BrianSD_42
New member
I've never heard of that before but I checked and my school is ABET accredited for engineering. UCSC.
College Talk
- Thread starter jgmx893
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wnelax04sr5
New member
just like 1e said for ABET being key to an engineering program, if anyone is looking the business route, an AACSB school for business is a huge plus. nearly every college has a business school but there are far fewer, only 716 out of about 6,800 have the accreditation
Jdog
Member
I am little over half way through my undergrad pre requisites for Pharmacy school. This is true for me just being excited about what your doing, enjoying lectures that you attend in your field of study makes that thought of 5 1/2 years left of school seem like nothing. I am transferring to the University of Nebraska Lincoln in January, got all my pre reqs done at a community college SOO much cheaper! I know Mike Row did a couple of hour long videos on do what there is a market for and what your good at and money and being happy will come. I tend to role more with I love pharmacy and I can expect 70-100k first year practicing.
sportrunner2001
New member
Thank you for this post! Im doing Civil right now at UND and am basically in the exact same boat you were before you switched. I was actually looking at switching to CM or power plant next year or semester. Im glad I'm not the only one that doesn't like what they thought they were going to do for so long!
Nervo19
Member
I wish I could find this info for every school but VA Tech puts out a report every year of what new graduates earn:
Virginia Tech Post-Graduation Report: Salaries reported
I sort of forgot the original point I was going to make to OP if he's still reading this. Apply to some safety schools. Ones you are confident you can get in to and that you can afford without a lot of loans. I know that NC State by law can only have 18% out of state students per class, so there's competition. Clemson admits 31% out of state. In VA they can have 25% out of state students. Most schools expect out of state students to pay full freight.
To the guy who went to JMU getting a CIS degree: Go to the job fairs. In discussing colleges a friend who's an executive level employee at Capital One was mentioning JMU and that they have hired some great recruits from there. They also recruit from Carnegie Mellon which is the #1 Computer Science school right now. It's private and the degree costs a lot more than JMU but both graduates would start at the same pay. So check Capital One if you get a chance.
Virginia Tech Post-Graduation Report: Salaries reported
I sort of forgot the original point I was going to make to OP if he's still reading this. Apply to some safety schools. Ones you are confident you can get in to and that you can afford without a lot of loans. I know that NC State by law can only have 18% out of state students per class, so there's competition. Clemson admits 31% out of state. In VA they can have 25% out of state students. Most schools expect out of state students to pay full freight.
To the guy who went to JMU getting a CIS degree: Go to the job fairs. In discussing colleges a friend who's an executive level employee at Capital One was mentioning JMU and that they have hired some great recruits from there. They also recruit from Carnegie Mellon which is the #1 Computer Science school right now. It's private and the degree costs a lot more than JMU but both graduates would start at the same pay. So check Capital One if you get a chance.
Capital One was here recruiting earlier in the year. I talked to them but ultimately timing wasn't right for what I wanted to do/when I wanted to do it/ and where.
Capital One, KPMG, Target, PWC, Deloitte, IBM, Norhwestern Mutual... the list goes on. They all come recruit in the College of Business lobby a few times a year. These guys love JMU grads. At least 75% of my friends with jobs had their first contact with the company in the lobby here or at the fall/spring career fairs.
Net4n6
New member
A degree is very important. But, I've seen many of my co-workers have a degree but lack of "drive" in the real world working environment. A degree only get you to the door for an interview. You need hard work to advance in your career.
I have a BS in Computer Science and enjoy my job every second of it for 20 yrs now.
I have a BS in Computer Science and enjoy my job every second of it for 20 yrs now.
My $.02 on college...Have fun drink and smoke all you want and stay away from the bad drugs. No matter how bad the previous night was goto class on time and pay attention. Get your work done and then have fun. Try and work your schedule where you have a full day off during the week if possible. Drink and walk.:smokin::cheers:
edit.... Don't do dumb things
edit.... Don't do dumb things
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jgmx893
New member
Thanks for the link, those are some nice numbers for all the Engineering graduate salaries. I'm excited at that, and I know it will be hard work to graduate and then to be determined once in the workforce. I really hope my interests in MechE and the automotive aspect of it more specifically carries over into the future years of my life. Making good money doing something I like would be awesome.
As for the back-up schools, I'm not sure why I didn't apply to any but I didn't. I was thinking about university of Delaware, and Old Dominion University. Decided that I might as well push for the best though, so early decision to Virginia Tech it is. Their head of admissions visited my school this week so I hopefully made an impression. I might email her to express further interest, actually.
If I don't get accepted into the Engineering schools of any of these schools, I'll probably do a year of regular schooling of University Studies, or maybe even get the credits at community college and then transfer in. I would rather spend the time doing that so I can go to an excellent school that I also like. Opposed to a decent school that I never visited like ODU.
I'm not an engineer but, this was an awesome post/advice -- I loved the part about your friend at GM heading up wiper arms, made me chuckle
ben550
New member
I always enjoy reading posts from [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION]
These two always seem to have good fact-based input.
Brian I listened to the NPR link you posted and found it very informative. Very good post. Sometimes it hurts to hear stuff like that but it needs to be heard. I wish I had majored in Petroleum Engineering... haha
It is almost impossible for a young 18 year old to decide on a major... all too often the young kid picks something "cool" or "exciting" cause he does not want to be a nerd or stuck in a cubicle. But all too often, what they do not understand is that one can work one of those well paying "nerd" jobs and use that solid economic foundation/stability/good earnings to springboard into doing all those cool things they wanted to do as hobbies instead of occupations.
Work hard early (college/education), play later (vacations, houses, cars, bikes, travel, etc...)... or play early(drunk college kid majoring in criminal justice/poly sci) work hard later (the rest of your life)...
These two always seem to have good fact-based input.
Brian I listened to the NPR link you posted and found it very informative. Very good post. Sometimes it hurts to hear stuff like that but it needs to be heard. I wish I had majored in Petroleum Engineering... haha
It is almost impossible for a young 18 year old to decide on a major... all too often the young kid picks something "cool" or "exciting" cause he does not want to be a nerd or stuck in a cubicle. But all too often, what they do not understand is that one can work one of those well paying "nerd" jobs and use that solid economic foundation/stability/good earnings to springboard into doing all those cool things they wanted to do as hobbies instead of occupations.
Work hard early (college/education), play later (vacations, houses, cars, bikes, travel, etc...)... or play early(drunk college kid majoring in criminal justice/poly sci) work hard later (the rest of your life)...
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ben550
New member
I hope you are joking...
"I passed by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest," then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man."
work hard and prepare yourself for life. College was never meant to be a bachelor-pad for kids to hang out and have a good time. It is the time in life where you must build up your toolbox and equip yourself with the skills and qualifications you'll need to carry you through life. It is not the time to kick back and relax. It should be taken seriously.
BrianSD_42
New member
It's hard choosing a major and following through. That's one of the reasons I'm so blunt about it.
I wish I had studied harder in HS, that I had done all the pre-reqs for an engineering degree instead of starting from scratch (TRIG) at 24. It all worked out but I think if I had been much more diligent in HS i would have been far more prepared for some of the STEM majors. Bioinformatics sounds very cool but its far too much work for someone who is just starting college math at 24.
I wish I had studied harder in HS, that I had done all the pre-reqs for an engineering degree instead of starting from scratch (TRIG) at 24. It all worked out but I think if I had been much more diligent in HS i would have been far more prepared for some of the STEM majors. Bioinformatics sounds very cool but its far too much work for someone who is just starting college math at 24.
1engineer
Moderator
Simply this.
I prepared for engineering college by NOT taking any college prep classes nor any math classes in high school besides algebra1. I took Vo-Tech and got my Carpenter's, Autobody and Welding certificates instead. I do not recommend this path to anyone ever. I feel it made me a better engineer but man, it was absolutely the wrong way to do it and I quit one thousand times in my head the first year of college.
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RandyDaytona
New member
I have a History and German degree and have never had any problems getting jobs. I have colleagues whose experiences are similar to my own. A lot of it depends on what you want to do and what job field you're looking at.
That's why I never give out 'absolute' advice to anyone.
jgmx893
New member
[MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION]
I hear what you're saying. I'm taking physics, AP Calculus, AP Chem(last year) and even I wish I had put some more effort throughout HS. Since now I'm only applying to 3 schools and I have about a 50-60% chance of getting accepted straight into the engineering programs (according to my counselor).
I hear what you're saying. I'm taking physics, AP Calculus, AP Chem(last year) and even I wish I had put some more effort throughout HS. Since now I'm only applying to 3 schools and I have about a 50-60% chance of getting accepted straight into the engineering programs (according to my counselor).
BrianSD_42
New member
[MENTION=67598]RandyDaytona[/MENTION]
I'm aware liberal arts degree are common among the military and police force, many have them and many find work in their field without issue.
In the private sector it is a totally different story and very very hard for 22 year old kids to find any kind of "great job" with just a BA in liberal arts.
And since not everyone can be a cop / military, in fact many simply wouldn't qualify, aren't cut out for it, or there just aren't enough jobs, I'd say that for most people it is a very risky path, especially since the cost of college is so high.
I'm aware liberal arts degree are common among the military and police force, many have them and many find work in their field without issue.
In the private sector it is a totally different story and very very hard for 22 year old kids to find any kind of "great job" with just a BA in liberal arts.
And since not everyone can be a cop / military, in fact many simply wouldn't qualify, aren't cut out for it, or there just aren't enough jobs, I'd say that for most people it is a very risky path, especially since the cost of college is so high.
MtnT4R
New member
[MENTION=67598]RandyDaytona[/MENTION], my comment was more of a generally cynical gripe than giving specific advice. I won't dispute that you CAN find a good job with a general BA degree, but(and this is an assumption of your age) the number of kids attending college today is so prolific that a typical 4 year degree is not really a leg up in the job market as it used to be. I've had more than a few of my professors strongly insist I go back for my Masters(in business) in order to make myself more 'marketable,' and if I had stayed around the saturated Front Range market to get a job, they would have been right. Because of the sheer number of applicants with 4 year degrees, that diploma is worth less and less each year. Just holding the paper means almost nothing, so employers typically look for the following in interviews:
- Personality/Connections
- Real world experience
- Job specific degrees
- Advanced degrees
- University brand name
I suppose my point is that, especially with the skyrocketing cost of higher education today, investing in a 4 year school is offering diminishing returns to the point where a lot of kids are effectively throwing their money away.
The Economist has an interesting article about ROI from various degrees and universities. Here is an excerpt concerning BA degrees: "Arts and humanities courses are much more varied. All doubtless nourish the soul, but not all fatten the wallet. An arts degree from a rigorous school such as Columbia or the University of California, San Diego pays off handsomely. But an arts graduate from Murray State University in Kentucky can expect to make $147,000 less over 20 years than a high school graduate, after paying for his education. Of the 153 arts degrees in the study, 46 generated a return on investment worse than plonking the money in 20-year treasury bills. Of those, 18 offered returns worse than zero."
http://www.economist.com/news/unite...-return-higher-education-would-be-much-better
Here is the graphic from that article:
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LittleCaesar
New member
To the OP: if you are taking those high level classes, your transcript should shine a little brighter than most others. I had a choice to take both AP English and AP History for my senior year, declined to do both and regret not doing such.
The reason I say to plan the trips to visit the schools is to speak with an admissions counselor at Clemson, NC State and VT about your current selection of courses, tell them what your goals are during your matriculation there, and hopefully come away with a better understanding of what they offer. Tour the engineering schools, and it never hurts to meet professors. When it comes down to acceptance time, and those in charge can put a name to a face, it may just help you get in.
Good luck, though I don't think you need it.
The reason I say to plan the trips to visit the schools is to speak with an admissions counselor at Clemson, NC State and VT about your current selection of courses, tell them what your goals are during your matriculation there, and hopefully come away with a better understanding of what they offer. Tour the engineering schools, and it never hurts to meet professors. When it comes down to acceptance time, and those in charge can put a name to a face, it may just help you get in.
Good luck, though I don't think you need it.
BrianSD_42
New member
This I disagree with a bit. I don't think that on average an ARTs degree from UCSD or CAL or Standford or Harvard or anywhere pays off well for most graduates.
Yes I agree that there are a few students who graduate in the arts and find good jobs without going to grad school to study something else, BUT overall I believe that 75% (at least) of the "arts" majors will have a REALLY REALLY hard time finding gainful employment as new graduates in the 2015 market.
There may be a few who find something but overall it matters a lot more what degree you choose then what school you went to. A good school is great but the major is really what employers - for the most part - are looking for.
It wasn't always this way. Many of the people who graduated in the 1990s and 2000s with BAs found work without issue. The economy has changed though and majors matter now more than ever. One could always learn a skill like coding and be set despite their degree but few go down that path.
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