Please help me decide on my career.

[Palamino]

Hi everyone....

Im 18 years old and will be going to university next year. My problem is that i am not sure of what to do that will get me into the things im interested in later on. My choices are: Either Computer engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics (or physics with the other 2 engineering courses combined).

What im interested in are things like electronics, microprocessors/chips (e.g. working for a company that designs chips e.g. AMD (yeah right!) ), programming (things like BIOS/chips and AI), light/photonics and learning about future computing techniques (for example, things like quantum computing).

What do you guys think is best for me to study in order to get into (or as close as possible to) this sort of stuff? I am really fascinated about these and im DYING to learn, i'm not interested in doing something in order to "get rich" like what some others do (I wouldn't mind it though ). Seriosuly, it's really frustrating for me to decide on this, especially when i keep changing my mind. Your help is GREATLY appreciated (im sure you guys know a lot about this).


Thanks in advance.

 

[Hammer]

ERB

edit: oh wait, you don't want to "get rich". n/m.

 

[Palamino]

lol, whats ERB? I said i wouldn't mind getting rich if that thing interests me.

 

[minendo]

ECE - a combination of electrical and computer engineering.

 

[moshquerade]

i think this is a legit thread and you guys should give him some input based on your experience.

i don't see what i think you should go into in your poll, and that would be biological/chemical or genetic engineering. i think those fields are and will be hot.

 

[eakers]

don't go into straight physics if you don't want to or can't afford to get your phd... its the only way to make money

 

[BDawg]

Have you considered the lucrative career of back hair waxing?

 

[FoBoT]

definetely become a physisist


it sounds cool

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: BDawg
Have you considered the lucrative career of back hair waxing?

why? are you due for one again? damn, your hair grows fast.

 

[Stealth1024]

Have you looked at RIT for Electrical and Computer Engineering? I am a 2nd year EECE major there and the program is very good.

Check out the course schedule: http://www.ce.rit.edu/academic/dual/RIT_CE_BSMS_flowchart.pdf

They offer a combined BS/MS program in 5 years with 4 co-ops or just a BS in 5 years with 5 co-op quarters and an extra summer quarter off...

 

[Doodoo]

From your interests...electrical and computer engineering. Or you could forget all that and save a few grand on tuition and become a stripper.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Palamino
Hi everyone....

Im 18 years old and will be going to university next year. My problem is that i am not sure of what to do that will get me into the things im interested in later on. My choices are: Either Computer engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics (or physics with the other 2 engineering courses combined).

What im interested in are things like electronics, microprocessors/chips (e.g. working for a company that designs chips e.g. AMD (yeah right!) ), programming (things like BIOS/chips and AI), light/photonics and learning about future computing techniques (for example, things like quantum computing).

What do you guys think is best for me to study in order to get into (or as close as possible to) this sort of stuff? I am really fascinated about these and im DYING to learn, i'm not interested in doing something in order to "get rich" like what some others do (I wouldn't mind it though ). Seriosuly, it's really frustrating for me to decide on this, especially when i keep changing my mind. Your help is GREATLY appreciated (im sure you guys know a lot about this).


Thanks in advance.

Go for EE. It's broad and you can get into many technical areas. Working with processors and coding sounds cool now at 18 but trust me, that gets boring too. You'll most likely change your preference in the future.
EE is good for that.

 

[DannyBoy]

So when you are trying to think of a discovery as well, will you come here and start a poll on "What should i try to create?"?

If you cant figure this one out on your own, maybe you should work in McDonalds or summit..

 

[neonerd]

something with computer?

btw...welcome to ATOT

 

[DT4K]

If you want to do research or teach, a physics Phd might work for you.
But if you want to do less "theoretical" work and more real design work, engineering is probably a better choice.
You would probably have very similar opportunities whether you choose CE or EE.
Do you already know what school you want to go to?
As other's have mentioned, some schools have combined CE/EE degrees.

 

[jpeyton]

I voted for EE/Physics because I want you to fail. Muhahahahaha!

 

[SuperCyrix]

Why not stay in college for 12 years and major in all of them?

 

[jaydee]

I had very similiar aspirations coming out of HS. I chose EE with a minor in Optics.

 

[Palamino]

Thanks a lot guys (except for the trolls thinking they're 133t with their post counts

). I was leaning towards EE/Physics too. I have decided which uni i want to go to but none in my state offer CE/EE together. I'll put EE/Physics as my first preference and if i dont like it, i can just change it to CE.


Thanks Again.

 

[Stealth1024]

Originally posted by: Palamino
Thanks a lot guys (except for the trolls thinking they're 133t with their post counts

). I was leaning towards EE/Physics too. I have decided which uni i want to go to but none in my state offer CE/EE together. I'll put EE/Physics as my first preference and if i dont like it, i can just change it to CE. Thanks Again.

CE is EE and CS combined. And of course EE involves a ton of mathematics and physics...

 

[Palamino]

Yeah i know CE is EE and CS combined but looking at EE, there are things they teach that arent taught in CE. And some of them really interest me. Same goes with CE.

Ok, what type of jobs could i be working in, if i did CE? and what about EE? I guess that is the only way i can decide between one.


Thanks.

 

[jaydee]

Almost all CE jobs you can also compete for with an EE degree. Not nearly as true vice versa.

Read: Computer Engineering? A worthless major?

 

[Palamino]

Originally posted by: jaydee
Almost all CE jobs you can also compete for with an EE degree. Not nearly as true vice versa.

Read: Computer Engineering? A worthless major?

Is that what they mean by saying "electric engineer or similar required" when advertising for jobs (computer engineer beeing similar)? Thanks for that link jaydee, it was helpfull.

 

[Analog]

Well, you sound like me when I was in HS. The bottom line is, that at this point in your life, it doesn't make much difference between the three you mentioned. The first two years in college are going to be basically the same for any of these as far as classes are concerned. You can make your decision at that point in time, as long as the school you pick has all three majors.

May I suggest picking EE, with the option of changing to CE or Physics when you start your Soph/Junior year. Take a coop or summer assignment with a company like INTeL or Motorola etc. and find out what its like working in that type of field. I'll bet that you'll be able to make an intelligent decision once you get some class time and work experience as well as talking with faculty and upperclassmen. HTH, and good luck in your future.

 

[jaydee]

Palamino, yes that is pretty much what they're saying.



yellowfiero, has good advice (and he's a GMI alum).

Kettering Soph EE here, heading back to Flint in a couple weeks...