That is my exactly response as well. Mechanical Engineering really interests me, and usually what I say is this: "If I can get an ME undergrad/masters degree AN

That is my exactly response as well. Mechanical Engineering really interests me, and usually what I say is this: "If I can get an ME undergrad/masters degree AND self-teach myself CS/programming (effectively getting a "CS" degree) on the side and handle client work, etc. that should be twice as impressive." Recently, I read an article here on HN which proclaimed that the best use of CS/IT knowledge is in non-CS positions. Use it as your secret weapon; use it to gain an advantage in your everyday life. Now, most ME majors nowadays have some rudimentary functional programming experience but I'm hoping that sentiment will still hold true. As far as client work goes, all my development work is through the Facebook Platform (apps and whatnot) so I've built up a reputation on their developer forums and can pretty easily secure work based solely on that. I think the main hurdle with web development is that nearly everyone has a website these days. You might consider checking out some of your local companies and seeing which have poor websites and going from there. Otherwise, try to become a well known and reputable member somewhere online.