Need responses on help on making college decision ASAP!

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

It absolutely is a learning experience. You're going to be overwhelmed with work, so you want to learn to do the least amount possible and still maintain a 4.0.

What school can you get a 4.0 in a STEM degree while taking a full load?

[dem00n]

Since he's engineering, he'll want to get into a shit ton of internships and see what exactly he wants to do in his field. When it comes to engineering, it's the experience that'll land you a good job, it's not all in the degree. It's not uncommon to see someone who's a mechanical engineering doing a job that an electrical engineering does and vice versa.

Think of it like being bisexual, you might have a preferred sex but you'll go either way.


I use to work at a medical equipment company, head engineer had a degree from a community college, but proved his way through experience in many different fields, which is exactly what landed him the job.

[Bartley]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

It absolutely is a learning experience. You're going to be overwhelmed with work, so you want to learn to do the least amount possible and still maintain a 4.0.

Originally Posted by dem00n

Don't think you'll get off so easy, life can catch up and you might fail a class or two, which can even set you back a semester or even two. A lot of students planning to get out of college as fast as they can, end up losing that battle. Take it slow. College is a learning experience, treat as such and you'll end up much more satisfied.

Man, you guys think I'm trying to rush college? Graduating high school in 3 years is still a pain in the ass for me. I'm considered a senior yet I still take 8 classes everyday compared to the 4-6 other seniors take.
I blame my crappy schedule on my school... I was probably the only kid BEGGING for summer school credits yet my school didn't place me in it.
Biggest fucking troll of my life.

[Bartley]

Originally Posted by vroom4

California because its closer to asia...what?

Yeah... I'm particularly interested in automotive engineering. I wouldn't really want to work for most domestic companies since Detroit is in near shambles. I also speak Chinese, which may be able to broaden my careers.

[Kelbyat07]

Take this advice from a undergraduated student, if I were you I would go to Fordham because it is closer to home and there will be lots of benefits from that. Another one is that if you get good grades you will be able to go to Columbia which will help you on your resume. Any bachelors program is the same and it matter how you perform so I don't think going across the coast for a 4 year degree is a good idea when you can go to a near by college for 4 years. Fordham is a good school, I was thinking about going there for biology.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

What school can you get a 4.0 in a STEM degree while taking a full load?

Unicorn University of Fairy Tales Land?

Originally Posted by Bartley

Man, you guys think I'm trying to rush college? Graduating high school in 3 years is still a pain in the ass for me. I'm considered a senior yet I still take 8 classes everyday compared to the 4-6 other seniors take.

No, I don't think you're trying to rush it. I'm saying you're going to be absolutely swamped with work. Granted I went to community college with anticipations of getting a bachelor's and potentially master's someday, but it was Cisco networking with an AS in computer technology, and balancing a full time job and full time classes was tough at times. Thankfully I'm also one of those students that everyone loves to hate, and I could retain a ton of knowledge without studying all the time. Except Cisco. Studied my ass of for those. And now that I have my degree I've never had to log into another Cisco device since.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Think of it like being bisexual, you might have a preferred sex but you'll go either way.

More like taking what you can get and what people will give you

[serialk11r]

Well depending on who you talk to, a 4.0 in STEM isn't so hard to get given that's your goal. lol. More often than not, the people who have the background and thus capability to get a 4.0 are also not going to care as much about non-STEM classes and not get As as a result.

Honestly though, I go to Berkeley (undergrad) and a (smallish) part of the reason why I decided I'm going to do a Ph.D. afterwards is because there is a crapload of bias against schools that are not Harvard/Princeton/MIT/Stanford (and a few more) for a lot of jobs. By this I am talking about jobs for people who have good grades from a respectable school, obviously qualified, but your resume might not make the cut since they would rather hire someone from MIT because statistically that's a safer bet on the employer's behalf. In my experience this effect is much stronger than any regional bias (i.e. Midwest companies hire from Midwest schools, East coast/west coast companies hire from east/west coast).

Then there's the people from here who don't have good grades (mind you this is still talking about above average), and quite a lot of people can't even find jobs. It makes me shudder to think of what would happen if you were to drop yet another tier down in terms of school...If you're motivated, which you seem to be, then you don't want the brand name of the school to bottleneck you, and that's extremely likely to happen at the UCI/UCD level. Unfortunate, because some people from those schools are really smart, but the world is messed up like that.

[bakerr6]

I agree partially with the above reference, but I cant elly ou I barely had a 3.0, but with the education and experience I had coming out of schools, I had a plethora of options to choose from.

Many jobs honestly do not care about your grades, but focus more on your experiences. The one I picked Ironically was the opposite. One thing I can tell you though, is to focus on developing relationships and networking. Developing experience in your field will yield the best results. Also, once you get into your field, you will probably be like many people looking to advance, and continue along the path of education.

I'm hoping by the end of next year, I'll have my lvl 1 CFA cert finished, along with my CFP finished (working on both right now). Keep focusing on what's important toy ou, and network with as many people in that field as possible.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Bartley

and he said based upon my interests (automotive, environment, some other things), that I'd be better off in California since I'd be much closer to Asia and California's higher need for engineers since there's stricter emissions, better environmental regulation/protection, etc.

There are PLENTY of environmental jobs on the east coast. If you're interested in bioremediation, chemical cleanup, geoengineering, stormwater, whatever...there are tons of opportunities over here. We've got centuries of hazardous waste shit and superfund sites to clean up.

Not much automotive work in the northeast, but some more if you go south.

I would also suggest keeping your mind open to other engineering fields. It sounds like you are interested in MechE, Civil E, or an environmental engineering degree. Don't be afraid to take more than 1 intro to whatever engineering class.

Originally Posted by strat61caster

My only comment is that imo a dual degree is of limited usefulness

Agreed...I'm not sure how much better a Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Bachelors is then just the Chemical Engineering bachelors.

I'd much rather the extra cash from 1 year less of school, and then add a year of valuable internship experience to my resume than a 3 + 2 deal.

Honestly a Math + Engineering double major would be better, though maybe not as much for a ChemE. Also statistics. Companies love math nerds because everyone else hates it so much.

- Andy

[Racecomp Engineering]

Also...don't panic. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to follow some path you or your parents laid out for yourself when you were 17 (or younger). Your goals might change and that's OKAY. Make sure you have a good time and enjoy the full experience.

- Andy

[swpbrz]

Id agree with andy.

Try to find and focus on a passion in your field while your in school. The most succesful and happy people I know found their passion. Sometimes it's far away from what you think at 18. Engineering is definitely fun but all those comparison games miss the point. Wherever you go start a project and blow it out of the water.

Also if you still have the 86 I'd recommend cali for the amazing Canyon roads.

[blackhawkdown]

After reading the OP post. I am getting a sense that this is what he is scared of. I also get a sense that he already knows what he wants to do and what school he wants to go to. So I will just leave it at that with this picture. I think we are wasting our energy typing in this thread.

[calmtigers]

I go to Ucla, my roommates is a chem E major. I know different tier, however you will not have flexibility in that major regardless. Expect long hours of work but after four years with great grades you will have a great job. California job market is insane but also booming in terms of petroleum industry. Hope that helps!