Just got accepted to Purdue. Who else here's an Engineer?

[rwh11385]

I remember from E30Sport, there was thread asking who all was an engineer.
A lot, i mean a lot, of us were engineers, as i am going to be.
I'm going to Purdue, because it's in state, but it still has the #6 ranked Mechanical Engineering program.

Who on R3V is currently an engineer, earning their degree, or looking forward to?

- - Wingnut

[rs4pro3]

I'm geting a dual associates degree in Mechanical engineering Technology, and also in CAD-CAM. So I'm taking all those Engineering classes. This is my third semester at the local comuntiy college. I've got another 3 semester left. And just took my Statics mid term today, not to bad except for a truss problem which I couldn't figure out so I just did the graphical method(lot easier but I prefer to do the math so I learn how to do the problem).

[NCm42]

My brother is a 3rd year Mechanical engineer student at N.C. State. He loves it but it is tough right now. He is getting ready to do an internship with either G.E. or BMW. Good luck to ya at Purdue!!!!

[Z3Jonathan]

I'm a 4th year engineering major at Bradley University. Nearly everyone in my extended family who has a college degree has graduated from Purdue. Overall, their MechE program is very good, provided you can get yourself invovled.

In general, I believe there are 3 things undergraduate MechE student's should focus on:

1. Academics: Take the proper classes, and try to stick to a 4- or 5-year schedule. Maintain a 3.0+ GPA. Maintaining a solid GPA at any school will require you to relearn study skills... at a big school like Purdue, this may be harder. What you did in high school won't cut it in college. Less time, more material, and you're required to have a better grasp of the applying the the material.

2. Extracurriculars: Find an organization (American Society of Mech Engineers, Society of Autmotive Engineers, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, American Foundrymen Society, etc) and GET INVOLVED. Become an officer, get involved in their engineering projects. If cars interest you, work on Purdue's FSAE cars. If A/C systems interest you, do some research with a thermodynamics/heat transfer professor.

3. Work experience: Start looking for work experience ASAP (preferabbly after your first semester once you have a college GPA). Purdue has a 1st rate Co-Op program. Joint it. You not only get good work experience, but also develop industry contacts, and get some good pay to help pay for school. You do add atleast 1 year to your undergrad however. Next in line would be internship experience. A summer internship doesn't leave a lot of time to gain experience, but if you can complete several summer internships with 1 company, then do it. I've completed 2 Co-Op semesters so far (my 3rd coming up) and its been the best decision of my life.

Any questions, PM me. I've been there, done that. I've been your shoes, and applied (and got accepted to) Purdue.

Jonathan

[ydubbs4]

I just graduated from Union College up in NY as an ME last June. Dunno if I am really going to do anything with it though. All the above points are very good, and heed them all. I have about 16 months of Co-op experience under my belt (9 at GE alone), and it really comes in handy. Maintaining above a 3.0 is paramount as well. I have heard stories of employers simply throwing out resumes of applicants that dont meet that requirement.

My only other addition is be ready to make sacrifices to get through it all. I knew some real smart folks at Union that were able to live the life of an engineer, as well as party a lot, but they are few and far between. Being an engineer is going to mean sacrificing nights out on the town with your friends. Mid-week parties are going to be the exception, not the rule, and its going to suck to see your friends party while you are stuck in the lab doing work. Hopefuly when you get out, the job market will have healed, and you will be pulling down mid 40's without a problem. Best of luck to you.

Will

[AndrewBird]

I am only in high schoool right now, but all the elective classes I am taking are for engineering. I've taken CAD1 and am going to be in CAD2 later this year along with mnay other tech classes. My school is brand new so we have a $30,000 tech lab with CNC machines and plasma cutters galore! Not sure where I want to go or will be able to go after I get out of HS, but I'll be ready when I get there. I want to go into the field of robotics by the way.

Andrew