Online engineering degrees?

[SolarKat]

You gave me about 3 days worth of stuff to look up! Awesome, thanks. Ok, now the laundry...

LOL - For anyone interested in EE/EET without existing career/military experience (or if it's a tangential interest, like math/CS/design, etc)...there's more than one way to skin this cat. I encourage anyone with even a passing connection to join IEEE and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) as a student member. It's cheap and you get access to some interesting events, with chapters worldwide. They offer continuing ed for members (seems like ACM has a ton of certification prep, for example), and discounts (I think I saw that APU/AMU offer a tuition discount for IEEE, and have a student chapter). Conferences are great for networking and training. They have student conferences around the country, too (or student sessions at the professional conferences). Network, network, network. You also get journal access, etc. And membership in individual societies within IEEE/ACM (like Robotics, Controls, Power Systems, Sustainability...there are over 100, I believe) is only a few dollars more per society, with access to even more specialized stuff/events.

And finally, make a list of manufacturers that are in your area or that are of interest to you. National Instruments, Mathworks, Xilinx, Solidworks, Teradyne...lots of them offer training classes (some even free!) on their equipment/software. Some do roadshows around the country, or have offices around the country with on-site engineers who hold monthly users groups, free seminars, etc. It's a great way to get exposed to the bigger world of EE/EET without having to invest a ton of money in equipment purchases and home trial and error. National Instruments offices hold a big free event every year (it's in the fall this year, in 12 locations including Woburn, MA) with trainings, certification info/prep session, giveaways, etc. The coffee at the Woburn venue sucks, but everything else is pure awesome. Someone new to electronics might be baffled by parts of it, but it's never too early to start networking...plus, they really want to suck you into "their stuff" so they're very eager to help you with *any* questions or problems. Other providers offer similar opportunities. There are 3rd party "trainers" that charge for classes, too, but you can get at least some exposure for free. Also look at conferences, as they usually have an exhibit hall which may include training sessions/opportunities for little/no money.