<p>I did not answer the OP because the questions centered on IE. I'm an Operations Research practitioner, and I've been one for about 20 years. The OR degree is a superb preparation for analytical jobs, managerial jobs, or executive work. I oversee a large division of OR professionals. Their skills are in unbelievably high demand. Our analysis supports billion dollar decisions on a daily basis. Nobody complains about the compensation package -- not to me anyway. </p>
<p>Every now and then the undergraduates on the board feel the need to voice their low opinions about the fields of Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, and OR. They are misinformed. My experience has shown that the primary impact of these unfounded assertions is to depress the supply and increase the price of our already rare skill set.</p>
<p>If you have an analytical bent, if you've done well on statistics and math courses, and if you are not afraid of science and technology (but are reluctant to specialize), then don't listen to the dorm-room rookies. Major in OR (or SE or IE) and laugh all the way to the bank.</p>
<p>And, no, you don't need to go to Cornell or Princeton to get your OR degree. We have graduates from many different schools in my division.</p>