[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
MIT huh? Now I think I understand you better and like you less. I probably paid about a 5th what you did and got as good an education. AHAHAHA!
[/quote]
Probably so, but kosher dorms are scarce outside of Boston/NYC, and Bibi Netanyahu (my hero) went to MIT, so it’s the only school to which I applied.
I did make a hell of a lot of money on the blackjack teams, though.
AND I learned that Harvard girls are an easy lay.[/quote]
But yalls football team is terrible.[/quote]
We had a football team? Learn something new every day here.
“Stay in school as long as possible.” I’ve had a few people tell me that. A couple more years of school to put you in a much better place for the rest of your life?
[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
MIT huh? Now I think I understand you better and like you less. I probably paid about a 5th what you did and got as good an education. AHAHAHA!
[/quote]
Probably so, but kosher dorms are scarce outside of Boston/NYC, and Bibi Netanyahu (my hero) went to MIT, so it’s the only school to which I applied.
I did make a hell of a lot of money on the blackjack teams, though.
AND I learned that Harvard girls are an easy lay.[/quote]
But yalls football team is terrible.[/quote]
We had a football team? Learn something new every day here.[/quote]
[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
MIT huh? Now I think I understand you better and like you less. I probably paid about a 5th what you did and got as good an education. AHAHAHA!
[/quote]
Probably so, but kosher dorms are scarce outside of Boston/NYC, and Bibi Netanyahu (my hero) went to MIT, so it’s the only school to which I applied.
I did make a hell of a lot of money on the blackjack teams, though.
AND I learned that Harvard girls are an easy lay.[/quote]
But yalls football team is terrible.[/quote]
We had a football team? Learn something new every day here.[/quote]
Exactly. Never won a single game.[/quote]
Well, it’s not fair. NCAA rules forbid the use of inhalers, pocket protectors, and calculators. Our team could barely take the field.
Experience is more important but if at all possible look into doing both even at the same time. My school offers a lot of their masters level classes in the evening so I am able to go to work and school. Most jobs should be understanding of this if you have to leave a bit early once or twice a week especially if the degree is related to the current job in any way. I am also just doing 1 class per term, it will take a while to finish but right now job is more important. If your job sucks put school first and finish faster but if your job is good do school on the side, most degrees give you like 7-10 years to finish so take your time. Right now If I could magically finish my degree instantly it would not benefit me in any way except for the fact I wouldn’t have to go to school ever again which I guess is kind of nice.
[quote]TD54 wrote:
“Stay in school as long as possible.” I’ve had a few people tell me that. A couple more years of school to put you in a much better place for the rest of your life?[/quote]
That might be true depending on your field. If it is a big plus in your field then that sounds like good advice.
I have a degree in math/comp sci and struggled with the idea of going to grad school but opted to get to work instead. I would like to go back for grad school but as I get older and as I get more comfortable in my career it is harder and harder to do it.
But OTOH, I work alongside a guy with a masters in math and we are on par professionally.
We are programmers/analysts/architects or whatever basically we code and do a lot of design, lots of math but a masters degree is not necessary if your math is strong. But we have to bring in mathematicians on contract sometimes to verify our algorithms (third party is required to keep things objective) and I’d like to have that job but I would need a masters.
[quote]jasmincar wrote:
I don’t want to hijack this thread but what do you guys think about getting a physics degree in college? [/quote]
From what I understand, you’d probably end up doing research or teaching (or both). I (not that it matters) personally think it’s a fine thing to pursue.
Also I’m glad I started this thread if only to find out about the PE/FE’s. You never do escape standardized testing huh?
Thanks to all of you who chimed in! Hopefully I can squeeze some more insights out of all of you!
On a completely unrelated note, I’m glad at least some other people say “comp sci” My friends all call it “CS” and make fun of me like I’m weird.
I passed my EIT while I was still in college
Right now I’m talking with my work about what they will pay for in regards to my PE. I’m pretty sure they will pay for everything, but I might have to sign a contract that I won’t leave in a year.
I work in MEP Consulting (deal with architects, building owners, utility companies dealing with new construction) where if you’re an engineer you need your PE. I would be the only other EE with a PE at my company (other guy is one of five owners, my boss) but I still need more work experience to actually get my license. Illinois allows you to test early then wait to apply for your stamp when you meet the experience requirements. I figured I might as well get it done while being new at the company and before kids come along since I’ve heard it is the hardest test an engineer will take (including anything in school)
I only have one other friend that will get his PE (civil guy, basically a necessity) since we both work in fields that require/expect it if you want to amount to anything. All of my other friends work in exempt industries where few have their PE’s and none need it. Most don’t even care if you have it.
Just depends what kind of industry you want to work in.
[quote]jasmincar wrote:
I don’t want to hijack this thread but what do you guys think about getting a physics degree in college? [/quote]
I am an electrical engineer and I know some guys that have physics degrees and they are having trouble getting jobs. A physics degree is not very marketable without something else such as an engineering degree.
[quote]TD54 wrote:
“Stay in school as long as possible.” I’ve had a few people tell me that. A couple more years of school to put you in a much better place for the rest of your life?[/quote]
That might be true depending on your field. If it is a big plus in your field then that sounds like good advice.
I have a degree in math/comp sci and struggled with the idea of going to grad school but opted to get to work instead. I would like to go back for grad school but as I get older and as I get more comfortable in my career it is harder and harder to do it.
But OTOH, I work alongside a guy with a masters in math and we are on par professionally.
We are programmers/analysts/architects or whatever basically we code and do a lot of design, lots of math but a masters degree is not necessary if your math is strong. But we have to bring in mathematicians on contract sometimes to verify our algorithms (third party is required to keep things objective) and I’d like to have that job but I would need a masters.
[/quote]
A recent new employee hired for the same job as me had a masters degree in CS. I just started into the program at the same school and I think I even get paid more than him since I’ve been there longer.
I have a BEng in Chemical Engineering. That was 10 years ago. I would consider doing further study before entering the workforce. The job market is more competitive, and I don’t know whether you expect to work your entire career in the Americas but the rest of world requires you to have upgraded your skills. On the other hand getting some work experience, real life experience will focus the nature of post-graduate studies (I am assuming this is what you mean by grad school? Sorry I’m not from the USA and I don’t know what your norms are).
Job wise I’ve done customer support, applications engineering, project management, marketing manager, consultant for O&G/Energy and now a commercial manager managing most of Asia. Competition is fiercer now than before, what will set you apart is skills that other engineers don’t have (communication, finance, law etc) or other people don’t have (language other than English comes to mind, global work experience).
I have a B.S. in Aerospace Eng. and stayed on to get the M.S. then went to work. It helps to get a Masters, but it’s still pretty easy to get hired with a Bachelor’s, assuming your GPA is good and you had an internship or two. The rules don’t really apply this year with the lousy economy.
Honestly, taking a few more classes and doing a Master’s level thesis isn’t really going to prepare you for the working world that much better than a Bachelor’s, and there’s a ton of stuff you’ll have to pick up on the job that professors don’t find interesting enough to teach, depending on your specialization. Getting the Master’s first makes it easier to land a more technical/analytical job. Plus, at a lot of schools, you can find a research assistantship and they’ll pay for your tuition and stipend.
And for the record, the MIT football team usually wins 2-5 games a year. I played a season on the O-line. The division they play in is pretty terrible though, I think my high school squad could’ve won it.
And for the record, the MIT football team usually wins 2-5 games a year. I played a season on the O-line. The division they play in is pretty terrible though, I think my high school squad could’ve won it.[/quote]
[quote]willsee wrote:
I passed my EIT while I was still in college
Right now I’m talking with my work about what they will pay for in regards to my PE. I’m pretty sure they will pay for everything, but I might have to sign a contract that I won’t leave in a year.
…
Just depends what kind of industry you want to work in.[/quote]
Willsee, I’m a civil and my experience is different, but I WOULD NOT SIGN that kind of contract just so they will pay for a few hundred dollar exam fee and a day or two off work. Very high high risk for such a little reward. Just my opinion.
One thing I failed to mention was preparation courses. I literally studied hundreds of hours for the PE exam. Part of that study was attending a prep course given by TESTMASTERS.
The course was very helpful, especially, the exam taking information. For example, they suggested reading every question in the exam and ranking them easiest to hardest by placing a 1-3 by the question. And then working all of them easiest to hardest because they are all worth the same amount of points. Plus, some of the harder questions are unsolvable and you could waste a lot of time for zero reward. I ranked every question by degree of difficulty and subject (Civils have 5 modules of questions). Every hour on the hour I counted up questions to check my pace. Starting with easier questions and counting solved problems helped me keep my peace of mind and stay focused. I had no nervousness about time and finished the morning session 1.5 hours early. I then reworked all the questions and some with incorrecttion to verify I had indeed gotten them correct. (Gosh this sounds so freakin’ anal - ENGINEERS!) Anyway, I passed first time.
[quote]iflyboats wrote:
How are the Civil Engineers doing right now?[/quote]
Busy enough here in MO, backlog (consulting) is lower than normal but staying afloat. Structural guys are slow from what I hear.
