Engineering Majors?

I'm working on my EE degree and recently got my foot in the door with the federal gov/D.O.D. They're paying for my schooling and training me to be an Electrician. From there it's all on me. I'm taking classes on my own in addition to the classes I'm taking for my journeyman certification. I've spoken to a few engineers at work and they all say that learning the Electrician trade (specifically the one I'm learning) will make me more valuable when I finish my degree as most engineering graduates have no experience as technicians.

Also the years of Dept of Defense work on my resume probably won't hurt either when I'm ready to move on.
 
^^^^ What types of jobs you can get with a ME degree and what types of tools I will use in the job. Also, compared to civil, which one is more fun, more jobs in future, and interesting?
 
I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer this past May and I have nothing but pros:

1. Your options are sky the limit, you can do just about anything with an Engineering degree. As for example all 6 directors, CEO, have an undergrad degree in some sort of engineering at my company. (Dominion East Ohio Gas) (Dominion Energy)

2. Pay scale is very great, I am 23 and started off making around 60K and the pay raise will be on the rise as you get more years/experience in. I am currently an Engineer 1, and guys here that are engineer 3 (about 4-5 years) are making 85-100K.

3. Money in college, you can obtain a CO-OP/Intership with a company and the pay is around $15-22/hr which is not too shabby for a college student.

Cons:
1. Hardwork, but you get what you put in. Arguably one of the hardest undergrad majors with many difficult concepts. It's crazy the stuff you learn and you are like What am I doing, but hey if you work hard, it will be rewarding.

If you had any other questions let me know.
 
^^^ Where are some good places to do internships and to apply? Is the actual work you do on the job very difficult? I like math so I want to do something with that. Would like to work with new technoblogy and stuff like that.
 
Originally Posted by Bballkingsrule

^^^ Where are some good places to do internships and to apply? Is the actual work you do on the job very difficult? I like math so I want to do something with that. Would like to work with new technoblogy and stuff like that.
Click to expand...

I would go through a career-fair program with your school, or just type in engineering jobs close to your area to see what places are looking for CO-OP's.

The actual work is much easier than what you learn in school imo. You're focused only on one type of thing, (not all the different thing you have to in school). Majority of your thinking is done by some software, you just have to decide how to use/approach the problem, using your engineering knowledge.
 
^^^^^ I know that mechanical engineering is very broad so what are the fun type of jobs you can get with ME? Like I heard you can even work with shoes like at Nike or something with ME. Also, is it simple to figure out how or what to use to appraoch the problem during working? And what types of things would an intern do for a ME related job. Sorry for all these questions, just very curious and want as much info as possible haha.
 
From my experience, you can do lots with just having an engineering degree. My dad is an ME and did hvac design at various consulting engineering firms for the last 30 years. Now he works for the govt as a project manager for various civil jobs (new baseball fields, public parks) in south jersey. My brother is an ME & has worked in the manufacturing industry, but originally wanted to be more hands-on in the robotics field, like in "disney imagineering" & such.

I'm an EE, with a focus in Power Systems Analysis & Distribution...had a few internships at power plants/companies in the Philly area, but decided on going the consulting engineering/project management route. My expertise now is Casino & Healthcare system design, but I'm good with any type of project. I'm about to take my project engineering license exam soon, I've got the experience, etc. & Drexel U. Co-op program really got my foot in the door...def go for a school that has some kind of internship program. I graduated in a 5-year program with already 1.5 years of engineering work experience & I've always had job opportunities.
 
Thanks for bumping the thread, very informative.

Im planning on majoring in engineering, just have to get through college apps the next 2 months. Hopefully Berkeley accepts me
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Originally Posted by thekillerj23

I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer this past May and I have nothing but pros:

1. Your options are sky the limit, you can do just about anything with an Engineering degree. As for example all 6 directors, CEO, have an undergrad degree in some sort of engineering at my company. (Dominion East Ohio Gas) (Dominion Energy)

2. Pay scale is very great, I am 23 and started off making around 60K and the pay raise will be on the rise as you get more years/experience in. I am currently an Engineer 1, and guys here that are engineer 3 (about 4-5 years) are making 85-100K.

3. Money in college, you can obtain a CO-OP/Intership with a company and the pay is around $15-22/hr which is not too shabby for a college student.

Cons:
1. Hardwork, but you get what you put in. Arguably one of the hardest undergrad majors with many difficult concepts. It's crazy the stuff you learn and you are like What am I doing, but hey if you work hard, it will be rewarding.

If you had any other questions let me know.
Click to expand...
great post, very informative.....good motivation for this physics hw i'm trying to finish
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....
 
Originally Posted by Bballkingsrule

Any other updates from people or in their process?
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i have this thread bookmarked

i guess im starting from scratch with this whole college ordeal

hope some of us can network and help each other out

any tips you guys can give to a future engineer about school or the workplace?
 
btw im going to be doing an interview with an engineer, if any of you guys arent busy i would like to ask you some questions if that ok.
 
Glad to see this thread is back!!!! And I really glad to see a lot Engineering majors on NT.

Cole-If you have any engineering question ask me. I am a ME graduated in spring of 2008. I now am a Reliability Engineer at DAK Americas(We make polyester and resin chips). Let me know
 
Originally Posted by jhobson5

Glad to see this thread is back!!!! And I really glad to see a lot Engineering majors on NT.

Cole-If you have any engineering question ask me. I am a ME graduated in spring of 2008. I now am a Reliability Engineer at DAK Americas(We make polyester and resin chips). Let me know
Click to expand...
for sure, ill prob be in contact with you in these upcoming weeks, its an interview i have to do for a class and i knew this would be a good place to ask someone.

can you pm me your email?
 
Originally Posted by jhobson5

Glad to see this thread is back!!!! And I really glad to see a lot Engineering majors on NT.

Cole-If you have any engineering question ask me. I am a ME graduated in spring of 2008. I now am a Reliability Engineer at DAK Americas(We make polyester and resin chips). Let me know
Click to expand...

mind if i pm you questions too later this week?
 
Does most of this also apply to a computer engineer bachelors degree or is there more of a difference as far as possible job selections out there and good demand for those in CE...?

Haven't noticed much talk on CE, yet i see a lot of ME talk.. great info

-Get At Me...
 
I GRADUATED IN 2008 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS WITH AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE.

I FOCUSED ON POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DISTRIBUTION.

I CURRENTLY WORK WITH A COMPANY OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND DOING DESIGNS OF PCRs (POWER CONTROL ROOMS) WHICH POWER TROLLEYS, RAILCARS, SUBWAY SYSTEMS FOR THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY. I'VE DESIGNED PCRs FOR SAN DIEGO TROLLEY AND AM CURRENTLY DESIGNING PCRs FOR THE WASHINGTON D.C TRANSIT EXPANSION AND PCRs FOR THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT EXPANSION.

PROS:

1. PAY OUT OF COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN ANY FIELD. MOST EEs START IN THE 55K-65K RANGE AND THIS IS PRETTY NORMAL FOR OTHER DISCIPLINES AS WELL. I STARTED OFF AT 60K + BONUS AND NOW AFTER JUST PASSING THE FE EXAM AND 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE I AM CLEARING 80K.

2. WORK IS VERY SATISFYING, I'M ALWAYS EAGER TO GO IN TO WORK AND WORK ON NEW DESIGNS AND NOTHING BEATS BEING ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING BUILT THAT YOU PERSONALLY BUT A LOT OF WORK IN TO. I COULDN'T EXPLAIN HOW IT FELT TO BE FLOWN OUT TO SAN DIEGO AND SEE BUILDINGS WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED POWERING TROLLEYS THAT I HAD PUT MONTHS OF WORK INTO IN REAL LIFE AND NOT JUST ON A COMPUTER SCREEN.

3. RELATIVELY EASY TO FIT INTO AND FIND ANY JOB WITH AN ENGINEERING DEGREE COMING RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE EVEN WITH A NOT SO GOOD GPA.

4. ABILITY TO WORK ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THE ENTIRE MARKET IS OPEN TO AN ENGINEER.


CONS:

1. THERE IS ONLY SO FAR AN ENGINEER CAN GO WITHIN A COMPANY WITHOUT EARNING A SUPPLEMENTAL. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, YOU WILL NEED TO PASS THE FE AND OBTAIN A PE LICENSE TO BE PROMOTED HIGH OR OBTAIN AN MBA. DEPENDS ON YOUR GOALS BUT I HIGHLY SUGGEST ENGINEER MAJORS OBTAIN AN MBA ONCE THEY BEGIN WORKING IN THEIR FIELDS.

2. GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE WITH YOUR ENGINEERING DEGREE WILL LITERALLY BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS YOU WILL EVER DO IN YOUR LIFETIME. I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY TIMES IN COLLEGE I HAD TO MISS EVENTS, PARTIES, ETC. AND WEEKENDS I'VE SPENT STUDYING ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. I REALLY FELT LIKE I WASN'T GETTING THE WHOLE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AS SOME OTHER MAJORS DID BUT THEN AGAIN ITS WORTH IT AFTER YOU GRADUATE. MOST GUYS IN THE EASIER MAJORS CAN'T FIND WORK...

ALL IN ALL ENGINEERING IS A GREAT FIELD TO ENTER AND WILL BE REALLY REWARDING. IRONICALLY, AS MUCH AS MATH IS STRESSED DURING UNDERGRAD. I HARDLY USE IT ON THE JOB, THERE SIMPLY ISN'T TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO MEET DEADLINES TO BE SITTING PERFORMING HARD MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS. YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW THE CONCEPTS THERE ARE PROGRAMS FOR DOING THE HARD MATHEMATICS.
 
A general question for you guys, where you always good at math or did that just come with time ? Its always been one of my weakest classes, but i have wanted to be a engineer for a few years now. btw 25 and juswt starting class in Jan, hope they are right its never too late to learn
 
About to graduate in less than 2 months!!
ME major with minor in NE, currently working as a contractor at a defense company.
 
^^ What exactly do you do at this company? Im thinking about CE and ME. Anybody wanna do some pros and cons for each one?
 
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