<p>Ok first I just want to make it clear that I'm not thinking about engineering simply because of the money. I want to make sure I don't come across as someone who only sees money cause thats not true. I believe that a job should bring both enjoyment and financial security on equal levels and that is what I am looking for. Right now I'm a high school senior thinking about engineering or business in college.</p>
<p>I read that engineers have a high initial salary compared to other majors but their opportunities for pay increase is small compared to econ, finance, or other professional majors who start with a lower salary than engineering but after several years of experience they can make a lot more money than engineers. </p>
<p>Is this true? Also, is there an education track that will let me break through the low salary ceiling that a lot of BS engineers have? I read the thread about MBA's but im wondering if there are any other ways. I enjoy making quantitative calculations and doing things in science or computers. But I'm also seriously concerned about financial security, not only for myself but for my parents too. I want to have enough financial freedom to take care of my close family.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how people here are going to take this, and I'm not really sure if I'm getting my point across. Basically I was just wondering what kinds of things undergrad engineers can do that are beneficial for someone aiming to climb the corporate ladder.</p>
<p>EDIT: I'm thinking about majoring in computer science or econ, maybe finance, if that makes anything different.</p>
<ol>
<li>Dual major in Engineering and Econ, or Business. </li>
<li>Engineering undergrad, MSF, MFE, MSAcc, MBA later.</li>
<li>Engineering and try to track yourself into management positions.</li>
</ol>
<p>Major in the most technical subject you’re interested in AND can do well in, and get internships as often as possible. Shoot high. Look for jobs working with money or for top-flight technical roles on the fast-track to management.</p>
<p>I’m actually thinking about a dual major in computer science and econ but I’m concerned about the courseload. But is computer science as tough as “hard” engineering like mech E, EE, or chemical engineering?</p>
<p>I also had another question. What engineering degree is most quantitative in nature? Similar to that question, is accounting the most quantitative among business degrees?</p>
<p>^ I’m not sure it’s wise to compare earnings potential across majors based on the differences in that data… another way of saying that is I’m not sure how significant these differences are. I would suggest if you do want to use this kind of information you glance at the full methodology.</p>
<p>Industrial is almost certainly the most quantitative engineering major, and it isn’t far in spirit from business. Your institution may call it operations research, systems engineering, etc. It sounds like it was made for you. And as far as business majors, I’d say economics is the most quantitative, with accounting not doing too bad on the count.</p>
<p>A good GPA and research/experience/extracurriculars from an ABET-accredited program in any engineering/CS major will probably net around $60k annually, plus or minus $10k depending on where you live. Add some business sense and training to that and get into management young and you’re looking at a lot better.</p>
<p>1) Major in EE, Systems Engineering, Computer Science
2) Keep your credit, police record and overall lifestyle clear
3) Obtain a security clearance
4) Work FOR a consulting firm as a contractor to support one of the Big-3 INTEL firms…or</p>
<p>5) Work as an independent contractor and eliminate the “pimp” (consulting firm) and bill at $100-$130/hour</p>
<p>My husband got a top secret clearance, and it wasn’t too bad. A retired FBI guy did come to our house to grill both of us. We had answered one written question by saying we’d been to a marriage counselor several years ago, and he wanted to make SURE DH didn’t have any mental or emotional problems he’d needed treatment for. </p>
<p>We have our own firm and charge a high hourly rate, but it’s amazing how fast the money gets gobbled up by taxes and other business expenses. We’re glad we did it, but we’re not exactly getting rich.</p>
<p>It really isn’t that bad, although it can take awhile to get one (especially if at the TS level). It’s quite worth it though, and can make yourself very marketable. S and TS clearances can cost roughly 10-20 grand just to obtain, then there are yearly maintenance fees, and the money attributed to having you sit around doing menial work until you get your clearance. If you get one with prior work, and are now out in the job market, you can save a company a LOT of money which looks very attractive from a business perspective.</p>
<p>Getting the Secret or Top-Secret is not that nerve-racking. It’s when you have to get higher compartments and polygraphs in addition to the Top-Secret clearances. You kind of have to get over “exposing” your life to someone you know all of 20 minutes. I was lucky, I passed the “poly” on the first try but many folks have to take it multiple times. </p>
<p>hi guys, I’m a high school senior in the same situation as the OP, but I’m wondering what exactly is a consultancy? I’ve come across it multiple times in engineering threads and I don’t really know what it is.</p>
<p>Consultancy is basically when you are employed by a firm who is also selected by another firm to help them (help can be 0% to 100%) develop a solution (read: system) for their corporation. The selected firm (your employer) is given a contract for a specified time to deliver the solution (read: system) to the selecting (paying) firm. As an employee, you are called the broad title of “consultant” because you are basically advising the investing corporation on how to come to this solution (system).</p>
<p>Your employer charges a rate for your services and pays your salary out of that billed rate and get their profit also.</p>
<p>What exactly are security certificates or whatever those are (it was being talked about at the end of the first page)? Do these allow you to work on projects dealing with defense, for example, or something entirely different?</p>
<p>Basically, any projects that deal with the military require a security clearance to work on. There are various levels of security clearance, and they all require some time and effort and money to get done. Luckily for you, your company will pay for it if they decide you need one. However, it does take time and in the meanwhile, you’ll be working on non-important stuff.</p>