Naval Architecture / Marine Engineering vs. Mechanical Engineering for career prospects

To preface, I’m a high school senior who needs to decide what school to enroll in by tonight.

The options I’m considering right now are: a very selective naval architecture / marine engineering school with 100% job placement (Webb Institute) and a Canadian university with a strong non-marine engineering department (McGill)

I don’t have any particular passion for naval architecture over any other type of engineering, and I’m looking for the major which will give me the best job opportunities after graduation, essentially. I’d much rather go to McGill university and do civil/mechanical engineering as far as quality of life is concerned (less rigorous program, amazing city for students) but I’m worried I’d be giving up all the opportunities of the Naval Architecture major – the guaranteed 2-month coops every year, the 100% job placement, etc.

I guess I’m just wondering if I can still get the same opportunities doing civil/mechanical engineering as I would doing naval architecture, or if it’s really hard to get high paying jobs / internships without a coop program. I’m willing to work hard to keep a good GPA, but I just want to make sure I don’t screw myself over with whatever decision I end up making.

If you can build a boat, you can build anything.

I’m only saying that because you will be able to apply the principles to virtually anything you design.

Webb doesn’t charge tuition, right? that’s also going to help. It’s also on Long Island near NYC, which would be a nice place to go during the off hours. (Montreal is also nice . . . ) Webb you will have personal attention for any classes or issues you may have trouble with.

Frankly, though, if finances are affordable with both, you should go with the one you feel passionate about.

“less rigorous program”

I have heard many comments about McGill, but “less rigorous” is not one of them. McGill is academically a very strong and very demanding university.

“amazing city for students”

Yes / Oui. I agree with this.

“I’m willing to work hard to keep a good GPA”

Great! I think that you will need to do so at either university. If you work very hard and keep ahead of your class work, you will learn a LOT at McGill. Also, it is very well known worldwide. This is a considerable help if you are going to go to university outside of the US and then look for jobs in the US.

I don’t know what the job prospects are right now for Marine Engineering. I have heard that in the past there have been good times and bad times.

“I don’t have any particular passion for naval architecture over any other type of engineering”

If that is the case, then I think that you should go to McGill. It is a great university. Also, I think that you should truly love ships and the sea if you go into marine engineering or naval architecture.

“Webb you will have personal attention for any classes or issues you may have trouble with.”

Don’t expect this at McGill. If you run into trouble at McGill, you will have to go looking for help.

“Frankly, though, if finances are affordable with both, you should go with the one you feel passionate about.”

I agree completely.

I looked at the curriculum at Webb. It is like a mechanical engineering program plus courses that are directly related to ships. It is a lighter on humanities than my ME degree, but there are more technical courses. They are ABET accredited. I would imagine that even if you don’t want to work on ships when you graduate, you will be as well qualified as a typical ME student.