Engineering Career Questions

[RichardE]

So, I just finished a round of Uni applications, for various courses at various universities in Canada. I see alot of threads regarding careers, and the main object is how much $$. Personally, and honestly, I have no problem living on 20-35k a year, none at all. Out of the marks I recieved in High School (yes I know, they don't matter anymore, but they did matter to get into undergrads ) I was more or less able to choose what career paths I wanted to pursue. After much research, and more or less my own interests from my own reading endeavors, I happened to have settled on a few choices. I have received conditional offers to all the courses I applied too. My questions, are which ones would be the more gratifying field to go into. As well, what are the benfits of a Undergrad-->Masters-->PhD?

Waterloo Nano-Engineering

UofT Engineering Science with Bio-Engineering option (this will get chosen second year, I got accepeted into the Eng.Sci though)

UofBC ---> Chemical and Biological Engineering

Guelph--> Biological Engineering


Waterloo and UofT are my first choice, with Waterloo being my overall first at the momment. Anyway, for anyone who has gone into this sort of career field, what are the benefits of the difference degrees, Undergrad, masters, phd, as well, from everything I have read, I will be working R&D mostly, are there anyone in these field who are working in placements at the momment?

 

[talyn00]

I assume all this is undergrad applications. when you're referring to $$, are you referring to the cost of the education at each of these institutions? or to what your potential salary is when you graduate with that degree? Not sure if we can help you with helping you find out which major is more gratifying, as we all have different opinions regarding that.

 

[RichardE]

I was saying more, I don't really care about the cash I will be making, I want to work in R&D mostly. I am currently taking mandarin courses as well as german courses, I know spanish and french as well asn English obviously. I will try to learn Arabic in University, mostly, I want to work in R&D though.

 

[talyn00]

where are you finding the time to learn all these languages? chinese is already hard enough

 

[RichardE]

I know spanish and french from my school, as well as trips to mexico and france for language immersion. Chineese I have just started taking (*yes it is tough ) German I have been taking for a year now, though i am not currently entirely profecient in it.

 

[bigdog1218]

If you want to work R&D you either need work experience or a graduate degree. I don't think a Phd is necessary unless you want to work in acadamia. I'm a Chem E currently looking for a job and its tough getting hired in R&D with just a BS.

Just my opinion, but if you want to do R&D and think you'll go to grad school it will probably be better to major in Chem. E. You'll have more oppurtunities than just biological engineering, and can than focus on biological engineering as a grad student if thats the path you still want to take in 4 years. I remember I wanted to work with pharmaceuticals when I started college, but now I'm looking for jobs in the semi-conductor field. Thats the flexibility you get with a Chem E degree.

 

[RichardE]

Bump for Afternoon crowd

 

[construct]

Originally posted by: bigdog1218
If you want to work R&D you either need work experience or a graduate degree.

If you take Nano at Waterloo you will get the experience through 2 - 4 month co-op work terms and 2 - 8 month co-op work terms. Total of 2 yrs worth of experience making it easier to get a job in R&D after you graduate.

 

[Ferocious]

Can't answer your questions.

All I can tell you is that go for a career doing something that you really enjoy...if possible.

I made the mistake in the 1980's of going into a "safe" career path. Graduated BSEE as a Tau Beta Pi member. Booming time to be a graduate. Multiple offers. Worked in it for several years...and pretty much hated every minute of it. Left and never looked back.

Heh, I see so many people lately that have become nurses and are miserable. Many have left the field after only a short time.

 

[KillerCharlie]

It might be a good idea to go to a university that is strong in different areas of engineering. That way if your interests change the first couple years in school (as it almost inevitably does), you can switch majors without a problem.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
It might be a good idea to go to a university that is strong in different areas of engineering. That way if your interests change the first couple years in school (as it almost inevitably does), you can switch majors without a problem.

Excellent advice. I decided I would be an aeronautical engineer by the time I was six years old, but chnaged my mind after my first fluid dynamics class.

You also might consider the school's location. Unless (truly) nationally known, most graduates will be recruited by nearby companies.

 

[SaturnX]

Hey RichardE, if you want to discuss engineering, namely at Waterloo, msg me, I'm half-way through the EE program. There's a lot to consider about Nanotech, especially because it's so new.

Just briefly, if cost is going to be a factor for you, you'll be paying substantially more for Nanotech, than any other Eng degree at Waterloo.

For Tuition and Incidental Fees (not incl, rez, text etc..)

Engineering: $4,387.93
Nanotech: $5910.93

That's for 4 months of school. And there will be a tuition hike this summer, (so it will affect your incoming class), anywhere between 15%-30% (although from from talks with admin its sounding more like 30%)

--Mark

 

[bigdog1218]

Originally posted by: construct

Originally posted by: bigdog1218
If you want to work R&D you either need work experience or a graduate degree.

If you take Nano at Waterloo you will get the experience through 2 - 4 month co-op work terms and 2 - 8 month co-op work terms. Total of 2 yrs worth of experience making it easier to get a job in R&D after you graduate.

Work experience = post graduation. I had 2 years of co-op experience before graduation, it looks good on the resume, but you have 0 experience according to companies after you graduate since you're looking for your first job with that degree.