IE Work Load if I were to switch

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hello all. I've posted here before asking about MechE and IE. I'm a freshman Accounting major, and it's not like I hate the idea of accounting or love the idea of IE but I just hate feeling locked in for life. Class registrations were today, but I can still switch if the classes are available. I think IE sounds interesting because its business related which I like better than physics type work.</p>

<p>Anyway, I've planned out my classes if I were to switch, and I'd like you all to just take a look and see if you think I'd be completely swamped and unable to really do much else besides school. I'm ahead in accounting, in fact I only have to take 4 classes all of next year because of how far ahead I am and would have much more time for leisure and working, so it would be a complete 180. I'm pretty much comfortable with both careers because they both have high job prospects and very similar pay (IE is likely higher starting, Accounting has a higher ceiling in a managerial type role). Here's how it would look if I switched....</p>

<p>Summer: Pre calc, Trig</p>

<p>Sophomore Fall: Calc I, Stats for Engineers, Chem for Engineers, Introduction to Programming, Intro to Engineering Profession</p>

<p>Sophomore Spring: Calc II, Physics for Engineers I, Intro to IE & MS, Engineering Economic Analysis, Engineering Concepts and Methods</p>

<p>Summer: Calc III, Physics for Engineers II, Statics</p>

<p>Junior Fall: Diff Eq, Principles of EE, Principles of Cost Engineering, Thermodynamics</p>

<p>Junior Spring: Human Engineering, Work Measurement & Design, Dynamics, Product and Distribution Systems</p>

<p>Its pretty much similar from then on just mainly IE classes, but as you can see I'd have some heavy catching up to do, especially with the "weed-out" classes. I feel as though having to do a full course load and every summer would stop me from getting some nice work experience like I could with Accounting. Any thoughts are appreciated.</p>

2

<p>With your situation expect to be enrolled in your university for a 5th year. The workload you have seems doable but you will have to be on top of your stuff. Also take into account that you will have GEs and internships not just classes.</p>

3

<p>I’ve thought about the 5th year thing. The thing is, I’d basically be doing that for Accounting as well for the 150 credit req for the CPA. But then, at least I’m getting a masters out of it. And yea the hindrance on internship time due to full enrollment in summers and work experience is definitely weighing into the decision. Thanks for your input.</p>

4

<p>It’s the rest of your life vs. one year.</p>

5

<p>I’d look at which carreer you think would be best for you. As you pointed out the compensation is not a determining factor so look at the type of work you want to do. </p>

<p>With your accounting background I would suspect you can talk your way out of Principles of Cost Engineering as I suspect it is cost accounting and some finantial analysis.</p>

6

<p>Inmotion12- absolutely, thats why I’m so stuck on what to do. However the main dilemma is I don’t see how I can get in the work experience/internships/etc with such a loaded schedule and no summers. </p>

<p>Boonsboro- The problem is, I don’t know too much about either. I’m sure in Big 4 auditing isn’t too fun, but thats usually a stepping stone into more enjoyable work, or some sort of managerial role. IE I know the idea of what is done but I don’t necessarily know what the day to day life is like, the hours, etc. </p>

<p>If this were a matter of passion vs hate I would no doubt switch to IE but the thing is I’m not even sure if I would enjoy it that much more to make the added workload worth it. I’d have three or four classes every day of the week where as with accounting I’d only have it two days a week and sometimes just one class. This would allow much more time for working and doing other things I enjoy like the gym, hanging with friends, etc. I just don’t know if its actually worth it to do all this catching up. But I know thats a question really only I can answer. <em>Fingers crossed</em> that the classes will fill up and the decision will be made for me! lol</p>

7

<p>How long is your summer semester? Your second summer looks almost impossible if it’s a 6-8 weeks long.</p>

8

<p>I’m pretty sure its a 12 week summer. Some of our “lower level”, more gen ed type classes over summer are the 6 week summers but the harder classes seem to be primarily 12 weeks</p>

9

<p>domrom, you should heavily consider doing a math/statistics undergrad with a grad degree in IE. What school are you at? I’ve looked heavily into IE programs so I can help you come up with a feasible plan. Do NOT jump into a career you don’t really want to do just because there are a couple of hurdles you need to get past.</p>

10

<p>Im at Central Florida and we have I believe four separate Mathematics degree tracks as well as statistics. I feel as though the IE would interest me because of the business aspect of it rather than simply math or stats alone. You’re last sentence is precisely what I’m trying not to do. I don’t want to simply jump into such an intense program such as IE or math/stats just because it kinda sounds interesting. Especially considering I’m a year behind and would have to commit entirely to it and pretty much put a lot of working/interning and social activities on hold, or at list some what of a limit.</p>

<p>I think subconsciously I don’t like the idea of having to commit to a career so soon, which is why I’m nervous about committing to accounting or IE or whatever else, especially since I’ve yet to even take an accounting class. They certainly weren’t telling us the truth when they said “you don’t really need to know what you’re doing till junior year” lol. I’m only a freshman and a switch would already put me behind! lol</p>

11

<p>Ok, but I am in pretty much the EXACT same situation as you. I have been indecisive on career options for the last few years, not wanting to make the wrong choice and such. I feel extremely blessed to have found applied mathematics because the many related careers associated with it are not only varied, but in high demand. An applied math major can go to grad school in just about any subject they choose and are well set up for many technology and finance related jobs right out of school. </p>

<p>A couple of other points:</p>

<p>Accounting majors have to go to grad school for one year anways. If you do applied math with an accounting minor and you ultimately decide you want to do accounting you can go get your Macc. and you’ll be set. </p>

<p>I decided on the applied math major at the beginning of my last semester as a sophomore. I could pretty easily graduate on time while having opportunites for internships and leadership experience, but I might take an extra semester or two just because I want the extra education. So if I can do it deciding that late I know you can do it at this stage.</p>

12

<p>I really love this quote from Grant Hill, so much so that I saved it on my computer:</p>

<p>“Adulthood is nothing but a series of choices: you can say yes or no, but you cannot avoid saying one or the other. In the end, those who are successful are those who adjust and adapt to the decisions they have made and make the best of them.”</p>

<p>Very important words for people like me and you.</p>

13

<p>I just looked at the applied mathematics track at Central Florida. You would need to take 25 classes in your 6 remaining semesters to complete the degree. Easily doable as that’s an average of 4.17 courses per semester, no summer. Do you have all your basics finished?</p>

14

<p>Thanks so much for your help! I’m scanning through the applied mathematics degree and to be honest, it sounds brutally boring. I’m really not into straight math and calculus like this type of stuff. What drew me to check out IE was the fact that I felt like there was a purpose to it in that it was about efficiency, optimization, etc. I don’t know that I’d get through the math if it were simply math, even though I know afterward it would lead to a wide range of opportunities. Then again, I don’t know that I’d make it through the rigor of IE either. I know I’m a smart guy and when I put it the time, I usually get the A. But I don’t think I’m wrong in saying everyone should know their limits, and that schedule I posted for IE is damn near close to it! I’m still gonna check out the course catalog and some light scanning on job sites with some keywords and see what comes up. Right now, however, accounting makes more sense for my situation, but that could change if something changes my mind. Hopefully the courses will be filled and the decision will be made for me lol</p>

15

<p>If you were just learning math you wouldn’t be an applied math major you would be a pure math major. That’s why, assuming I get into UT-Austin (3.95 transfer GPA, fingers crossed), I will also be specializing in statistics and computational science with a minor in economics and CS. That sounds like a lot, but many of the courses overlap. For example, specializing in statistics with a minor in CS leaves me just a couple courses shy of a computational science specialization and and economics minor would require only 3-4 extra courses. In addition, a couple of those economics courses can be applied to the statistics specialization. </p>

<p>I actually think it’s going to be a lot of fun. Im going to be taking a short 3-day course in SAS and SPSS this summer and when school starts I want to get involved in the Austin Technology Incubator for clean tech start-up ideas. Also, the Division of Statistics and Scientific Computing is new so they are really trying to push student involvement right now so there will be opportunties. </p>

<p>Anyways, domrom, as a slightly older student (just turned 25), my advice to you is to try to create your own opportunites instead of waiting for them to happen. You can make a unique, fun, and awesome experience for yourself if you truly seek out new and useful exeriences. It shouldn’t just be about IE or accounting. Let the sheeple go the ordinary route while you do something that hasn’t been done before. America needs innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs and I hope you will become one of them.</p>