I wish I had found this board earlier, as it might have helped me make a more informed decision.

I am 40 years old, have a chemical engineering degree, and have worked for the same company for 18 years. I am severely burnt out with my job, and have decided a career change is what I need. During my 18 years with the company, three of them were spent doing IT work...specifically database admin and application programming. I really enjoyed this part of my career, unfortunately at the time I didn't want to move and the position was just a temporary one at my location. So I ended up moving into the plant "chemical engineer" job which I've been doing for the last eight years. That is my background.

Earlier this year I applied to go back to get a second bachelor degree in computer science. I got accepted! I am in a good situation...still single and no kids. I have the support of my parents and will be able to stay with them while attending school. Financially my situation is good, and my house (which I plan to sell) is paid for.

Why am I so scared then? Maybe it's because I may not be 100% certain that computer science was the right choice. All I know is that I do not want to continue what I am doing. I am still in my job. I plan to give notice in the middle of May and spend the two months this summer getting my affairs in order and taking a little time off.

I feel lucky to be in a situation where I can do this, but I still feel apprehension/fear. I would appreciate some input from those that have done similar things.

Grant

If you are still undecided, check with your HR dept and see if you can take a leave of absence. You can still use the time to get your affairs in order, this will allow you to have a back-up in case you change your mind. You can also check to see if you are eligible for an educational leave.
Ultimately, only you can decide what major you should pursue for your second degree.

I wish you the best of luck!!!

You are still young. You have many years of productive work ahead of you. Nevertheless, returning to college after 40 is sort of like running for President: you have to have a "fire in the belly". Because, you know, there are so many other things you could be doing at this point: getting married, starting a family, for example. I think that if you have that fire inside you, you know it. It's an intuitive sense that you will do whatever you have to get there, where you were meant to be: it's the image of the salmon swimming upstream. Again, 40 is young. You have the whole world at your feet.

40 is....young i guess, but yeah you need that fire, that motivation to not quit if you want to succeed cause you don't have a whole lot of time.