I did this but with a CS degree from an Ivy-League university. I already had two years of credit under my belt when I went back to school and it took me four years of study half-time and all three semesters (Fall/Spring/Summer) during the year to finish. Best thing I ever did.
Let me give you some advice:
1. Start slow. Take one class to start with. Get used to the pace of lecture/study and getting your assignments done. It's very hard to work full time and also study. You will need uninterrupted space and time to get your work done.
2. If you're taking online classes, you MUST be sure that your teaching fellow/assistant and professor are willing to communicate via email or instant message. If you can attend office hours DO IT. It helps for a professor to see you as a serious student and not as a faceless email address. GO EARLY in the semester to office hours and make it a regular thing. THIS PAYS DIVIDENDS AT GRADING TIME.
3. Make sure your school is a "real" school. Don't go to one of those for-profit schools. Make sure that your school is regionally accredited by the REAL accrediting agencies, not the fake ones that are set up by the for-profit schools.
4. Connect with another student (or students) and work with them. Just like for startups, it helps to be "in it" with someone else.
Good luck.
P.S. One of the guys I helped get through my program was a father of five kids (and one of the way) and he took two flights each way one day a week for a year to attend class. After 3 years he finished. He also held down a full-time job while he did this. It's do-able. You just have to commit yourself to doing it.
This is great advice, thanks! Discerning the fake accreditation from the real is somewhat difficult. I had done some searching though and this school seems to be accredited by the same place that accredits dartmouth so I think it's legit. How can I figure out if the accreditation is worth it's salt?
Just an FYI: I've heard that some schools that were non-profit and independent have been purchased by for-profit entities mainly for their accreditation. Caveat emptor.
FWIW, most "pure" degrees from liberal-arts or engineering schools are probably OK. If your candidate school has a sports program, it's probably OK. Go visit the university. Meet the administrative officials and check out the student body. See if they have a library. There are lots of "tells" that will alert you to the possibility that your program is more about collecting money than offering a valuable educational experience.
Just do your checking beforehand. You dont want to find out halfway through that your degree isn't worth the time or money. Dont forget that all programs within a school aren't created equally. I spent six months doing due diligence on my program and the school is VERY well known.
Thanks! Bought it. Also looks like it it is regionally accredited but I'm not sure about my specific program though. That's something I'll check out tomorrow.
Let me give you some advice:
1. Start slow. Take one class to start with. Get used to the pace of lecture/study and getting your assignments done. It's very hard to work full time and also study. You will need uninterrupted space and time to get your work done.
2. If you're taking online classes, you MUST be sure that your teaching fellow/assistant and professor are willing to communicate via email or instant message. If you can attend office hours DO IT. It helps for a professor to see you as a serious student and not as a faceless email address. GO EARLY in the semester to office hours and make it a regular thing. THIS PAYS DIVIDENDS AT GRADING TIME.
3. Make sure your school is a "real" school. Don't go to one of those for-profit schools. Make sure that your school is regionally accredited by the REAL accrediting agencies, not the fake ones that are set up by the for-profit schools.
4. Connect with another student (or students) and work with them. Just like for startups, it helps to be "in it" with someone else.
Good luck.
P.S. One of the guys I helped get through my program was a father of five kids (and one of the way) and he took two flights each way one day a week for a year to attend class. After 3 years he finished. He also held down a full-time job while he did this. It's do-able. You just have to commit yourself to doing it.
EDIT: more advice.