Becoming an Engineer: Considerations and Personal Experiences

[stjimmy]

Hey what about this?

Do you know what skills are essential to be an engineer?
you know like is it a good sign that you tinkered a lot and a bad sign if you didn't? do you need mechanical dexetrity and facilty to be an engineering student or is creatitvty more imporant too the wanna-be engineer.
as well i love math and science princepls but don't have much mechincal skill/facility/dexterity.. etc.Will this be a drawback?

 

[physicsless]

I would like more information (not just the usual university descriptions) on these four different branches of engineering if possible:

Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechatronics.

I hope someone can answer questions like

What does each branch generally do? What do graduates of each branch typically get jobs doing? What is the pay difference? Which has the most promising and exciting future? Which do you like best and why?

Thanks

 

[swirljem]

Interesting post indeed. I guess I'll put my 2 cents in for those who are considering an Engineer career down the road.

To me Engineering is all about one thing - pratical problem solving. Even though there are research and development work associated with many different fields of Engineering, at the end of the day, it takes good problem solving skills to become a good engineer, no matter in what discipline of Engineering you are in.

Engineering is difficult in the above sense, because not every problem has viable solutions. One has to take the term "Viable" in greater context, i.e. solving a problem under certain constraints (physical limitations, available time/resources/funds etc). This is perhaps what makes Engineering interesting because there is a great deal of achievement associated with the resulting success of "a problem solved" within those realistic constraints, and to be able to do successfully it takes good engineering skills, experience, and not the least - creativeness - capability to think outside the box.

Some people tend to think to become an Engineer one must have good design capability. That's only part of the story. Besides strong math and engineering skills, A good engineer must strong analytical and communication skills and common sense.

There are many career functions which requires strong Engineering skills and knowledge but the responsiblities are not necessarily directly related to design. I can give a few examples:

Applications Engineers - work with Design Engineers, Sales & Marketing and Manufacturing to define product specifications, qualify technical issues / inquiries and define scope of work. They are not design gurus but they are very important links between the real world (customers) and the draft desk (manufacturer).

Quality Assurance Engineers - these are problems preventers - they develop and enforce quality check procedures protocols to make sure things are produced / implemented correctly.

Sales Engineers - for people who got into Engineering, like to work with machines as well as people but found actual engineering somewhat boring, and they like to make money. Knowing the product or service your company makes and find ways to sell them to those who needs them, not only requires good product & application knowledge (which comes from your Engineering skills), but also self-motivation and good people skills.

Controls Engineers - this is a fun career who likes automation. A machine can only be a machine when someone figures out which part moves, when should it move and how far it should move. Not only you need good Mechanical amplitude but Electrical equally as well.

Project Engineers - sometimes I don't see them as "real" engineers because the scope of work they do go beyond "typical" engineering responsibilities. Running a project is fundamentally solving a problem under certain contraints as mentioned above. So it takes great organization, communication, and even management skills to handle issues at hand. You can find project engineers in almost any fields (Mechnical, Industrial, Chemical, Civil, Computer). Because of the great demand of the three different skills as mentioned, many corporate managers were one time Project Engineers / Project Managers.

I've been working for a packaging machinery company for 12 years. These are the typical "Engineering" positions I deal with on a day-to-day basis, and of course they are a small part of the vast Engineering positions / disciplines out there, you simply don't hear or learn about these type of jobs when you are in school, not until when you start looking for jobs.

As our world is becoming more and more sophisticated, new Engineering disciplines emerge every day, and more complex and unique Engineering functions are developed to meet corporate demands. I would say the answer to the question "what type of Engineer should I become?" is fairly simple - go with what you love the most, but keep an open mind because things can change rapidly during the few years when you go through your Engineering degree, and your future career may not be what you think at this time. Be perceptive to what is out there and keep an open mind.

One last word of advice though - don't make your decision based upon which Engineering Discipline makes more money. You may end up getting into something you don't enjoy doing (which should be the most important thing).

 

[cincirob]

Engineers use science, physics and mathematics in particular, as tools. As with all tools, learning how to use these scientific tools takes hard work, largely because they are not:

a) intuitive
b) reinforced by day-to-day living.

cinci: As a Mechanical Engineer (capitalized because that's the title of my degree) with 40+ years of experience I must disagree slightly with your first comment. If engineering principles aren't intuitive or at least become intuitive as you study, then engineering isn't for you.

On being reinforced by day-to-day living, I must disgree completely. :-) Again, a good engineer (and I've known a few) will see the principles at work in everything around him. Sometimes distractingly.

I have one warning about being an engineer though: If you chhose t be one, you will find yourself at parties or in your neighborhood and someone you know sill approach saying "You're and engineer....." In general, what follows will be the most intractable question that you can imagine.

 

[Hellstorm]

Do I sound like Engineer material? I'm 16, and still play with Legos... I love building! And am always building something. From rock castles when I was 7, to tree forts when I was 11. To computers, lego buildings and designing lego Spaceships now. I'm a very creative person... from art, to legos, to even writing stories... I'm also into Astronomy and space... I also have always been interested in how things work. I’m a big Gamer. I like games like Homeworld & Homeworld2, Halo & Halo2... In school, Biology is my Best subject, but not my favorite... that’s history... Math used to be my favorite, but I slowly fell behind with the smartest of my grade and never picked back up on it. so, do I sound like a future Engineer?

 

[physicsCU]

Legos are the first tools of an engineer.

Let me answer the questions first:

1. Hells yeah, be an engineer.

2. As far as a discipline, choose what you love. I love airplanes, always have. I am an aerospace major. If you like more generic mechanical stuff, choose mech. I can give you some insight into aero though. You learn a lot about everything. You will study thermodynamics, design, aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, materials, biomedical, etc.

3. The work is INSANE. Luckily all I need is 4 hours of sleep and a shower, then I am good to go. I will say when you are pulling all-nighters, about 5 AM, you will get a second wind and you seriously will be able to run a marathon. That is when your body runs out of energy and adrenaline starts pumping out like there is no tomorrow.

As far as a school, only you can decide. I chose mine mostly on cost and location, but we also have the 12th best aerospace department of any school in the USA, public and private. That is pretty damn good.

Basically, if you want to learn how things work, love math and science, enjoy tinkering, and are not afraid to get dirty, you will be a good engineer.

And don't worry about grades. The engineer who graduates last is still an engineer and will still get a job out of college.

Basically, you are about to commit three+ years of your life to insanity.

You must be of sound mind and body, grasshopper. Only then will you be ready to take on the demons of engineering.

But I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[jai6638]

Basically, if you want to learn how things work, love math and science, enjoy tinkering, and are not afraid to get dirty, you will be a good engineer.

The problem is that I'm interested in knowing how things work ( and that's mainly why i want to do engineering ) and love math and science too but i personally don't like "tinkering"..Its probably me being lazy or something but i try avoiding it.. Does that make me unsuitable for engineering?

 

[Hellstorm]

In reply to jai6638

LOL, I'm the same way... except I love tinkering and I hate math...

 

[Hellstorm]

In reply to physicsCU

Well, If I could, I would love to fly like a fighter jet... (i'm a big thrill seeker and my dad was going to be a fighter pilot but studied acounting instead.) I don't have the eyesight to be a fighter pilot tho... Planes are cool, but I don't know I'd want to build them... as in Aerospace tho, I'd love to create spaceships but I was born in the wrong time for that... Even when I talk about it I doubt myself because it sounds so fantisyish.. but I am very creative on the other hand...

 

[burnhard gandah]

If you want to know how to do things without knowing why they are done then become an engineer, but if you want to know how to do things and why they are done then physics is the best option for anyone who is considering whether they should become an Engineer. I personally think Engineers just put into practice Physics laws something which can not be said to be difficult. Engineering is not a difficult subject, Maths and physics are.

 

[brewnog]

If you want to know how to do things without knowing why they are done then become an engineer, but if you want to know how to do things and why they are done then physics is the best option for anyone who is considering whether they should become an Engineer. I personally think Engineers just put into practice Physics laws something which can not be said to be difficult. Engineering is not a difficult subject, Maths and physics are.

With all due respect, you're talking out of your arse.

 

[FredGarvin]

If you want to know how to do things without knowing why they are done then become an engineer, but if you want to know how to do things and why they are done then physics is the best option for anyone who is considering whether they should become an Engineer. I personally think Engineers just put into practice Physics laws something which can not be said to be difficult. Engineering is not a difficult subject, Maths and physics are.

Your head is up your arse.

 

[AntonVrba]

Engineering has lost it status and competition is tough

In India most who can afford to study either study medicine or engineering, and let me telll you the engineers from India are really clever and due to their numbers do not demand high salaries.

So what happens - big companies outsource their engineering work to India.

As for stautus, remember engineer is derived from the french word genius and not from the steam engine, but we have so many non technical managers who have connected their PC to their toy train set and now think they also can do engineering.

I certainly will not study engineering again, this is after 30 years engineering experience, leasure management that is what I advise.

If you want to go for engineering, then my advice is become a real engineer and study a bit from all disciplines - the specialist that that universities spit out have limited opportunity but ideally suited for corporate structures - knowing a bit about all allows you to manage multidisciplinary projects.

Remember, an Engineer is someone who knows a little about evrything, a Specialist is somebody who knows everything about a little

As for burnhard gandah he seems to be the ultimate super specialist.

 

[.....]

I'm in my first year of engineering (mechanical), I'm finding the workload almost impossible to cope with :(

A few people have told me it gets easier in the progressive years, but I'm skeptical, would you guys agree with their opinion?

 

[brewnog]

I'm in my first year of engineering (mechanical), I'm finding the workload almost impossible to cope with :(

A few people have told me it gets easier in the progressive years, but I'm skeptical, would you guys agree with their opinion?

Yes and no. First year tends to involve getting everyone up to the same standard in all the basic engineering sciences, and maths, as well as giving a background in some of the things you haven't already learned (perhaps manufacturing or design). While the material isn't necessarily that hard, it's probably harder than whatever you did before university, and there's definitely a lot more of it.

Depending on the course, you might find that 2nd year has a similar workload but more difficult material. I found this, and then found that 3rd year was easy, and quite fun!

Stick with it, engineering degrees are not easy courses, but the rewards are worth it.

 

[bruce999]

Very simply. NO. You visit uni engineering departments and they look cool - loads of engines and wind tunnels and testing machines. When you get there you rarely, if ever, use any of that stuff. Its maths, maths, maths and very long hours. You also won't get a job unless you've got loads of relevant work experience.

 

[brewnog]

Very simply. NO. You visit uni engineering departments and they look cool - loads of engines and wind tunnels and testing machines. When you get there you rarely, if ever, use any of that stuff. Its maths, maths, maths and very long hours.

You seem to be talking out of your arse too.

While there is a lot of theory (and there has to be), I've used high volume wind tunnels, supersonic wind tunnels, jet engine test bays, diesel engine testing facilities, load cells, drop hammers, compact testing machines, laser processing facilities, lathes, milling machines, welders, CNC routers and many others as a routine part of my course. On average, I had around 8 hours of practical lab sessions per week for my first two years, in addition to CAD, modelling, and design sessions.

It's not maths, maths and more maths. While maths is a tool which is always an integral part of an engineering degree, saying that an engineering degree is all maths is like saying an English degree is all words. A completely meaningless and inaccurate statement.

You also won't get a job unless you've got loads of relevant work experience.

This is also misguided. While relevant work experience makes you a more attractive graduate in the eyes of employers, one short placement is usually more than adequate to show employers that you have a taste for the industry, and have the skills needed to apply your academic learnings. Industry is desperate for good graduate engineers, and I'm sure most people would agree that you're far more employable as an engineering graduate than having studied any other course. A good proportion of my old coursemates who have since graduated have walked straight into very good jobs relying on academic success only.

 

[bruce999]

While there is a lot of theory (and there has to be), I've used high volume wind tunnels, supersonic wind tunnels, jet engine test bays, diesel engine testing facilities, load cells, drop hammers, compact testing machines, laser processing facilities, lathes, milling machines, welders, CNC routers and many others as a routine part of my course. On average, I had around 8 hours of practical lab sessions per week for my first two years, in addition to CAD, modelling, and design sessions.

You were obviously fortunate. I had 4hrs of labs a week for the first 2 years. 4 Hrs out of 26 a week and you can't deny the fact that those labs always boil down to maths. I have nothing against maths I'm just saying that it IS the core of engineering. Every subject - Thermodynamics, Fluid mechanics, dynamics, control etc is all maths. I just think that people should be aware of this fact as most engineering departments carefully neglect to mention the true nature of the course.

 

[FredGarvin]

I think anyone that enters an engineering curricula without the foreknowledge that it will be math intense has not done any research prior to enrolling in the field of study or simply chose to ignore what people told them.

I used pretty much every piece of equipment my school had for my major field of study. Playing with equipment is not what it is about anyways. They are tools for information. The information and data are what you are striving for. I guess I don't understand where you are coming from on this point.

Also, your comment about not getting a job without experience is not factual at all. Experience is a plus, but not necessary when companys are in the market for hiring young engineers. Companys know what they are getting when they interview new graduates.

 

[bruce999]

FredGarvin

Sounds like a better place where you are - US I assume.

Here in the UK most engineering companies won't even give you an interview unless you have extensive experience. There is fierce competition for jobs offered by large companies, who offer reasonable starting salaries, and they use work experience as a filter. The starting salaries in smaller companies are usually quite poor so people move away from engineering for employment.

As brewnog said engineering grads are, generally, more employable than other graduates in non-engineering roles.

 

[brewnog]

FredGarvin

Sounds like a better place where you are - US I assume.

Here in the UK most engineering companies won't even give you an interview unless you have extensive experience. There is fierce competition for jobs offered by large companies, who offer reasonable starting salaries, and they use work experience as a filter. The starting salaries in smaller companies are usually quite poor so people move away from engineering for employment.

As brewnog said engineering grads are, generally, more employable than other graduates in non-engineering roles.

Bruce. I'm in the UK, and have just (this week) been offered two separate jobs, in engineering, on graduate training programmes, with starting salaries in excess of £22k, with very reputable companies. I have under 10 weeks of practical, real-world experience under my belt, which was only partly relevant to one of the jobs. Most of the other guys being interviewed had similar levels of experience, but almost all were attending interviews to decide which offers to accept! There is so much of a shortage of good engineering graduates that graduates choose which employers they want to work for, not the other way round. I'm currently turning down interviews...

Incidentally, the job I was offered with the smaller company (25 employees; - the smallest employer to offer the MPDS programme) had a higher starting salary than the large company (10,000 employees in the UK alone).

 

[nhut]

This is probably my first post here. Yay for me.

I'm currently in my final year of secondary school, and will start university next year. From what I've read, engineering sounds like what I want to do (I enjoy maths and physics, and loved playing with lego until I 'grew out' of it). Engineering also sounds incredibly diverse, which is obviously a good thing in many respects, but it makes it hard to work out what field you'd like to study.

Fortunately where I'm going you don't have to decide your field of study until the end of your first year, but I'd still like to know in much detail what the various fields of engineering involve. Anyone care to educate me?

 

[FredGarvin]

Engineering also sounds incredibly diverse, which is obviously a good thing in many respects, but it makes it hard to work out what field you'd like to study.

That is indeed very true. Many people get a real understanding of what it is they like about engineering after they have been in the private sector for a while and have had some exposure to real world engineering. That is definitely not uncommon.

I think in the the main factions of engineering, i.e. mechanical, electrical and chemical, you can make the decision early what general area interests you. You should have an inkling as to what you like and what you don't. All of those areas have many specializations within them that are the tougher decision to make. Don't worry too much about that right now. You'll see how it somewhat, just develops.

 

[brewnog]

I think in the the main factions of engineering, i.e. mechanical, electrical and chemical, you can make the decision early what general area interests you. You should have an inkling as to what you like and what you don't. All of those areas have many specializations within them that are the tougher decision to make. Don't worry too much about that right now. You'll see how it somewhat, just develops.

This is all good advice.

Nhut, you grew out of Lego?! Sacrilege!

I'd just like to add civil engineering to Fred's list of main disciplines. If you can get any work experience at all, then you should be able to get an idea of whether mechanical, civil, electrical or chemical is the right kind of field for you. You'll be able to specialise more (structural, aerospace, automotive, mining etc) much later so don't worry about that too much at this stage.

If you're still not sure, then mechanical engineering always seems to be the broadest in terms of content, and has relatively easy paths into other disciplines.

 

[mister_okay]

Is there such thing as automotive engineering? If there is, can someone give me some brief info on it (no links please).

 

[pete worthington]

If there is, and it is a Bachelors of Science program you may want consider if is really a wise choice. a Mechanical Engineering degree can get you into the automotive field. When I got me M.E. degree in 1987 I interviewed with Ford Motor Company, a plastics engineering firm that supplied technology to the automotive industry and a rubber processing eguipment manufacturing firm that supplied tire companies with equipment.

In my opinion you would be better off getting a M.E. degree at a college or university that is in the vacinity of heavy auto manufacturing. That way the connections and applications, perhaps even work/study or co-op, would be there for your specific interest while you earn a degreee that is more applicable to a broader area.

I would imagine that the curriculum in the first three years would be very similar anyhow. Good Luck !

 

[FredGarvin]

Is there such thing as automotive engineering? If there is, can someone give me some brief info on it (no links please).

I laugh (no, make that cringe) when I hear that term. However, with all of my preconceived notions aside I will tell you that my alma mater has a MS in Automotive Engineering available. They do not have an undergrad as far as I know. If they did that would be a damn shame. If you would like a link to my school I'd be happy to email it to you or post it.

If automotive is your choice, I would re read Pete's last post and seriously consider it.

 

[brewnog]

There are several undergrad (BEng & MEng) Automotive Engineering degrees available over here, particularly some excellent ones at Birmingham and Loughborough. They're pretty much Mech Eng degrees with an automotive slant. They kinda go against Fred and Pete's advice, and for those who definitely want to enter the automotive field they're very well respected by industry, and even for non-automotive degrees they're broad enough to get you jobs which might normally employ straight Mech Eng graduates.

 

[nikola-tesla]

physics

in a month i'll be starting my 1st year of EE studies. although I've been a very good high school student, i do worry will i be able to manage my university studies since i never did like physics. i do like mathematics and electrical engineering courses, but physics does NOT attract me. am i dummed for a failure:-)

 

[brewnog]

in a month i'll be starting my 1st year of EE studies. although I've been a very good high school student, i do worry will i be able to manage my university studies since i never did like physics. i do like mathematics and electrical engineering courses, but physics does NOT attract me. am i dummed for a failure:-)

It seems slightly odd that someone so interested in EE dislikes physics so much, but since you've enrolled on an EE course and say that you DO like EE type courses, I don't see why there should be a problem! While you'll be using lots of concepts which are based on ideas you could learn on a physics course, almost all of it will be of an engineering nature. If you've done well at school, there's absolutely no reason why you can't succeed at university.

Good luck anyway!

 

[Nomy-the wanderer]

Should I become an engineer?

Well my 1st thought was I'm a practical person who's in love with maths and physics...An engineer is someone creative that can have ideas more economic and much easier to use a certain theory of whatever...

-What engineering discipline should I study?

Engineering is not all about pure physics, i mean I'm a nuclear engineer, i love both physics and maths and i should, because nuclear engineering is all about physics and i will have to use a lot of maths, but thinking physics is different then thinking maths...
But an EE can hate physics and love maths, and certainly has to love maths, electrical engineers are all about maths, even their physics don't just use maths as a language but it's all about maths ...
It's kinda hard to me to explain in which sense, but clearly we had the same courses to study sometimes, and probably it was hard for them to solve some of our problems, because the hardest part there is about using mathematics, for us the hardest part was using physics itself...

Well I'm sorry if I'm not clear but it depends on what u feel comfortable with more, again engineering is a life style, i believe engineers can replace each other, it doesn't matter what's ur speciality, it matters more that u've the mind of an engineer.

-Is engineering difficult?

For me it's easier than anything in the world, and it has affected the way i think and deal with things deeply...So i think it's a character issue. Eversince i was a child people noticed i was practical, and mostly use the shortest ways to get what i wanted. After finishing the high school, i spent sometime with myself, thinking that being an engineer was my entire life dream but do i really fit?? Well i was never certain until i finished my 1st general year, everything was clearer to me.

 

[zeronem]

I've been struggling with these kind of questions forever.

I am talented at Mathematics and Physics. I have a hard time deciding whether I should go Full Blown Mathematics, Full Blown Physics, or go for engineering. My original major is Mathematics. I enjoy explaining Mathematics, however I can find it quite boring because it is so easy and repetitive to me. Though I am always learning something new in the Mathematics as I continue, then it slowly but surely gets repetitive until I go onto something new. I am not bad at Solving Physics Problems at all, and I enjoy explaining Physics. Physics doesn't much get boring to me. However I must admit, my skills in Mathematics are quite incredible compared to Physics problem solving. I find though, that I have no trouble at all when it comes down to solving Physics Problems in general.

I always loved the Theory behind it all. I have the ability for my mind to make a transition from Mathematics to Physics. I come across Mathematics I can solve Mathematics Problems. I come across Physics Problems, I can easily make a transition from Mathematics problem solving to Physics Problem solving in terms of Understanding Physical Concepts. I am originally a Math Major who took some Physics classes just for the Theory behind the Physics and not for the engineering aspect.

Richard Feynman was right, when mentioned the differences between Mathematics and Physics. How he explained that some some students of Mathematics may look at Physics and make the cocky claim that he/she can do Physics just as well as the Physics student since he/she can do the math. He also explained that those mathematics students may go far, but as for major contributions to their field, is rare.

Though, I have met with a striking blow to the stomach. I would like to make money, and I would like to beable to buy a beach house in a little secluded area of Hawaii. The thing is I can go for a Ph.D in Mathematics which was my original direction. Or I can go for a Ph.D in Physics. However If I go for engineering I don't have to go to school as much as I would if I were to go for a Ph.D.

I do admit though. It would be nice to beable to take all the same holidays off as do Students do, If I were to go into teaching College. I do not want to teach High School, and if I had to teach I would only go as low as say Community College. I would love to be off every summer, not have to teach at college and just to relax in my dream beach house. I know I sound crazy, but it's my dream.

Anyways, there is also the fear that If I were to go far into Mathematics I would get tired of attending school any longer and end up only with a Masters. I know many Math Professors at my Community College who just got their Masters, and didn't feel like attending School any longer to get a Ph.D

I also want to have a family early in my life. If I were to go for a Ph.D I may not have time for that. If I only go for Masters I may have time. If I do engineering I know for sure I can get some time to start a family. As I know many Engineers that have started families at a young age, or atleast as it looks to me they did.

I have also met with another devastating blow that has killed me from my love for Mathematics. That at the age I am at, is supposedly the age where one make's their original contribution to Mathematics. I have not yet thought of my original idea. I can't seem to invent or discover any thing original in Mathematics which has brought me low morale in trying. I have ideas in my head I cannot describe Mathematically. I can do the mathematics, I certainly cannot think of that original idea. That leaves me with Physics, whereas I certainly cannot think of an original idea due that I am still in my lower stages of learning modern Physics.

When it comes to engineering, I do not know exactly what I am going to be getting myself into. I know exactly what I am going to be getting into when it comes to Mathematics and Physics. As for Engineering, I am dead clueless. I don't care much for chemistry, however the only aspect I can see myself dealing with that is related to chemistry is Thermodynamics. Though Thermodynamics is generally more of Physics, Quantum Physics. Anything else with chemistry can be left to the chemists.

I am also a perfectionist. I find it takes me a long time to do experiments in Science simply because everything has to be perfect. As I was doing Physics Experiments in my Physics lab, my team would always be the last to get done with the experiment. I come to the notion that whatever Scientific tools used to perform Science Experiments I have to throughly get used to and know exactly all the particular functions of the tool. Which can be a heavy disadvantage to getting experiments done on time. When it comes down to it, I've always like the theory rather then experiment. I think maybe I am willing to bare with experiments. Especially If I were to get into Experimental Physics.

I have thought about Mathematical Physics, but that is of course not generally offered among Universities. I have also thought about Electrical Engineering, simply due to the heavy Mathematics involved however, I do not care much for Computer Science which is also involved heavily in Electrical Engineering. Which brings me down to Mechanical Engineering which is a little bit of Everything. Then as Engineer one has to beable to design. I find I am probably not going to be that great of a designer either.

So I am left at the crossroads. Maybe I shouldn't pursue anything remotely near to Math or Science. Maybe I should just pick up a guitar and learn it and feel satisfied enough. Is it possible for one to go into professional research for a company with only a Masters in Mathematics? or Masters in Physics?

 

[brewnog]

- Don't choose anything just for the money
- Don't choose anything just because you can do it well
- Don't choose anything just for the career prospects

The part of your post which did catch my eye was that you've "loved" the theory behind maths and physics. It's this 'love' which you should try and pursue. I'm not saying you should do pure maths or physics, but find something which you can throw passion into.

 

[russ_watters]

I have also met with another devastating blow that has killed me from my love for Mathematics. That at the age I am at, is supposedly the age where one make's their original contribution to Mathematics. I have not yet thought of my original idea. I can't seem to invent or discover any thing original in Mathematics which has brought me low morale in trying. I have ideas in my head I cannot describe Mathematically. I can do the mathematics, I certainly cannot think of that original idea. That leaves me with Physics, whereas I certainly cannot think of an original idea due that I am still in my lower stages of learning modern Physics.

Ya know, you don't need a Nobel Prize to be a successful professor, right? If it happens, great, but I think you're setting the bar a little high.

I can assure you that if you do something you don't enjoy just for the sake of money, you'll be miserable. Yes, money is important, but it isn't the most important consideration when deciding on a career.

 

[zeronem]

I do enjoy the Math and Physics, and I can pretty much enjoy anything that I do well at. However I do not know if I can do Engineering well enough to get a rise out of it. But I am pressured to maybe give engineering a try. I just worry whether If I'll get that same rise out of Engineering like I do the Math and Physics.

I was born and raised in a very conservative family given I was born and raised in the heart of Conservative America(Texas). My whole family measures how smart you are by how much money you have or make. Given that I gained a passion for math and science and the ability to carry it out, I have been pressured by my family, friends, and professors to get into engineering and go for money. My old man had to work three jobs at once at one time. I'de certainly like to pay my parents back for their hard work. I just don't know if I have what it takes to get a Ph.D. Surely I can, but like I said I don't want to end up stopping at a Masters degree like most Mathematics professor I know that did so. Engineering does look highly interesting to me, but the question is whether I will get the same rise out of it as I get out of solving math and physics problems. I think it is matter of giving engineering a shot, and If I truly like it then I will stay with it.