<p>If you get into research you’re usually building a lot of your own custom stuff. You might spec some of it out to be fabricated elsewhere, but you’ll be designing it and likely putting prototypes together yourself.</p>
<p>@RacinReaver </p>
<p>That sounds very interesting to me. How do I get into research? I mean it sounds EXTREMELY INTERESTING, it’s just that it sounds like you’d need a master’s bare minimum to do it, and probably a PH. D. Am I correct?</p>
<p>“Reseach” itself is a very vague term. I’d say 90% of what I do takes hardly any thought and could be done by someone without a college education, just properly trained to do the motions. What the advanced training is useful for (MS/PhD) is being able to do that other 10%, the critical thinking, the design, and the understanding of what is actually going on. Because of this, it really doesn’t take much to get involved with research when you’re at a school. Pretty much every engineering/science lab has various tasks that can be performed by undergrads (and often high school students). The best way to get involved is to read on various faculty members’ websites what sort of work they do. Then, ask the professors you’re interested in working with if they’re willing to let you work in their lab (if you’re a current undergrad you’re often best off doing this in person). </p>
<p>You’ll likely be paired with a grad student and seen as a bit of a liability for the first few months. Work hard, show up on time, ask good questions, and don’t ever, ever, hide a mistake. Once the person you’re working with feels you’re trustworthy they’ll probably start giving you more and more responsibility, so you can start to see more what it’s like to do the high-level part of research instead of the more technician-style work.</p>
<p>@RacinReaver</p>
<p>That sounds like good advice. </p>
<p>Another question: Do mechanical engineers get to work with their hands a lot? I heard that it’s much more hands on. Could you clarify this for me?</p>
<p>What would you suggest if you weren’t into the idea of building things as far as engineering fields go?</p>
<p>@remolloy101</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you were talking to me or another person on this thread. However if I were to say what types of technology I would most like to create it would weapons, cars, gadgets, aircraft, computers, etc.</p>
im also kind of bummed that mechanical engineers no longer do work with there hands like in the 60s, 70s, and 80s . I decided to go into CS instead because of that.
@elmstreetking - Please do not post on a 7 year old thread!