engneering field

[coolguy147]

so ive been thinking a major and it is engineering. i dont know what kind of engineering to go in. to many different choices.

for a job maybe working with a major outboard company in research and development? good pay?

 

[eaglejim]

Re: engneering field

Figure out what you like doing because the rest of your life is a long time and you don't want to be one of those guys that say "I hate Mondays" "thank God it is hump day(Wednesday)" "it's Friday weekend is here" those folks only have 2 good work days a week

 

[QC]

Re: engneering field

Engine development engineers command a pretty penny where I work . . .

 

[rbh]

Re: engneering field

elec, mech, chem, dont screw around, If your going to put the big hours in go for the big coin.
rob says

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: engneering field

Figure out what you like doing because the rest of your life is a long time and you don't want to be one of those guys that say "I hate Mondays" "thank God it is hump day(Wednesday)" "it's Friday weekend is here" those folks only have 2 good work days a week

I so agree with that. On Friday, you want to say "it's only 2 more days til Monday".

 

[coolguy147]

Re: engneering field

yeah of course but engineering is really what ive been looking into.

engineering where i can deal with designing outboards. but any other types of engines is ok.

mechanical engineering?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: engneering field

Well I chose mechanical many many years ago. It's not right for everyone but it has kept me gainfully employed so far in a job I like doing. Seen a whole lot of the world that I would not have done otherwise because of it. I completely agree with doing what you like doing though as you will be doing it for the rest of your working life.
Good Luck with your decision.

 

[angus63]

Re: engneering field

Like boats,do ya? Like engines, do ya? Like design and engineering? Me too! I chose the United States Merchant Marine Academy 29 years ago and it was a great choice for me. Similar to West Point or Annapolis, Kings Point is a Federal Academy (tuition free) and top 20 Engineering School (18th). After four years you graduate with a bachelor degree in Marine/Mechanical Engineering, an unlimited horsepower Coast Guard license in Steam,Diesel,and Gas Turbine, and a reserve commission as a Navy Ensign. I sailed the world over on Merchant and Military support vessels, then spent 20 years as a Project Design Engineer building parts and systems for engines on military platforms (I have my name on several parts for the latest Joint Strike Fighter and am very proud of the accomplishments). Now I'm back at the Academy teaching what I love to kids like you! One recent plebe candidate, Matt, is from iboats and is doing very well. Check out the link below and PM me if you have any interest. Good luck with your choices!

www.usmma.edu

GO NAVY...BEAT ARMY!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: engneering field

I am an electrical engineer. If you want a field where the technology is constantly changing, it is it.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: engneering field

so ive been thinking a major and it is engineering. i dont know what kind of engineering to go in. to many different choices.

for a job maybe working with a major outboard company in research and development? good pay?

Mechanical Engineering. Go for UF if you're going to stay in state. UCF for second choice. I have a Computer Science degree from UCF in the early 1980's. Also have a BSEE and MSEE from UT(exas) that I got later. The engineering degrees are by far the most useful and sought after in the market.

Very good money available, but there is a certain amount of luck involved. Good talent in a specialized field that is growing makes good money. You have to be flexible and keep up with new technologies. Also, the days of working for a single company for years is long gone. Be dedicated to the company that you work for, but realize that it will not last forever. If you are extremely talented in an in-demand niche skill, contract work is by far the most lucrative, but contracting carries more risk. If portable, affordable health insurance ever becomes a reality (please, no politics here), then I believe that the engineering employee scene will change drastically into a mostly contractor based system. In-house engineering teams will be small and contractors will be brought in for specialized tasks.
So,
What does that mean to you at your age?
Study hard and master the fundamentals. Everything else will change at least twice in your career (remember, I got my CS degree before there were PC's and my code was on punch cards).
You have the communication and personality thing covered already. Assembling and maintaining a professional network and reputation is and will be key requirement from now on, particularly when we are all free-lancers in the field.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: engneering field

i dont know if i want to go to UF especially after that loss against the crimson tide

is anything with working with evinrude or mercury or even the yamaha corp?

to many things to choose from

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: engneering field

well at 14, you have a lot of time. the one concentration, now is good grades, taking the right classes, that will give you the basic background you need in college.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: engneering field

i dont know if i want to go to UF especially after that loss against the crimson tide

is anything with working with evinrude or mercury or even the yamaha corp?

to many things to choose from

Basically the first year or so of engineering school is the same for most of the disciplines (calculus, diffferential equations, chem, physics, etc.). Then you really gotta make up your mind which engineering field you're going into (Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Aeronautical, etc.)

If you have your heart set on working for a particular company, contact them somehow (a letter is old fashioned, but surprisingly effective sometimes) and see if they have co-op programs and/or internships available for engineering students. Ask what university they heavily recruit from (and then go to that university if at all possible. And it's always possible).

I would guess that BRP (Evinrude) may still have an engineering division somewhere in Wisconsin. It could all be in Canada now. But I would suspect that they would NOT be recruiting engineers fresh out of the University of Florida. They would be looking at schools that are closer and more familiar to them (and where most of their own engineers came from).

 

[angus63]

Re: engneering field

i dont know if i want to go to UF especially after that loss against the crimson tide

is anything with working with evinrude or mercury or even the yamaha corp?

to many things to choose from

You are young yet, but my 2 cents is you should think education first before you consider for whom you want to work.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: engneering field

ill be taKing pre-caculus next year. and chem next year too. i hear chem is a killer but i want to take physics junior year but hear teacher is crap and they have had lots of them leave or not have any physics teachers.

i guess just do my best right now

im gonna make an hybrid outboard lmao

 

[pmat1]

Re: engneering field

ill be taKing pre-caculus next year. and chem next year too. :

Chem is evil!
Have you looked into a vo-tech at your school? they might have a program that you like, i go there for auto mechanics, and love it!

 

[scipper77]

Re: engneering field

I don't want to discourage you from doing something that you may love but let me speak a little on the down side of the engineering field.

1) First off when you complete a major project what's next?? Every project could end with unemployment and in this economy it frequently does. I recently read that the average mechanical engineer today changes jobs every 3-5 years. Short term employment can be a good thing however as the more experience that you gain the more $$ you can make at the next job.

2) Outsourcing. This is more of a problem with manufacturing than it is with engineering but it is a problem all the same.

3) Age discrimination. I have never experienced this as I am only in my 30's but I have watched my father who is also an engineer go through some things. The stereotype is that an old guy can no longer be as sharp as when he was younger and is not worth the money that his experience commands. Many companies don't want to pay an older and extremely experienced engineer what he or she is worth when they feel that they could hire some young kid for 1/2 the price and make him into what they want. I have watched my father struggle to find employment in recent years and I will tell you flat out that he is 10 times the engineer that I will ever be. The guy is just a genius. He ended up moving out of state 3 years ago as there was no longer any companies left in the area that were a good match for his experience.

4) this brings me to my last point, location. You will likely travel a lot and may have to relocate a time or two to be where you can make top dollar.

Having said all of that, If you enjoy what you are doing and work with drive and passion you can be very happy as an engineer. It is a job where I have seen some amazing things! It is not a profession for everyone so just be sure it's for you. I'm pretty happy as a mechanical engineer and if this economy ever stabilises things will only get better.

 

[angus63]

Re: engneering field

I don't want to discourage you from doing something that you may love but let me speak a little on the down side of the engineering field.

1) First off when you complete a major project what's next?? Every project could end with unemployment and in this economy it frequently does. I recently read that the average mechanical engineer today changes jobs every 3-5 years. Short term employment can be a good thing however as the more experience that you gain the more $$ you can make at the next job.

2) Outsourcing. This is more of a problem with manufacturing than it is with engineering but it is a problem all the same.

3) Age discrimination. I have never experienced this as I am only in my 30's but I have watched my father who is also an engineer go through some things. The stereotype is that an old guy can no longer be as sharp as when he was younger and is not worth the money that his experience commands. Many companies don't want to pay an older and extremely experienced engineer what he or she is worth when they feel that they could hire some young kid for 1/2 the price and make him into what they want. I have watched my father struggle to find employment in recent years and I will tell you flat out that he is 10 times the engineer that I will ever be. The guy is just a genius. He ended up moving out of state 3 years ago as there was no longer any companies left in the area that were a good match for his experience.

4) this brings me to my last point, location. You will likely travel a lot and may have to relocate a time or two to be where you can make top dollar.

Having said all of that, If you enjoy what you are doing and work with drive and passion you can be very happy as an engineer. It is a job where I have seen some amazing things! It is not a profession for everyone so just be sure it's for you. I'm pretty happy as a mechanical engineer and if this economy ever stabilises things will only get better.

Scipper I generally agree with your comments. Here is what I've experienced here in NY:

1) If you do contract work like Aerospace or Gov't then this is very true. There are other fields within the industry that are not contract reliant. I was in contract work and changed jobs by choice every 3-4 yrs for greater opportunity. I know of many who have been at the same company for decades as well.
2) Manufacturing is suffering losses more than any other industry. Globally US companies cannot compete cost wise. Outsourcing is the trend here. This doesn't affect careers in local utilities,municipal,infrastructure,etc...
3) Unfortunately, age discrimination doesn't discriminate, it affects all industries, especially when times are tough.
4) I chose to stay put and turned down relocating for more lucrative positions. This issue spans many careers as well. My last company relocated and I elected to change from designing to teaching engineering.

Like many will tell you, do what you love, do it well, be flexible and the rest will take care of itself.

Good Luck

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: engneering field

Scipper I generally agree with your comments. Here is what I've experienced here in NY:

1) If you do contract work like Aerospace or Gov't then this is very true. There are other fields within the industry that are not contract reliant. I was in contract work and changed jobs by choice every 3-4 yrs for greater opportunity. I know of many who have been at the same company for decades as well.
2) Manufacturing is suffering losses more than any other industry. Globally US companies cannot compete cost wise. Outsourcing is the trend here. This doesn't affect careers in local utilities,municipal,infrastructure,etc...
3) Unfortunately, age discrimination doesn't discriminate, it affects all industries, especially when times are tough.
4) I chose to stay put and turned down relocating for more lucrative positions. This issue spans many careers as well. My last company relocated and I elected to change from designing to teaching engineering.

Like many will tell you, do what you love, do it well, be flexible and the rest will take care of itself.

Good Luck

Agree, I travelled the Atlantic to Canada from England to pursue my chosen career. Best thing I ever did. Age is not an issue yet from what I have found but results are what keeps you employed.
Just what i have found in and around this location though. I am certainly not making a general statement.

 

[bassman284]

Re: engneering field

Well, here's my $.02.

Lots of good information in this thread. Sounds to me like Mechanical Engineering is the direction you're headed. I work for an automotive OEM and ME's are the main people here. This would also be true in the marine area, I would think. A very flexible major in any case.

About pre-calc: I had a pre calc course about 35 years ago which didn't do a whole lot for me although I slid through it with a B. The problem was that I really didn't know much Trig, which I didn't figure out until I took calculus for real. The key is, learn your Trig inside and out, particularly identities, and the rest of your math courses will lay down in front of you.