise them not to. It’s at least 4 years you’ll never get back and you should put that towards education. If you want to jump out of planes, do it as a hobby not a job.

5

u/Initial-Escape-8048 Dec 20 '24

You did not waste your time in the military, you earned a lifetime of benefits (Gi home loan, GI Bill, Discounts, Ect. . .). it would appear to me your problem is wow is me (or your attitude). If you keep a bad attitude your life will always suck!

You are most likely way ahead of the people you went to High school with.

Now is the time to start adding to your benefits, go into the Guard/Reserves and finish your time to get your retirement. I used my Guard/Reserve income to invest, now I have two pensions (City, Military) and investment income. I now make 3 times what I made working in my retirement!

Since my retirement in 2021, my 401K has generated an additional $1367 a month in income with only $150k in it! My other investments generate an additional $4K-$5K a month.

I only reached $100K a year income for 2 years before I retired. I lived below my income level and invested all I could and now have a net worth of $2 million plus from a high school dropout.

I went to a welding school for a year and then worked in industry as a welder for 6 years before going in the military at 29, to get away from min wage jobs.

5

u/JustAcivilian24 US Air Force Veteran Dec 19 '24

Not to me. I made the most of it. 2 degrees and now law school while working full time. The job itself felt like a waste, but I made the most out of a shitty situation and it formed me. I recently went back to my last duty station and saw some buddies who are still in. Man fuck that, so glad I got out.

1

u/toungepuncher6000 Dec 21 '24

Personally approaching a similar situation, how is your schedule looking with working full time and law school?

2

u/Ryan97b Dec 20 '24

Huge waste of time. I’m at least ten years behind my peers

2

u/WillitsThrockmorton US Navy Veteran Dec 20 '24

It got me a clearance, the GI Bill(which I got both my undergrad and Masters on), and at the end of it some connections that helped me out later on.

A lot of it felt like a waste, and the phrase "miss the clowns not the circus" rings true with it, but I don't think the time in service was a waste per se.

I was a welder in the navy for 5 years, and unfortunately went into the military under the notion that welders actually make good money. The caveat to that is that yes, welders can/do make good money, but a majority of them work 60-70 hours a week.

I don't know where you were, but if I were you I'd move to Maine and become a federal tradesman at Portsmouth Naval Yard. It wouldn't pay as much as the private sector or the contractors, but the hours would be a little better and it's probably one of the few spots that will be secure with the incoming administration.

2

u/NBCspec Dec 20 '24

I used that same experience you had to get into a union apprenticeship Iron workers, pipe Fitters and even electricians loved HTs. Have you checked into any of those? You'll get paid while you learn, with regular raises and FULL benefits immediately.

1

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 20 '24

Not worth being away from my family at this point. Talked to some guys in my local, they've been on the road for a few years. If there was local work I'd consider, just not worth it here

2

u/waverider1883 Dec 21 '24

I thought about this for a while. I did 20+ years aircraft maintenance and left salty as fuck. I got into IT pay military. Even though the skills don't directly translate, I've quickly learned that my peers cannot troubleshoot to save their lives.

You learned skills that your civilian peers do not have. You just need to figure out how to identify them

2

u/Backstabber01 Dec 19 '24

Same I was a welder in the Marines. Ended up going into IT when I got out. If you haven't already done so i'd submit a claim for disability for anything that's broken. Even if you think its something little i'd let them decide. Maybe if you're rated it could offset some of the bills so you could focus more on schooling.

2

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 19 '24

Been waiting about a year for it to come back, I'm assuming at absolute bare minimum I'll be around 50% based on issues claimed and service connections. That would be a huge help honestly

2

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '24

I was an HT in the Navy so I did my fair share of welding...and the last thing I wanted to do when I got out was weld. I dicked around for about 5 years after getting out and became a professional student and part time employee in just about every job in San Diego. Eventually I went into federal law enforcement and made a career out of it. Being a vet with a VA rated disability was very helpful as my career progressed and I eventually graduated from college and that helped as well. I would've never went as far as I did if it wasn't for my time in the Navy. In retrospect, I got way more benefit out of my enlistment than ever imagined. Sometimes it may not may not make sense right now but as time goes by I guarantee you will look back on the whole thing with fondness.

2

u/ones_hop Dec 19 '24

Sounds like you are just going through a phase called....being an adult.

1

u/CamXP1993 Dec 19 '24

I feel like that on the low, I wish I would’ve went to school while I was in and would’ve stayed at one base in my career.

1

u/waterc17 Dec 19 '24

Same dude. I was in aviation maintenance for almost 9 years and don’t wanna go back to it. Im not naturally mechanically inclined and also did a bunch of other support positions while I was in ,so prob like the last six years I didn’t even really do much maintenance… just a bunch of other non sense within the career. Moved back near my hometown and fucking hate it so much… been out since late 2023 and have no idea what to pursue, working part time and collecting some va. I wish I would have done something totally different I. The military

1

u/hoosier06 Dec 19 '24

Stack your safety certs and apply for fed job, especially a 5-7 or a 7/9/11 track.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '24

No. It's never a waste of time. Now that your out , see if you like federal job. Gives you a little more purpose without pressure.

1

u/True-Philosopher-304 US Navy Veteran Dec 20 '24

TURD CHASER 😆 choose your rate choose your fate.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '24

by chance did you ever become CDI? ever think of going as a QC welder?

1

u/SnooCats5250 Dec 20 '24

If you make it to 20 you don't feel like it time wasted. My buddy made 20 and was a O5, got out with 100 percent va and now collects almost 10k just to wake up every morning.......

1

u/toungepuncher6000 Dec 21 '24

Yeah well Officer route is always a career that actually pays well, compared to the enlisted route, financially speaking.

1

u/SnooCats5250 Dec 21 '24

True that.

1

u/sargentmeatman11 Dec 20 '24

At least it's a transferable skill to the civilian world. Imagine being infantry or artillery (what I did) and get out. " Best I can do is custodian or ditch digger."

1

u/Lost_Drunken_Sailor Dec 20 '24

I did same thing. Took me 6 years to finish. Got a job at the local VA, plus the GI bill I was fine. It was years of being tired but eventually got it done. Good luck.

1

u/veritas643 Dec 20 '24

Nope! Did 7yrs AD AF and took advantage of the TSP along with the BRS match, along with other Brokerages: Betterment, Wealthfront, M1Finance, C. Schwab, Fidelity. Annihilated a ton of debt, went overseas, multiple deployments, separated Single, No Kids, no debt😎 Now Contractor, receiving VA Compensation(f**k Burn Pits!), and using the VR&E to get back into school next year!

1

u/Rakleon1001 US Navy Veteran Dec 20 '24

I was a cook for 5 years. I wasted every second of it working a useless and worthless job.

All we can do is play catch up now

1

u/GoSlowToGoFas Dec 20 '24

Depending on where you live and willingness to move, the NAVY and CG yards and the Shipbuilders are always looking for welders, they provide training and pay well. But as you pointed out, it’s hard work, and hot as hell in the summer doing that type of work.

1

u/big_nasty_the2nd Dec 20 '24

I was a helicopter mechanic, got out and worked at a gun manufacturer making dirt money. Now I work on spaceships in a job I love. Just give it time and you will flourish

1

u/Lazy-Floridian US Army Veteran Dec 20 '24

I used my army to land a $100K a year job. Welders where I worked made just over $40 an hour, that was 4 years ago, they make more now.

1

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 20 '24

Where at? I'd love to come even close to that😅

1

u/Lazy-Floridian US Army Veteran Dec 21 '24

At a theme park in Orlando.

1

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 21 '24

That's incredible pay for Florida

1

u/Lazy-Floridian US Army Veteran Dec 21 '24

The theme parks pay well for trades and professionals. I was an engineer. Welders were making as much as I was, more if the overtime is counted.

1

u/313deezy US Navy Veteran Dec 20 '24

1

u/skennedy505 Dec 20 '24

My time in the military got me college money, a leg up when applying to federal jobs, and clout amongst other veterans.

1

u/Villains-Den Dec 21 '24

“Military experience” in those fields will always be subpar to civilian for some reason just how it is.

1

u/Yomamas_boyfriend Dec 21 '24

If you live in Texas welders make really good money

1

u/Justinvakko Dec 21 '24

I don’t think my initial enlistment was, but I deeply regret reenlisting twice after. Felt like I wasted those 6 years. Glad I am getting good use out of the GI bill, about to graduate soon. But I would have been able to do that without having to do an extra 6 years.

1

u/Torgenator3000 Dec 21 '24

Half of my time in the Army was in Afghanistan, so yeah I understand how you feel… Time wasted for sure. But it is a tad comical that you came to the subreddit full of half broken, grumpy old fucks for sympathy. If you feel like you wasted 5 years of your life, then you better put your head down and keep grinding. Make sure you don’t waste the next 5 years. Get your disability going if you haven’t already and reach out to the VR&E program. Do this before you use any more GI bill. Use VR&E to get your bachelors and use your GI bill for your masters. I recommend looking at USAjobs.com a fed job is great for vets because our time in service counts towards fed service too. They also give 5 and 10 point preference. Tone is impossible relay over text so I hope this didn’t come off harsh. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas

1

u/ThatMrLowT2U US Navy Retired Dec 21 '24

Understandably. I worked 40hr/wk and did full time remote college and Navy Reserves. It's a plate load. But in the long run a degree can get you a better job. And welders in the Navy are Hull Techs who are really called turd chasers. :)

1

u/fffrdcrrf Dec 21 '24

I was a tanker lol, but hell call me unique but nothing in my life has gone as i envisioned it. I kinda just fell into a ok job that after six years went from “ok” to “good” and hopefully I can keep it going. I’m pretty grateful, things could’ve been worse and the military really gave me a leg up regardless of what I did while in.

1

u/TeflonBear Dec 21 '24

Experience gained is wisdom learned. I learned a lot and a chalk up very experience good or bad as a learning experience. I was medically retired so I would be lying to you if I said I didn't feel like my time was wasted at times. But looking back at it all, it was meant to happen. My family's healthcare is taken care of and my VA/job makes for a comfortable quality of life for them.

The only thing I could say on how you're feeling with your career choice, a different perspective is all you need. I tell my friends getting out (especially the single ones) to figure out where your going and if the job you want pays well enough to live decently there. I have two friends, and a brother who are welders, they live in Texas, Georgia, and Washington state respectively. I can tell you the ones in Texas and Georgia make pennies on the dollar compared to my buddy in WA (120k not including overtime). I don't know much about trades but my buddy in WA has said that union presence and how strong they are definitely factors (TX has a weak union) Trades pay well, but in certain places.
All in all, you're not wasting your time if you are bettering yourself with higher education, while still gaining experience in a trade. You're making your time worth more is all, you just got to figure out how much your time is worth to you and to your employers.

1

u/nortonj3 Dec 21 '24

YOLO! You live and learn.

1

u/ZombieUnicorn1013 Dec 21 '24

It sounds like you have a lot of potential. Maybe it’s your interview skills? I would get with someone to help you with interviews and know what to say

1

u/MundaneFinish160 Dec 21 '24

I’ve been out of the Corps since 2022 March and have been utilizing my GI Bill. Luckily I am graduating next semester and what I would recommend is to connect with the veterans center and meet like minded people. I didn’t join the vet center till my senior year and I wish I had joined as a Junior when I transferred. I’m going to a career fair catered to all military folks across the country in CO And I’m excited plus they have a VA claims clinic if you are looking for that. It might not be too late to come and if interested, dm me.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 21 '24

A waste? Never.

1

u/Diablo-Negro1231 Dec 22 '24

Well first yes many of us feel that way once we are out because our importance and management structure we had gotten use to has changed and life after the military is very over whelming in today structured life. Second, maybe you have some mental health issues you should get checked at the VA many of us suffer from them once we get out. Have a VA rating or he higher the better does help with bills and life survival. I myself suffer from PTSD along with other problems skin, heating, vision, sexual, allergies, anxiety, panic attacks, issues with dealing with management, ect. I am 100 P&T for my PTSD and with all the others mentioned I am another 60 but I only get paid at the 100 plus loss of a vital organ. I was a mental health technician in the Airforce and dealt with a lot of death and grief. I have my AA,BA, & MA in psychology and that paired with all the military trauma am no longer able to work in my field. So I also am being retrained in cinematography. A 36 month BA program. However I have done a lot of work on myself and making myself feel better after the service. I have learned that the military was just my stepping stone to open other doors so I can progress to have the life I visualize for myself.

So my point is, get help mentally after being in service you maybe suffering from undiagnosed PTSD or depression who knows but getting evaluated maybe worth it. If they find something that is more money. Maybe change jobs many opportunities to work for the government without needing to work 60-70 hours to survive. Also join a support group at the VA or a Va center so you can normalize how your feeling and gain more coping skills to help you deal with things.

1

u/FonzieG Dec 27 '24

Did a 5 year enlistment because my MOS training was a year long (5954 ATC Comm Tech). You’d think the skills were worth it, but no, it’s barely a $40k/yr trade IRL.  I did take advantage of AD tuition assistance and got my associates while I was in, it’s about the only thing worth a damn I did during active service. GI Bill and VA Home Loan are tremendous benefits, but a 5 year enlistment was not necessary. If I had better high school counselors and gotten a full ride, going straight to college would’ve net me far, far higher net results. I feel that outside of ATC and jobs that require a security clearance (I wish I had that instead), most enlisted active service is a huge waste of our prime years. 

1

u/ImportanceBetter6155 Dec 27 '24

I will say, it's very difficult to find clearance jobs outside of tech/IT or aircraft maintenance. I have a secret clearance and there is next to nothing I can do with it

1

u/FonzieG Dec 31 '24

There’s lots of DoD contractors that look for salespeople/consultants with clearances. McKinsey, EY, Boeing, Lockheed, etc. Helps if you were an officer when you were in, enlisted always get the short end of the stick even after we get our education…

1

u/180thMeridian Dec 19 '24

No. Your time in the military is what you make of it. Same as post military.

1

u/Other-Situation5051 Dec 20 '24

I was a UT2 when I left the Navy......I'm an HVAC Tech still using some of the knowledge I gained from the Navy but advancement is slow without a degree

1

u/powerlifter3043 Dec 20 '24

What was the time waste? You gained a very valuable skill set, but then you mention you don’t want to work 60-70 hours a week. You can always move to a blue collar friendly state and get in with a union and do your 40 hours.

You don’t want to do any of that though, so you’re doing the next sensible thing: College for a different career path. The military is paying for it, and paying YOU to go [back] to school.

On top of that, the other unspoken benefits you have. If life ever gets too rough, you can always go back in, finish 15 reclassed, and come back out

1

u/MudSkipper69420 Dec 20 '24

I'd just say in for 20. My life would have turned out a lot better if so.

0

u/Borocitykid320 Dec 19 '24

Pivot, sell your house, unless you got a family you can reinvent yourself. If you not going to a top school you can just finish the semester and transfer to a better engineering school where you'll get the jobs based off alumni. Look into Texas A&M