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Calling all ENGINEERS - Help!

Cyched said:
Thanks for the heads up! I'm currently thrilled about not having to take Physics 222
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I don't know if they changed it or not, but when I took Physics 222...I found it easier than 221. Who knows if they changed this, but 221 was more of a weed out class where they tried to get everyone not "worthy" to fail. Once you get passed that into 222, it's "okay, you are smart enough so we'll take it easier on you."

Lucky still you don't have to take it :smile:
 
I'm curious, why does everyone feel the first two years of engineering are weed out classes and then it gets easier from there? I graduated in CprE, and I thought the exact opposite. I felt the first two years is more like an extension from high school where you just chug out dumb math problems, take easy electives like Econ 101, and code in predefined, set problems. In the more advanced classes, you have to do more projects where the problem is less defined and you have to learn skills on the fly which aren't taught in class e.g. code a project in a language you've never used before. For example, does anyone really think Senior Design is easier than the first two semester of calculus?
 
GMan said:
I'm curious, why does everyone feel the first two years of engineering are weed out classes and then it gets easier from there? I graduated in CprE, and I thought the exact opposite. I felt the first two years is more like an extension from high school where you just chug out dumb math problems, take easy electives like Econ 101, and code in predefined, set problems. In the more advanced classes, you have to do more projects where the problem is less defined and you have to learn skills on the fly which aren't taught in class e.g. code a project in a language you've never used before. For example, does anyone really think Senior Design is easier than the first two semester of calculus?
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I think it would vary between which engineering degree you're going for..
 
GMan said:
I'm curious, why does everyone feel the first two years of engineering are weed out classes and then it gets easier from there? I graduated in CprE, and I thought the exact opposite. I felt the first two years is more like an extension from high school where you just chug out dumb math problems, take easy electives like Econ 101, and code in predefined, set problems. In the more advanced classes, you have to do more projects where the problem is less defined and you have to learn skills on the fly which aren't taught in class e.g. code a project in a language you've never used before. For example, does anyone really think Senior Design is easier than the first two semester of calculus?
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Absolutely, my senior design project was the best and most relevant year I had. You apply what you're learned in circuits, systems, programming, architecture, and science and apply them to solve a problem. Problem resolution & design can be natural, just as tedious book work can be natural.
 
BSME here; I work for a consulting firm which provides design services in the world of commercial construction. We have ME's and EE's on staff here and spend a good amount of time either out at construction meetings or design meetings with Architects, etcetera. It has become clear to me that the professor's / guidance counselors at ISU are not aware that there is a market out there for EE's that are not into circuit boards or large scale power distribution (utility) work. On a typical project, our EE's design includes lighting, power, fire alarm, and telecommunications.
 
marothisu said:
Couldn't agree more with this. He can do this too without an MBA too, but technical + MBA can open up tons of doors whether it's through consulting, a chief technical position, or just plain management. There's nothing better on paper than a guy who can communicate both technically as well as with business requirements and help out with business decisions, revenue generation, etc.

Anyway, I don't see why he wants to change. It sounds like he's just afraid. Make him follow his passion and what he wants to do instead of just taking the path of least resistance. If he loves EE or whatever engineering still a lot, get him to be more confident in his abilities and that college isn't going to be easy, but that if he works for it he can do extremely well anyway (as he's doing already it sounds like).


My degree is not engineering, although in most college it would be considered that. I do work as a consultant, and I love the job. I get to sometimes travel around and eat for free while working with other companies on interesting stuff sometimes. Sometimes my day is a ton of meetings figuring out how to help the client make the most money and other times I'm working maybe in a cubicle, or at home. Depends on the project though. Let's say I'm doing some work for Augusta National Golf Course. When I visit them, I'm not going to be in an office all day long. I don't see why so many people care if it's a cubicle or not. I think liking the work is a hell of a lot more important as long as you're working in comfortable conditions. I also work with sales people and some have engineering degrees. They do a lot of interesting work kind of, but also have a lot of fun. I know of sales people who will fly to Vegas if their client is there, client pays for a limo...they go and have a $1000/person dinner for free, go to concerts, go partying with clients, etc. I was just out with one of our sales execs last week and he made me realize his job is about half having fun and going to cool events just to make the company some $$$.

Anyway, I'd ask him where his passion is. Probably most important and it doesn't sound like he wants to go into something that'll put him in the poor house.
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Wow you and everyone you know must have the coolest ******* jobs on the planet. You do realize that this is not nearly the case for everyone, right? Why does everyone feel the need to lie to kids and act like the best jobs in their field are the norm? In reality it is only the very lucky or the very driven that are going to end up with those kinds of jobs. If the OP's son already needs mommy and daddy to talk him into sticking with his program, I'd say his chances of landing one of those went way down. You force him to stay on a career path he's not sold on, you're dooming him to the lame cube job he's afraid of.
 
Another vote for BSEE & MBA....

'91 ISU Grad, 2000 MBA grad from St. Ambrose (Davenport)

Started as a system engineer (in a cubicle) and worked my way to CEO of a mid-sized electrical utility by age 39 (with a window in the office!).
 
MNCyGuy said:
Wow you and everyone you know must have the coolest ******* jobs on the planet. You do realize that this is not nearly the case for everyone, right? Why does everyone feel the need to lie to kids and act like the best jobs in their field are the norm? In reality it is only the very lucky or the very driven that are going to end up with those kinds of jobs. If the OP's son already needs mommy and daddy to talk him into sticking with his program, I'd say his chances of landing one of those went way down. You force him to stay on a career path he's not sold on, you're dooming him to the lame cube job he's afraid of.
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You'd be surprised. I'm talking about consultancy (and maybe sales). There are hundreds of thousands of consultants out there. Believe me, it's a more abundant job than you'd think. Hell, even Accenture is hiring about 30,000 - 40,000 people right now. Deloitte is hiring another 10,000. Accenture employs over 185,000, Deloitte about 170,000, IBM about 190,000...these are just the top though. Tons of other firms/private consultants.

I agree with you though, you have to be driven and that's a characteristic of the job. However, I don't agree with you on the "if you need a push it's not for you." When I was in college, I almost switched majors even though I was doing very well already. I talked to my parents and they helped me keep in my major. Couldn't be happier.

I think it depends though on whether you know what's out there and get into a good job. Surely when I did my internships, I was bored from most of them....but then I found my current job. Didn't even know it was out there (partly because ISU career services/department didn't let us know about this stuff), but realized it would be more fun than what I did in internships, so I went with it.

I kind of, in the end, do agree with you though. If you find the regular job from the program then you might be doomed in the office cube type of thing. I think this is why the personal research part is important as well as ISU informing students about what's out there. I can speak about the company I work for...they would come to ISU and talk to us, but it was only one division. They would make you think it was the ONLY division in the company though so nobody knew of the other parts of the company. Kind of upsetting but it makes since due to bureaucracy.
 
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marothisu said:
You'd be surprised. I'm talking about consultancy (and maybe sales). There are hundreds of thousands of consultants out there. Believe me, it's a more abundant job than you'd think. Hell, even Accenture is hiring about 30,000 - 40,000 people right now. Deloitte is hiring another 10,000. Accenture employs over 185,000, Deloitte about 170,000, IBM about 190,000...these are just the top though. Tons of other firms/private consultants.

I agree with you though, you have to be driven and that's a characteristic of the job. However, I don't agree with you on the "if you need a push it's not for you." When I was in college, I almost switched majors even though I was doing very well already. I talked to my parents and they helped me keep in my major. Couldn't be happier.

I think it depends though on whether you know what's out there and get into a good job. Surely when I did my internships, I was bored from most of them....but then I found my current job. Didn't even know it was out there (partly because ISU career services/department didn't let us know about this stuff), but realize it was fun.

I kind of, in the end, do agree with you though. If you find the regular job from the program then you might be doomed in the office cube type of thing. I think this is why the personal research part is important as well as ISU informing students about what's out there. I can speak about the company I work for...they would come to ISU and talk to us, but it was only one division. They would make you think it was the ONLY division in the company though so nobody knew of the other parts of the company. Kind of upsetting but it makes since due to bureaucracy.
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But that's what I'm saying. If you're somebody who is just going through the motions of your major, you're not going to put in the leg work to find those jobs. You'll take the obvious path to cube-ville. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If he feels like he's at least got the freedom to explore options outside of engineering without ******* off mom and dad, I think it takes a huge amount of pressure off and makes it more enjoyable to find a job you like and are willing to work hard for. Who knows, he might end up finding his way back to EE. It just really sounds like the OP is telling his son that he better find something in EE that he likes because he doesn't want him switching out regardless of his reasons.
 
MNCyGuy said:
But that's what I'm saying. If you're somebody who is just going through the motions of your major, you're not going to put in the leg work to find those jobs. You'll take the obvious path to cube-ville. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If he feels like he's at least got the freedom to explore options outside of engineering without ******* off mom and dad, I think it takes a huge amount of pressure off and makes it more enjoyable to find a job you like and are willing to work hard for. Who knows, he might end up finding his way back to EE. It just really sounds like the OP is telling his son that he better find something in EE that he likes because he doesn't want him switching out regardless of his reasons.
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I mostly agree with this. I guess it depends on what you're given. In college, I remember being "discouraged" from the theory classes I had to take. I thought "what the hell am I getting into 3 years in now?" I seriously believe it's all marketing and what ISU tells you/knows of. How the program is set up too .....what they tell you how the "real world" will be vs. reality.

Anyway, I agree and it should be about finding what you like to do. All I'm saying is that you might not know of something in your own field that hires many people and it might turn out you really like it. To be honest, when I came out of college, I pretty much didn't like my major anymore that much, but was excited for the job. Love it now though.

Find what you like though in the end.
 
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When I saw the thread title, I was hoping you wanted an engineer to help you find out if a plan can take off on a treadmill.
 
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