Engineers
Engineers that have 10+ years working experience will probably agree with me here. The university you go to doesn't really mean ****. That is mostly dreamed up by high school kids for bragging rights, and sometimes is more closely related to how well the football team is doing, instead of the educational quality.
We aren't talking suck-*** lame degrees here. We are discussing Engineering degrees. It is a safe bet that ALL engineering programs will bust your *** and make you actually study...while the business and arts majors go drink beer every night. There is a shortage of engineers in all industries right now, so they honestly won't really care where you went to college unless the school you are attending is a crop source for a specific company.
Work experience and references tend to be more important to the hiring people. I honestly could care less where someone went to college when I'm interviewing them. I'm more interested in their attitude, skills, and work history.
We aren't talking suck-*** lame degrees here. We are discussing Engineering degrees. It is a safe bet that ALL engineering programs will bust your *** and make you actually study...while the business and arts majors go drink beer every night. There is a shortage of engineers in all industries right now, so they honestly won't really care where you went to college unless the school you are attending is a crop source for a specific company.
Work experience and references tend to be more important to the hiring people. I honestly could care less where someone went to college when I'm interviewing them. I'm more interested in their attitude, skills, and work history.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2005
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From: The 'Burgh, PA
Yes, Nine Ball speaks the truth. I do some interviewing and I could care less about where people went to school. I look at their experience, references, how they answer questions, ect. I had alot of fun at Penn State when I was in school, so the fun factor is def. something that you have to consider. Once you get out in the real world, no one cares about where you went to school or how many chicks you had in the frat house. You simply become an eligible body that is trying to fill a need for a company. And while some engineering programs are better than others, all of them will cover the core concepts that you will need to work as an engineer in the field.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Dallas, North Mexico
Originally Posted by Nine Ball
Engineers that have 10+ years working experience will probably agree with me here. The university you go to doesn't really mean ****. That is mostly dreamed up by high school kids for bragging rights, and sometimes is more closely related to how well the football team is doing, instead of the educational quality.
We aren't talking suck-*** lame degrees here. We are discussing Engineering degrees. It is a safe bet that ALL engineering programs will bust your *** and make you actually study...while the business and arts majors go drink beer every night. There is a shortage of engineers in all industries right now, so they honestly won't really care where you went to college unless the school you are attending is a crop source for a specific company.
Work experience and references tend to be more important to the hiring people. I honestly could care less where someone went to college when I'm interviewing them. I'm more interested in their attitude, skills, and work history.
We aren't talking suck-*** lame degrees here. We are discussing Engineering degrees. It is a safe bet that ALL engineering programs will bust your *** and make you actually study...while the business and arts majors go drink beer every night. There is a shortage of engineers in all industries right now, so they honestly won't really care where you went to college unless the school you are attending is a crop source for a specific company.
Work experience and references tend to be more important to the hiring people. I honestly could care less where someone went to college when I'm interviewing them. I'm more interested in their attitude, skills, and work history.
They do however seem very interested in your race and gender. If you're a woman or black (or hispanic or asian) thats most important than anything. If you're both, that's the best. Engineering doesn't attract many females or minorities.
At some companies I've worked at, engineers have gotten the "engineer of the year award" or generic equal for being a minority. The most recent one I can recall is "For promoting excellence as a member of SWE."
Yes, I am bitter.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 109
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From: Land O' Lakes, FL
Honestly, a couple courses in mechancal engineering, or even an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering won't teach you that much about automotive engineering. You basically get a overview of a variety of things as an undergraduate; if you want to be an expert in something, go get a Ph.D in that subject or have lots of hands-on experience with it (or both).
I am working on the Ph.D part of it now
I am working on the Ph.D part of it now
12 Second Club
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 536
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From: New Castle,IN- West Lafayette,IN
i have 2 friends that i went into ME with and one has already changed his major and the other is geting ready to they have asked me if i am going to change and at this point i really dont want to math is not my strong point but i think i can do it so what would you do in my situtation change or stick it out
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Originally Posted by austin21
i have 2 friends that i went into ME with and one has already changed his major and the other is geting ready to they have asked me if i am going to change and at this point i really dont want to math is not my strong point but i think i can do it so what would you do in my situtation change or stick it out
I'd say stick with it until you can find something else you might be interested in. If your really not happy with the courses, then you might think about changing. Don't do it because everyone tells you to though. YOUR the one that will be stuck with a career that you don't like, not your friends.
Use your "happy meter"
If on a scale of 1 to 10, if your "happy meter" isn't at least a 7, then I would change to something else.I love to crunch numbers and equations. So math never really was an issue for me. Although I know engineers that are better at math than I am.
12 Second Club
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: New Castle,IN- West Lafayette,IN
it would make me very happy after college to wake up everyday and know that i am an engineer but i guess i will just have to see how things go but as of right now i am going to stick it out ..thanks man
Originally Posted by austin21
it would make me very happy after college to wake up everyday and know that i am an engineer but i guess i will just have to see how things go but as of right now i am going to stick it out ..thanks man
11 Second Club
iTrader: (20)
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From: Albuquerque NM - The Land of 8000ft DA
Originally Posted by 1320FEVER
I'm not sure what to tell you. You should be fairly good at math, most engineers are. You don't have to be a math genius, but you should be pretty strong because it only gets harder after the calculus, diff eq, etc. (But it get easier after your jr year).
I'd say stick with it until you can find something else you might be interested in. If your really not happy with the courses, then you might think about changing. Don't do it because everyone tells you to though. YOUR the one that will be stuck with a career that you don't like, not your friends.
Use your "happy meter" If on a scale of 1 to 10, if your "happy meter" isn't at least a 7, then I would change to something else.
I love to crunch numbers and equations. So math never really was an issue for me. Although I know engineers that are better at math than I am.
I'd say stick with it until you can find something else you might be interested in. If your really not happy with the courses, then you might think about changing. Don't do it because everyone tells you to though. YOUR the one that will be stuck with a career that you don't like, not your friends.
Use your "happy meter"
If on a scale of 1 to 10, if your "happy meter" isn't at least a 7, then I would change to something else.I love to crunch numbers and equations. So math never really was an issue for me. Although I know engineers that are better at math than I am.
Calc and diff. eq. is probably the toughest part of the math. They setup the foundation for understanding the derivation of the equations from fluids to solid mechanics.
The calc you run into in your Major courses are pretty simple for the most part although you are going to get a few "curve *****" thrown at you, what you need to be strong at is algebra. It takes a lot of work and time because that can be tricky.
Thats for undergrad, grad is more challenging because you stop dealing with numbers and start dealing with strictly algebra, working on derivations and proving other equations. I hardly use my calculator.
I HIGHLY recommend doing internships or Co-Ops in the summers. Use it to earn a little money, get some experience/exposure to industry and take a breather. I wish I had.
http://cset.mnsu.edu/aet/ MSU, Mankato is where I went to school and I think it is exactly what you are looking for. The program is called Automotive Engineering Technology. It goes through all understandings of the car and gets you in hands on for each and every course. I don't think there is a better BS you can get that will relate you to cars.
I have worked at a couple of well know shops and this course was set up almost perfectly to get me started in those jobs.
Check it out and if you have more questions, give me a PM. They have a MD chassis dyno, Superflow chassis emmisions dyno, superflow motorcylce chassis dyno. SF-901 engine dyno, 2 Superflow flow bench's, Shock dyno, full cnc facility, compsites lab, 2 vehicle hoists and many more automotive based tools.
I think most guys on this board would love to get the AET degree. I know that I loved it, the only problem for me right now is there are no race engine shops in SW MN.
I have worked at a couple of well know shops and this course was set up almost perfectly to get me started in those jobs.
Check it out and if you have more questions, give me a PM. They have a MD chassis dyno, Superflow chassis emmisions dyno, superflow motorcylce chassis dyno. SF-901 engine dyno, 2 Superflow flow bench's, Shock dyno, full cnc facility, compsites lab, 2 vehicle hoists and many more automotive based tools.
I think most guys on this board would love to get the AET degree. I know that I loved it, the only problem for me right now is there are no race engine shops in SW MN.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Somewhere I Belong
Originally Posted by MSURacing
http://cset.mnsu.edu/aet/ MSU, Mankato is where I went to school and I think it is exactly what you are looking for. The program is called Automotive Engineering Technology. It goes through all understandings of the car and gets you in hands on for each and every course. I don't think there is a better BS you can get that will relate you to cars.
I have worked at a couple of well know shops and this course was set up almost perfectly to get me started in those jobs.
Check it out and if you have more questions, give me a PM. They have a MD chassis dyno, Superflow chassis emmisions dyno, superflow motorcylce chassis dyno. SF-901 engine dyno, 2 Superflow flow bench's, Shock dyno, full cnc facility, compsites lab, 2 vehicle hoists and many more automotive based tools.
I think most guys on this board would love to get the AET degree. I know that I loved it, the only problem for me right now is there are no race engine shops in SW MN.
I have worked at a couple of well know shops and this course was set up almost perfectly to get me started in those jobs.
Check it out and if you have more questions, give me a PM. They have a MD chassis dyno, Superflow chassis emmisions dyno, superflow motorcylce chassis dyno. SF-901 engine dyno, 2 Superflow flow bench's, Shock dyno, full cnc facility, compsites lab, 2 vehicle hoists and many more automotive based tools.
I think most guys on this board would love to get the AET degree. I know that I loved it, the only problem for me right now is there are no race engine shops in SW MN.
peace
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15
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The problem with Engineering programs today is that professors are UNTRAINED TO TEACH!!!
Getting a Phd is great, I wouldn't think about doing it. I want to get my BS ME and that is all. But getting a Phd should not be a ticket to teaching. It makes me sick that these teachers just go through the motions and really dont give a flying s*it if their students fail or pass, doesn't affect them.
My physics class, the dude derived formulas the entire class and did nothing else. I mean never once did an example problem. How the hell are you supposed to do physics if your just getting the derived equation? I can look in the book for that. Needless to say, 3/4 of the class dropped from about 100 students. Just makes me sick.
Same with Calculus.
This is the reason that I have contemplated getting out of ME and that most of the professors can't even speak proper english. All I know is that minorities are now dominating Engineering which is the way it is. More opportunities for me being a full blooded American who someone can actually understand and communicate with on a normal level.
Edit: I am a Jr. ME major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Tx.
Getting a Phd is great, I wouldn't think about doing it. I want to get my BS ME and that is all. But getting a Phd should not be a ticket to teaching. It makes me sick that these teachers just go through the motions and really dont give a flying s*it if their students fail or pass, doesn't affect them.
My physics class, the dude derived formulas the entire class and did nothing else. I mean never once did an example problem. How the hell are you supposed to do physics if your just getting the derived equation? I can look in the book for that. Needless to say, 3/4 of the class dropped from about 100 students. Just makes me sick.
Same with Calculus.
This is the reason that I have contemplated getting out of ME and that most of the professors can't even speak proper english. All I know is that minorities are now dominating Engineering which is the way it is. More opportunities for me being a full blooded American who someone can actually understand and communicate with on a normal level.
Edit: I am a Jr. ME major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Tx.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15
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Originally Posted by ShaunSG
I just really don't want to pay to go to some college where the professors have no real life experience, teach out of a textbook, and are unable, or don't have time, to answer questions. I know in the UK motorsport universities there are guys with 20-30 years experience in chassis, suspension, and engine design and development in F1, LMP, GT - in teams from Brazil to Japan to the US, to UK, that are professors. I think that is great.
Also would be bad if I didn't make any good connections (peers who graduate and go passionately onward to serious posts in top level professional racing).
Also would be bad if I didn't make any good connections (peers who graduate and go passionately onward to serious posts in top level professional racing).
Originally Posted by joecar
Sure they do, but it's now called CAD or whatever software...
You might want to rethink that. Most of the students coming out of college today have just been briefed on using a drawing software [CAD] or modeling software [Solid Works]... something like that. They have no more of an idea of how it works than someone who went to a couple day seminar.
They don't have a hand on manual drafting. One semester with both skills crammed into one class can't touch the basics of how to draft.
We had options to take drafting back in high school and I don't know anyone younger than me that had the same oppurtunities. It can't be taught that fast.
Last edited by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed; Dec 28, 2006 at 02:24 AM.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
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From: So.Cal.
Originally Posted by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed
You might want to rethink that. Most of the students coming out of college today have just been briefed on using a drawing software [CAD] or modeling software [Solid Works]... something like that. They have no more of an idea of how it works than someone who went to a couple day seminar.
They don't have a hand on manual drafting. One semester with both skills crammed into one class can't touch the basics of how to draft.
We had options to take drafting back in high school and I don't know anyone younger than me that had the same oppurtunities. It can't be taught that fast.
They don't have a hand on manual drafting. One semester with both skills crammed into one class can't touch the basics of how to draft.
We had options to take drafting back in high school and I don't know anyone younger than me that had the same oppurtunities. It can't be taught that fast.
I have noticed in general the quality of education going down in recent years...