If I get an Engineering degree...

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: LoKe
Text

You sold me.

I love physics... what do I get to do if I get some sort of degree in raw physics... anything?

lmao....raw physics? If you get a PHD in physics, you will get paid SOO much. Infact, only around 50-60 phds in physics are granted each year in the USA. I met a guy with a PHD in physics once. He basicly said that he works half the year only. Meaning, a company would hire him when they first start out (meaning he builds the company) to do what every they need him to do, then hes done. Your talking about 200,000-600,000 per half year. PHD in physics = extremely high in demand, otherwise you wouldnt be paid that much.

EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Modular

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

That really doesn't say much if you aren't explaining what he does. You can get an engineering degree and not be an engineer.

You cannot be the director of failure analysis or director of process technology or some such if you do not have an engineering or science background. But you could be the director of product marketing if you didn't. It depends.

Father-in-law is a senior design engineer. He is in effect, the manager of his entire department. His boss however, is not interested in QC, but rather making sure that the product rolls out on time and for a certain cost. His boss has nothing to do with the design/marketing/sales/anything about the product really, but makes much more $.

It's the corporate ladder: As long as the engineers keep their boss happy, then their boss's boss is happy which makes his boss happy and so forth.

The director of failure analysis has a boss though, and all his boss cares about is whether or not the failure analysis director did his job well so that his boss won't be breathing down his neck.

I'm sorry, but I question your full knowledge of the situation. Perhaps it is possible, but it certainly is not the norm.

Like I said before, the engineers, managers, senior managers, directors, senior directors, vice presidents, senior vps, etc. all have technical backgrounds if they are on the engineering side. The same would be for the accounting side, etc. At the extreme highest level you have any type of background perhaps, but that is something that we are definitely not talking about at the level we're discussing.

Perhaps marketing would be commanded by someone who is non-technical and marketing has a technical arm in many organizations. But like I said, a Director of Failure Analysis would be an engineer, everyone under him would be an engineer, his boss will be an engineer. Perhaps his boss' boss or some such would not be an engineer because that isn't an engineer's job. He could be a former engineer or even a former anything.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: feelingshorter

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: LoKe
Text

You sold me.

I love physics... what do I get to do if I get some sort of degree in raw physics... anything?

lmao....raw physics? If you get a PHD in physics, you will get paid SOO much. Infact, only around 50-60 phds in physics are granted each year in the USA. I met a guy with a PHD in physics once. He basicly said that he works half the year only. Meaning, a company would hire him when they first start out (meaning he builds the company) to do what every they need him to do, then hes done. Your talking about 200,000-600,000 per half year. PHD in physics = extremely high in demand, otherwise you wouldnt be paid that much.

EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

Are you sure about that 50-60 part? Considering there are a few hundred universities in the US with accredited Physics programs, I have a very hard time believing that only 50-60 get a PhD per year.

Also I don't think you can generalize the experience of that "one guy you met" and conclude that ALL PhD's in physics will only work half years and will get paid $600k to do so.

To the OP: if you have an aptitude for science, I would suggest you go into something like dentistry. I think the payout in terms of $$/hours worked is a lot more favorable than engineering.

<-- EE grad student

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: feelingshorter


EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

And designing industrial automation (including programming) from PLC's, touchscreen interfaces, and robots!

<--------me...me...me!

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: feelingshorter


EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

And designing industrial automation (including programming) from PLC's, touchscreen interfaces, and robots!

<--------me...me...me!

Sounds fun.. but i wonder what it really takes to move up in management. The teachers at my college told me that good engineers can find a good job anywhere, whereas bad ones wont. If its a question of effort, i've got plenty. Plus, i live 5 mins away from TI (who makes those calculators). Maby ill get lucky.

 

[Oscar1613]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: feelingshorter


EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

And designing industrial automation (including programming) from PLC's, touchscreen interfaces, and robots!

<--------me...me...me!

need an assisstant?

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: feelingshorter

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: LoKe
Text

You sold me.

I love physics... what do I get to do if I get some sort of degree in raw physics... anything?

lmao....raw physics? If you get a PHD in physics, you will get paid SOO much. Infact, only around 50-60 phds in physics are granted each year in the USA. I met a guy with a PHD in physics once. He basicly said that he works half the year only. Meaning, a company would hire him when they first start out (meaning he builds the company) to do what every they need him to do, then hes done. Your talking about 200,000-600,000 per half year. PHD in physics = extremely high in demand, otherwise you wouldnt be paid that much.

EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

Are you sure about that 50-60 part? Considering there are a few hundred universities in the US with accredited Physics programs, I have a very hard time believing that only 50-60 get a PhD per year.

Also I don't think you can generalize the experience of that "one guy you met" and conclude that ALL PhD's in physics will only work half years and will get paid $600k to do so.

To the OP: if you have an aptitude for science, I would suggest you go into something like dentistry. I think the payout in terms of $$/hours worked is a lot more favorable than engineering.

<-- EE grad student

That was my thought too.

OTOH, you can be like me and get a title with the word "Engineer" in it, even though you've got a CS degree. All of the perks with less of the math and physics in college

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: feelingshorter

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: LoKe
Text

You sold me.

I love physics... what do I get to do if I get some sort of degree in raw physics... anything?

lmao....raw physics? If you get a PHD in physics, you will get paid SOO much. Infact, only around 50-60 phds in physics are granted each year in the USA. I met a guy with a PHD in physics once. He basicly said that he works half the year only. Meaning, a company would hire him when they first start out (meaning he builds the company) to do what every they need him to do, then hes done. Your talking about 200,000-600,000 per half year. PHD in physics = extremely high in demand, otherwise you wouldnt be paid that much.

EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

Hahahahahahahahahahah
$600,000/half year?
hahahahahahahahha...must...stop...laughing...can't...breathe

Seriously, while it's true that a physics Ph.D. will let you do a lot of different things, most make well under $100k (around $50-60k, a little lower if you are in academia, a little more if in industry) to start.

 

[overst33r]

if you want money...be a dentist or a physician...$$

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Special K

To the OP: if you have an aptitude for science, I would suggest you go into something like dentistry. I think the payout in terms of $$/hours worked is a lot more favorable than engineering.

<-- EE grad student

Extended engineering education really isn't worth it for the money. If you only want an undergrad degree then engineering may be nice, but getting an additional education in dentistry, MBA, MD, JD, etc. is a lot better than an engineering grad degree.

If you only want 4 years of education and want a decent lifestyle, then engineering is a good choice. I have my MSEE and I know that I don't want to be an engineer for the rest of my life.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Oscar1613

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: feelingshorter


EE? Thats what ima major in. EE itself is very broad term. You can do anything from building fans, to computer hardware (CPU, such such).

And designing industrial automation (including programming) from PLC's, touchscreen interfaces, and robots!

<--------me...me...me!

need an assisstant?

Currently, no!

We've hired 3 in the last two years (2 last year). Starting pay is so-so, but you do get paid overtime! :Q

(However, I worked over 1,500 hours of OT last year! )

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Special K

To the OP: if you have an aptitude for science, I would suggest you go into something like dentistry. I think the payout in terms of $$/hours worked is a lot more favorable than engineering.

<-- EE grad student

Extended engineering education really isn't worth it for the money. If you only want an undergrad degree then engineering may be nice, but getting an additional education in dentistry, MBA, MD, JD, etc. is a lot better than an engineering grad degree.

If you only want 4 years of education and want a decent lifestyle, then engineering is a good choice. I have my MSEE and I know that I don't want to be an engineer for the rest of my life.

Really? Figures I have seen indicate that an EE with a PhD can get offers in the range of $100k after graduation. Granted you have to like to do the research, but if that's the case I wouldn't consider it to be "bad" by any means.

Now in my case, I am being completely paid by the school to get my MS, it's a top 10 program, and will only take 2 years. When they offered me the money I figured 2 years wasn't a huge investment of time or resources to get a free MS. If I don't like engineering I figure I can always work for awhile and go to business school and get an MBA or something, lots of engineers end up going to business school later.

I would have to seriously think about going back for a dental degree or MD though. I would have to spend at least 1 year taking undergrad pre-reqs like bio and orgo. Assuming I could get accepted into the school, that's 4 years of med school, 3 years of residency, and to top it off I would be in like $100k+ of debt., which would lead me to try and specialize to make up the debt, but would take an additional 5 or so years to specialize in some specialty surgery or something.

I could never stand to be a lawyer though.

 

[Parkre]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Engineering is very broad, but it will deal with designing something. An electrical engineer might work in power systems, embedded circuit design, embedded chip design, and some computer programming. There's a bunch of other degrees in engineering.

You mean after going to school for six years to be an Engineer I still can't drive a train?

Our ASME T-shirts say that at UMR.

Mechanical Engineers are very broad. I have one semester left and I already decided I am not going to do FEA ever!! I like the technical side of things, but only to a point. I usually like when a professor teaches and that hardly ever happens around here.

The company I am interning with, everyone has a background in some kind of engineering. So when you screw up, your boss can go "yea, I have been there too, just don't break another $ 100,000 tool again" . I really like this company.

 

[SampSon]

You'll have a highly overrated degree.

 

[slpaulson]

Here's a page you might find interesting...

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[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Modular

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
That must be a very non-technical engineer to be managed by a non-technical boss.

Nope, you're misunderstanding the reality of most large corporations. They want #'s and $, they don't care how its done at the top and therefore they generally won't even know the slightest thing about what they are selling.

2 family members work for Motorola, believe me, I've seen this firsthand.

?? I know in the auto industry it isn't like that at all. Most all of the management and upper management started out as engineers.

 

[madeupfacts]

Seems like system engineering is the big thing now....

 

[chusteczka]

If I get an Engineering degree... What do I do as a living?

Anything you want.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: cRazYdood
Here's a page you might find interesting...

Text

No aerospace engineering?!

There are a bajillion things you can do as an engineer. You can design, research, and test just about anything.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: chusteczka

If I get an Engineering degree... What do I do as a living?

Anything you want.

True. Fun fact: many engingeering majors don't work as engineers.

If you live 5 minutes away from TI I assume you are in Dallas and contemplating UTD. Thats a great choice, its where I am an EE major at and its where I have had 4 friends graduate, all who started out at $55-$59k at good companies.

None of them work 70 hours a week, I don't know who the crap all you guys work for but you should quit.

If you want to be management: get an MBA in addition to an engr degree, thats what I am doing.

And to someone earlier: yes, some managers at engineering companies have no technical background, MBAs only.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Injury
If you get an engineering degree....


...you get underappreciated
...you don't get much sleep
...you work 70-80 hours a week
...you get damn good money but work for people that are much dumber than you.

Guess it depends where you work - I don't feel "underappreciated" - decent raises, bonuses, promotions and other recognition. I work regular hours - rarely more 40 hours a week unless I want to or we're in a rare crunch time - when I'll often get paid overtime or comp-time. Most of the people I've worked for came up through the technical ranks so they know those ropes as well. Most of the upper management people I've encountered came up through angineering and have advanced technical degrees. But the money is good - at least you got that bit right.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: Modular

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
That must be a very non-technical engineer to be managed by a non-technical boss.

Nope, you're misunderstanding the reality of most large corporations. They want #'s and $, they don't care how its done at the top and therefore they generally won't even know the slightest thing about what they are selling.

2 family members work for Motorola, believe me, I've seen this firsthand.

?? I know in the auto industry it isn't like that at all. Most all of the management and upper management started out as engineers.

Same with aerospace companies. It is 100% impossible to manage engineers in the first 4 levels of management unless you are an engineer. Once you get to VPs though, sometimes they're non-engineers from other parts of the company, but not too often.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: Modular

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
That must be a very non-technical engineer to be managed by a non-technical boss.

Nope, you're misunderstanding the reality of most large corporations. They want #'s and $, they don't care how its done at the top and therefore they generally won't even know the slightest thing about what they are selling.

2 family members work for Motorola, believe me, I've seen this firsthand.

?? I know in the auto industry it isn't like that at all. Most all of the management and upper management started out as engineers.

Same with aerospace companies. It is 100% impossible to manage engineers in the first 4 levels of management unless you are an engineer. Once you get to VPs though, sometimes they're non-engineers from other parts of the company, but not too often.

Same with semiconductor. I don't think that Modular is truly familiar with the situation.

 

[Shimmishim]

i got my b.s. in chemical engineering and my m.s. in environmental engineering

the company that i am going to work for is wonderful to its employees.

my boss is very personable.

i may work 50 hours in a week but that means i only have to work 30 hours the following week (80 hour flex).

and my job won't be boring. i get to travel, meet people, attend conferences, etc.

and best of all, i'll be helping the environment.

 

[Sukhoi]

If you like hands-on things, mechanical devices, etc., get a mechanical engineering degree. The range of stuff you can do is amazing. Anything from straight computerized design (IMHO boring) to factory production line support (what I'll be doing), and all sorts of other things.