<p>What major(s) has the most potential?
Example, like in the 80s computers were the thing.</p>
<p>ha dude…if there was one major that we knew has more potential than all the others…everyone would be in that major…</p>
<p>I recommend pursuing any engineering discipline related to the extraction of resources such as Petroleum, Natural Gas, Coal. These resources are continuing to drive the development of our world economy and will continue to do so for decades to come.</p>
<p>That is why my vote goes to either of these resource engineering degrees:
All 3 disciplines are expected to continue to be in high demand for years to come and not to mention the excellent salaries.</p>
<p>Geological Engineering
Mining Engineering
Petroleum Engineering</p>
<p>In the future Geothermal Engineering will likely become one of the most prominent alternative energy resources and so the above degrees will have the best opportunities of getting into the geothermal engineering field due to many of the fundamental geophysical and engineering principles being similar to geothermal.
[Geothermal</a> Operations Engineer | Geothermal Power: GreenCareersGuide](<a href=“HugeDomains.com”>HugeDomains.com)</p>
<p>“To become a Geothermal Operations Engineer, you will need at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. The higher degree you have, the more opportunities you will have for engineer jobs and advancement. To get to an operations level, you will need to work your way through the ranks, starting as a resource engineer or petroleum engineer. For this reason, a degree in Resource Engineering is recommended. Courses or degrees in Computer Programming are also useful in this field. Other recommended areas of knowledge are thermodynamic principals, machinery operation, and electrical power generation.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately as of yet in the US there are no solid “Geothermal Engineering” degrees that are offered but hopefully in a few decades there will be.</p>
<p>If you want to start a business it’s more about YOU, not what your degree is in. You’re not going to be able to pick the “right” engineering major and be on the fast track for starting your own business.</p>
<p>^^ I knew that was coming.</p>
<p>Seriously, the OP wants to start a business and you recommend petroleum? One-track mind much?</p>
<p>^^
What I meant was that if the OP got a
a degree in Petroleum Engineering he could eventually have the oppurtunity to transition to and be at the forefront of the geothermal industry once it starts to become well established. Geothermal still has alot of unexplored potential that could yield excellent business opportunities in the future.</p>
<p>And yet, there are so many other fields with lots of potential for entrepreneurship. Lots of them. There isn’t an engineering degree that doesn’t have opportunity for entrepreneurship. In fact, petroleum engineering is probably one of the least entrepreneur-friendly engineering degrees out there.</p>
<p>Admittedly, a lot depends on what sort of business the OP wants to start, but it is much more difficult to start your own energy company than most types of companies simply because of the startup costs and overhead as compared to opportunities available to most other engineering degrees.</p>
<p>Geothermal energy is great and all, but doesn’t it require a volcanically active area to function effectively? There aren’t a lot of those in the United States, that’s for sure. The caldera under Yellowstone would be one, and I guess there would be some in the Pacific Northwest. Working in Hawai’i wouldn’t be bad either. Still, it limits you geographically in a way that some people may not be interested in. Add to that the fact that you could get into geothermal energy as a mechanical engineer, for example, and still have a more versatile degree for the purposes of starting a business, and I just don’t see how your suggestion makes sense.</p>
<p>If the goal is to start a business, you want a degree that will give you a fairly broad set of skills, especially in the area in which you would like your business to operate. In addition to that, you need to have, first and foremost, a good idea and a sound business plan for selling that idea. Those are often things you have to learn through means outside of class.</p>
<p>I guess your right!</p>
<p>Actually, geothermal is available from any point on Earth. It is literally everywhere. You simply need to drill a hole deep enough. But half the cost is in the drilling, so that’s obviously the central technology that needs improvement. Naturally, it is cheaper where you don’t have to go as deep. Geothermal has been used since ancient times (hot springs). For home use, depending on the system and whether it is used for heating or power generation, depths of only 1 meter to 150 meters suffice. A well can last a century without regeneration. Unlike wind or solar, it is available 24 hours a day.</p>
<p>I realize that geothermal is much nicer than wind or solar (potentially), but it still seems that it wouldn’t be very economical to do it in areas where there are no hot spots. I am by no means an expert, but that just seems to be the case to me.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>Your question is too broad and somewhat naive. Starting a business is mostly dependent on market conditions and how specific knowledge may be applied to meet a specific demand. There are so many factors that affect a business that it is virtually impossible to say with any degree of certainty what particular major will best prepare you for entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>The “best” advice anyone could give you is to maintain your senses aware and learn when, where, why, and how to apply the knowledge you have to efficiently meet the (real/artificial) demands of others.</p>
<p>IMO, the better approach would be to pick a major first and then decide from there how to start a business.</p>
<p>I was only a kid in the 80s so I’m not sure, but I imagine there wasn’t a mass rush to start computer companies back then. It was probably still a risky and unknown field back then as compared to the dot com boom in the 90s. If you want to get the same head start now as those who started computer companies in the 80s, you’d probably have to be a risk-taker and VERY knowledgeable in your field.</p>
<p>In many cases, all that’s necessary is to be in an emerging field where there are few practitioners. Other times, luck is the major factor. It’s good remembering that many of the major corporations of today were founded decades ago, some before the 20th century: Mercedes-Benz (1881), Ford Motor Company (1903), Standard Oil (1870), IBM (1911), Hewlett-Packard (1939), AT&T (1885), General Electric (1878), etc.</p>
<p>Take telecomms for example: back in 1885, there were several individuals trying to invent something resembling a telephone but the field was “big” enough and the practitioners were so few that anyone who could “crack” it would become famous, and indeed, Alexander G. Bell did just that. In contrast, the telecomms field nowadays is saturated with thousands of individuals working on small aspects of different products and the general public is rarely aware of who worked on what (e.g. the iPhone was designed by 5 EEs and CEs (whose names escape me atm) and not by Steve Jobs himself).</p>
<p>I just do not understand what you have against petroleum engineering boneh3ad. Everytime I mention Petro Eng. there seems to be some sort of backlash against it fom you. I respect your personal opinions but I am curious to why you consistantly discorouge Petro. Eng. and anything related to it.</p>
<p>If I have misunderstood your intentions then I apologize.</p>
<p>I have nothing against petroleum engineering as a whole. What I do get annoyed with is the fact that you suggest petroleum engineering in pretty much every circumstance, even if it doesn’t really fit the criteria set forth by the OP. It doesn’t matter how much it pays; it still doesn’t fit every situation like you seem to suggest.</p>
<p>For example, someone asks about getting a BS in engineering and business, and you suggest an MS in petroleum engineering management? It is the wrong degree, for starters.</p>
<p>Listen, for people who want to be a petroleum engineer, good for them. I encourage them to follow their dreams. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. It just isn’t, especially with petroleum engineering.</p>
<p>Yeah, I just don’t get you alchemist. I understand you love petroleum engineering (at least everything you’ve read and heard about), but why the need to come on the forum and be the first responder to almost every post by detailing the “greatness” that is pet. engineering? </p>
<p>As Boneh3ad stated, it seems you drop it in a thread even when it doesn’t fit the original question at all. I think you just may be developing a bit of tunnel vision. You need to understand that there are things that exist outside of the world of pet. engineering. </p>
<p>You remind me of a recruiter for the military. One track mind and you try to get everyone you talk to on the same track.</p>
<p>You are right. I guess I just didn’t realize how inappropriately I was responding to the forum posts. Now that you have pointed this out I will make sure I am more responsible in that regard.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>alchemist, I am impressed with your grace and maturity! I don’t think I would be able to respond as you have. Ha, I have tunnel vision when it comes to architectural engineering and working for ourselves, so I can relate.</p>
<p>re: OP</p>
<p>My guess is that CS is a degree with more potential for making $$$ than any engineering degree.</p>