Life Choice, Update page 2, read the first post though Options

[devilsden97]

ok, so this is gonna be another "piss and moan" thread...sorta.

So as some of you know, I am a college student, studyign to become an Engineer. My current place of employment has me working hand in hand with engineers, so it gives me real-time job experience in the field that I want to go into.

Well...so I thought that is what I wanted to go into. The last year of college (my first year as an Engineering student) has kicked my ass. [Prior I attend college for CAD. (computer aided drafting)] I failed Calc I, two times, and it has really messed up my scheduleing. (as if that was the worst of it.) After about the first 3 weeks, I honestly, legitimatly, hated getting up to go to class. Not because its early, or because its class, because i knew everyday was going to make me mad, or make me feel dumb.

I am begining to think I can't do the work that is associated to become an engineer. My calculus teacher says that I am not trying hard enough. Which could very well be true, but at the same time, i value friends, and other relationships to be as important, or more important then 35 calculus problems. So comes the notion of, "just try harder."

Maybe I just don't want to try harder, and becoming an engineer to me isnt worth the time, or dare I say sacrafice. I like the work I do now, even tho somedays I really hate, most days are decent.

When it comes to what else id be interested in doing, i cant think of anything that really intriques me enough to major in it.


I know some of you guys on here actually know me in person, and have talked to me. I also understand all dont know me very well, but I am just looking for any insite or personal experiences that may help me make some sort of a decison.

Thanks.

Miguel aka "Migga"


(really wasnt that pissy and moany...but its pretty complainy.)

ps. any questions just ask. Ill basicly share whatever, because i want some REAL unbias opinons.


Edit: Update Page 2.

This post has been edited by devilsden97: Jun 23, 2007 - 12:33 AM

[97lestyousay]

Work harder, I have actually contemplated going back
to school to be an M.E. I really like machining but, for
the knowlage I have I am maxed out in pay without an
engineering degree. I already am doing half the job with prints
and design corrections for the ones I work with. I think you would
make a good engineer, you seem to have good attention to detail
which is very important as an M.E. imo

Bit of info which almost all the grad students I have worked with overlook.
Know your fits.( slip, press and tolerances to make them correct)
I see it almost everyday, mating parts drawn the same size + or - .005
Fit on a computer is not the same as real world.
Bosses and holes the same size don't mate.(without a hammer )

[orvillescelica]

Bit of info which almost all the grad students I have worked with overlook.
Know your fits.( slip, press and tolerances to make them correct)
I see it almost everyday, mating parts drawn the same size + or - .005
Fit on a computer is not the same as real world.
Bosses and holes the same size don't mate.(without a hammer )

This is good advice that i learned in grad school. If you want to make a part, draft it up, then go and talk to the machinist and ask his advice about the tolerances. Talk to him/her about what you are looking for and theyll help out to make it just right.

Anyway, about the subject on hand. I dont know if this is going to help you or discourage you, but ill go ahead and tell my side of engineering anyway. Engineering IS math. Thats the short of it. I was never too great in math class either, but applying that math to the engineering concepts came a lot more natural to me. Maybe its the same way for you. By your senior year of engineering you should figure that out if you havent already. Next, having been out of school and working for a year, i can tell you that being a working real world engineer has made me work harder than i ever have in school, made me feel dumber than i ever have and more incompetent than ever before. And i was in grad school where at least one day a week i would go to class in the morning and then work in the lab until midnight, most of the times not eating all day. Real world engineering and college engineering do require a lot of work. It requires you to try hard, harder than you should for results that may not be important, but you need to do it, simply because it needs to be done. You say that Friends are more important than 35 problems, i agree. But there is a balance between those two that you can find, trust me. If you set aside your friends for one or two nights for those problems, they will understand and be there when youre done. If you set aside those problems for your friends, the college might not be as forgiving and the degree youve put so many hours into for already might never come. If you can, push through to graduation. Actually try hard, study, and see what you can really do. It doesnt matter if you dont even use your degree after college, as long as you prove to yourself that you could and that you did, youll know that you can do anything. If you just sort of coast through without giving it a real try, then youll always wonder what if and leave doubts for the future.