While I agree with most of this, elite engineers can concentrate on Engineering if they want, rather than sit at a desk or Boardroom.
Engineering Degree
- Thread starter isucyfan
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Oh for sure. Especially the more antisocial engineers that really just love the design and engineering aspect.
He's definitely in the book smart category. He's leaning towards Computer Engineering or Electrical for that reason.
There are lots of "non-degree-specific" opportunities for people who major in economics or stats or physics. Being able to think critically and analytically, and handle large amounts of data (especially if you can code) opens A LOT of doors across all industries.
Just to pile on with an additional data point with a lot of great feedback that I've read so far - while choosing a field is important, it doesn't necessarily shut doors to other options later in life.
I knew I wanted to go into Computer Engineering, and graduated in '06 with a CprE degree. Since then, I've worked in Avionics, and in Tech, and am actually now a Product Manager. A lot of careers take interesting turns once you get into an industry, so try not to get too hung up on the major.
That being said, I would highly suggest Software or Computer Engineering of one type or another as it can be applicable pretty readily across numerous industries and open doors to non-software jobs there as well (for future possibilities).
Also, with the way much of the Tech world is going, fully remote work is becoming the norm and opens up a lot of fun options for where you want to live without being as limiting to your career options.
Just my 2 cents to go along with a lot of great advice here. I hope your son finds a good path for him!
I knew I wanted to go into Computer Engineering, and graduated in '06 with a CprE degree. Since then, I've worked in Avionics, and in Tech, and am actually now a Product Manager. A lot of careers take interesting turns once you get into an industry, so try not to get too hung up on the major.
That being said, I would highly suggest Software or Computer Engineering of one type or another as it can be applicable pretty readily across numerous industries and open doors to non-software jobs there as well (for future possibilities).
Also, with the way much of the Tech world is going, fully remote work is becoming the norm and opens up a lot of fun options for where you want to live without being as limiting to your career options.
Just my 2 cents to go along with a lot of great advice here. I hope your son finds a good path for him!
I would echo some of the comments considering where he may want to live after school. While some disciplines can find work just about anywhere, some of the more specialized fields will tend to drive you to certain parts of the country.
Also, while it is great to pick a major, get a job, and spend your career in that field it isn't necessary. Don't feel the pressure as if this is a lifelong decision that you can't ever deviate from. I'm outside my typical industry, and have many other coworkers from aero, nuclear, civil and others that are out of what you would consider their industry.
My undergrad adviser freshman year told us we wouldn't use 90% of the content they were teaching. What they were really doing was teaching us how to learn and problem solve. He was absolutely right. And those skills transfer.
Also, while it is great to pick a major, get a job, and spend your career in that field it isn't necessary. Don't feel the pressure as if this is a lifelong decision that you can't ever deviate from. I'm outside my typical industry, and have many other coworkers from aero, nuclear, civil and others that are out of what you would consider their industry.
My undergrad adviser freshman year told us we wouldn't use 90% of the content they were teaching. What they were really doing was teaching us how to learn and problem solve. He was absolutely right. And those skills transfer.
A friend of mine got his degree in mechanical engineering, he once told me that there are only 3 things you need to know to be an engineer.
1. A long and complicated math formula.
2. Water runs down hill, all by its self.
3. You can't push rope.
I couldn't figure out the first one so I was out of luck.
1. A long and complicated math formula.
2. Water runs down hill, all by its self.
3. You can't push rope.
I couldn't figure out the first one so I was out of luck.
I told my son to go through the course catalog and start picking JR and SR level classes that looked interesting to him. Then pick the major that fits the most closely with those classes. In high school he was sure he wanted to be an engineer and he ended up with a Horticulture degree.
Make sure you don't hate it first off. Second off, make sure it's something that is easily employed in that area as most of your connections will be central to your school.
It’s easier to make a nerdy kid cool then make a cool kid nerdy
BSME 2010 doing Sales Engineering
This is my advice too, as a current engineering student. The entry-level courses are almost always going to be boring but tough, because it’s the base knowledge you need for more advanced classes. He should take a look at the junior and senior year classes for different majors, and see which ones sound most interesting to him.
I started as undeclared engineering in fall of 2001, so no idea if this is still the case at ISU or how it compares to Tx Tech. However, at that time the first programming class you took (160-series classes, I think) varied somewhat depending on major, and I seem to recall that class was a prereq for certain 200/300 level classes in each engineering discipline. I believe I declared EE after first semester and took the programming class spring semester, and still made it out in 4 years, but I seem to remember there being some limitations of what classes I could take in my 2nd semester vs if I'd taken a programming course in the fall. Or maybe I took a generic one instead of what an EE normally would have taken and had to go through an advisor to register for stuff later because I didn't technically have the correct prereq... it was long enough ago I can't remember for sure, but I know there were some slightly weird wrinkles. At that time most of the core requirements were the same for all the engineering majors, but I think there were some other nuances (like I believe ChemE had to take a different/harder chemsitry than most of the other disciplines).
So basically where I'm going with this is, if he has some inclination of what major (or majors) he thinks he's most interested in, I'd look kinda close at the 2nd/3rd/4th semester classes and see what the prereqs are to make sure there isn't anything that could become limiting. Or at least be aware what could become limiting and make sure there's a way around it.
So basically where I'm going with this is, if he has some inclination of what major (or majors) he thinks he's most interested in, I'd look kinda close at the 2nd/3rd/4th semester classes and see what the prereqs are to make sure there isn't anything that could become limiting. Or at least be aware what could become limiting and make sure there's a way around it.
Depends if in the budget and opportunity cost, not to mention late project penalties and time pressures.
Kinda sounds like you're saying important jobs go to business people (even if they require skilling up) and any old job will be going to an engineer off the street
Well, maybe when to have the company Christmas party, but not in production schedule or patent application timing.
Production schedules and quotas are definitely decided by management and not engineers. An engineer might say it's impossible (lie) unless we do XYZ but then management makes the decision and engineers have to get it done.
