Advices Needed!!! I Don't Know What to Specialize in E.E.

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hi, CCers</p>

<p>Right now I am just about to finish my first yr in USC as an EE student. However, I come to the point that I am so indecisive of what my specialty be.</p>

<p>My career goal would be that after getting my M.S. in E.E. I plan to get a MBA. Ideally, I'd like to work for a couple of years in some big companies then start an engineering company of my own. </p>

<p>At USC, the specialities in E.E. are the followings:
1. Controls and Robotics
2. Signal Processing, Comm. and Control Systems
3. Comm. and Networks
4. Electronic Circuits
5. Integrated Circuits
6. Lasers
7. Energy Conversion
8. Computer Networks
9. Hardware/Software
10 Computer Architecture and Org.</p>

<p>I would first exclude lasers, and computer engineering related specialty, since I am not interested in these fields and only couple options left. </p>

<p>Control and Robotics:
(+) It is just so cool to build robots as my job. It is just my childhood dream to build robot
(-) It involves a lot on CS that I don’t like. It is also too competitive to open a company. </p>

<p>Communication:
(+) It is the strongest EE specialty in USC. And very easy to find jobs
(-) There will be no way I can open a communication-related company to compete with others. (think about Motorola) </p>

<p>Electronic/Integrated Circuits:
(+) Isn’t it what most EEers do? And it sounds just as fun as robotics.
(-) Isn’t it too ordinary just to specialize in circuits. Plus, what are the differences between integrated and electronic circuits?</p>

<p>Energy Conversion:
(+) I am thinking about I can open a company that specialize in developing in energy efficient product, and the creation of renewable energy (solar,wind) for domestic use. Moreover, I think the prospect of company as such is great. It is not competitive and the demand of it can only get higher.
(-) I speculate that it is a “cold” specialty in EE. I don’t know if I can find a job if I specialize in it. Plus, I am making myself an “Electrical Power Engineer.” I don’t know if I would like it. </p>

<p>Or any other suggestions?</p>

<p>THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY RESPONSE!!!! sorry about the long post</p>

2

<p>bump..................</p>

3

<p>BUMP^ </p>

<p>I would like to know this too, as I am going to USC next fall as an EE major. As of now, I think I'm most interested in Lasers and Photonics, or Power Conversion, but I honestly don't know enough about the subspecialties to make a proper judgement.</p>

4

<p>You still have time to decide. Take all of the required courses and see what you enjoy the most.</p>

5

<p>First year does not give a good indicator of what the field is really like. Take some more required classes and decide after your second year. That's when the fields will start clearing up more. I would also suggest to take an internship with one of the fields that you are interested in from above (Verizon/Motorola/Intel/TI..etc) and use it to narrow down choices.</p>