Degree advice?

[Thai]

Remember, a job is a job. A hobby is a hobby. Rarely do those two mix. That is why a job is not called a hobby, and vice versa. You do one to achieve the other.

YMMV.

 

[Dous]

I'll chime in here because I was predisposed to be an engineer and have a hard time managing the "boredom" that goes along with corporate engineering (also where 90% of the jobs are)...

Engineering school is almost NOTHING like engineering work. It's a hoop you jump through. I barely use arithmatic in my engineering work. And before anyone jumps in and says otherwise, I have worked in advanced technology, R&D, National Labs, startups, huge corporations, etc... I've dabbled in just about every genre of engineering (Mechanical I should mention). I actually like engineering school more than engineering work. The main reason I went into the field was my inherent need to understand the world around me and if your family is encouraging you to go the engineering route, I'd assume you have that same curiosity. So although we're opposite in a fundamental way, i don't think you should give up on it, yet.

Just remember this, just because it's hard now doesn't mean it will always be that way. Also, engineering degrees are pretty highly regarded and it's easier to go into a non-engineering role with a degree. It's impossible to do it the other way around.

Last bit of advice: it's all about the experience.

By the way, what year of school are you in? I found that the last year or two years started getting much more fun for me (no more calc or intro science classes).

Yea I hear you this is my first year. I dunno, I just feel like it is not right for me. And I kinda screwed myself at any rate by dropping physics. If I want to come back there is a always he option I suppose.

fish has some great points; last two years of your degree are all about the major not the pre-req's,

I got a little over 2 years into a EE degree and decided I wanted to bail and do anything besides chase electrons around. My adviser said, "No problem, you'll just need to add another year... " I decided to stick it out and graduate on time. I'm really glad I did. The degree (engineering) is worth a ton out there in the real world and unless you have something else that is really attracting you, I might try and hang in there.

Your undergraduate degree is just a license to learn. Few people use the specifics of their (undergraduate) degree in their day to day jobs; it provides you with a foundation of knowledge and the ability to acquire and assimilate the information you actually need, to do what you decide to do.

In addition; no one will be asking you what your GPA was when you're out there in the working world. The engineering degree provides you with a lot of flexibility when it come to looking for work. Its really about training your mind to think a certain way and I have rarely found that way of thinking a liability.

Yea I hear you, I am doing a lot of pre-reqs now, and I guess that Is what I hate, but I don't find myself having any fun in the engineering classes either

By focusing now your only eliminating possible choices further down the line. Wait and get your GE **** outta the way, and certified at the JC. It each of the GE categories take classes that interest you. Then when you move on to a 4 year school all you have take are upper level general and concentration courses. You could also do a minor and major at the same time. Also consider a job or internship in a field that interests you.

Good advice, yea I plan to take GE classes at my local CC and decide from there

 

[jdkilroy]

Whatever you decide, very best of luck!

Its always a balancing act but life is way too short to spend it doing something you really don't like.

 

[RandyDaytona]

I wouldn't mind going into Federal Law Enforcement, but I can't get a straight answer as to what degree to obtain.

There is no single degree that anyone is looking for as far as federal LE. I know agents with degrees in everything under the sun: philosophy, music, history, etc. And yes, criminal justice, as well.

That said, I've never seen a CJ degree give anyone an edge in fed LE hiring, nor have I seen it make anyone that much better than the next guy or gal as a cop. Also remember that an agency WILL teach you everything they want you to know, anyway (for liability reasons as much as anything else).

My advice would be to study what interests you. If you do that, you'll be more focused and probably do better/get better grades. If you loved Spanish in high school, study that. Simply because there's no "best" degree for this field, a 3.8 with a degree in Spanish is going to stand out more than a 2.4 in Accounting.

The Vet preference is also big these days, so as was already mentioned, you'll be competing with those folks. However, most agencies know it takes a healthy mix of applicants to make an effective team - i.e. you don't want 90% military or 90% college grads.

 

[jdkilroy]

I would agree with Randy, a hard earned philosophy, history or english major is likely to be of more use to a future LE officer than a CJ degree plus it will make you a much more interesting person to hang out with.