License Laws

I live in NYC. I just moved here 2 years ago. The education system is different than what I’m used to. I graduated in Economics from U of Chicago in 04′. I’ve been running my own import/export business for a variety of construction equipment and computer hardware. I want to pick up a 2nd major in Engineering to help me expand and understand. NYU and Columbia only offer professional study continuing classes in all subjects but science. Plus, they do not really have 2nd degree major programs (they do but priority goes to 1st timers, plus I need evening course most preferably). CUNY (City University of New York) is a network of colleges that seem to be the only other possibility. Thing is, Hunter and City College, the two main science colleges within CUNY system will not allow me into the engineering majors for the same reason. They say I need to sign up for non-degree seeking, which I did the past two semesters, but there is only a small window of time to sign up (one day actually!),
the week before classes start, and these introductory science classes are always full so I can’t ever get in. Now they’re telling me to start with the Science associates degree at BMCC, Borough Manhattan Community College. Thing is, a physics professor I spoke to at Hunter told physics at the CC would not be good. Plus, I here many criticisms that CC her in NYC is for immigrants that don’t speak English and is like HS 2! The CUNY system says it has transfer equivalent so my question is: Will the class be worth it? Will I learn what I need to know (physics or all for that matter); and then: if I do well could I just transfer right away? I guess simply, will the whole thing be treated like a joke when it is said and done – what are th long-term repercussions of doing this in the eyes of 4yr programs I may wish to tranfer into? Thanks! Sorry for the long Q!