Becoming an Engineer: Considerations and Personal Experiences

[Sniperking]

Hello. I'm a senior in HS, and I'm planning on to major in computer engineering. I love computers, born and raise around them also I love engineering. I plan on going to University of Washington. My question is. Can someone please explain what EXACTLY a computer engineer does or better yet tell me what they design? I've google it, but it doesn't explain what they do. It seems like computer engineering is like a new breed of the engineering world, which I know is not.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ian_Brooks]

well I'm in electrical engineering and I can verify that the maths i use in my engineering subjects is much more complicated and involved than what is taught in our mathematics courses and here we do
* discrete
* calc I,II,III
* DEQ
* linear algebra 1, advanced linear alegebra
* Complex analysis I, II
* Prob / stats

- EE is still very mathematically involved

 

[ranger]

Hello. I'm a senior in HS, and I'm planning on to major in computer engineering. I love computers, born and raise around them also I love engineering. I plan on going to University of Washington. My question is. Can someone please explain what EXACTLY a computer engineer does or better yet tell me what they design? I've google it, but it doesn't explain what they do. It seems like computer engineering is like a new breed of the engineering world, which I know is not.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Sniperking,

I'm currently an undergrad in computer engineering. It is not very easy to pin point exactly what he does. This is because with a degree in comp. engineering you can then branch off into a myriad of fields. Some examples are embedded systems design, digital and analog circuit design, systems engineering, programming, robotics, computer controlled systems, and there are so many others.

As an undergrad you'll be taught the same physics and (usually) the same math as someone who is studying electrical or mechanical engineering. By the physics I mean physics I&II, and EM. The math is usually on the level of calc I-III, differential equations, discrete math, and linear algebra. Those are usually the core requirements.

The best way to think of computer engineering is that it is a merge of the electrical engineering department and the computer science department. You will be taking courses in circuit analysis, digital and analog circuit design (more emphasis on digital), extra courses in computer architecture. On the CS side, you can expect to take courses on various programming languages, algorithms, compiler design, operating systems, data structures, etc. http://www-cs.ccny.cuny.edu/academics/ce/courses.html is a list of courses that our computer engineering department requires. Note how EE and CS courses each make up half the curriculum. You can even take a look at your own:
http://www.cs.washington.edu/education/course-webs.html

The point here is that you can venture off into either software oriented, hardware oriented, or both. As for me, I've decided to choose computer controlled systems - its the best of both worlds. I will however eventually specialize in digital and analog circuit design.

I'm not sure whether I've helped you here. Maybe I'm just repeating some of the things you've already found while doing research. But you should definitely drop by UW and talk to a adviser in the engineering department. If you have anymore specific questions, please ask.

 

[xexx]

This entire thread seems to be based on the technical aspects and difficulties as an Engineer. How about the hiring process to those that are halfway there (crying). Are communication and interpersonal skills related heavy on employment in addition the academic success?

 

[Vagrant]

Is Manufacturing Process and Automation Engineering a good branch?

This is the course description given on the site of my college.
http://www.nsit.ac.in/department/mpa.html

 

[FredGarvin]

This entire thread seems to be based on the technical aspects and difficulties as an Engineer. How about the hiring process to those that are halfway there (crying). Are communication and interpersonal skills related heavy on employment in addition the academic success?

You bet they are. Unfortunately, you need to be able to sell yourself to a perspective employer. Part of that sales pitch is showing how well you will fit into their existing work environment. Communication and relating to your co-workers is important.

 

[vsingh165]

Don't be too put off by the maths in engineering- my boyfriend and housemates do engineering but the level of maths they use is much less than I seem to use in my physics degree (although I agree that this is probably not true for electric/aerospace)). I think the difference seems to be that whereas in engineering you use maths as a tool to solve a problem, in physics it is more like maths is the language you speak about everything in because its the only way you can make sense of such abstact things e.g. quantum mechanics etc. I think if you enjoy physics and are comfortable with maths but maybe aren't interested in/ struggle with abstact ideas like QM , relativity etc then go for engineering rather than physics- but you definitely don't have to be some sort of maths genius.



My second point is that I was at a science careers fair today and the people who wan't physicists are all finance/ investment companies (fine if you just want to make money) but the actual 'scientific jobs' were all looking for engineers- they want someone who can design stuff, fix stuff etc as well as just someone with maths/science skills.

Yeah I'm not too put off by the math requirements that Ohio State has for Engineering. They have Calc 1 thru Calc 4, then differential equations, linear algebra, and a stats/probability class (which totals to about 7 quarters of math).

Despite OSU being a large public school that is usually known for athletics and sometimes even crazy partying, they rank in the top 25 for engineering schools in the US. Plus the tuition is great ($8600 a year)!

 

[Astronuc]

IMO, any engineer these days should major in as much math and physics as possible. I started out in astrophysics and nuclear physics and migrated to nuclear engineering, which itself involved some nuclear physics. Engineering is becoming much more challenging these days, and anyone who has a sound math/physics background will find a lot of companies eager to hire one.

Also, in addition to straight engineering, one has the option of an Engineering Physics degree.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_physics

www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/majors/14.1201.html


In no particular order:

http://www.eng.rpi.edu/mane/ug_curriculum_eng_phy.cfm

http://www.aep.cornell.edu/

http://www.virginia.edu/ep/

http://www.engr.wisc.edu/ep/

http://www.princeton.edu/EngineeringPhysics/

http://www.phys.cwru.edu/undergrad/programs/bs_engr.php

http://www.ee.princeton.edu/eng-phys/intro.html

http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/

http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/engsci/ep.html

http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/

http://engphys.mcmaster.ca/

http://www.engphys.ubc.ca/

http://www.physics.queensu.ca/

http://physics.usask.ca/

http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/undergraduates/engineering-science/engineering-physics

http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/bulletin/engphys/index.html

http://physics.engr.ku.edu/

www.phy.stevens.edu/

www.coe.ou.edu/ephysics//

www.physics.ucok.edu/

www.engr.wisc.edu/ep/neep/

www.physics.utulsa.edu/

http://bohr.ms.virginia.edu/ep/ephome.htm

http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/ab/engphys.html
www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/academics/engphys.html

www.engin.brown.edu/undergrad/guide/enginphysics.html

www.physics.arizona.edu/physics/programs/undergrad/generalinfo.html

www.physics.umaine.edu/programs/degrees/undergrad.htm
http://www.physics.umaine.edu/programs/degrees/BS-EPS.htm

http://www.mines.edu/academic/physics/undergrad_pgm/index.html

www.fy.chalmers.se/ [Fysik och Teknisk Fysik Chalmers/GU - Hem]

www.kth.se/eng/education/programmes/master_engineering/engineering_physics_180.html

www.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/EP/

www.iitd.ernet.in/deptt/phy/

I plan to elaborate further on physics/engineering when I have time.

 

[vsingh165]

IMO, any engineer these days should major in as much math and physics as possible. I started out in astrophysics and nuclear physics and migrated to nuclear engineering, which itself involved some nuclear physics. Engineering is becoming much more challenging these days, and anyone who has a sound math/physics background will find a lot of companies eager to hire one.

Also, in addition to straight engineering, one has the option of an Engineering Physics degree.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_physics

www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/majors/14.1201.html


In no particular order:

http://www.eng.rpi.edu/mane/ug_curriculum_eng_phy.cfm

http://www.aep.cornell.edu/

http://www.virginia.edu/ep/

http://www.engr.wisc.edu/ep/

http://www.princeton.edu/EngineeringPhysics/

http://www.phys.cwru.edu/undergrad/programs/bs_engr.php

http://www.ee.princeton.edu/eng-phys/intro.html

http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/

http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/engsci/ep.html

http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/

http://engphys.mcmaster.ca/

http://www.engphys.ubc.ca/

http://www.physics.queensu.ca/

http://physics.usask.ca/

http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/undergraduates/engineering-science/engineering-physics

http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/bulletin/engphys/index.html

http://physics.engr.ku.edu/

www.phy.stevens.edu/

www.coe.ou.edu/ephysics//

www.physics.ucok.edu/

www.engr.wisc.edu/ep/neep/

www.physics.utulsa.edu/

http://bohr.ms.virginia.edu/ep/ephome.htm

http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/ab/engphys.html
www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/academics/engphys.html

www.engin.brown.edu/undergrad/guide/enginphysics.html

www.physics.arizona.edu/physics/programs/undergrad/generalinfo.html

www.physics.umaine.edu/programs/degrees/undergrad.htm
http://www.physics.umaine.edu/programs/degrees/BS-EPS.htm

http://www.mines.edu/academic/physics/undergrad_pgm/index.html

www.fy.chalmers.se/ [Fysik och Teknisk Fysik Chalmers/GU - Hem]

www.kth.se/eng/education/programmes/master_engineering/engineering_physics_180.html

www.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/EP/

www.iitd.ernet.in/deptt/phy/

I plan to elaborate further on physics/engineering when I have time.

Engineering Physics seems like a good major, but I'm not THAT good at physics yet (I only took Physics 1 in high school). Electrical Engineering only requires 3 quarters of calc-based physics (131, 132, 133) as prereqs.

For you highly physics-oriented people, I would probably do Eng. Physics. But not me...no way.

 

[Terp]

hhmmm...ive never had to work with major statistics! and to be honest, it doesn't sound very interesting...Now, I am leaning towards electrical or software? i would love to do civil engineering, but I guess it involves a lot of physics! how about majoring in mathematics? Anyone, here, who knows about this field?

An engineering degree here (University of Maryland at College Park) doesn't require THAT much math, but certain discplines have it easier.

For example, my branch in Civil engineering (Transportation systems and project management), requires Calc I, II, III, and diff eq for a bachelors degree, nothing more. However, Physics, Physics 2, statics and sometimes dynamics (for Infrastructure focused Civ. engineers) is also required.

I'd consider myself decent at math, okay with physics, but I have a passion for designing things and I consider myself very inclined to everyday application of knowledge, whether it be fixing a car or building/designing a deck. I should probably be in the architecture school but I'm not *shrugs*. Hope this helps :).

 

[godwinscareer]

can you do engineering after a bachelors in chemistry ?

 

[lizzy2k6]

i'm thinking about majoring in math, but i want to go to engineering grad school. would that be a bad idea to major in math then? would that make it harder for me to get into engineering grad school?

 

[kdinser]

i'm thinking about majoring in math, but i want to go to engineering grad school. would that be a bad idea to major in math then? would that make it harder for me to get into engineering grad school?

You should probably major in engineering and just take a lot of extra math classes. Maybe give yourself an extra year to graduate so you can fit it all in. Double major would also be an option.

I doubt you would have much luck getting into a engineering grad program without taking quite a few undergrad engineering classes.

 

[Dissonance in E]

Im interested in music and engineering and am hoping to work for the industry, designing equipment for music, eg amplifiers signal processing units keyboards and such. Not so keen on the studio side of things. what degree is the best for fulfilling these aspirations? electronics?

Thanks

 

[turdferguson]

Im interested in music and engineering and am hoping to work for the industry, designing equipment for music, eg amplifiers signal processing units keyboards and such. Not so keen on the studio side of things. what degree is the best for fulfilling these aspirations? electronics?

Thanks

Im in pretty much the same situation, and it seems like the answer is electrical engineering. There are opportunities to specialize in signal processing, for example, at the grad level

 

[Astronuc]

can you do engineering after a bachelors in chemistry ?

Yes, but one would probably be required to take some upper level engineering courses in the particularly field of engineering. Certainly it would be most practical to major in Chemical Engineering after a BS in Chemistry.

 

[Aussie_dude]

hey I am just about to enter into my senior year in high school and iv been wondering what the courses of mechatronics, aeronautical and mechanical were like and what degree of diffuculty they are compared to each other. any advice would be greatly appreciated aye.

 

[Macleef]

I need some guidance and hopefully you guys will help me choose on what career I should pursue ...

First of all, I dislike English, mostly Shakespeare
Second of all, I don't really enjoy chemistry, but I do enjoy physics except for electricity which I HATE with a passion
Third of all, I love math, but I'm not that great in it

Right now, I'm thinking of going to business, specifically accounting
I only want to pursue this career because:
1. Family pressure - all of them have an accounting degree (my parents and sisters)
2. Money
3. Easy to get promotions if you "click" with the right company + person
4. In demand, barely gets any lay-offs, "safe job"
5. Deals with math and no science! *best reason for me*

Reasons why I don't want to be pursue this career are:
1. I don't want to be in a cubicle, stay in the same place
2. I don't want to use the computer EVERY single day
3. I'm not a "people person", I'm shy ...


Reasons why I want to do engineering:
1. I love math
2. I like physics, except for electricity
3. I am a "hands on" kind of person
4. I like to fix and build things
5. I like the fact that you don't stay in the same environment, like you don't work in a cubicle all the time
6. I like a challenge, I'm more motivated and determined if things get hard

Why I don't want to be an engineer:
1. I don't know what kind of engineer I want to pursue, I was thinking of civil engineering
2. I don't know if this career is a "safe job", won't get laid off
3. I don't like chemistry or electricity
4. I'm scared I might be so stressed and drop-out and be a failure in life (lol)
5. I know the projects you get, you do in groups, but I don't work well with people who are extremely bossy or clueless
6. My courses are screwed up because in grade 11, I only took biology and physics, no chemistry ... and I didn't take any sciences this year, in my 12th year ... although, I have one spare that I can fill in and I can drop courses if I want too - but the thing is ... I don't want to get a low average and not get into a university at all - I live in Ontario so the schools base the admission on overall average


Other facts:
I had a 78% in physics, dropped since I didn't do the exam, I was away for a family issue and literallyfailed the electricity test and quizzes
Right now, I have a 78% in math, I flunked in one test (74%) out of three tests and two quizzes (50% and 60%), which brought down my mark
I don't even know if I'm going maintain my 70ish average from English, I have 77% as of now, but I'm failing in tests under thinking and quizzes but doing well in essay assignments

 

[jesuslovesu]

I'm interested in Engineering Physics. I've applied to UW-Madison and assuming I get accepted... I would possibly apply to the EP department. However, I notice that the EP degree at UW-Madison is NOT ABET certified. Is that a problem?

UW-Platteville has an EP degree and it's certified, so I've not a clue as to why Madison, the much larger university, does not.

The Nuclear Engineering program is certified, and it's related very closely, but honestly I don't think I would enjoy it as much as EP with a focus on nanoengineering or bio-engineering or EE or materials engineering... or something

 

[kdinser]

If it's not ABET, then you don't want that degree from that university.

 

[viet_jon]

I also have ADD and am probably mildly ADHD, but over the years I learned to compensate. My mind requires challenging problems, which is probably why I did well in math and science, and my work provides significant challenges.

I've always enjoyed math and science, and in school I did well the subjects. I read encyclopedias and textbook for fun. When I was in high school, I enjoyed studying topics in particle physics and astrophysics, and other subjects, however I had no peers with whom I could discuss the subject. I was pretty much a loner.

Reading literature for class was difficult, and poetry was torture.

oh wow...literally, everything you've stated accurately describes me, except I didn't read textbooks, just encyclopedia's and everything on the web related to physics. I hope these traits make me a good engineer.

don't know if your like this too, but I'm a very deep thinker. If there's something that I don't understand, it will bother me, and I will think about it for weeks (even comes up in my dreams), until I figure it out. When hanging out with my peers, many times I will be oblivious to conversations going on, and will not say a word for hours, just sitting and 'thinking'. Alot of people think I'm a werido because of this, but I don't care, I love it.

 

[viet_jon]

while engineers do make more than almost all other undergrads right out of school they really don't make that much more. Some business students will make just a few thousand dollars less. http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/08/pf/college/lucrative_degrees_winter07/index.htm

You will notice MIS which is a major usually for CS and computer engineering drop-outs, they make darn close to the same salary as the CS and CSe students. The sad fact is that the MIS student doesn't know much about computers at all, and they usually get the job over the cs student, In fact the average MIS student after the entry level will make around $115K according to BLS.gov while the engineers will make just around 60-70k at best.

though again many MIS students are Hired by huge companies over CS students and are even paid more, why I have no idea, there major is a complete joke.

while researching your career I say screw the money. Personally, I have absolutely no interest in MIS, and if they paid 200k, I still wouldn't do it. I've been working in industry for a long time, and I know what it's like to do something you don't like. Something you don't want to be stuck with 'till retirement. That's why I'm back in school now.

I worked for a car parts manufacturing company, and the main engineer, was getting paid 100k+ for less than 8 years experience. He only has a college Mechanical Engineering diploma. He was really good and passionate about his job. Made a lot of money for the company, so they paid him for it.

Moral of the story: Do what you love, love what you do...the rest will fall in place.

 

[viet_jon]

Hello,

I have some critical questions regarding Electronics Engineering Technologist for Communications. I am doing it from a College in Canada.

I joined this program without even knowing what a resistor was and have maintained a 4.0 GPA for one year.

I am very absorbed into this field now. I love it, but often get frightened about the amount of information we are always bombarded with. I lack confidence in myself that I will be able to solve problems or do analysis without a formula sheet or that I will retain such massive information to apply in the work force

What does this field have to offer me in regards to 'types of jobs'? Out of curiosity I was looking for jobs on various sites and found no entry level openings. All require couple years of experience or are in 'product assembly' or 'component testing'. I didn't pay so much money, and study so much just to do component testing or assembly.

If anyone who knows or is currently in the Communications field, please tell me your experiences with the field. How do you work your way up to a good position?

This is the brief outline of my course. Tell me what you think about it.

http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/ELM.html

Thank you.

not in communications, but I have a few friends in Canada who got their diploma in EE. I think they went to mohawk, conestoga, and seneca. I hate to discourage you, but they did not expect to start at $13 bux an hour after college. Actually, they did not get an engineering job right away. They had to start as a machine operator. After that, it takes 2-3 years experience, then you 'might' get an offer as a 'Engineering Technician' with a starting salary of only approx. 27k as I recall. Then if your good at what you do, you move to the next level of Engineering which pays 55k salary. After that there's the 'Engineering Supervisor', then 'Engineering Manager' which pays really good. It takes time to move up the ladder, lots of time.

note to US readers, in Canada 'College' and 'University' are different.

 

[viet_jon]

I live in Ontario so the schools base the admission on overall average

actually, they take your top 6 pre-U including pre-requisites. Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Adv. Func, Eng, + 1 more.

you can get into ryerson's engineering program with a 70 something.

go here http://www.ouac.on.ca/news/news.html" there's stats for different universities and minimum grade average. oh btw, according to their survey, 95% of engineers get hired after 6 months.

 

[viet_jon]

i feel like a loner making my 5th consecutive post in this thread.

anyway, wicked thread...took me couple hours to get through it. I know exactly what I want to do now.

 

[Ian_Brooks]

Hi,
I was trying to get advice on helping a friend decide whether she should take EE/Computer Engineering or Chemical Engineering (Hence I couldn't write CE twice :D)

I'd like to deviate from the traditional argument that one is easier/harder than the other but does anyone have any insight on Chemical Engineering? I'm an EE myself and obviously I'd be biased towards it but what should someone consider when picking up Chemical Engineering?

 

[sillydude]

Well you see I am torn between becoming an engineer or physicist, its basically the fact that i might have difficulty securing a job if i go through with physics...i live in Canada, does anyone have any input on the job outlook for physics?, and for engineering i love rockets/space and would love to be involved in that in the near future, what type of engineering is best for that?

 

[shawshank]

Undergrad in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Mechatronics, what do you guys think? How are the jobs?

 

[jesuslovesu]

I'm planning on majoring in electrical engineering. Currently, I have a TI83+ which does not do indefinite integrals. Do I need to get a TI89 that has the ability to do indefinite integrals. I've only taken statics, which has some calculus, but all the integrals have been really easy. Do upper level EE classes require people to hard integrals on tests?

 

[snkk197]

I'm agonizing over whether to choose Physics or Engineering for my degree for Sept 08 in the UK. I'm 28, with a business degree, so I'll be applying as a mature student. I got good A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths 10 years ago, and I'm currently taking Foundation Year evening classes in Physics and Further Maths.

The physics I'm studying now is fantastic - I'm scoring 80s and 90s in my assignments (and would do better if I didn't work full-time) so I don't have any doubt I'd enjoy studying it for it's own sake at uni. Engineering is obviously much more of a mystery. It's attractive because I want make a real stamp in society, and contribute to building thinsg that will benefit people. But I've been looking at a variety of engineering books and and the maths is scary! I did really well in maths throughout school - not a genius, but I had good intuition over the direction in which answers could be found, and I was a hard worker. It's hard to know whether I'd withstand the demands at degree level though. The further maths I'm doing now has only just started to get harder - I've received perfect marks on my assessments so far with almost no study, but it's really just revision material for me, so it's not really a good indicator of how far I could go. So I'm worried about keeping up with uni students who've probably done intensive A levels in Further Maths and Further Physics at A level. I'm hoping to consolidate and further my knowledge with some online courses at the Open University, but they don't start until Jan. I would also love to think I had some creative juices in me, but that side of my brain has been neglected for so long it's hard to know. Aeronautical engineering looks pretty exciting at the moment, but it's so competitive to get into, and I'd settle for mechanical enginnering to keep my job prospects broader. Medical engineering and robotics would be amazing to get into, but I'm not sure how much I want to get stuck back into Biology and Human Anatomy.

And as I haven't studied so recently, I don't even know if I stand a chance of getting into uni. For lots of reasons I need to stay in London, and the gap in quality between some of the best engineering unis in the world - Imperial, UCL, and Brunel, and the rest of the London polytechnics, is huge. My lecturers are adamant I try for only the best. But it means competing against 18 y.o s who have industrial work experience, project work, entered competions, etc, etc. I probably would have a better shot at getting onto a physics degree which doesn't require so much practical experience to boost your application. (Which I'd love to get, but because I have both a full-time and part-time job, I can't figure out how it'll slot in.)

So any advice for a mature applicant would be so appreciated. I found the previous observations, that physicists and scientists face much more competion in their fields than engineers, really interesting. As much as I'd love to study something I'd definitely love, like physics, at this point I have to really think long-term and where the better job prospects lie. A physics degree for me, should end with a job in R&D or industry or something similar. I can not stomach the thought of busting my gut (and my wallet) for 3-4 years and end up working in a bank (especially with a business degree behind me already!)

Brunel do offer a foundation year for their engineering courses so that's an option I can try for. Or could consider waiting until 09 to study, and spend the next year and a half accumulating as much work experience as possible to boost my application, and also really make sure it's the career I want. Financially it'll be really hard though.

Just as a side-note, we can't switch degrees in the UK unfortunately - you decide what you want from the start, physics, mechanical eng, EE, etc, etc and you stick with it or you start over (though there may be some scope to change from one engineering branch to another depending on the uni). The core subjects in the first year are pretty different between physics and engineering.

And I need to decide pretty soon - the deadline's in January :(

Thanks for any help!

Stella

 

[||spoon||]

Which Discipline?

Hi all,

I posted on this exact thread earlier in the year, unable to decide wether to do straight out physics or to do engineering.

I think i have come to the conclusion that i would prefer to do an engineering discipline over pure physics but now i cannot decide which discipline.

I have just finished high school and exams and have gitten my results back, they are good enough that i can basically choose any engineering or science course that i want throughout the state ( i live in australia). I need to have my course preferences in by noon on chirstmas eve... and i still can't decide between chemical engineering or aerospace.

My first preference at the moment is the new science course at melbourne university in which i would do a bachelor of science (with engineering, maths, a science, and a breadth subject [outside of science]) and then follow up with a 2 years masters in an engineering discipline.

A good thing about this course is that it leaves open the option of doing a physics based engineering discipline (i.e not chemical) and at my final year just dropping engineering and continuing with straight physics if i wanted too.

My problem with this course is that:
1) I need to choose in my first year wether to do either chemistry (which leads to chemical engineering) or physics (which basically leads to all other disciplines)
2) the aerospace course that melbourne university offers really ISN'T an aerospace course... it is mechanical engineering with relevant subjects such as fluid mechanics etc.added on.


Because of reason 2) given above i feel that i need to decide between chemical and aerospace straight away... because if i ultimately choose aerospace perhaps i would be better off at RMIT or Monash.

I guess my real question is not so much a question but more of a plea for adivce... can anyone give me any info on which i should choose? I think i like physics and chemistry to an equal amount... but if i was to see myself of a professor of either i would quickly come to the decision of physics.

Also, regarding the aerospace at Melbourne (mechanical with fluid mechanics)... would this leave me at a disadvantage to other engineers in an aerospace industry? would i be less employable having chosen this option over a straight aerospace degree?

My post has probably turned into mindless rambling by now and if youhave read this far thanks alot... any help would be appreciated

||spoon||

 

[||spoon||]

another question:

If i choose to do engineering with a physics minor... how much physics would i be issing out on?

My hesitation to go into Engineering is simply dur to the fact that i REALLy like physics... want to learn as much of it as i can. Would i be missing out on alot?

On the other hand my hesitation to become, say a physicist, is due to the fact that i want a decent job. (no offense meant to physicists intended, just that i hear its hard to find a job with only physics)

thanks,

Spoon

 

[Cyrus]

What do you think you will do as a physicists, and as an engineer spoon?

 

[||spoon||]

well i am not fully aware of the job prospects as a physicist. The reason i would do pur physics is because i like it so much and it interests me so intensely. I mean despite the fact i haven't even begun university yet i find the prospect of actually teaching physics at a university standard very attractive. this may seem very naieve, but i think it outlines my enjoyment with the subjects involved.

As an engineer i suppose it would depend upon which discipline i would choose. But again the reasons for even wanting to be an engineer stem soley from my wanting to use maths and sciences because i like them so much. i asked myself "what jobs would you use them in?" and of course engineering comes to mind straight away...

 

[Cyrus]

Ok, try this again. What sets appart an engineer from a physicist? Or at least, what do you think?