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Mechanical Engineering degree

iskim86

iskim86

Banned
Hi all. I am reconsidering my career choice. I [almost] have two degrees in art (Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Fine Art), but I'm having a hard time envisioning my future. I am starting to think I made some bad choices in school. I am only 22 and I will be receiving my second degree (BFA) in the spring. By then I will be 23. I don't think it's too late at all. This is why I am considering switching over to mechanical engineering as my career choice.

I have taken a mechanical engineering class before... just one. It's a CAD-focused class, and I passed with a perfect 4.0 grade. I love working with CAD and visualizing things, hence the reason I attend an art school and was planning on becoming a professor at a college.

But CAD isn't everything about ME, right? There's gotta be more. this one class I took probably doesn't even give me a good idea about the degree and career path.

I'm really curious what mechanical engineers do in real life. If there are any MEers here I would like to hear some input and opinions about it. any input is appreciated.

thanks a lot!
 
How's your math?

I wouldn't bother going ME or any engineering unless you're good at math. When I say good, I mean like 600 or higher on the SAT and understanding of calculus and basic physics.
 
My brother and dad are mes. They do commerical hvac sales and design. They make nice 6 figure salaries. One of my brothers me friends does cad full time but he doesnt make much.
 
You will probably have, at most, two classes regarding drafting in your ME program. The rest is fun math and physics.
 
Originally posted by: FleshLight
You will probably have, at most, two classes regarding drafting in your ME program. The rest is fun math and physics.
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This.

If you like drafting, maybe you can get a technical degree in drafting. ME is much much more.
 
Do you love calculus? Do you love physics? If you answered no to either question, you should consider looking elsewhere.
 
ME is like 1 cad class. When you're an engineer, you tend to have a lowly drafting tech at your disposal to do the bitch work.
 
Dude, the last thing you should do this far along is switch majors if you are 1-2 semesters away from graduating. Reason being, there are lots and lots of jobs out there that only care that you have a degree - doesn't even necessarily need to be in a related field. But, there are even more jobs out there that won't even consider you without a degree of any kind.

If you're a "real" artist, you may find the structured nature of engineering to not be to your liking. There is really a lot of imagination needed in design work, but there's so much tedious work that someone who is more of a right-brainer is going to have trouble.
 
Originally posted by: Triumph
Dude, the last thing you should do this far along is switch majors if you are 1-2 semesters away from graduating. Reason being, there are lots and lots of jobs out there that only care that you have a degree - doesn't even necessarily need to be in a related field. But, there are even more jobs out there that won't even consider you without a degree of any kind.

If you're a "real" artist, you may find the structured nature of engineering to not be to your liking. There is really a lot of imagination needed in design work, but there's so much tedious work that someone who is more of a right-brainer is going to have trouble.
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i won't be switching, I'll be pursuing it as my third degree.

I don't know if I'm a real artist, but I do tend to act and think differently from 90% of the people at my school so I don't consider to be one. I like creation, not doing or looking at art. I attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

dunno if you can see this but here's a sample of what I do. it's very precise line work.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2608/27/73/10715185/n10715185_42343900_5784930.jpg

done on 5'x4' paper and took 2.5 weeks of work day and night
 
I think you're more thinking of industrial/product design. Its the "art" part of design I guess you would say. Like others have said, ME would be very different.
 
Take it from an ME currently going to school. If you aren't up for a ridiculous amount of math and analyzing some pretty complex things, don't think about it. You go up to at least linear analysis 2 - laplace transforms and fourier transforms, take multiple statics and dynamics classes (beams, intermediate dynamics, vibrations, fluids, thermo), and do very little design work while actually in school.

I won't lie I love it, but it's a freakin bitch.
 
Not to thread hijack, but speaking of math, how important is it when it comes to Computer Science degrees? Im thinking about switching majors to CS but Im afraid I might not be able to handle the higher level math.
 
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Not to thread hijack, but speaking of math, how important is it when it comes to Computer Science degrees? Im thinking about switching majors to CS but Im afraid I might not be able to handle the higher level math.
Click to expand...

Relatively unimportant when compared to an engineering degree. Calculus is probably the highest you'll go, and even then you probably wont finish the entire series. Everyone know this.
 
Mechanical Engineering is the generic engineer that can basically do anything dealing with materials, structures or systems.

Our mechanical engineers design cooling coils, refrigeration circuits, sheet metal parts, metal frames, humidifiers, heaters, etc.

BTW, CAD is all 3D modeling now.
 
Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
I think you're more thinking of industrial/product design. Its the "art" part of design I guess you would say. Like others have said, ME would be very different.
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This sound like what you are looking for. Engineering is about problem solving. A Industrial designer, from what I understand, would create things like concept cars, and do most of the styling. Apple has a bunch of them to make sure there products look good. They work closely with MEs, so there is a lot of overlap.

If you want to be on the technical number crunching side, the engineering may be for you. But if you like the design side, I would look more into ID. You may not even need another degree, or maybe get into a master program with your art degrees.
 

I have a Mech Eng degree and have been working for about 5 years in the defense industry. I like it alot, it is very challenging and interesting for me. I use CAD every day for design work and drafting. I am in a small team with in a large company so all of the Mech Engs in my group do every thing, which is rare. Usually Mech engs focus on doing project management, while doing other important calculations. Then they work with the CAD guys to get the data package together for the customer. The work I do is a lot different from HVAC or what you would do in the oil industry. It is working directly with the government on small quick turn around projects. To see some similar work to what I do look at the link. Example I would do the job of integrating the gun on top of the vehicle, all hardware and all the documentation that would go with it. From that point we would make a kit that would ship to theater for installation.

Don't forget how you are going to pay for all of your education. The more you get the more in debt you will be. Like others have said if you are interetested in CAD there is alot of design work that can be done like 3D animators and graphics artists.
 
Here's the classes at UIC. Looks like ME250 is about what you're looking at, not sure if you would enjoy the rest. You could always talk to someone in the ME department and tell them what your goal is and they might have a program that's just right for you. Also the more technical schools sometimes have tech design niches that you might fit well in. I'm thinking along the lines of car interior design and cell phone ergonomics and such.
 
Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Originally posted by: iskim86
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2608/27/73/10715185/n10715185_42343900_5784930.jpg
Click to expand...

Fuck that's cool.
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Looks like it should be the box art or loading screen for a John Carmack game. Send it to him:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Not to thread hijack, but speaking of math, how important is it when it comes to Computer Science degrees? Im thinking about switching majors to CS but Im afraid I might not be able to handle the higher level math.
Click to expand...

I'm an EE and I had to take math classes beyond calculus. Two semesters of differential equations. I don't think CS people have to worry about fourier series and maxwell's equations.
 
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Not to thread hijack, but speaking of math, how important is it when it comes to Computer Science degrees? Im thinking about switching majors to CS but Im afraid I might not be able to handle the higher level math.
Click to expand...

At most places you'll have to take at least 2 semesters of calculus and a "combinatorics" course.
 
Originally posted by: polarmystery
Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Not to thread hijack, but speaking of math, how important is it when it comes to Computer Science degrees? Im thinking about switching majors to CS but Im afraid I might not be able to handle the higher level math.
Click to expand...

I'm an EE and I had to take math classes beyond calculus. Two semesters of differential equations. I don't think CS people have to worry about fourier series and maxwell's equations.
Click to expand...

In my school, the CS majors just have to take calc 2 (Its like, double integrals and such, nothing extreme) CE majors have to take up to differential equations (which includes fourier series and maxwell's equations) as well as some electromagnetic physics.

For the math, CS really doesn't require a lot. Discrete math will be the hardest thing you have to do.
 
I am an ME doing high speed machine design in the beverage industry.
not gonnna lie, you will hate school. When all your buddies are going out drinking you WILL be at home doing homework. Its a BITCH.
If you are good at math and thinking outside the box its for you. You need to be very good at problem solving.
Typical homework assignments in uppper level classes (Thermo II) would be 3 problems that you would have a week to get finished. Pages and pages of calculations.
But i get to do some really cool stuff, well in a really geeky sort of way.
To be its very rewarding to go from
PawPawCapperFlatParts.jpg

to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAr45qN7dEQ
 
Originally posted by: BarneyFife
ME is like 1 cad class. When you're an engineer, you tend to have a lowly drafting tech at your disposal to do the bitch work.
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i have an EE to do my lowly drafting and filing for me 😛
 
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