[Mechanical/civil/environmental/electrical] Engineers

[blefevre]

I'm really not interested in the salaries of the different choices, just want to study and do something I like.

Good. That was my point. Some people are saying go a different route to make money. That's not the way to do it. If you like electronics and creating circuits and controls then do EE, if you like machines and moving parts do mechanical, if you like chemicals do chemical, etc. Your job will most likely involve a lot less math then your school work does.

[billybobjoseph]

You know I went to college after having served, I couldn't even remember my math from high school. I got a 4.0 for my two years of pre engineering cause I spent all my time in the math lab bugging the hell out of the tutors. Hell I was paying a lot of money so figured I'd get what I could out of it. You can do it, just work at it. Oh yeah, since your on this site go Mech E

[reelizmpro]

I got my BSEE in 07 and loved math until Calculus but you gotta do what you gotta do. It's a challenging major for sure and you have to apply yourself unless you are one of those people who pick up on things easily. Some people just get it right away while others need practice. In retrospect, I should have taken Mechanical because I enjoy physics/mechanics and working on cars but figured Electrical was more broad. Keep in mind, few people actually end up doing what they studied in college. A degree isn't enough, you need to network and find opportunities. It certainly is a good thing to fall back on though if you do work out of your field.

[herbivor]

I love engineering. I'm structural. I will say, I hated my first 2 structural jobs out of school and wondered if I wasted 4 years for something I did not like, but then I found a company that fit me better and have loved it since. So even within the discipline itself there are some jobs you may like and some you may hate. I prefer to be around people and outside instead of behind a computer all day so it was hard for me to find that kind of job in engineering. Don't be afraid of changing disciplines if you find EE is not your thing. Many engineering majors will change disciplines half way through. I started ME then went CE.

[structured]

I am more confused about my choice of studies now than ever. I know that math is doable but I really cannot stand it at all. I really don't know what interests me, or what would make me happy. I've been thinking all day and I don't have the slightest idea. The only thing that does interest me in the slightest is the EE program....but that's just about it.

Listen, you don't have to love what you do. Just liking it is enough. Personally, while in hindsight I can think of a few other professions which I would rather do, I am still able to find joy in the fact that I do something which I can be proud of. Sometimes that is enough, but it is up to you.

I say stick with it for another semester. Get an internship and talk to recent graduates about what their daily is like. Then you can make a better assessment.

There is no point in quitting because you aren't sure if you like something, especially if you don't have something else which you know you want to do.

[Ssolidarity]

This is really a tough one. I almost dropped out of engineering school in my first semester. I was doing poorly and I wasn't enjoying myself. Ended up sticking with it, though, and I wound up being very successful academically. Now I have a masters in structural engineering, I have been working for nearly four years, and I just applied for my license. If I had dropped out (which I really almost did) I would be back home painting houses or working at a restaurant or something.

I could talk for hours about the pros and cons of becoming an engineer but that would take way too long. If there are only two things I should tell you, these are them:

- You will do it if you really want to. It is though but anybody with a bit of brains and a lot of dedication can finish an engineering degree.

- Don't do it if you aren't completely sure that you are going to like it. I actually enjoy my work, but I still find myself asking if I am really happy. No amount of money can make up for spending 80% of your time doing something you don't like (yes, you will work a lot if you work for a private consultant).

I am more confused about my choice of studies now than ever. I know that math is doable but I really cannot stand it at all. I really don't know what interests me, or what would make me happy. I've been thinking all day and I don't have the slightest idea. The only thing that does interest me in the slightest is the EE program....but that's just about it.

[structured]

This is really a tough one. I almost dropped out of engineering school in my first semester. I was doing poorly and I wasn't enjoying myself. Ended up sticking with it, though, and I wound up being very successful academically. Now I have a masters in structural engineering, I have been working for nearly four years, and I just applied for my license. If I had dropped out (which I really almost did) I would be back home painting houses or working at a restaurant or something.

I could talk for hours about the pros and cons of becoming an engineer but that would take way too long. If there are only two things I should tell you, these are them:

- You will do it if you really want to. It is though but anybody with a bit of brains and a lot of dedication can finish an engineering degree.

- Don't do it if you aren't completely sure that you are going to like it. I actually enjoy my work, but I still find myself asking if I am really happy. No amount of money can make up for spending 80% of your time doing something you don't like (yes, you will work a lot if you work for a private consultant).

[mrsleeve]

I like dirt and geology so.... Well if I ever get the chance to go back and finish a degree thats what it will be in. Petroleum and need for it will be around for a very very long time to come and the need for good engineers to go and get it

Possibility are not really that limited as I know lots of people that have various high powered degrees from various engineering disciplines, to Computer sciences, to International Business, that are in good jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their chosen area of study. Hell I know a guy that was in my HS class that went got hes ME, but is now a dentist. A friend of a friend is a Big With a chain of car dealerships that has a Civil eng degree. And so on.

[Conki]

Fer srs OP look into the Pet/E paid twice as much for 1/2 the time right outta the box from the get go.

This is true, but it also limits your possibilities. The oil industry needs ME, CE, and Chem majors among many others too. And it is the best paying industry for engineers for sure.

[mrsleeve]

Fer srs OP look into the Pet/E paid twice as much for 1/2 the time right outta the box from the get go.

[Conki]

It can get to be a lot of "fun" to try and reduce the number of parts in an assembly while trying to keep the tolerance stack under control. There are many different solutions to many of the problems encountered in engineering, you certainly get to be creative.

And this is why I love it. So I guess I'm lucky to love what I'm doing haha

[Sagaris]

Mechanical Engineering major here.

I had a 3.5 GPA in high school, wasn't good at physics and math, loved auto shop and CAD because they didn't require studying for, just picking it up and giving it trial and error. You don't have to be a genius to be an engineer. You just need to be determined. Engineering School, tinkering with my e30, and sleeping constitutes 99% of the last 4 years of my life, and unfortunately I didn't get much time at all for the last two. With that said, I have seen a heap of people quit and drop out.

I am not a believer in "do what you love". Otherwise the world would be a bunch of hipsters and auto mechanics. Instead, I try to make what I do interesting, challenging and engaging. It can get to be a lot of "fun" to try and reduce the number of parts in an assembly while trying to keep the tolerance stack under control. There are many different solutions to many of the problems encountered in engineering, you certainly get to be creative.

[Ssolidarity]

You need to be an EU citizen to work there, so yeah, your German citizenship would definitely help:)
I don't recommend attending a European university if you lived in the states your whole life and only experienced the US school system.
I studied my butt off in HS in Hungary to get a 1.9 GPA.
I studied much less in the states as an ME major taking 27-30 units per semester, and I'm graduating with a 3.63< GPA.
I think this shows the different levels of education well.
Well, I don't mean it like that. US universities are just as good as the EU ones, only they are much more student-friendly.

Ah man this makes it tough. I really do want to live there, but I don't like the idea of failing. Thanks for all the advice

[Conki]

Ah I see. All the colleges in Germany I am applying to have English courses for their degrees. I have heard that they are more strict, but if others have done it I don't see why I couldn't. I do like it there a lot, and I'm a citizen of Germany as well, so I would guess that that would make it easier to find work..?
Yea you are right, I guess I'll see what happens in a few months/ next semester and decide then.

Good luck with your goals to work for bmw! thanks for the advice as well

You need to be an EU citizen to work there, so yeah, your German citizenship would definitely help:)
I don't recommend attending a European university if you lived in the states your whole life and only experienced the US school system.
I studied my butt off in HS in Hungary to get a 1.9 GPA.
I studied much less in the states as an ME major taking 27-30 units per semester, and I'm graduating with a 3.63< GPA.
I think this shows the different levels of education well.
Well, I don't mean it like that. US universities are just as good as the EU ones, only they are much more student-friendly.

[Ssolidarity]

IT stands for Industrial Technology at my college.
If you don't speak German fluently, don't even think about going to a German school. Even if you do, European schools are much more demanding/cruel/intolerant, so I would advise against studying in Europe.

I plan on moving to Germany to work for BMW, but they require a high level of German knowledge obviously. Since I've been busy learning English while in school here (I'm an international student), I haven't had time to learn German. I'll be done with school this semester though, so I'll try to learn German next year while I'm doing my internship. I'm so excite hahaha:)

Back to the topic: Engineering is great so far, I can't imagine doing anything else, so if you really like it as well, just work hard and you'll get through it!

Ah I see. All the colleges in Germany I am applying to have English courses for their degrees. I have heard that they are more strict, but if others have done it I don't see why I couldn't. I do like it there a lot, and I'm a citizen of Germany as well, so I would guess that that would make it easier to find work..?
Yea you are right, I guess I'll see what happens in a few months/ next semester and decide then.

Good luck with your goals to work for bmw! thanks for the advice as well