A life of engineering.....?!?

<p>I'm going to try to keep this short so that people actually read/answer it but know that I and many of my peers are being torn to pieces over this. It is very important to us.... so if I seem disconnected I'm extremely sorry, I'm trying to keep this readable.</p>

<p>Most engineers go into the field because ever since they were little.... well... they were engineers. They just didn't know there was a name for it. We're the kind of people building racecars out of our tricycles and Dad's rollie golfbag caddie, building with cone'x all Christmas morning until we have to go out and buy another box because the inter-room roller coaster wasn't done, we're the kind of people that build our dogs dog houses with air-conditioning and a retractable sunroof (yeah, my dog lives the life :D).... that's what we've always done because for some reason that's what we've always LOVED. No one was making us do it, and we wouldn't let someone stop us :D</p>

<p>BUT now I and many people just like that^^^ are coming to a crossroad in their life... do I do this for the rest of my life? What comes with that? and will it make me happy and/or successful?</p>

<p>For me, I need something that is different and exciting that will challenge me in all aspects: physical, reason, endurance, passion, will.... and when it comes to jobs... well when you work in engineering I don't see it being as engaging as doing what I wanted for these past 18 years. Also, I'm a person that loves to meet people, solve problems together... be active and... well LIVE? both inside and outside of work. Again I'm afraid engineering is a very isolated profession and working with inanimate objects for a majority of my future scares me to death. So now I'm faced with a major issue... what in God's name am I going to do? :D Even in college you can't really get too much of a feel for what it's like out in the field for 10-20 years. So I come to the only place that I COULD find such a valuable resource... you guys! I don't want to make a decision with so many pending questions floating in my head...</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help,
Ryan</p>

<p>P.S. I am a senior in high school looking at chemical, biomolecular, and aerospace... but these are just tentative until I feel around for what I truly want, or if it is even engineering that I want?</p>

<p>My accepted schools:
Ga Tech
Penn State U. Park CO' engineering</p>

<p>Haven't heard back from:
U.F.
USC</p>

<p>Defferred from:
U Mich AA</p>

<p>It is a common misconcept that engineers work in isolation. Although engineering involve analysis and creativity, their solve problem through team work. Communication skill is highly empasized and economics, ethics and societal need are of main concern in their works. You should google "What is Engineering" and find out the meaning of engineering yourself.</p>

<p>Engineers definitely do NOT work in isolation. It's counter-productive to do so because often we need help from others. Rarely does an engineer get assigned a project to do all by himself. Rather, there are always other engineers as well as the project manager who must communicate with each other constantly. Perhaps you're confusing engineers with scientists, because those are completely different worlds (from what I hear at least). </p>

<p>Depending on the size of the company you work for and the nature of the organization, you may be in constant communications with clients as well. You're not going to be restricted to a cubicle with no outside contact. </p>

<p>I've been interning at this engineering firm for a year and a half now, and these people definitely do have a life after 6pm. Sometimes they hang out with their own friends, sometimes they hang out with each other. It doesn't seem like engineering is restricting these people's social lives.</p>

<p>Oh, and even if you go to college for engineering, it doesn't mean you have to choose it for a career. Plenty of people go on to do different things.</p>

<p>Engineers arent in iso. Also there are more business career paths within engineering if that's what you like. A degree in engineering is very versitile.</p>