Career Choices. What to do!?

[LowchevyII]

Your job sounds crazy!

out of curiosity, how well does your engineering background carry over to your building of your falcon (which looks awesome by the way)

[Bryce]

Originally Posted by LowchevyII

Your job sounds crazy!

out of curiosity, how well does your engineering background carry over to your building of your falcon (which looks awesome by the way)

Well I have designed a few susepnsions and working on two more. I focus on materials and making things as light as possible. So every day in class I would try to apply what i leared to cars and how can I go faster be lighter and stronger.

I love my job it was taylored for me.

[71RS/SS396]

What you are currently majoring in is a very good mix of skill sets. There is a high demand for engineers with business skills, you will have a lot of options once you graduate and if you later feel like you want be in finance you can always continue your education.The degree just removes the ceiling from your income potential.

[Danp454]

Hey Jeff,
I'm also a SoCal resident (Tustin) and will be attending CSFU this fall as a Mechanical Engineer student. I have spent the last 7 year trying to get a career as a firefighter. I don’t regret my choice to chase down my dream, but I do wish I finished my degree in engineering, hence my returning to school. Choose a major you like and you will not see it as a headache when you study. You will finish and have a degree that is what is important not what is written on it. Hear me out here it shows your possible employer you stuck it out…..you persevered and graduated with a 48% drop out rate (2009 USFU statistic) Also you can be taught, yes there are people out there that can't be..... trust me, and that is a very attractive quality to an employer. I have a little time in “the real world” and it will behoove you to have a degree no matter what degree or job you get. I hope I have said something here that will help. If you decide to continue on the path you are on as an engineer maybe we can help each other out.

Best of Luck,
Dan Pursley


Yeah only one post, and a member since 2005 what can I say...I'm not a talker/poster.

[LowchevyII]

Originally Posted by Danp454

Hey Jeff,
I'm also a SoCal resident (Tustin) and will be attending CSFU this fall as a Mechanical Engineer student. I have spent the last 7 year trying to get a career as a firefighter. I don’t regret my choice to chase down my dream, but I do wish I finished my degree in engineering, hence my returning to school. Choose a major you like and you will not see it as a headache when you study. You will finish and have a degree that is what is important not what is written on it. Hear me out here it shows your possible employer you stuck it out…..you persevered and graduated with a 48% drop out rate (2009 USFU statistic) Also you can be taught, yes there are people out there that can't be..... trust me, and that is a very attractive quality to an employer. I have a little time in “the real world” and it will behoove you to have a degree no matter what degree or job you get. I hope I have said something here that will help. If you decide to continue on the path you are on as an engineer maybe we can help each other out.

Best of Luck,
Dan Pursley


Yeah only one post, and a member since 2005 what can I say...I'm not a talker/poster.

thanks for the words, Dan. Everyone on here seems to be pretty certain i should stick out engineering as well as have all been very insightful. Shoot me a PM on here when you start taking classes. Best of luck to you as well with your career and educational endeavors.

[DataBit]

Originally Posted by LowchevyII

Your job sounds crazy!

out of curiosity, how well does your engineering background carry over to your building of your falcon (which looks awesome by the way)

I am a sub engineer in aerospace. Now working on rectification. An engineer could be deployed for different sections, inspection, test, rectification, design etc etc.

For the first question of this thread.

Why not you try to check your aptitude? Many types of attitude and aptitude tests are available to check one's IQ, approach and mind set.

As for my experience, if you like to repair or (damage) the home appliances (trying to fix them), you have an attitude towards mechanical engineering.

[55Sedan]

Originally Posted by DataBit

I am a sub engineer in aerospace.

WOW!!! I didn't know they had submarines in space! How cool is that?!?!

Seriously, when I was 24 I joined the Navy. (3rd oldest guy in boot camp!) It took that long to figure out I wasn't going anywhere in life. I got four years REAL job experience in the Navy and then they paid for me to go to school for four years (G.I. Bill).

I have never heard of 'CSFU' but I think I went there! I graduated from the other CSUF (Fresno) with a BS in Industrial Technology....lazy man's engineering. I concentrated on manufacturing automation (more plc's than robotics) and am now an IT guy at a cheese plant. Pay is good. Work is plentiful. I wanted a job where I can get my hands dirty AND I get to plan projects and think through problems.

Like so many other of these guys have said, don't sweat so much making the decision what you want to do for the rest of your life. I've moved around in/out of similar fields for about 15 years and I am still learning.

Life is like building a car.... gotta start with a good foundation. If you don't like the color of the car or the style of the wheels, they can be changed later! And it doesn't matter how damn good looking the car is if it doesn't run. Get your degree in something that interests you and THEN worry about what you want to do.

Oh, and your current college credits should count in your favor if you join the military. I had enough to get out of boot camp with my first stripe. And while I was in the Navy they paid for me to continue to go to college. The military is not a bad deal for a lot of people, but it is not for everybody.

Good luck!

[DriverzInc]

My 5 best friends from high school all went to UCSB, and are now all mechanical engineers. They all came out of UC after 4 years, made very good money right out of the box, and are all now living comfortably. They have skills that I only wish I had as a car guy, and can pretty much design, and make anything for their projects. 2 work for Lockheed Martin, two for Raytheon, and one for Loral Space Systems.

If I could go back and have a discussion with my 18 yr old self, I'd say get your SH together and either go M.E., or go to UTI.

[LowchevyII]

Originally Posted by DriverzInc

My 5 best friends from high school all went to UCSB, and are now all mechanical engineers. They all came out of UC after 4 years, made very good money right out of the box, and are all now living comfortably. They have skills that I only wish I had as a car guy, and can pretty much design, and make anything for their projects. 2 work for Lockheed Martin, two for Raytheon, and one for Loral Space Systems.

If I could go back and have a discussion with my 18 yr old self, I'd say get your SH together and either go M.E., or go to UTI.

Man i thought this thread had kind of fell by the wayside but i just noticed its bump when ill steez left his response. thanks for the heads up guys. im thinking about sticking it out the more i think about it and the more advice i get.

Justin-- My buddy's uncle went to Cal State Fullerton and graduated with a M.E degree. He also works for Raytheon. Not sure if you are familiar with anyone there being that your friend is the one that works there, but his name is Rick Stanton. He actually built a '69 Torino Talladega that was featured in HOT ROD. http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicl...ega/index.html . Really sick car.

But i digress. I really enjoy reading your guys' insight, experience and opinions. keep them coming and thanks to all that have answered!