What next? Double major? Job? Fun?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

So, I have found myself in a pretty awesome situation; I can graduate a year early. After the spring 2017 semester, I will only need 3 classes (9 credit hours) to graduate with a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering.

I have some great scholarships and I have an EFC of 0, so I end up getting a nice refund check each semester (around $6,000). I also have no debt/student loans.

I am having trouble deciding between staying in college for another semester or another year (and if so what classes would I take) or graduating/finding a job. I would greatly appreciate it if someone would take some time and help me come to a decision.

Graduating on time/with my class (spring 2018) pros:

  • $6,000 refund check each semester ($12,000 total)
  • Can add a double major in Economics (something I am extremely interested in)
  • Could take a year of joke classes such as basketball, yoga, weight training, and…
  • Could take a few engineering electives, some more programming classes, or…
  • Could get more involved in my Fraternity

Graduating a semester early (fall 2017) pros:

  • $6,000 refund check
  • Could take a few engineering electives, some more programming classes maybe, or…
  • Could take joke classes
  • Can get more involved in my Fraternity
  • Could get a job a semester early ($$$)

Graduating a year(ish) early (summer 2017) pros:

  • Get a job a year early ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)

Side note: I have worked in a research lab, completed a co-op rotation at a manufacturing plant, and currently have a parallel/part time co-op in a software related role, that will continue until I graduate. I am not short of experience.

Thank you for reading!

2

You could plan your schedule to get all of your requirements done by fall 2017, while doing early job searches. But retain the option of staying in school for spring 2018 (taking electives of interest) if the job search for beginning in winter 2018 does not yield anything you like.

For electives, an understanding of economics can be useful and interesting. Some sociology courses may also be of interest. If your school is what I think it is, SOC 455 SOC OF WORK & OCCUPATION, SOC 150 SOCIOLOGICAL PERSP TECH & SCI, and SOC 480 SOCIOLOGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY may help you understand what you may encounter at work in the future.

3

What about taking graduate level courses, to get more depth in an area of interest in your major?

4

What about start looking for a good and high paying job now? also If I were you, I would graduate early and cash in $6K (like you have said before) then travel while applying for that high paying job? after you are back from Vacation, you can do the interview(s)…the ultimate goal for any college kids is to get a job. Not just any job but high paying job so you are able to pay any student loans.

5

I’m confused about the $6000/semester rebate. Isn’t that intended to help cover your living expenses?

6

I allocate the $6,000 student refund (it can be spent however the student wishes… It is also taxable income) to investment, and I take care of my living expenses (rent, gas, food, and…) with money earned from my parallel co-op. Tuition, fees, my required meal plan, and books are taken care of via scholarships. (Edit: Freshman year, when I was living in the dorms, my refund was only $3,000).

Im also already taking graduate level courses. The maximum allowed (for my major) is three. I will have completed three by the end of the Spring 2017 semester.

Regardless of when I graduate, I will have all of my classes completed by the Fall 2017 semester.

7

This seems utterly ridiculous to me that you, as a result of EFC being zero, can essentially pocket $6000 in need-based aid per semester that could (should) be going to other students in need. Unless maybe you haven’t explained that situation properly (at least, properly in terms of me understanding it).

Regarding there being a maximum allowed number of graduate courses, the solution is obviously to consider spinning it all into a graduate degree. Of course that doesn’t work with the aid, as your aid package would change, but if the issue is just not wanting to leave school yet, then this is a much better option than a double major or just taking courses for fun, because it has a higher degree (and salary) as an end-game.

If the issue is not wanting to give up $6000 per semester, then consider two facts. First, by continuing to draw in that $6000 while taking courses that aren’t necessary, you are sucking up a huge chunk of money that could help another student in need afford his or her education, and that isn’t very ethical. Also consider that industrial engineers have an average starting salary that is over 5 times your $12,000/year payment that you are discussing here. You are losing quite a bit of money if you are just sticking around to milk that refund.

8

@boneh3ad

All of my schoalrhsips are merit based. I do get a full pell grant on top of my schoalrhsips. I decided to go to my safety instate school, rather than a more prestigious/expensive school. There is not a single student I know that would turn down their pell grant, because they have recived a full scholarship.

I took 17-18 credit hours each semester and came in with 30 hours of AP credit, in order to have a “free” year (not to mention working part time and a co-op rotation in). I did this to either put me ahead/graduate early or to have a year to pursue classes outside of my degree.

Now, sticking around for another year/semester wouldn’t be to “milk” $6,000 a semester.

I could:

A) Get a double major in economics.

B) Take “joke” classes (such as weightlifting); however, these joke health/fitness classes are requirements for a coaching certificate; I would love to possibly volunteer as a track coach at a high school one day (though this is unlikely, it’d be nice to be certified!)

C) Take classes that interest me (a combination of computer science, economics, and health/fitness). Maybe only 12 credit hours a semester to relax before graduating and heading into the workforce. I worked hard to be able to graduate early, and why jump into the 40-60 hour (depending on where one works) grind, when I still have a years worth of scholarships.

It’s a balance of money vs. enjoyment from staying in college. I find it odd that the replies on this thread seem only be focused on money/finding the highest paying job. My goal has never been to find the highest paying job. My goal is to work hard at what I do, make sure I’m proud of my work (in anything), and enjoy life.

Also whether or not courses aren’t necessary is subjective. The course may not be needed for the degree or the typical engineering job; however, additional coursework can help created a more rounded student or help with personal development.

The money lost from not going straight into engineering is considerable (when including income from my parallel co-op, it’ll be around $25,000 year lost pre-tax), is that money worth another semester/year of college?

9

I am not trying to be funny in here. But your goal is: to work hard at what you do and enjoy life?..So, that’s that mean you can work hard without any financial rewards like getting more pay, big money? do you just like to work and work without any raise?. Anyhow, enjoying life is a matter of life style and I know some people can and will enjoy life without high paying job. However, they still have to or need to pay the bills like gas, apartment (dwelling place), water and gas, food, student loans, etc. And those things cost money and those bills keep on going up. What if some days in the future, they get laid-off and they are old like 45 years old and above? can they still make payments for those things and enjoy life? My solution to get high paying job is not always to better the life style. If anyone gets high paying job, they can always save them for rainy days or put it to a good use like helping other fellow human beings or fellow students with their money problems, etc. Anyhow, ask any college kids about their entry level jobs and the pay. You can see their eyes gleaming and very enthusiastic if they have high paying jobs. On the other hand, they will not tell you that oh I just get an entry level job but the pay is low, meager and it is for survival only AND on top of that I still have to pay student loans. Lastly, only you can answer this life question and my suggestion in here is only worth 2 cents or one penny.

10

@Tulanefan101

Enjoying life is (purposely) broad. Obviously, I would like to be fairly compensated for my work. It’s hard to enjoy life, while feeling underpaid or undervalued in your job. If you’re performing a job at a very high level/have great reviews, of course you ask for a raise, apply for a promotion, move companies, or something. I’ve been working (and saving the majority of the money I’ve made) throughout college; I understand the value of my time.

However, I am not going to apply for a job strictly based on its salary. I want a good work environment, a good work/life balance, location (low cost of living/warm), and an enjoyable (or at least interesting) job. Salary is #5 on the list. I did NOT go into engineering for “the money”, and I don’t think anyone should go into engineering for the money; finance is a much better choice for someone who is primarily driven by money.

11

People can always have a high paying job doing engineering and that is nothing wrong to get a job that pays above average (really high). In fact, if they want to have a really good/high paying job in engineering, they can do it that is after working 3 or 4 years, they can go take MBA. I know this will not be applicable to you but most of college kids like to have high paying jobs. Who wants to take low paying jobs right? Anyhow, my son is a good life example like you as he does not care for the money. He is very perfectionist too, cares for others and goal oriented as reflected in his GPA and passing the FE within 2 months after graduation. After graduation this May 2016, he has two job offers with high paying job within two weeks. He could not help it but took one of those jobs. Also, I have read this company that offered him the job, it has 65000 employees and the CEO is an engineer with MBA too after college. So, yes I know that high paying jobs will come from engineers and their necessary MBA. Also, I know some engineering kids make big bucks working for Investment Banking, etc. So, not necessarily to major in Finance or going to Business School but anyone majoring in engineering can and will have a shot to make big bucks too in Investment Banking, Corporate Lending, Finance Corp, etc. The mind of engineers or engineering kids, I believe, is wired differently. They have a special touch, coupled with their skills in Math (higher math) and Science and Engineering where other majors will not have. Anyhow, I hope you will find what you are looking for in life. Life is good.

12

Since enjoyment from staying in college is rather subjective, it is hard to comment on the relative value of that versus going into the work force sooner, since you need to decide that.

But, as noted in #1, you need not decide now if you plan your course work so that you can graduate early. If a good (including quality of job and life aspects as well as pay and benefits) job offer comes to you in the first recruiting cycle, you can graduate early and go to work. If not, you can stay in school another semester, take electives, and continue the job search (but then you may have to take whatever you can get).