<p>Ok, so like i have said in other threads, im a rising civil engineering major at UMD with a 3.2 gpa. I started a summer volunteer research assistant position at the civil eng. lab a few weeks ago and realized I hate this thing with a passion. The grad student I'm working with doesn't help me out at all even though it's his dissertation. He just sits in the grad lounge watching the world cup and listening to music. I'm just doing same repetitive tests over and over. I'm not learning anything. Overall, I actually hate engineering research in general. It seems tedious and boring. And since I'm not planning to do actually engineering after college this whole thing seems like a waste of time. What should I do? Should I quit?</p>
<p>sounds like you know exactly what you should do…</p>
<p>Haha, what you are doing now is called paying your dues. I would say you have no real reason to stay if you don’t want research or anything in the future. Just know that what you are doing doesn’t represent real engineering research, but it does represent a lot of what undergrads do at first as researchers until they learn the stuff to be more… useful. That isn’t really a knock on you. Everyone goes through it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, the part about the grad student doing nothing isn’t something everyone goes through. The grunt work I agree with though. We usually start out students doing boring tasks like AFM (we do materials research).</p>
<p>I try really hard to keep the younger students busy and helping them when I can. Although, I must say that because they don’t see me much (perhaps once a day) they think I might be goofing off, when in reality I’m in the lab from 7 or 8 to 5 or 6.</p>
<p>To the OP, quit if you don’t like it. I don’t think summer research will help you get a job anywhere.</p>
<p>really? Is summer research really that pointless? Suppose I do want to work in the civil industry (construction, management, etc.) will this research be helpful at all or is it still a waste of time?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Fair enough. I know a few grad students like that, and they are very much looked down on by other grad students. It is tough for them to keep their position if they do that too. Most that I have known shape up pretty quick when their advisor threatens to fire them.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It isn’t pointless, but if you are wanting to go into something other than civil engineering, it is pretty much 100% pointless. If you want to stay in civil engineering, then it is potentially useful. Depending on how relevant your research is, it could be only good for having the experience, or it could be a valuable part of your skill set.</p>
<p>Summer research is also helpful if you’re considering going to grad school… which in civil engineering is becoming more and more of a necessity in order to be competitive.</p>
<p>In the wise words of my mother, “Boredom is the sign of a lack of creativity.” See how you can expand your opportunities while you’re there so that your mind isn’t so numb at the end of the day.</p>
<p>So is research experience useful for putting on your resume and adding to total years of work experience even if you don’t wanna do research (as long as it’s related to your field)?</p>
<p>Well, you can put it on your resume. It’s “work experience,” more or less, so if you’ve never had an internship, it’s a good starter job to circumvent the old you-need-experience-to-get-experience quandary.</p>