clrj3514 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I've been thinking about what I want to go to school for & I'm thinking about engineering. My question is, do we have any engineers here? Anything you can tell me about where you went to school, what classes you took, your job, etc? Thanks in Advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 What kind of engineer do you want to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 What kind of train do you want to drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clrj3514 Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) What kind of engineer do you want to be? I'm not sure. I meant to add that question in my original post. What kind of engineering do you all do? Edited January 20, 2011 by clrj3514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I am not an engineer by title, but I work with a ton of them. They can be very annoying and anal. The biggest thing that I wish engineers had to go to schooling for was fabrication. They can calculate anything, but have no idea how to put it together and if something can actually be made or how to make it. Its kinda sad actually. If you are after money and management get your degree in whatever kind of engineering you want, mechanical or civil would work and then get your PE stamp. Lots of money with that. I am actually thinking about paying the couple thousand dollars and taking a class and the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I have a civil engineering degree from Ohio Northern University... I graduated in '96 and have been with the same employer ever since. I have a wide range of management responsibilties but as far as engineering design goes, my primary focus is structural steel design, as well as some foundation design. I am currently the only engineer on staff and it has been that way for nearly 7 years. In addition, I am currently certified in 18 states and will probably add more if my employer has business opportunities in others. If it wasn't for them paying for all my certs, I would probably only be certified in Ohio. http://www.goldengiant.us/ http://www.goldengiantmarina.com/ As far as college classes goes... for the first couple years you'll most likely have basic engineering classes including civil, electrical, and mechanical. I started out as an electrical engineer but realized pretty quick that it wasn't for me and switched after the first year... you'll have a year or two to decide so I wouldn't worry about it going in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Been doing it going on 15 years in the automotive industry. I started out in the electrical side too and realized it wasn't what I wanted to do. I got my BS in industrial technology and focused more on manufacturing/management. It's been ups and down's but I have never missed a paycheck in 15 years and three different companies including ten here. Got to travel all over the US, Canada, and Mexico too. Been lots of changes, including NAFTA, and then the Chinese explosion in manufacturing, but there will always be jobs in this field, you just have to be willing to keep learning and relocate sometimes. If I had the time and resources to go back to school, I would focus on environmental work, I see that as a great and growing opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambuscher Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I second this one. I am not an engineer by title, but I work with a ton of them. They can be very annoying and anal. The biggest thing that I wish engineers had to go to schooling for was fabrication. They can calculate anything, but have no idea how to put it together and if something can actually be made or how to make it. Its kinda sad actually. If you are after money and management get your degree in whatever kind of engineering you want, mechanical or civil would work and then get your PE stamp. Lots of money with that. I am actually thinking about paying the couple thousand dollars and taking a class and the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I second this one. I think we're largely a product of our environment. The GM engineers I have dealt with in the old days would design things like the sky was the limit. Personally I used to be anal and design tooling and machinery the way I wanted it to be, not taking into consideration the fab costs, material costs, etc. Working for a small company and small budgets and a good machinist will quickly teach you to stick with standard dimensions and common materials every time you can, always with service and maintenance of it in mind as you go. I really enjoy designing things that the OEM guys say we don't have the budget for and even performs better than their equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 If I had the time and resources to go back to school, I would focus on environmental work, I see that as a great and growing opportunity. I have to agree with this... I could have went for a minor in environmental and wish I would have at the time. It may be something you want to look into as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I second this one. I am not an engineer by title, but I work with a ton of them. They can be very annoying and anal. The biggest thing that I wish engineers had to go to schooling for was fabrication. They can calculate anything, but have no idea how to put it together and if something can actually be made or how to make it. Its kinda sad actually. If you are after money and management get your degree in whatever kind of engineering you want, mechanical or civil would work and then get your PE stamp. Lots of money with that. I am actually thinking about paying the couple thousand dollars and taking a class and the test. I do agree that some engineers do not have the practicle ability to design and fab as well. What you learn in college is the basic knowledge to get you started in your career. The practicle knowledge comes from experience in the work place. I obviously work for a small company being the only engineer. Being a design build company, I have gained the knowledge to design but could also fabricate (if I could weld worth a darn) and erect a building if it had to be done. It's really up to the individual on how much they want to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I do agree that some engineers do not have the practicle ability to design and fab as well. What you learn in college is the basic knowledge to get you started in your career. The practicle knowledge comes from experience in the work place. I obviously work for a small company being the only engineer. Being a design build company, I have gained the knowledge to design but could also fabricate (if I could weld worth a darn) and erect a building if it had to be done. It's really up to the individual on how much they want to learn. Correct and I agree, it is completely up to the individual. During college when I was getting my degree in Industrial Drafting and Design, I was also working at a custom four wheel drive shop building ground up buggies, chassis and any other accessory a customer wanted for their vehicle. I played with all kinds of metal everyday. I know what will work and what will not work. I know what will hold up in a roll over or a crash in the desert at 100mph. Its knowledge I have gained in hands on experience or being in the shop watching mentors do their work. There are times now when I will design something and an engineer will tell me it will never work, never hold together and all this other hogwash. Now, maybe but his calcs and his thought process in his head, it might not work, but in the real world and in application use, I would put my life on it that it will work. That guy would not even know how to turn a simple mig welder on and lay a bead but he can argue that a weld will not hold in a roll over. But oh well, there is no way to argue and win being a designer. I just do what I'm told and deal with it. Chris, whatever route you decide to take, get out in the field of whatever decipline you are studying and watch the workers that will be making the things you engineer. See how they work, see how they put things together and what tools they use. You will be amazed at how many engineers will get on AutoCAD and draw. Once they are complete they will show me their drawing and there will be a bolt hole .125" away from the upright on a piece of angle iron. My first question is how is a bolt head going to fit. If they can somehow prove to me that it will fit, the next questions will be how are they going to get a socket or wrench on the head. There is no answer after that and they will walk about saying a few choice words under their breath. You will succeed and be successful at anything you want to do, get all the schooling you need for that piece of paper. Get out in the field and watch, learn, ask to help and see the out of office side of it all. You can do whatever you want and no one can take that from you. disclaimer: It's early and I dont feel like proof reading. I apologize for the errors in spelling and grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 If I had the time and resources to go back to school, I would focus on environmental work, I see that as a great and growing opportunity. I have to agree with this... I could have went for a minor in environmental and wish I would have at the time. It may be something you want to look into as well. I would agree. Working in the Nuclear field, I hear all kinds of environmental work going on relating to sustainable energy. The one thing that is going to become big in the next 5 years will be Solar energy. Alot of new research and facility develope is about to start up in the next year or two. Buy your stocks now in solar companies. The past 10 years or so, it has been focused on wind energy. I honestly think the biggest thing that should be looked into and something I want to get into and be a part of the design process is hydropower in tidal environments without the use of a dam. It will take off and be huge one day and I would love to be a part of it. Mark my words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Also Chris, Work on those hands and get good with them. If and when you need an intership and I am still with this company, I can get you a 3-6 month paid internship. It will allow you a peek into the real world and help you decide if you really want to do something in the engineering field. We have every kind of engineer you can think of out here. The only downside is that our only customer is the DOE ie. government. Things happen a little bit slower than you would like and the regs are insane, but its a great eye opener and learning experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 When I have those "If I could do it over" moments, I have said that I would really like to become a Landscape Engineer. Think about, you get to work outdoors and you get to take something like a park and make it look inviting. Check this out. http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_Does_a_Landscape_Engineer_Do.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 How are your math skills? Does it come easily to you, or do you have to really work at it? Are you taking any advanced math courses? Better be able to handle the math if you want to succeed in engineering. Two engineering fields that are hiring right now are electrical engineering, especially if you know anything about wind generation, and hydrology. I know of one position for a hydrologist that's been open for months and they still can't get any qualified applicants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 A direction of where you want to live and what type of engineering you want to do will determine what type of engineer you'll be (mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, environmental, etc.). Here in Albany there's less manufacturing, but more service related work. Therefore, I'm currently an electrical engineering consultant. I don't design microchips. I design electrical services and distribution, as well as other electrical systems, for commerical environments (highschool, college campus, corporate building, etc.). Those two examples are far different, despite both being electrical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 My wife has a mechanical engineering degree. She graduated from a smaller, private school (Valparaiso University) and got a TON of hands-on experience. They have a big shop with CNC machines, lathes, welders, all kind of fabrication stuff. They did stuff a lot of other college students read about. Served her very well. She worked for a company that paid for her to get her MBA. She did that before we had kids. Now she has worked in aerospace, automotive, and currently orthopedic devices. Hips, shoulders, knees and toes. (OK, not toes, but if you want to sing it, you need one more thing in there.) She is a pricing manager making a great living. I love to brag on my bride. She's the bomb. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clrj3514 Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 How are your math skills? Does it come easily to you, or do you have to really work at it? Are you taking any advanced math courses? Better be able to handle the math if you want to succeed in engineering. I'm pretty confident in my math skills. In high school I've taken Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, & will be taking Pre-Calculus this coming semester. I've also taken & done very well in Physics which had A LOT of math. My physics teacher, who is also my Chemistry teacher, actually told me she believes I would do very well in a math-related career. One of the reasons I am thinking about engineering is because I have always enjoyed taking a problem & working it out until I can figure out the best solution. I like playing with numbers. Just a side note on my Geometry class: After my wreck in October 2009 I was out of school for 3 months. While I was gone, I had very little time to work on school work & nobody that new geometry to help me. When I went back to school, 3 days later I took my state Geometry exam and made a 90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) In college, my roommate as in mechanical engineering. He found a job immediately after graduating in May 2004. My brother-in-law is a computer engineer. He too found a job right after graduating a couple years ago. My wife's cousin graduated in August with his degree in electrical engineering and he's still trying to get a job. Be prepared for lots of math and calculus. All three I mentioned above also have a minor in Math because everything needed for the minor was included in their Engineering curriculum. They just had to apply for the Math minor. All would probably agree that Differential Equations might have been their most difficult math/calculus course. I was initially going to go into Civil Engineering, but switched to Biology before I started college. I wish I would've stayed with CE because I would probably be employed now. My buddy got an Associate degree in Civil Engineering Technology and he's making close to $50K/year working for a engineering firm. I've been contemplating going back to get a A.S. degree in a civil/environmental engineering based CAD/Drafting program. Edited January 20, 2011 by Mach1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 My wife's cousin graduated in August with his degree in electrical engineering and he's still trying to get a job. Where is he located and is he willing to locate? I have heard talk of needing a lot of eletrcial engineers out this way. Could be an option for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Where is he located and is he willing to locate? I have heard talk of needing a lot of eletrcial engineers out this way. Could be an option for him. St. Louis, MO area. He and his wife would like to stay around here. Both have most of their families around here. There's a number of EE jobs around here as well, but most are for experienced engineers with 5+ years of experience. Not very many for those starting off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Well, doesnt seem like things are getting too tight for him yet. If things do start to get tight and bad, let me know, I will be glad to look and see what I can find here. As well as put a resume in the right hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 What kind of train do you want to drive? this is what i was going to post... lol. BUT, the truth is a railroad engineer makes about $120,000. a year. that's better than an educated engineer. my feelings are that a person willing to work with his hands and get dirty, is waaaaaay better off than a person going to 4 years of college. stats show us that less than 5% of college grads got a job last year, and 2 1/2% of them were in goverment jobs. seriously, consider a tech school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 IAll would probably agree that Differential Equations might have been their most difficult math/calculus course. Don't remind me about differential equations... I worked my butt off in that class and somehow managed a B. Once I was done, I had no idea what I had just learned. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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