Engineering Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Engineering? I am in High school and I am taking all regular classes and a 4 year pre-engineering high school class. I was wondering if I could get any advice from engineers on what they do, how much they make, how to prepare, etc.

Answer: What kind of Engineering? You should specialize in a certain area. I suppose that will come later, but it is something you should be aware of. Pick something that interests you. Somethin you like to do. Then apply your learning towards that particular interest. Even after you finish college, you will have to pick an area, or one will be picked for you, just like after high school. Some Engineers go on the get Masters, then Doctorates in a specialized field. I suppose you can generalize like I do. I know a little bit about everything and a lot about nothing. There is the good and bad in both choices. Somebody could specialize in a specific field, but then it is harder to find work and sometimes those fields just up and disappear due to the rapid change in technology. There are Doctors, but there are all kinds of doctors. General Practitioner - Just a general doctor. The kind you normally see for a checkup. Pediatrician - Specializes with babies Ear, Nose and throat - Female Parts doctors - Orthapedic Surgeon - Works with bones etc. This is typically what an engineer does. There is a problem. Your job find a way fix it. You may work on your own, or with a variety of other engineers in different engineering disciplines. Decide what you need to take care of that responsibility. Determine the time and cost to do such a project Go to review meetings each week to check on your progress and the progress of others. Make the necessary changes as required. Test your engineering job. Fix stuff that doesn't work. Finalize it. Ship it. Shift the project to support engineering. Support engineers take care of any problems that may develop in the hands of the consumer.

Question: What engineering degree should I take and what college to accompany it? I am taking up engineering. What would be some similar and beneficial majors to look at. I will probably get more than one since I am planning to run my dad's business. I'm looking at architecture, civil engineering, and electrical engineering majors. Maybe two of them. I don't know which ones are in the most demand or anything. I can also go to any college in the United States to learn these things. I'd also like to know a good college to teach me engineering. Any advice?

Answer: The different engineering disciplines are different beasts. Many of the mathematical skills will be the same (calculus differentiation and integration, sometimes partial differential equations), but the laws and concepts to understand will be very different. Civil engineering deals with static (not moving) physics and strengths of materials, as well as large water systems and geological things. Beginning pay is around $40,000/yr, and there's not a particularly high demand for them. In my intro engineering class, about 60% of the students were majoring in civil engineering. Mechanical engineering deals more with dynamic physics (things that move) as well as a lot of fluid dynamics (pumps, valves and pressure, and hydraulics) and thermodynamics. There's also a little bit of programming involved, such as configuring electronic controls. Base pay is around $40,000 per year, and about 35% of the students in my intro class were majoring in mechanical engineering. Electrical engineering deals (obviously) with electricity. There are generally two aspects of it. There is the higher voltage aspect, such as power systems, and there is the lower voltage aspect, such as electronics and wireless communications. Electrodynamics and electrostatics can get very difficult - calculating electric fields becomes especially difficult when dealing with anything that has corners, because you have to use integration and partial integration to do it. There is also a lot of programming involved in both aspects. Pay generally starts at around $50,000 per year, but it's hard NOT to find a job - people will come to you. This is what I'm majoring in - specifically, electronics and signal processing. Computer engineering is much like electrical engineering, only much more focused on computer systems than any other electrical systems. They have to understand computer architecture, and they deal with how to physically create memory and how to store and access it, as well as know how to tell a machine how to do something. They have to know how to build hardware to handle different things. There is tons of programming involved, as well as very interesting problem-solving techniques using algorithms. Base pay is about $50,000 per year, and people will come to you. Chemical engineering is very difficult stuff, but also very rewarding as well. The guys who figure out how to make stuff go boom? Chemical engineers. The guys who figured out how to make your scratch-resistant glasses, shatterproof bottles, and your oh-so-soft memory foam mattress? Also chemical engineers. A lot of them work for oil companies (because that falls under organic chemistry), but they are needed for a lot of things. The hard part? Chemistry is a difficult concept for most people to grasp anyway, but add that to a whole bunch of psycho partial differential equations, and that's your job. There is a huge demand for them, and the starting pay is over $60,000. There are other engineering fields out there, but generally they would fall under either degrees in physics, chemistry, or computer science. Some examples would be acoustic engineering, metallurgical engineering, software engineering, and biomedical engineering.

Question: How is biomedical engineering for a major if you want to go to a medical school? I will be going to college next fall, and I 'm interested in biomedical engineering because I want to be better prepared to get into a medical school. I was wondering... 1. What kind of courses you take if you major in biomedical engineering? 2. Also, do I need to apply to a engineering college in a university to take a biomedical engineering major? Or can I apply to a science&arts college? 3. How is it compared to a biology or biochemistry major? Is biomedical engineering a lot harder?

Answer: I posted the url below for the Biomedical Engineering Society that may provide better answers to your questions (including how to pick a school). Answering your question is a bit difficult. If your intent is to become a primary care physician then a biomedical engineering background is not going to be any better of an asset than a music major. But if your intent is to become a physician engaged in biomedical engineering research, then certainly, any undergrad coursework would be perceived in a favorable manner. Most med schools are advising students to only take the prereq science courses and to fill out their degree requirements in other, non-science, programs. Of course, the exception to that is if you plan on going into research. Then, med schools do expect you to be somewhat of a nerd (said affectionately). But if you want to treat patients, then they want you to be "normal". It all comes down to whether you want to know how to repair the equipment or to know how to use and interpret the equipment's results.

Question: What's the difference between Engineering, Engineering Sciences and Engineering Technology? For example: What's the difference between Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering Sciences and Aerospace Engineering Technology?

Answer: engineering is d discipline n profession of applying technical n scientific knowledge n utilizing natural laws n physical resources in order to design n implement materials,structures n machines that safely realize a desired objective.. Engineering science is a multi disciplinary program designed to integrate the sciences with traditional engineering such as research,design n analysis.... Engineering Technology (ET) is a field of study which focuses on the applications of engineering n modern technology rather than the theoretical...

Question: What type of engineering involves only maths? I am NOT looking for engineering that involes science and maths. Just maths. Except if there is a type of engineering that involves ONLY chemistry or biology. Also do you have to be at maths and physucs to do civil engineering or can you just be good at maths?

Answer: I think that you can say that Engineering is about applying science, often physics, but plenty of other sciences come in. The distinctions are fine lines anyway. The maths are handy (important) to work things out, but after uni may not be all that important, in that you can use a computer to do it all, often with specialized engineering packages. I imagine someone really keen on maths for its own sake could find a niche somewhere, especially in bigger organisations, but these are more likely in the uni department of maths. Maths is after all science too. You could say physics is mostly maths too. Once you get into uni the maths level goes up so things change, maths may be different, but so is physics. Above all you need to be analytical practical and pragmatic to be a happy Engineer. Does that sound like you? Answer yourself truthfully, it is just for you. Why avoid science? Doesn't make much sense unless it is an excuse of some kind? Uni is a few years, and it's so you can get a career (for most of us). A career is the rest of your life, though you might jump around from job to job. Hope that helps.

Question: Is becoming an engineer a wise option? What do you have to be good at in order to major in engineering? I'm a HS senior and I was wondering about engineering. Do you have to be good at physics? I'm better at the Calculus part but not really physics. What do you have to be good at in order to be an engineer and where do you work? At a plant?

Answer: if you are happy building, designing, prototyping, fixing, and maintaining machines, then you might enjoy being an engineer math is important because it gives you the tools to quantify the machine performance or machine design. math is important for modeling, and for assuring margins in the design are adequate to meet performance criteria before prototyping or after testing

Question: What is hard engineering, what is soft engineering and what are the different types? Can you please answer the following question for my GCSE Geography coursework... What is hard engineering, what is soft engineering and what are the different types? Thanks

Answer: In civil engineering of shorelines, hard engineering is generally defined as controlled disruption of natural processes by using man-made structures. It is sometimes considered to be the use of concrete breakwalls [1] to limit the amount of coastal erosion on a being or a cliff-face where land is being absorbed by the sea or steel sheet piling to stabilize shorelines and achieve safety along the coastline to limit the amount of sand being transported by longshore drift. In civil engineering of shorelines, soft engineering is the use of ecological principles and practices to reduce erosion and achieve the stabilization and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding rivers, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics, and saving money. Soft engineering is achieved by using vegetation and other materials to soften the land-water interface, thereby improving ecological features without compromising the engineered integrity of the shoreline or river edges. Unlike hard engineering where typically has no habitat value for fish or wildlife, soft engineering incorporates habitat for fish and wildlife. The Detroit River is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Great Lakes Basin. In 1998, the U.S.–Canada State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) identified the Detroit River–Lake St. Clair ecosystem as one of 20 Biodiversity Investment Areas in the entire Great Lakes Basin ecosystem with exceptional diversity of plants, fish, and birds, and the requisite habitats to support them. The State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference went on to call for special efforts to protect these unique ecological features. Many people who appreciate the outdoors know that the Detroit River supports a nationally renowned sport fishery. For example, the City of Trenton, located on the Trenton Channel at the lower end of the Detroit River, hosted a major walleye fishing tournament called "Walleye Week" in 1999. "Walleye Week" attracted people from all over North America to compete in the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Tournament, the Team Walleye Tournament, and the Michigan Walleye Tournament offering $240,000 in prize money. It is estimated that walleye fishing alone brings in $1,000,000 to the economy of communities along the lower Detroit River each spring. Another reason why soft engineering practices should be encouraged is because it is well recognized that there is limited public access to the Detroit River, particularly on the United States side. Use of multiple-objective soft engineering of shorelines will increase public access to the river. There are also economic benefits associated with use of soft engineering. In general, soft engineering of shorelines is typically less expensive than hard engineering of shorelines. Additionally, long-term maintenance costs of soft engineering are generally lower because soft engineering uses living structures, which tend to mature and stabilize with time

Question: What is the engineering field that refers to artilary, missiles, and the systems that enable them? Does anyone know what the actual field is, or if there is a field for any of aforementioned types of projectiles. I want to go in to engineering, and im especially interested in the above fields. I also am considering trying to enter in to the engineer corps, and would love to work with sorts of artilary engineering. If anyone could help, that'd be incredibly kind. Im not even kidding, I was just watching Futureweapons today which got me asking the quesiton. I originally felt that aeronautical engineering was the correct path for such, but ballistics sounds good too. Is that an actual major? As a matter of fact Sandy, I'm planning on going in to the ROTC through college too. I guess I am a 'warwhore' as you so kindly put it. I would rather call myself a Patriot -something you are obviously not. However, is ballistics a sub-division of Mechanical? Thanks.

Answer: As Sandy put it, I must also be a warwhore, (www.skytargets.com) but I disagree. The field you are talking about is extremely vast, and, as suggested, ballistic is only a very small part of it. Ballistics covers only "free flying" objects, such a sheel trajectory after it has left the barrel. Once you add some propellent to the bullet, you are talking chemistry (rather complex), and aerodynamics. Once you add some guidance, you are talking electronic engineering. Once you are talking of control systems, you hit a full complex engineering feast! There are no "courses" in ballistics only: this is something you learn if you are at the army and use a big gun (artilery). But, in this case, they have small computer to calculate trajectory for them, so they actually do not need to understand the maths! (The one who design the calculator KNOWs the maths, how to design a computer and how to program it! (That's what I do).) If you are talking about missiles, guided missiles or self-guided missiles, here is another ball game, but, again, electronic engineering is the base. To go to this field, do general mechanical engineering, specialise in electronics and programming, and apply to the army: they always need some good guys there. The other way is to read the regular "army requirement wishes", a paper issued by the MOD with "what they would like in the near future", then design something they want. (Note: I do not consider myself as a warwhore: if a man has to carry a gun, I prefer him to be trained to use it properly. I have seen enough coppers hitting innocent passers-by!)

Question: What type of Electronics Engineering job will take me to different places around the globe? I am an electronics engineer working in the Philippines. My current job as a design verification engineer is already boring me to death. I love to travel. I want to combine both because I think it's my ideal job. Is there such an engineering job that will grant me trips to different countries (besides sales)?

Answer: Aviation electronics might get you around a bit more. Or for excitement, one of those guys who change the red lightbulbs on top of tall antenna towers.

Question: How to convert foreign Engineering degree into a valid Indian Degree equivalent? Hello India, I have just graduated from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering. Medium of Instruction is English. The university is recognized in Aus, US, UK. The university is about to get approval from Washington Accord. 1) I would like to know the process of getting the degree equivalent in India. 2) Can I practice as an engineer in India without converting? 3) Which organization is responsible for registering engineers in India? 4) I have to approach AICTE or HEC?

Answer: 1. GCE Examination of UK with pass grades in five subjects at the Ordinary Level (O level) and two subjects at the Advanced Level (A Level). 2. Higher School Certificate Examination, University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, U.K. 3. International Baccalaureate Examination of Geneva. 4. High School Graduation from accredited institutions of USA. 5. 12 Years High School Diploma of China. 6. 12 Years High School Graduation Diploma of International School, Bangkok / Grade 12 Examination of Ruam Rudee International School, Bangkok / 12 Years High School Diploma of Adventist English School, Bangkok / Mathayom VIII, Final Examination of Upper Secondary Education Course; Final Examination of Secondary Education Course; Mathayom Suksa, 5 Pre-University Final Examination (12 Year Course) of Ministry of Education, Thailand. 7. 12 Years High School Graduation Diploma of Myanmar. 8. 12 Years High School Graduation Diploma of Syria. 9. 12 Years of Secondary Stage qualifications of National Examination Board / Council of Ministries of Education of Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. 10. Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate (12 Years Course), Ministry of Education & Fine Arts, Ethiopia 11. 12 Years General Secondary School Certificate of Ministry of Education, Sultanate of Oman and Yemen. 12. SMA/SLTA/Senior High School/Secondary School Advanced stage exams of Indonesia. 13. Intermediate Science Course, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, Nepal. 14. Intermediate / Senior Secondary / Higher Secondary / 12 Years High School Diploma / Certificate Level examination of the approved Board / Council of Secondary Education in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf Countries. 15. Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) of Ministry of Education, Malaysia / Matriculation Science Course of National University of Malaysia / 12 years Matriculation Science Certificate of University of Malaya & University of Science,