To all the engineers...

I am thinking of aeronautical or structural engineering as a major and was wondering if u guys have any info on any of them. Time is getting short so Im trying to narrow my search for a major. Right now my choices are either this or pharmacy but :idk: My dream is to work at Lockheed or Boeing designing aircraft but that seems a little far fetched right now. Any info u guys have will help.

I am thinking of aeronautical or structural engineering as a major and was wondering if u guys have any info on any of them. Time is getting short so Im trying to narrow my search for a major. Right now my choices are either this or pharmacy but :idk: My dream is to work at Lockheed or Boeing designing aircraft but that seems a little far fetched right now. Any info u guys have will help. What questions do you have specifically? I design aircraft electronics. Embry Riddel Aeronatical University has a good program. They are in Daytona Beach FL. Check it out. http://www.erau.edu/

aerodynamics, which deals with the motion of air and the way it interacts with objects in motion, such as an aircraft or Structural engineering is the field of civil engineering particularly concerned with the design of complex structural systems well can you do both?!?!???!?!

aerodynamics, which deals with the motion of air and the way it interacts with objects in motion, such as an aircraft or Structural engineering is the field of civil engineering particularly concerned with the design of complex structural systems well can you do both?!?!???!?! Yeah you can design aircraft structers(airframes).

aerodynamics, which deals with the motion of air and the way it interacts with objects in motion, such as an aircraft or Structural engineering is the field of civil engineering particularly concerned with the design of complex structural systems well can you do both?!?!???!?! Yeah you can design aircraft structers(airframes). hey I just fly the damn things. :wink:

hey I just fly the damn things. :wink: :lol:

What questions do you have specifically? Just if it is a good career choice I guess :idk: I like math and stuff and engineering has always interested me so I thought u guys might could help me out. I dont want to get into any personal info like salary and stuff cus I can find that. I just need to know from an experienced person whether it is a good career or not. I would really like to design aircraft tho.

Yeah you can design aircraft structers(airframes). well then there you go......:dthumb: ....:luck:

Just if it is a good career choice I guess :idk: I like math and stuff and engineering has always interested me so I thought u guys might could help me out. I dont want to get into any personal info like salary and stuff cus I can find that. I just need to know from an experienced person whether it is a good career or not. I would really like to design aircraft tho. I guess it depends on what you want to do. Its a good career choice if you want to be just average joe money wise. Salary vary greatly depending on where you live. In GA for example a new grad would probably only make about 50-60K/year. There is a lot of job satisfaction but there is a high level of stress that goes with it. Also the industry is very cyclical meaning about every 7 - 10 years companies experience fluxuations in the maket and are forced to adjust staffing levels(read layoffs).

I guess it depends on what you want to do. Its a good career choice if you want to be just average joe money wise. Salary vary greatly depending on where you live. In GA for example a new grad would probably only make about 50-60K/year. There is a lot of job satisfaction but there is a high level of stress that goes with it. Also the industry is very cyclical meaning about every 7 - 10 years companies experience fluxuations in the maket and are forced to adjust staffing levels(read layoffs). Just looked at the Aerospace engineer statistics and it looks pretty good. Average pay is $80-$90k annually :yikes:

Just looked at the Aerospace engineer statistics and it looks pretty good. Average pay is $80-$90k annually :yikes: Depends on where you live. I fit in that range. :wink:

Depends on where you live. I fit in that range. :wink: Ive got a page for u. Its got the top paying states for electrical engineering if u want it.

Ive got a page for u. Its got the top paying states for electrical engineering if u want it. Lets have it.

I dont know which one you fall under so heres the list. http://www.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/naics4_561300.htm#b17-0000

I dont know which one you fall under so heres the list. http://www.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/naics4_561300.htm#b17-0000 What states pay the best though?

Did u not find ur occupation on the list?:scratch: It should say if u click on ur career.

Did u not find ur occupation on the list?:scratch: It should say if u click on ur career. Yeah, nevermind, I found it. Thanks!

Welding Engineer... the petroleum companies pay very well. -a|ex

Welding Engineer... the petroleum companies pay very well. -a|ex Yeah I saw. Cant find it now tho. :scratch:

software engineer - applications: mean pay $93,520 sweet...

software engineer - applications: mean pay $93,520 sweet... :withstupi Thats why I think Im going with engineering. I dont care about being a millionare but Id like to have some extra $$ for a couple toys. What are u going into?

Mechnical engineering is another field to consider. My fiance's brother is in Aerospace right now and a guy from NASA advised him to go into it because NASA's Aerospace field is overrun right now. He didn't heed the advise though, still aerospace. I will make fun of you endlessly if you go into civil. That and industrial engineering are the redheaded step childs of the engineering world. Civil is like the Alabama football program though, they think they are the prom queen, but really just an ugly fat b*tch. Embry Riddle is a damn good school. :dthumb:

Mechnical engineering is another field to consider. My fiance's brother is in Aerospace right now and a guy from NASA advised him to go into it because NASA's Aerospace field is overrun right now. He didn't heed the advise though, still aerospace. You mean they advised him NOT to? Im prob going into Aeronautical tho, none of that NASA stuff. I want to work on planes, no rockets for me.

I'm in computer engineering. if i wasnt doing that I'd be probably doing Mech E. maybe business. the money's a perk, but don't do it for that... and also, don't worry too much about making a decision right away. If you're not sure which engineering you want, its no big deal, because you can [usually] transfer around to different majors within the college of engineering.

I'm in computer engineering. if i wasnt doing that I'd be probably doing Mech E. maybe business. the money's a perk, but don't do it for that... and also, don't worry too much about making a decision right away. If you're not sure which engineering you want, its no big deal, because you can [usually] transfer around to different majors within the college of engineering. Yeah Im not doing it JUST for the money. I want to make sure Im happy while Im working so I can enjoy the money and job both. And I know I can transfer but I dont want to spend the majority of my life in college. My cousin changed majors twice and Ive seen how long its taken him so that another reason I want to decide quick.

do it for the money. that should be primary. don't go into any field of engineering that can be outsourced (computer, ee, mechanical, etc). if you think it's wrong to make money a primary concern, then you haven't lost your job from being outsourced yet. make the money working, then make your passion a hobby. money buys happiness (i kid you not). i have a friend that is a welding engineer. he gets paid very well (over $100k)and travels internationally as a consultant. i also have a friend who graduated with an electrical engineering degree. he is now a firewall administrator for a local gas company (mediocre pay). forget about programming or software development jobs, that's mostly outsourced. when i worked at Bell Labs, all the engineers were foreigners. only the technical managers were americans (at least most of them were). -a|ex

I am thinking of aeronautical or structural engineering as a major and was wondering if u guys have any info on any of them. Time is getting short so Im trying to narrow my search for a major. Right now my choices are either this or pharmacy but :idk: My dream is to work at Lockheed or Boeing designing aircraft but that seems a little far fetched right now. Any info u guys have will help. You have to follow your dreams bro- but being in the aviation business myself I would personally recommend sticking with the medical field. The medical field is more stable and gives the employee the upper hand in job selection/placement/pay... where the aviation business is going to give you less choice in where you choose to work/live and the stability is weak at best. Being that Lockhead has all the major contracts with the military- that may be more stable then the airline business but- keep in mind- Lockhead, Ratheon, basically all military contract Co.'s have never been known for great pay. :2cents:

I know alot of mechanical engineers from Rolla went to Boehing (sp?) to do design. I agree with Trip, don't go civil. Money is good in all of the disciplines

I know alot of mechanical engineers from Rolla went to Boehing (sp?) to do design. I agree with Trip, don't go civil. Money is good in all of the disciplines Yeah I would like to go to Boeing and work but that may not work. My cousin is a pharmacist and he has a friend making $100k+ a year. According to the list they make an average of $70-$80k so you can see its not all that accurate. Pharmacy is looking really good right now cus apparently there is not much interest in the field so there are more job openings.

Yeah I would like to go to Boeing and work but that may not work. My cousin is a pharmacist and he has a friend making $100k+ a year. According to the list they make an average of $70-$80k so you can see its not all that accurate. Pharmacy is looking really good right now cus apparently there is not much interest in the field so there are more job openings. My mom's a pharmacist in Michigan. The problem here is that the Pharmacy schools can't turn out enough people. There are more openings than new graduates. She Spent a few decades in managment and recently went into a semi retirment to work a counter again (less stress). Definately good money and high demand.

Yeah I would like to go to Boeing and work but that may not work. My cousin is a pharmacist and he has a friend making $100k+ a year. According to the list they make an average of $70-$80k so you can see its not all that accurate. Pharmacy is looking really good right now cus apparently there is not much interest in the field so there are more job openings. Again it depends on where you live. $100K+ is easy in Cali.

My mom's a pharmacist in Michigan. The problem here is that the Pharmacy schools can't turn out enough people. There are more openings than new graduates. She Spent a few decades in managment and recently went into a semi retirment to work a counter again (less stress). Definately good money and high demand. Yeah I am really starting to lean toward pharmacy. Come to think of it I might have an easier time with it that engineering cus Im better at chemistry than math so that might work out for the better.

Again it depends on where you live. $100K+ is easy in Cali. Yeah if you make $100k+ around here ur unique. There is one really nice gated community here and thats it. The rest is just average homes.

Yeah I am really starting to lean toward pharmacy. Come to think of it I might have an easier time with it that engineering cus Im better at chemistry than math so that might work out for the better. Just remember that Pharmacists go to school for 8 years.

are you talking starting salary of $70-80:scratch: KC is weird cause we have 6 large engineering firms but it doesn't seem to push up the salaries like it should

are you talking starting salary of $70-80:scratch: KC is weird cause we have 6 large engineering firms but it doesn't seem to push up the salaries like it should In KC I would guess a fresh grad would be offered 50-60K

In KC I would guess a fresh grad would be offered 50-60K I think starting is about $50k average

You mean they advised him NOT to? Im prob going into Aeronautical tho, none of that NASA stuff. I want to work on planes, no rockets for me. He is wanting to work on planes. He is currently cooping with Honeywell doing aircraft avionics. NASA is not space alone, first A is aeronautics. The guy at NASA said he would have a better chance at getting a job in aircraft as a ME. Said there was a lot of qualified individuals in AE right now. Just relating what was told to him by a guy in a hiring position. May look different when you get through your degree. do it for the money. that should be primary. don't go into any field of engineering that can be outsourced (computer, ee, mechanical, etc). if you think it's wrong to make money a primary concern, then you haven't lost your job from being outsourced yet. make the money working, then make your passion a hobby. money buys happiness (i kid you not). i have a friend that is a welding engineer. he gets paid very well (over $100k)and travels internationally as a consultant. i also have a friend who graduated with an electrical engineering degree. he is now a firewall administrator for a local gas company (mediocre pay). forget about programming or software development jobs, that's mostly outsourced. when i worked at Bell Labs, all the engineers were foreigners. only the technical managers were americans (at least most of them were). -a|ex You are like the devil on people's shoulders. Screw your dreams, take the money. :lol: He can easily go into any field in engineering and not be outsourced. Find a job that requires a security clearance. Have to be a US citizen then. Most military aircraft companies require that as well, which is probably what he wants to work on. Only then he has to worry about his job getting contracted out to another US firm, but such is life. No job is truly safe.

I think starting is about $50k average Yeah that is what it is around here too, my base when I started was $55k. I don't think I have seen it that low except my first year when I worked half a year. I work a lot of overtime and have one of the few engineering jobs that pay overtime. I got sent on a seminar and this engineering manager was trying to lure me to interview with his company and when I told him I wanted paid overtime, he laughed at me. :lol:

I'm just saying most disciplines of engineering are a LOT of work. if you're gonna go into it with money on your mind and no interest or understanding of what you are learning then you're probably going to fail. hafta admit being a compE that outsourcing is a concern. but I plan on focusing on business/management anyways. I might be going for a business minor. and hey, I can always just move to India and work there :lol:

I'm just saying most disciplines of engineering are a LOT of work. if you're gonna go into it with money on your mind and no interest or understanding of what you are learning then you're probably going to fail. hafta admit being a compE that outsourcing is a concern. but I plan on focusing on business/management anyways. I might be going for a business minor. and hey, I can always just move to India and work there :lol: Seriously, I got into engineering because I enjoyed electronics and the electrical world. I am glad I did it, if my job gets outsourced which is an impossibility because US citizen has to work. I can find work pretty easily because they need power engineers everywhere. Aging workforce to the max in this field. It's all old guys and the new trainees aren't flooding in at all.

The best money is in the construction business. But it's a tough life. Long hours, moving around alot, etc. But then if it were easy, they'd pay you less.:wink: Anyway, engineering isn't a bad way to start out a career. You get pretty damn decent pay and it does go up though if you want the big bucks then you gotta get into management, of which lots of engineers end up in if you don't mind the bureaucracy. I can't complain. It's a good job. Not necessarily a "fun" job but then if it were "fun" then they wouldn't call it work. I work to make a living so that I can live. I don't live to work or go to work to socialize and have a life there. And yes, engineering school is a MoFo regardless of which discipline.

The best money is in the construction business. But it's a tough life. Long hours, moving around alot, etc. But then if it were easy, they'd pay you less.:wink: Anyway, engineering isn't a bad way to start out a career. You get pretty damn decent pay and it does go up though if you want the big bucks then you gotta get into management, of which lots of engineers end up in if you don't mind the bureaucracy. I can't complain. It's a good job. Not necessarily a "fun" job but then if it were "fun" then they wouldn't call it work. I work to make a living so that I can live. I don't live to work or go to work to socialize and have a life there. And yes, engineering school is a MoFo regardless of which discipline. :iagree: construction pays good it allows me to have so much at such a young age but you should still go to school first going to back to school after working for several years and getting married is a bitch. I am going to school because I don't enjoy working construction that much and I would like to do something else. I applaud you for being interested in engineering we have to many lawyers in this country and not enough engineers...:dthumb:

I guess it depends on what you want to do. Its a good career choice if you want to be just average joe money wise. Salary vary greatly depending on where you live. In GA for example a new grad would probably only make about 50-60K/year. There is a lot of job satisfaction but there is a high level of stress that goes with it. Also the industry is very cyclical meaning about every 7 - 10 years companies experience fluxuations in the maket and are forced to adjust staffing levels(read layoffs). Just looked at the Aerospace engineer statistics and it looks pretty good. Average pay is $80-$90k annually :yikes: I picked the wrong FU:cens:CKing field. :cursin:

I picked the wrong FU:cens:CKing field. :cursin: us nerds are smarter then we look :lol:

us nerds are smarter then we look :lol: Speak for yourself. :lol:

Speak for yourself. :lol: you're a geek and you know it. :lol: I am a proud geek. :dthumb:

you're a geek and you know it. :lol: I am a proud geek. :dthumb: Actually, Im not. Im completly out of my element when I am around engineers. They all drive me freaking crazy with their "Im smarter than you" attitude. And they all act like know it alls. They like to argue to the Nth degree about everything. Im nothing like that at all.

you're a geek and you know it. :lol: I am a proud geek. :dthumb: amen brotha:dthumb:

Actually, Im not. Im completly out of my element when I am around engineers. They all drive me freaking crazy with their "Im smarter than you" attitude. And they all act like know it alls. They like to argue to the Nth degree about everything. Im nothing like that at all. :lol: sounds famaliar. We don't argue too much about job related subjects. We can argue for days about off topic stuff.

I wish I had one of those job outlook things. That website I posted up used to have business prospects for each job but idk what happend to it. :cursin: I read the mechanical engineering thing and it looks pretty good but what I had first decided on (polymer and biomolecular engineering) isnt on there.

I wish I had one of those job outlook things. That website I posted up used to have business prospects for each job but idk what happend to it. :cursin: I read the mechanical engineering thing and it looks pretty good but what I had first decided on (polymer and biomolecular engineering) isnt on there. You have a couple years before you have to decide. All of your classes will be the same the first 2 years no matter what area engineering you choose.

My moms friends son went into engineering and is taking the same road I am. He went to one of the local colleges first then went to GA Tech and he said the local college was alot harder than Tech. I know I have a few years to decide I guess I am just trying to get ready so that when the time comes Im not looking for one still.

My moms friends son went into engineering and is taking the same road I am. He went to one of the local colleges first then went to GA Tech and he said the local college was alot harder than Tech. I know I have a few years to decide I guess I am just trying to get ready so that when the time comes Im not looking for one still. GA Tech is a very good school. I doubt its easier than a community college. I guarantee your friend just became a much better student.

GA Tech is a very good school. I doubt its easier than a community college. I guarantee your friend just became a much better student. Idk but Ive heard that DSU is hard. That is the one he went to before Tech. DSU has an engineering program and if you enter it you are automatically accepted into Tech and thats what I want to do.

Idk but Ive heard that DSU is hard. That is the one he went to before Tech. DSU has an engineering program and if you enter it you are automatically accepted into Tech and thats what I want to do. Thats how I did it.

I just found out on that site you can choose the industry and see the top paying jobs for that industry. Now the top paying job is petroleum engineering.

I just found out on that site you can choose the industry and see the top paying jobs for that industry. Now the top paying job is petroleum engineering. Is that what GM does? I know he works with petrol.

Is that what GM does? I know he works with petrol. :idk: I think I heard something like that.

Idk but Ive heard that DSU is hard. That is the one he went to before Tech. DSU has an engineering program and if you enter it you are automatically accepted into Tech and thats what I want to do. My $.02... Don't get hung up on which school you attend, as long as it is accredited. I've hired and been hired, and the particular school you went to means nothing. If it does mean somehthing to an employer, you don't want to work for them anyway. Regardless of the field you enter, experience is KING! Co-op ing will extend the time it takes to graduate, but gives you a definite advantage entering the job field. I'll take a person with real work experience and a 3.0 gpa over a 4.0 gpa and no real world experience every day. I originally studied pharmacy, and moved to chemical engineering. My decisions were based on short term returns (4 vs. 8 years). If I had it to do over, I would go back to pharmacy simply because of the job market and market stability. Medical fields are hands down more stable than engineering fields. I live in N. Ga also, and can tell you with 100% certainty that civil or architectural engineers are in higher demand than other fields. I have friends and ex-employees in aerospace, and I feel that the aerospace field is in the least demand, and is the most volatile. For example, Lockheed Marietta just ended the C-130 program, and the Raptor program is always in jeopardy. Peace time sucks for the aerospace field, and commercial planes last over 30 years. At the end of the day, look at the job market demand, and try to find the field that interests you the most based on that demand. The job market is a sellers market, so make sure that you have something to offer that 90% of the other applicants don't.

My $.02... Don't get hung up on which school you attend, as long as it is accredited. I've hired and been hired, and the particular school you went to means nothing. If it does mean somehthing to an employer, you don't want to work for them anyway. Regardless of the field you enter, experience is KING! Co-op ing will extend the time it takes to graduate, but gives you a definite advantage entering the job field. I'll take a person with real work experience and a 3.0 gpa over a 4.0 gpa and no real world experience every day. I originally studied pharmacy, and moved to chemical engineering. My decisions were based on short term returns (4 vs. 8 years). If I had it to do over, I would go back to pharmacy simply because of the job market and market stability. Medical fields are hands down more stable than engineering fields. I live in N. Ga also, and can tell you with 100% certainty that civil or architectural engineers are in higher demand than other fields. I have friends and ex-employees in aerospace, and I feel that the aerospace field is in the least demand, and is the most volatile. For example, Lockheed Marietta just ended the C-130 program, and the Raptor program is always in jeopardy. Peace time sucks for the aerospace field, and commercial planes last over 30 years. At the end of the day, look at the job market demand, and try to find the field that interests you the most based on that demand. The job market is a sellers market, so make sure that you have something to offer that 90% of the other applicants don't. Good post man. Rept! :dthumb:

:iagree: construction pays good it allows me to have so much at such a young age but you should still go to school first going to back to school after working for several years and getting married is a bitch. I am going to school because I don't enjoy working construction that much and I would like to do something else. I'm talking about being a field engineer in the construction business.:wink:

I'm talking about being a field engineer in the construction business.:wink: oh you guys well us carpenter and installers don't do so bad either...:wink: