[k1D3Ck]

While i was reading the "what is your major thread", i saw that a lot of people chose engineering as their major, and i thought since it's a pretty popular field of study, that i would make an Engineering thread where the engineering majors can come together and ask questions, post general info about engineering, job opportunities, where they go to school, and why they chose that specific field of engineering. Or if other students had questions about the engineering fields, they can ask on this thread.


good luck.

[Trungy]

Ok, well although this doesn't exactly pertains precisely to the topic, I do have something somewhat engineering related. I'm currently taking a course in microcontrollers and embedded computer systems, and the book we're using is 'Data Acquisition and Process Control with the M68HC11 Microcontroller' where two of the three authors of this popular undergraduate school textbook are actually professors at my school (very big news considering that the department consists of a little more or less 10 professors in the entire major). The two professors actually wrote the book on 'Operational Amplifiers and Linear Integrated Circuits' as well, which is.. again, very cool.

Anyways, you'd think that since the department does not have that many professors to begin with, either one of those professors, the guys who wrote the book, would teach one of the classes, right? Well fortunately, I got one of the authors in 'Integrated Circuits', but for microcontrollers, I didn't get either of the authors. Instead, we were stuck with this old immigrant with such a thick accent. I have a LIST of things I dislike about this professor.

-He is old. I don't like him not because he is old, but because he is old, he doesn't care much about teach, about whether we like him or not, or about how much we learn.

-He smells. Yep, I tried getting help from him in our labs, and boy.. I smelled his Bengay from across the table.

-His voice is deep in tone, and low in volume. Not only that, but he has a VERY thick Italian accent. You can hardly hear him in lectures, and if you do actually hear him, you have to begin to decipher what he is trying to say through his accent.

-His notes are the textbook. The guy photocopies the book, then writes out of the book! If I wanted him to write and speak word for word from the book, then I'd not go to class at all and teach myself the course. Unfortunately, attendance is counted.

-His handwriting are, what we call, "chickenscratches."

So basically, you can't hear what the guy says, and if you do, you can't even understand what he is saying. If you rely on what he writes on the board, then prepare to bash your head on the tables (which I must say, are very nice tables for a cheap school like mines).


Ahh, but my rantings aside, I do like this thread. There are three big issues I have with engineering:
1. I'm planning to go to graduate school. My schools of choices are MIT, Stanford, Tufts, UPenn, and UMich. I know, I have a lot of work to go.
2. I'm trying to get a great co-op job. I don't want a stupid IT job. If I wanted an IT job, I'd pass up on college altogether. It is that easy of a job. My goal is to be a junior hardware engineer. Not only is that a scarce job, but also a very competitive one (and considering that the surrounding schools are Northeastern, MIT, Harvard, and Boston University, my school holds little to no prestige).
3. Research programs and senior design projects! Jesus, guys, could you give a brotha a hand?! Not only do I want to join huge research groups, but I also want to hold my own little research (for numerous of purposes). Also, while I'm only a sophomore, I think it is important that I try to think of senior design project ideas. Better to start early than late.

Any comments are truly appreciated.

Oh, to speak a little of myself, I am a computer engineering technology student. One of the biggest uphill battles that I have is that I'm currently earning a engineering technology degree. To those who are not aware of the differences between that an a regular engineering degree, let's just say technology degrees are sort of "diet" engineering.. meaning, watered down. It sucks, which is why I'm trying to transfer to Northeastern for an engineering degree. My professor (one of the respected professors) says that it doesn't matter to graduate schools whether I have a technology degree or not, but it is like.. I'd rather have an engineering degree for stronger chances of getting into a Stanford or MIT, which I must say, aren't piece of cakes.

I'll have to answer some of your other questions later. I feel as though I've written a lot already, .

[k1D3Ck]

^^^ Cool stuff your doing

[michinsarang]

I will probably be doing some sort of Neural Engineering since thats what I want to specialize in with cognitive science. Also artifical intelligence which sort of brushes that area. My origional major was actually Mechanical Engineering (robotics) and then EECS but cog sci is alot funner :0.

Lol@girl/guy ratio. If I end up where I want I probably won't be seeing many girls either (in grad school).

Oh ya, I want to go to MIT also. Currently reading a book on cognitive science by a proffessor from MIT. Man, but thats a hellish school to get into grad school for >.<.

[liltweekstar]

This isn't going to be a helpful post but I wanted to say that it will be helpful as soon as I get into my core classes (this summer). I'm gonna be getting into Civil Engineering and if anyone is doing the same thing too.. any advice would be appreciated. =)

The guy to girl ratio for me would be: 1000 to 1 hahah but I most likely wouldn't be so into them. =X

[k1D3Ck]

Lol, well i was in civil for a little bit, took sur 1 and i disliked it alot, but at my school you can double major pretty easily as a civil and archit.

[liltweekstar]

^ hahah yeah but i met 2 other girls who are majoring in the same thing and my friend told me that at his work, there are alot of civil engineers that are women.. so the workplace might be different than at school. hmm.

i think im gonna stick to civ. eng because i keep changing my mind about my majors. what did you not like about it?

[k1D3Ck]

^ hahah yeah but i met 2 other girls who are majoring in the same thing and my friend told me that at his work, there are alot of civil engineers that are women.. so the workplace might be different than at school. hmm.

i think im gonna stick to civ. eng because i keep changing my mind about my majors. what did you not like about it?

Yea, the girls here are mostly in civil eng, not sure why. But i took surveying, the first civ e class, and i hated it. Only good thing was there was quite a bit of pretty girls in that class.

[awdark]

How long was yoru surveying class?
T_T mine was TERRIBLE!!!
8am - 4pm on fridays and we would often stay to about 6 to finish up.
Grr.

[k1D3Ck]

How long was yoru surveying class?
T_T mine was TERRIBLE!!!
8am - 4pm on fridays and we would often stay to about 6 to finish up.
Grr.

Well, we have the lecture, and then we had lab where we did mini projects.
I guess they are pretty long, so are you a civil engineer?

[Trungy]

Anyone have any textbooks that they swear by? So far, I've had good experiences with just one textbook.. Digital Systems by Tocci. For differential equations, I used Negal's book, and omg, I've never wanted to throw the book outside my window any more than I have with that book (and to think.. it is a common-used textbook in both graduate and undergraduate schools).

[rapierx2]

Hello all,

I'm currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering, I wanted Aerospace but they don't offer that major in my college--its a pretty small one--and MECE was broad enough to have plenty of my interests. Is anybody in a campus organization that builds cars or planes for competition with other schools? Trying to gain an intership at the moment with the CIA, Lockheed, Beoing, or any company that'll take me so I can gain some work experience.

On the note about the female population, MECE is pretty low. The most girls seem to be in Manufacturing Engineering or in the Electrical Field. Our school hasn't offered a Civil Major yet though.

[ajs_886]

Is anybody in a campus organization that builds cars or planes for competition with other schools? Trying to gain an intership at the moment with the CIA, Lockheed, Beoing, or any company that'll take me so I can gain some work experience.

I was in SAE (Society of automotive engineers) last year, fun group to be in but I haven't been
that active in it this year. Definitely worth checking out if your school has a group like that

[mintfresh]

I would totally major in engineering (chem related) only because I am interested in biochemistry and mathematics (my current majors) but more years in school??? Thaaaaaaat is a big turn off...and my school isn't known for engineering program...so..
I know, I am not an engineer.....but I just envy you guys....
Carry on!

[rapierx2]

I was in SAE (Society of automotive engineers) last year, fun group to be in but I haven't been
that active in it this year. Definitely worth checking out if your school has a group like that

SAE is an active club in our campus, they compete every year in a mini-baja event. I've been meaning to sign up so I can learn a few things about competitive automotive design--Or drive their baja cart--I'll probably join next semester.

[oshirou]

im a 4th computer engineering student.. i still have a year to go.. and im planning on taking up another engineering major.. electronics and communications or electrical engineering... some of our prof give manuals for us to study so we need not buy books... i love differential equations and electromagnetics... hahaha.. im into c# right now... still studying the basics though...

[Sol Doubt]

Im a EE major right now and the workload is kind of hefty. I was originally in Mechanical but I did not do too good in Mechanics I: Dynamics so I switched out to EE because I was afraid to take Mechanics II. Are we allowed to post homework help here or should we direct that to the other section, cuz I am having a little trouble in Circuit Theory right now and I have a exam next week =[ Could use all the help I could get.

[k1D3Ck]

Good luck everyone, i just got done with half of my 2nd exams, and 3rd exams and midterms are coming up for me.

[the_red]

omg trungyboi.

you're way ahead of the game.
i haven't thought about senior design and i'm planning to take it during the fall.

i'm a junior ee.

i have 4 midterms this week.

i screwed up my thermo test and have been praying that at least i'd get a 50% on that test. if i get something, i'd rejoice!

currently taking the following classes:

1. thermo, heat transfer, fluids
2. networks and systems
3. intro to computer engineering. i used to think i'm good at programming. but i think i suck now. i hope i'll do better though....
4. electromagnetic fields
5. semiconductor devices

plans for the summer

1. take 3 classes
2. summer undergraduate research. haven't decided about which topic yet. but will talk maybe by friday or monday to a professor about it. can't get into coop or internship but research is certainly a great alternative.

things i'm worried about
1. getting an a in thermo
2. how to get a job... i can only say that i have some experience in research....
3. i want to go to cal berkeley, or ucla, or ga tech for grad school. and i want the company that i will be working for to pay for my schooling.

i love this thread but i should resume studying now. :/

[the_red]

bump..

by now, some of you might be done with all the "midterms". for those of you who aren't done yet, good luck.

i just want to bump this so no one forgets about this thread.