<p>based on my interest in math/science a few family friends and the PLAN test recommended engineering for me but it seems that you have to decide on engineering as a major your first year of college because there are so many requried classes. so how did you all decide that engineering was for you and where can i learn more about engineering and jobs and such?</p>
<p>I'm going to be an engineering major next year. The way I see it, I like math and sciences much more than humanities/liberal arts styled courses. I'm also a huge technology lover, so engineering just seemed right. It's also just a good degree to have. You can always branch off into other fields later in life like business, law, or possibly medicine. Hopefully I'll be happy with my choice next year :-).</p>
<p>I think there is much more to think about in this topic. If you are interested in engineering then just go for it. Engineering is tough definitely but hard work pays later on. I myself am thinking of doing engineering this fall and I am really excited about it. Its hard though, in choosing an engineering branch. I am myself having trouble in choosing that, though I am thinking of doing computer engineering.
But ya, for undergraduate, I think engineering would be a good degree because its more flexible when it comes to you masters.</p>
<p>Here's how I'm arriving at a decision:</p>
<p>This summer, I'm reading a book called: "Engineering as a career." This book is kinda old, but the information (most of it) is still valid. People should see if they have certain traits and engineers and what types of functions that they want to perform as engineers.</p>
<p>The book that I'm reading outlines and describes the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of engineers. And among other things, the book defines the engineering profession (it has changed over time) in terms of functions as well as branches. Most people major in engineering due to a specific branch that they think that they like. These people really need to examine the functions of engineers as well. These functions include: research, development, design, construction, production, operation, application, industrial, and management. In the author's opinion, a student's interest may lie in a certain branch, but his aptitudes are most closely related to a certain function. The functional classification, therefore, is more much meaningful from the standpoint of career planning.</p>
<p>Just look up on princetonreview.com or do some searching on the internet (uiuc.edu or other engineering colleges might have descriptions of the some of the various majors on their websites) for the type of engineering you're interested in. (e.g. I looked up the difference between chemistry and chemical engineering and chose chemE.) </p>
<p>What's funny about me though is that those personality job tests like PLAN almost never ever recommended engineering for me. Most recommended business related jobs and other things. Oddly enough, most people think I am a business major based on my personality too.</p>
<p>So how did I choose engineering if I don't even have the personality for it? I like technology and advancements too. I like the thought of creating something very useful that could help a lot of people. It is just an exciting field with a lot of promise. It is constantly changing (business and many other majors have been rooted in the same ideas for years). There is always a new area that is opening for engineers. Also if I picked business, that's all I could do. I feel that I want do more than that as far as technology and science goes. Plus, I can still do business if I wanted to even with an engineering degree.</p>
<p>About different branches: I have seen other engineering majors and I still like mine the best b/c IMO it is the broadest. You can work in almost any area from food to computers to law to almost anything. ChemEs are involved in almost any process that creates something. I just like the broadness of the field and the complexity of the major. I also like MechE and CivE. You can always specialize later. Again my opinion but ChemE is the most useful bachelor's degree you can have. There are many that think differently but that is why they aren't chemE majors.</p>
<p>Veron, I agree with you on trying to decide early about engineering because it can be hard to catch up if you don't start there and graduate in 4 years. But as far as which major, the only major that you would be behind in after one year at U of I is ChemE b/c of the accelerated chem courses. The others have very similar if not the same curriculum for the first year. So don't worry too much as long as you are sure about the engineering part.</p>
<p>For me, not only is it a great interest, but it also is a family thing. Everyone in my family becomes either a doctor or an engineer. I don't think I have any interest in working around sick people all day for a living.</p>
<p>For me, it just boiled down to the intersection of my interests: Passion and skill in math and science (except biology, because its all memorization) + admiration of technology and defense (military) applications = engineering. Also less likely for there to be idiots in your profession, always a plus.
ort30, I saw and skimmed that book at the library. 2 presidents were engineers, hoover and carter.</p>
<p>Redski is right. It often is a family thing. Almost everyone I have met besides myself has an engineer, usually the parents, but almost always (90-95%) in the extended family. The next highest amount have a parent as a teacher and then close third is a doctor. And everyone who I have met has parents that went to college except maybe 1 or 2.</p>
<p>Also where I go most engineers went to good high schools with good science and math programs. This probably helped their interest as well. I am one of the few people I know that didn't have a good education in those areas beforehand.</p>
<p>What's funny again is that I don't fit the usual profile for engineers again. The "wrong" personality, no engineers in the family, and no good high school. I am also Hispanic which further places me in the minority. Needless to say, I felt a little out of place sometimes.</p>
<p>What I do have is work ethic and an non-waning interest in math and science. That is what you need to survive engineering. Also I had lab work before I came into college. That is another thing that kept me going b/c school work is very unlike real work. If you dont like the school work you still might like the real occupation.</p>
<p>I just graduated from my high school. I would probably qualify as a best at math and science person (I took AP Chem, AP Bio as well as AP Calc AB, Cal II, and Linear Algebra before graduation). My affinity toward quantitative skills draws me toward economics which I love and already took two classes of at a local college (Micro and Macro). Econ and business give those math/sci people a chance to apply their quantitative skills.</p>
<p>I guess what I'm trying to say is no; it is not strange.</p>