<p>i'm pretty much debating between whether i should study civil engineering and business...just finished my 1st yr</p>
<p>i believe my utlimate goal is to go into developing (commerical, mulitiuse, buildings)...and if possible get involved in oil</p>
<p>the thing is that i don't know if i would really want to do the actual design work for a long time (if i did civil)...pretty much, i think for what my goal is, having a civil degree would be good because i'd pull out a civil degree and it may have its advantages</p>
<p>this is a huge debate for me...and i need some suggestions...btw, my father's a civil eng as well...he's said i could go both ways...</p>
<p>anyways, whether i choose one or the other...i would want to be involved in the managerial works of it...but having a civil would be good in regards to having a background...</p>
<p>people, speak up i need your thoughts...be thorough</p>
<p>It's entirely possible to go into real estate development from engineering. I know one person who did it. He got a MSc in Real Estate Development, but I'd be surprised if he needed that. He already had his foot in the door in development during undergrad.</p>
<p>You really can go either way on this. I glanced at the profiles of senior management of a few of the larger real estate development firms in my area and their undergrad backgrounds varied a lot. There was everything from architecture to political science to civil engineering. </p>
<p>I think the way you should approach this decision is figuring out a backup plan in case you can't get into real estate development. Do you want to enter this field because you enjoy managing massive amounts of money? Or because you like to put up buildings?</p>
<p>Unless you find yourself despising civil engineering, I'd go with that, and enter the construction management field if your real estate development plans fall through. You would get to manage the construction process, and wouldn't really be involved in design, which is what you want. The other benefit to construction management is that you'll eventually be able to network with executives from those development firms you want to join. If they see you do a good job, and you make it known you want to jump over to their side of the business, you'll have a good chance of making it. I've heard of quite a few people making this jump.</p>
<p>i don't know...i really half half on this huge (for me) decision</p>
<p>i feel that civil would be a safe degree...but another side of me believe that having a business/non-technical degree may be advantage in that since one may be spending more time networking</p>
<p>also, when you said that i needed to find what i like...to manage a lot of money or put up a building...that's thing, it's basically both</p>
<p>i don't know...what do you think...another thing to mention is that there are so many business/liberal arts major people out there</p>
<p>suggesstions/answers/links/examples/etc. would be greatly appreciate by everyone</p>
<p>If you have a personality, then choose civil. With tech skills in hand, your range of jobs will be very wide.</p>
<p>I'm a structural engineering major and like you, am not really sure what I want out of my degree. I chose it mainly because I can make good money and it is marketable. But people tell me I have a good personality, and that having the technical background will definitely open more doors.</p>
<p>Many times I wanted to quit (still do when classes are rough), but I keep pushing. There's light somewhere in this tunnel. Perhaps ken285 can manage a drilling project to help it break through.</p>
<p>I don't know if you've done this already or not, but you should ask around in some of the more business-y forums here. They might be able to tell you how easy/difficult it is to get into development, because frankly I have no idea. I imagine the risk is higher with a business degree going into real estate because a bad economy might leave you without a job (such as right now). Who really knows what the market will be like in a couple of years...</p>