Career change at 37? It’s more than possible, says Weber State alum
Ogden, Utah — Weber State University alum Cory Britton is living his dream as a solo developer for a startup company, CX Advanced Solutions.
Britton graduated from Weber State in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. “My life has done a complete 180 for the better,” Britton said. “I can’t even explain how gratifying it is.”
The road to college seemed out of reach for Britton after dropping out of high school and taking a construction job. However, at age 37, with a baby on the way and unsatisfied with his job, he decided to go to college to pursue a career in computer science.
“I hope my story can persuade at least one person to go back to school and change their life,” Britton said. “It’s hard, but it’s not as hard as you think it’s going to be, you just need to get in there and face your fears.”
Choosing Weber State was a no-brainer for Britton. It’s recognized as one of the universities with the best return on investment in the nation and has one of the best computer science degrees in the United States. “I knew I would get a good quality education that was much more affordable at Weber State,” Britton said.
Living in Salt Lake City at the time, he could often avoid the commute to Ogden by taking Weber State’s computer science classes offered at Salt Lake Community College. Course schedules were also flexible with daytime, evening and online courses.
Although choosing Weber State was easy, it took courage to return to school. Britton recalls feeling nervous when visiting campus for the first time to register for classes.
As one of the older people in his class, it took him a few weeks to warm up to his classmates, but he soon began engaging with fellow students and realized he wasn’t alone.
About 33.5% of Weber State students are nontraditional, over the age of 25 or married with children. These students can benefit from WSU resources meant to help them succeed including child care on both the Ogden and Davis campuses.
However, with some of these resources affected by the pandemic during Britton’s time at WSU, his best resources became his professors.
“The professors are just amazing. I would email them, and they were all responsive and happy to help answer my questions or meet with me online,” he said. “What’s great is that they don’t just give you the answer, they make you think through it so you learn.”
Weber State’s student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, which made the transition to remote learning easier for students as they could still receive one-on-one instruction and interaction with professors.
Britton also had the full support of his wife while he was a student. “She was pretty much a single mother while I finished my degree, and I never could have done it without her.”
Three years later, Britton continues to learn and hone his skills, only now in the workplace. He began his dream job as a solo developer last year.
“My job at CX Advanced Solutions is the most amazing thing ever,” Britton said. “I get to do something I really enjoy all day, and it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like fun.”
As a solo developer, Britton is responsible for all aspects of software for the company. “Anything a developer would do, I do all of it myself, so you get all the blame, but you also get all the credit,” Britton said. “It’s been a lot, but I’ve learned so much and have had a blast.”
Britton is passionate about his career and plans to continue improving and developing new skills. He’s also happy to have more time with his wife and three kids, who are most important to him.
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