<p>Not much else to add. This sounds a lot more interesting and lucrative than plain old engineering, but I don't know much about it. If it matters, I'm deciding between BU and Northeastern right now.</p>
<p>Well, frankly, you don't really have to do anything. For example, I have seen some highly successful engineering consultants who never even went to college at all, and in a few cases, never even graduated from high school. Granted, this seems to be most prevalent in the realm of software engineering and design where, frankly, you don't really need a degree at all in order to become a highly successful and extremely well-paid consultant. All you need is knowledge of a particular programming language or software system (i.e. EJB, Oracle, SAP, Websphere, etc.) that a customer wants to implement. For example, I know one guy who never even graduated from college at all, but has his own consulting business and bills $125 an hour for Cisco network consulting. </p>
<p>But more to the point, while you don't definitely need anything, there are definitely things that you would want. For example, you probably want to develop a highly topical and marketable skill. You will also benefit from strong client-facing skills, which is basically 'schmoozing'.</p>
<p>Typically, engineering consultants are people who have spent years in industry, then quit industry and go into consulting (computer consulting is a different story as sakky pointed out).</p>
<p>For example, I did an internship at Samsung Electronics in Miami/Panama. One of my supervisors offered me a 2-3 year training with SAP. He said I didn't need to complete college or go to graduate school.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, he also mentioned that the job after 3 years will pay me well.</p>
<p>I just got hired at a small consulting company (aerospace) for my first job out of college. I don't even have too stellar of a resume either. I think it comes down to what you know and who you know.</p>
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I think it comes down to what you know and who you know.
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<p>Networking is huge. I met a lady who works as an engineer at NASA while chatting at a friend's wedding shower. This resulted in an internship offer for someone I mentor.</p>
<p>Make business connections with people older than you, and make sure they know you're looking for a job... Better yet, ask them for help in finding opportunities. There's a lot of shmoozing involved in job offers. It's how business works, so in order to keep on an even playing field with everyone else, you'll want to start building up your network while you're in college.</p>