<p>Sorry for this very ignorant question. My parents always wanted me to be an engineer, but I don't know exactly what they do. I know I shouldn't base my career choice on what my parents want me to do but I really don't know what else I would do. My family is quite poor so my parents naturally want their kids to be successful financially, so I don't how well a history or music major would put food on the table (at this point I am interested in history and music but who knows it might change). </p>
<p>I'm not terribly good or fond of math, I'm not bad either though. I consistently get A's in my math classes and find it interesting, but I don't feel I have a natural talent for math, so I don't know if engineering will suit me or make me happy. What exactly is it that engineers do (I know there are a lot of different types)? </p>
<p>I'm only going to be a senior next year, so this worrying about my future career is kind of fruitless at this point, but I would like to get a better perspective on things. Has anyone actually not really liked math that much go into engineering and find that they actually liked it? How easy is it for an engineer with a Master's degree to find a well-paying job?</p>
<p>That's a VERY broad question. Look around you, just about everything you see is designed by some kind of engineer. Your computer - electrical/computer engineers, roads and highways - civil engineers, cars - mechanical engineers etc etc.</p>
<p>If you feel that you don't like math, you might be in for a tough time in engineering as there is a lot of math involved. Many engineering majors are math minors by default. I don't mean to discourage you, but if your heart is not in it for engineering, it's easy to give up due to the difficult program.</p>
<p>Engineers are paid well. They are not the most well paid by any stretch of imagination, but a BS generally start in the 50k range. I don't suggest going with engineering unless you think you'll like it. If you are purely in it for money, there are other professions that pay more.</p>
<p>I think they get to hang out in the locomotive and blow the whistle. Downside: they are also responsible for cleaning off the cow-catcher. Yuck.</p>
<p>And I thought I was the only one whose Dad never took HER on his train. My Dad did, however, get us up at 4 AM to see HIS rocket launched into space. Again, we always wondered why he never brought THAT home either.</p>
<p>Yeah, my dad ended up going to med school (I was born his third year, my brother during his residency) after getting his MS in Mech, so we had a tough time figuring out when exactly he did his train thing. I also remember our celebrating his graduation when I was four or five... and being very confused as to why my dad was just <em>then</em> graduating, finally... I didn't say anything though. I guess I just figured, "dude. free cake. don't mess this up."</p>
<p>I have nothing else constructive to contribute at the moment, though. </p>
<p>Anecdotes are fun, even if they <em>are</em> off-topic.</p>