First, read my post in this thread (about halfway down) to get an idea of which discipline might suit you.
Also, get an idea of what kindsa things you want to work with. Computers? Definitely CS. Aircraft or Spacecraft? Aero, EE, or Mech. Make lotsa money? Chem or Materials. Consumer Products? EE or Industrial design. Automotive? Mechanical or Manufacturing.
And ccwaterback is correct, you don’t need to know for sure when you enter as a freshman. Some schools will want you to declare, but others may allow you to enter their college of engineering without declaring a major. My university put freshman thru a weeder class – each discipline had its own. By the end, you will know whether or not you are cut out for engineering. You could switch discplines and try again. Or, the Business School was right next door (and the people there were more attractive).
Medea’s Child also brings up an important point. Group work starts the first week. Find yourself 3 or 4 classmates you can trust who are taking roughly the same classes as you and form a study group. Do this each semester/quarter/whatever. This will help you immensely. You can go it alone (I did) but it’s MUCH harder.
And don’t neglect your writing and communication skills. Most schools offer business or technical writing and presentation classes. Take as many as you can! These skills will make you invaluable to employers, and they will put you on the fast track to technical and program management if you are good at it. That’s where the real money is.
Everyone here has good advice as far as finding the discipline that matches your interests/skills. No one has yet mentioned my engineering discipline, including your OP, so I felt I had to jump in - don’t rule out industrial engineering. It isn’t as design focused as something like mechanical. It is much more existing problem focused and I enjoy it tremendously. You have to know computer programs like Excel and Access to do well as an IE. The best part is that being an IE does not lock you into a particular market. Once MEs start designing some type of product, they are pretty well stuck in that general genre (such as plastics or metal stamping or whatever). As a process efficiency expert, I can work in diverse companies so my options when changing jobs are much more open. I went from a printing company to the phone company to a medical device manufacturer, never having to take a cut in pay because I was going to have to “Get up to speed” in the market.
Biomedical! You get to work with the most complex systems of all.
Seriously, don’t worry about it too much now if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do already. It should be pretty easy for you to shop around once you’re in school.
I’m a Nuclear Engineer. With nuclear, you’ll always have a job and the pay is always good. With license extensions for the plants currently operating, there’ll be plenty of jobs for you even if we don’t build any new units for the next 20 years (the plant I work at started operation in 1973 and has recently had its operating license extended to 2033).
When I started college, the first two years of engineering curriculum were pretty much the same for all disciplines. You learn the basic tools you need to understnad the questions you’ll be asked - two years of math, one and a half of physics, two of chemistry, etc. for first year students, each engineering discipline offered an introductory class that would give you a taste of whatever it was you were interested in. I took two of these classes.
As a sophomore, I had the opportunity to take additional classes in several different fields. They’re not too in depth, but again, you get a taste of what the students in that field will be doing for the next two years. I took low-level classes in environmental, chemical, computer, and electrical engineering before settling on a major in environmental engineering.
But even though you’ll eventually pick a major, it’s not something you’re stuck with for the rest of your life. My senior year, I started taking hydrology classes as electives within the Environmental Engineering program, and I loved them. Loved them more than the engineering classes, certainly. When I graduated, I went to work for a company that manufactured pollution control systems (environmental engineering at work), but I took a couple of graduate hydrology classes at night, and I eventually left that job to get into the hydrology field. I work now on riparian and wetland restoration projects.
I think there are two really useful things you’ll learn in engineering school: how to approach engineering problems, and what you like to do. If you know both of these things, you should be able to find a job that makes you happy.
Of my classmates, the two who have the coolest engineering jobs were both mechanical engineers. One works on a team designing prosthetic limbs, and the other works for Universal Studios designing roller coasters.
However, based on my experience, I would listen to ccwaterback.
Get your general classes out of the way first; we all have friends/family who changed majors after taking upper level courses & then took longer to graduate.
Crafter_Man is right to bring up India outsourcing issues, but that situation will have at least slightly morphed by the time you graduate.
Another Chemical Engineer chiming in. I didn’t really decide to take it until second year (1st year is a general ‘engineering’ course), and it was a toss up between that and mechanical. Unfortunately the assignments in mech eng tend to be more exciting compared to chem.
I’ve concentrated more on the biological system side of things, and like it a lot. I enjoyed chemistry and biology in high school, and also working with computers. Oh, and I heard the money is better than scientists too. Be aware that a lot of jobs in chemeng involve industrial plants and while we don’t do as much chemistry as the name suggests, you still need a good working knowledge.
Yeah, ditto on xiao_wenti’s comments. Your work load (especially near the end) is going to be higher than most other degrees, and you’ll end up with a lot of engineer friends due to odd study times and group assignments.
Due to an odd set of circumstances, I had to declare an engineering major when I was a junior in high school. I went with Materials, because I was allowed to double it with any other engineering major. I figured that if I discovered I liked something else, I’d have an “escape route” that way. But then I discovered that I loved materials, so I stuck with it.
Why do you want to be an engineer? What do you like to do? If you pick up a copy of Scientific American, which articles do you read first?
I know an EE who worked as a programmer because he couldn’t find a job in EE. Last I heard he was laid off months ago. The future of the economy is too far out at your age so I think you should try to find what is FUN.
Check the book:
TEACH YOURSELF ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRONICS by Stan Gibilisco
If you liked that, then go for:
THE ART OF ELECTRONICS by Horowitz and Hill
Don’t wait on teachers, they can bore you out of your skull.
I know Una would share this lament with you, and we’ve discussed it many times here. But I as a non-engineer can’t imagine it. I hope that, among educated people at least, you get the respect you deserve. That must be some light consolation.
Hmmm. And I wonder where his job went? (Please see my post above for clues.)
I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but I have known many engineers who have lost their jobs to overseas outfits. The jobs are primarily going to India and China. Heck, just last week I heard from a chemical engineering buddy (at Dupont) who said their entire R&D lab is moving to China within 5 years. He said, “In China they can hire 6 people for what they’re paying me.”
The trend will only get worse.
So my advice is this: Stay away from jobs where the deliverables can be emailed or easily sent through the mail. Keep re-reading that sentence until it sinks in.
And what jobs are those, you ask? Computer programming certainly comes to mind. If you’re trying to figure out what to major in, do not do it in software or computer engineering. (Unless of course you want to live in Bombay and make $4/hr.) I would also think twice about majoring in electrical, chemical, or mechanical engineering. Because the government prefers local suppliers, aerospace engineering is probably O.K. And it’s kinda difficult to build a bridge in Montreal from anyplace other than Montreal, so civil engineering is probably a winner. Same goes for nuclear engineering.
Here’s a good lesson I learned from one of my first bosses in the real world (perhaps the best boss I ever had).
We were in a group meeting, and someone said, hey it’s the bosses birthday. Come to find out, he had just turned 40. Someone asked him, “Since you have reached the noble age of 40, what is the most important thing you have learned in life?”. His immediate answer: “I have learned that I have the right to change my mind”.
If you are self motivated and have an interest in working for yourself, civil engineering is hands down the best field (assuming you have an interest in the work). Note that while civil engineers make very little money out of school relative to other engineerin fields, their incomes blow away every other engineering field about 15-20 years out of school. This is because a very high percentage of civil engineer are self-employed by this point. This is the only engineering field this occurs to any signficant degree. How many self employed chemical, electrical or nuclear engineers do you know?
wow.
where to begin…
First I would like to thank all of those who contributed to this extremely helpful thread. You don’t know how much I have learned in the past hour. Actually you do, because you also read it. Anyways…
Well the two main disciplines I am thinking of right now are Mechanical and Chemical. I have always had a strong connection with moving parts, and fixing things. I believe that I am very much a visual learner. What most intererests me is just building something on my own, and have the satisfaction of knowing I did it. However, right now I’m taking Physics and Chemistry, and am doing better in Chem. I find it easier. I am kind of struggling with some of the difficult math involved.
Also some of you said that Chem. is higher paid (yes i know, money isn’t everything), but that is something that I’m looking at. Do any of you engineers have really nice cars and hot wives?
I’m not sure if i’m allowed to post this but (banner ad NSFW)
e.g. http://www.boobdex.com/recent/stickfigurechick_m3_skyline_wrx.html
On to a more serious note, I hope that what xiao_wenti said about engineers having basically no social life is untrue. Please, for the love of god, please someone tell me it ain’t so (and mean it :D).
So thank you all again for all your help
That’s all I can think of saying right now. Feel free to add to this thread
-nifu
PS: When I get out of University, I will be open to job offers. Please contact me for high paying ones, thank you
I studied (Hons) Mechanical Engineering at McGill, which is similar to an Engineering Physics course at many schools (more math and pie in the sky physics, less design). Had some good summer jobs, but turned down MIT and went to med school after graduation.
At McGill, in 1991, you had to pick your engineering major before starting, but there was some flexibility to change paths without many extra courses, particularly for students outside Quebec. Montreal is a great city and the programs are very good but very arduous. McGill is known for its tough classes, wild residences and location more than its personal approach, resources, co-op programs or school spirit.
Engineering is a demanding degree. Both the amount of class time and time spent on projects is far greater than for most undergraduate degrees. Hence, less time is available for traditional university social activities outside your class, whom you will get to know well.
I think mechanical engineering is probably more flexible than other disciplines, and electrical or biomedical engineering is likely more lucrative. All disciplines require an enjoyment of math and physics and possibly chemistry.
I liked engineering, and it gave me an excellent approach to solving difficult problems. Unfortunately, many working engineers only use a fraction of what they learned in school, and I found working as an engineer far less fun and challenging than studying it. I did take five years to do a four year degree since I took a great many extra courses in arts, language, biochemistry and history that were difficult to fit into what is a very rigid curriculum.
Engineering in general is both quite marketable and generally underappreciated. The work is hard, and (like any broad field) somehow manages to be both highly fascinating and excruciatingly dull. I would probably do it again; engineering combines well (and this far from intuitive) with almost anything you may choose to do.
A civil engineer can work on the side if he wants. With a four year degree it is not difficult to become a licensed surveyor. Here, often when property changes hands, a new survey is required. After two semesters I was able to find a plat in the courthouse, verify the traverse with a transit, and draw a new plat on Autocad, but only a licensed surveyor can sign the new plat and make it a legal document. This makes it worth a couple of thousand dollars. Some Saturdays I am rodman for a civil engineer who works on the side, surveying house sites for real estate brokers. It never takes more than a couple hours and he gives me $125.
Aparently what I said was misconstrued. As an engineering student, I had a very rich social life. The key is time management. If you are unable to manage your time and prioritize, you will find it difficult to succeed. When I was finishing my BS, I had to work 6 out of seven nights. I still had one free. I must say that I graduated magna cum (nearly summa cum). If my goals were not so high, I would have had more time.
You will find that in your junior and senior years, you will NOT meet any new people in your classes, unless you have some free electives. If you don’t have an SO by this time, chose your electives accordingly.
Professionally, I love the people I work around. I am in a research environment. Most of my co-workers are foreign. I am sure that it will be the same in BC. To help break the ice with my co-workers, I took two years of Chinese. It is an international environment. I get to practice my Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and French.
I have the respect of my co-workers and collegues. I am pleased with my accomplishments. I just wish that the social status (and salary) were higher.
ME checking in here. I agree with most of the advice previously given, with one additional bit: not only should you ensure that whatever discipline you choose, you should include computer-related calsses, but also make sure those classes inlude heavy emphasis on EXCEL and ACCESS, as well as some AUTOCAD.
MSOFFICE has become the mainstay of most large corporations, but it’s surprising how few employees (including engineers) can use these programs to anywhere near their full capabilities. Learn how to program in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) so you can write macros that work in EXCEL and your job security will be greatly enhanced, regardless of what discipline you end up choosing to major in.
Personally, I came in as undelcared engineering, did a year and a half of general engineering classes, then i had to declare. I said electrical, because electronics interest me. BAD MOVE. I found out the EE is nothing like fiddling with a computer or an old stereo. I was EE until halfway through my junior year, then I switched to biomed. I love biomed. I actually will still be able to graduate on time, despite even changing concentration (I could easily have been biomed electrical, but I went for biomed mechanics.)
I never really liked bio all that much, but I enjoy my phsiology classes. Finding out what happens when you eat something, or why the Atkins diet works despite having so much fat is very fascinating to me. But to each their own.
Biomed is also very open-ended. With a mechanics concentration, I can go design implants or prostetics, work for automobile companies designing safty features and running crash tests, work or Nike to develop a better shoe, Hell, if I had this major at the start of my college career, I could have taken the right free electives to be able to go to med school as well. That would REALLY open things up, a doctor who knows engineering. It would be a good way to be an implant surgeon, or prostetic doctor type guy.
