engineering school

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by jvincent

So, back to the most pertinent question, what do you want to end up doing?

This is my problem. I've got four years until I retire from military service, and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I know I need a degree, but I have no idea what sort of degree I need to be going for.

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

This is my problem. I've got four years until I retire from military service, and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I know I need a degree, but I have no idea what sort of degree I need to be going for.

Knowing what you want to do is the part you need to figure out first.

Technology degrees are generally speaking always useful, but you need to be careful because what is hot now, might not be hot when you graduate.

Also, don't rule out a trade. Carpenters, plumbers, and electricians are also generally always in demand and can make a pretty good living.

As always, make be certain that you'll like what you end up doing, because you will likely be doing it for a long time.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

This is my problem. I've got four years until I retire from military service, and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I know I need a degree, but I have no idea what sort of degree I need to be going for.

With the future in Robotics, Drones, self-driving cars, and wireless, I would say a degree in Control Systems or Communications Theory would both be a good bet.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

This is my problem. I've got four years until I retire from military service, and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I know I need a degree, but I have no idea what sort of degree I need to be going for.

I didn't retire but went back to school after 9 years. Poked around for a couple more years studying everything except mechanical engineering for the peace of mind that I wasn't just doing it to follow in my dad's footsteps. It really helped because when I finally started coursework in my major, I realized there was no use fighting it. I needed that because it was the most challenging undertaking of my life.

I had another advantage as a non-traditional student. Lot's of real-world experience helped me to sincerely appreciate each and every building block of the curriculum. Broke my heart to be surrounded with so many brilliant kids just getting their cards punched.

BSME University of New Mexico - 2000. I'm 50.

[gramicci101]

@jvincent, @stugray, @Ultramaroon,


I really don't want to hijack cdrazic's thread, but thank you for your inputs. I'm currently looking at a BS in technical management through Embry Riddle, focusing on either logistics (current job) or project management (widely useful). Maybe focusing on engineering sciences, but math hasn't always been my strong point.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Lot's of real-world experience helped me to sincerely appreciate each and every building block of the curriculum. Broke my heart to be surrounded with so many brilliant kids just getting their cards punched.

I feel like that's inevitable, maybe 10% of my classmates were legitimately pressing every drop out of the courses (I definitely wasn't, especially in the beginning). A very tumultuous time for youngsters, so many demands and pressures and uncertainty. I can almost guarantee that every non-traditional student was getting their money's worth, shame that isn't the more traditional path...

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

A very tumultuous time for youngsters, so many demands and pressures and uncertainty.

Your point about youngsters and uncertainty is a good one.

My father was in banking (HR side) when he retired and is probably the least technical person you will ever find. I was always taking stuff apart as a kid (clocks, radios, etc) and engineering was the right thing for me because ultimately it's about problem solving.

There are a LOT of kids who go into a specific program either for the wrong reason (family pressure) or without even knowing what they want to do. These days that can be an expensive mistake.

I made sure our eldest was clear about his future career choices when he made his choice of programs because he didn't want to take the advanced math in HS that he would have need for engineering or economics. That's fine with me because math wasn't his strong suit, but at the same time if he wouldn't have been happy with the other options then it was better for him to figure it out early.

@gramicci101, you're welcome.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

@jvincent, @stugray, @Ultramaroon,


I really don't want to hijack cdrazic's thread, but thank you for your inputs. I'm currently looking at a BS in technical management through Embry Riddle, focusing on either logistics (current job) or project management (widely useful). Maybe focusing on engineering sciences, but math hasn't always been my strong point.

No harm no foul. This thread is meant for anyone with the passion to know how things work. I knew I would want to be an engineer since I grew up with 4 tackle boxes of missmatched legos and still made surprisingly functional spaceships.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

No harm no foul. This thread is meant for anyone with the passion to know how things work. I knew I would want to be an engineer since I grew up with 4 tackle boxes of missmatched legos and still made surprisingly functional spaceships.

Hey, that's just like the Twins!

[pushrod]

Engineering in the US must not be the same as Canada. In Canada, engineering programs are accredited, not unlike medical programs. Thus, there is no "motorsports engineering" or "bridge engineering". Both would be specializations within mechanical and civil engineering, respectively, and wouldn't even be given those names. It seems in the US, "engineering" is used much more lightly.

[n8dog11914]

Originally Posted by pushrod

Engineering in the US must not be the same as Canada. In Canada, engineering programs are accredited, not unlike medical programs. Thus, there is no "motorsports engineering" or "bridge engineering". Both would be specializations within mechanical and civil engineering, respectively, and wouldn't even be given those names. It seems in the US, "engineering" is used much more lightly.

These types of programs are VERY specific and rare and specifically cater to local industries (like the NASCAR teams here in the Charlotte, NC area).

All traditional engineering schools (MIT, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, Va Tech, etc) are accredited.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by pushrod

Engineering in the US must not be the same as Canada. In Canada, engineering programs are accredited, not unlike medical programs. Thus, there is no "motorsports engineering" or "bridge engineering". Both would be specializations within mechanical and civil engineering, respectively, and wouldn't even be given those names. It seems in the US, "engineering" is used much more lightly.

And that annoys the hell out of me. http://www.abet.org/

[navanodd]

I'm currently about 6 months away from graduating with my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. From what I've been able to gather, if you're dead set on design and research then go ahead and look at a master's program. Only reason I can see for a PhD in engineering is to be a professor.

Keep in mind that most engineering jobs are not strictly or even majority design based. Much of it ends up being various forms of management and planning.


There's two common things I've seen engineers do after working for a few years. Many people get a Masters in Business Administration and some others works towards a Project Management Professional designation.


Personally, the overwhelming attitude I see is to get experience. I would try and find a job that would give me experience that I could build on in my intended career path and evaluate if I also wanted more formal education once I had gained enough experience to obtain the Professional Engineer designation (I'm assuming this works similarly in the US as Canada).


Remember that the learning process doesn't stop once you leave school. In my experience at least, on the job learning is a whole lot more important and applicable than 90% of my courses.

[Hot Lava]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

And that annoys the hell out of me. http://www.abet.org/

OP, this. Go ABET or go home. A BA is not an Engineering degree, period. Beware of any program that is not ABET certified. Any school can hang the word Engineering on a degree. Dude, you're in Seattle for gods sake. You're tripping over ABET certified programs every other block in that city.


BSME, working in aerospace manufacturing.