<p>Hi. I am currently a Junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering with plans to graduate in Spring 2011. I recently have lost interest in engineering (the designing part and the stuff engineers do). I just like to solve book problems by following algorithms but most of the time I like to understand the concepts behind it. I am thinking of going into teaching and eventually starting my own tutoring business with a focus on engineering/math. Is it even possible for an engineer to go into teaching? Does anyone know anyone who has done this? Also, by the end of this semester I will have accumulated 110 credits (most of which are technical). Is it a good idea to complete the degree then apply to some program for teaching or is it better to switch out right now?</p>
<p>teaching high school is easy…just got to take some sec. education classes for certification and then your set…or you could teach at a Community College too without any certification;as long as you finish your degree.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I don’t know if that’s true for all CCs. I’m aware of at least one that required a masters degree, and put a high premium on PhDs though there were no requirements for them.</p>
<p>However, I would second the CC approach. Teaching high school doesn’t seem all that interesting to me but I’ve often thought that teaching at a CC just as a part time lecturer would be a lot of fun… Look into the requirements for the CCs around you. The single most influential professor I’ve had was at a CC.</p>
<p>Also, definitely finish your ME degree before you get the teaching certification - no matter what, I promise you that at some point the weight an engineering degree carries will benefit you much more than if you only end up with some teaching degree.</p>
<p>My calculus teacher back in high school used to be an engineering major at UCSB. He was the best math teacher I ever had. You can do it if you want it!</p>
<p>purdue, I wasn’t thinking, you’re right for CC you do need masters, but it can be a masters in Math education or something like that…it’s only adjunct or part time that don’t need any graduate degree or certification</p>
<p>Yeah. I want to be an awesome math teacher in high school. I was reading through the New York State Certification website and it says in order to get an Initial Teaching Certificate (basically for entry-level teaching) I would need to complete a teacher preparation program or equivalent coursework and experience, neither of which I have right now. I only have mechanical engineering and some random gen ed coursework. The other path is to get an Internship Certificate which requires 50% completed coursework in a graduate program leading to the Initial Teacher Certificate, take some tests, and have an offer of employment from a principal. I think I will do the second path.</p>
<p>By the way, how long does a graduate program take? Also, is there financial aid for extremely poor people?</p>
<p>Nevermind, I found out a plan that is more convenient for me. Now my question is this: should I continue to take more engineering courses as technical electives or should I take some math now? I still need 1-2 more technical electives to get the engineering degree but it can be any 400 technical level.</p>
<p>Very few engineers design things. I think probably less than 10 or 20%. So if you don’t like design thats ok.</p>
<p>I think it goes without question that you should finish your current degree considering how close you are. I would look into the teaching stuff, but also look into some engineering jobs that aren’t design related. I think everyone can get down on what they’re studying at one point or another, and you never know, you may decide that you like engineering again. The great thing about a degree in mechanical engineering is that it has a broad array of applications, and just because you don’t like one aspect of it doesn’t mean you don’t like the whole field.</p>
<p>I’m a graduate student in engineering and I only like one sub-field. I’d give it some time and really look at what’s out there before you make a decision. It sounds like you may have your heart set on becoming a teacher, which is great, but you have invested a significant amount of time and money in mechanical engineering. I would look around and at least entertain the possibility of sticking with it. If you don’t see anything that interests you then you know teaching is right decision, and you can proceed towards getting certified and/or launching your tutoring business.</p>
<p>
Sadly, I agree.</p>
<p>^^ Sorry if this is a dumb Q, but what the heck do the other 80% do? Manage? Teach? I’m actually thinking of going into teaching myself (Junior in CEE) but maybe after being an engineer for 5 years.</p>
<p>The other 80% develop the materials used in products, research new technologies, developing testing methods to test designs, review certification data, lead projects, manage projects, etc.</p>
<p>Actual design is only a small part of engineering.</p>
<p>Lots of the math teachers at my CC were engineering majors. Do what gives you joy.</p>
<p>My AP calc teacher in high school was an aerospace engineer before he decided that teaching was more his forte. He was my favorite high school teacher–he had personality, but he could also actually give us real-life applications to the concepts we were learning, which none of my other math teachers ever could. He’s actually the reason I decided to go into engineering.</p>