+(OFF TOPIC)+: Anyone With A Mechanical Engineering Degree On Here?

(If adm. feels need to delete please send me a pm to let me know)


If so, what school did you attend?

Would you consider your successfull?

Are you happy with your occupation?

Would you reccomend someone else to take this path?

Is there a future in this field as a career path?

Any other comments?

Right now, I do not feel like I am making the right choice in my current career path and I am really interesed in this...

thanks in advance. <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_1034349-->

 

Cal Poly Pomona.

successful if you consider management successful, good $$ but a pain in the ***.

not really.

no.

no future in engineering, it's the lowest paid profession.

it's better than pushing a broom, but it's painful......

feel free to PM for more info.

Dave

 

- Batchelor of Science 2002, Industrial Engineering and Economics, Satakunta Polytech, Rauma Finland
- Master of Science 2008, Industrial Engineering and Economics, Tech. Uni of Tampere, Pori Finland
- Secondary subject 2006: Paper Science, Uni of Washington, Seattle USA

Took a long time and for me the Math was pain in the ****. I like Ind.E. hence there's some mechanical studies but there's also a lot more, like management and economics. I'm working as a Business Consultant, mainly on the field of Industrial maintenance and investments.

Feel free to PM me if there's anything I can do for you.


--mika

 

my best friend went to ISU, Iowa state, and got his mech eng degree in a short 4 1/2 years. He has been with two companies and had other offers, He makes $28.00 plus change an hour and he is still just three years out of school. He just had an offer for $30 +/hr but it was a travel only job within the comp and he didn't want it.

Your degree doesnt set you in the only direction available, Its the key to the doors you just have to open the door and explore whats out there.. DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY not what someone else wants.

I was accepted to ISU for engineering, but I decided I wanted to be a cop so I went to Western Ill. Best thing I ever did. I love my job, its fun exciting and boring all in one. I dont sit behind a desk all day, but i do still have to sit behind one when I type.

DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN LIFE!!!

I cant stress that enough. My parents wanted me to be an engineer, it was interesting and i love that kind of stuff, but no thanks.

good luck and drop me a PM if your going to any shows here in Eastern IA or around the area. Ill meet up with ya.

 

Alex,

BSME from ODU, MSME from U of MD. Mech Engineering is a **** shoot. Some good some bad. I have been incredibly lucky. Been in commercial and military R&D for 25 years. I proudly have commercial products on the market that are my design. I have worked with high explosives. My current job gave me a team of 12 people and let me build 2 different hybrid electric 3000 lb robotic vehicles from scratch. I look back on all that and think that it has all been worthwhile. But there have been times in between where I have been stuck in engineering hell. Mostly, given a sane employer, the jobs have been what I could make of them.

John C.

 

This is not the right form.....but...

BSME from U of Delaware....Retired now....Made me a good living....But do what you are interested in....Good Luck

 

Hell I thought we were all engineers!

 

I'm currently a senior mech. eng. at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1lace>Missouri</st1lace></st1:State> university of science and technology (former UMR/<st1:stockticker>MSM</st1:stockticker>). Obviously I don&#8217;t have much to say on the success topic but I&#8217;m getting some great summer jobs. Consulting firm up in Philly, currently a chemical company south of <st1:City><st1lace>St Louis</st1lace></st1:City>, and next summer at the national railroad testing facility.
BTW, I like working way more than I like cl***es. I&#8217;m sure anywhere you go there will be a difficult curriculum.
Mechanical is the most general purpose engineering there is. Just about any company that would higher an engineer could utilize a mech. With that in mind, if you try hard enough, you can work where ever you want. Inside, outside, different job everyday, or the same project for a year, mech&#8217;s do anything. And you won&#8217;t be the highest paid engineer, but you&#8217;ll get a job.
I&#8217;m confident that I&#8217;ve made the right choice for me, but I haven&#8217;t changed my mind since soph. year of high school.
There&#8217;s defiantly a career opportunity, but it&#8217;s compe***ive. You&#8217;ll either get stuck at the same desk forever, get recognized and moved to management, or move to a different job, with probable pay increase because of previous experience. Engineers get lots of options if you don&#8217;t close yourself into one thing.

 

Not me, but my daughter. She got her Mech. Engineering degree from the University of Michigan. She moved to the Raleigh NC area and found a job quickly; actually had her choice of jobs. This was in 2004. She started at a salary that was as large as mine after 30 years at my job!!! The place she got her job actually came looking for her......I think it depends on where you are willing to work and what you'd like to do. Around here, Michigan, there's a lot of out of work engineers.....

 

I have a BSME from U of Arizona 25 years ago, I worked at Ft Huachuca doing electronics installation work for 6 years, then quit and stayed home and worked on cars part time, but now I don't really do any work at all. It's great...I met a nice engineering student coed when I was in school, and married her, and she works hard and makes $$$.

Our oldest son is in his second year of ME school and his prospects look good, he's been pretty involved in extracurricular stuff like high school robotics and summer jobs with good paying companies and research jobs at college. I think his prospects are good...we'll see what happens.

If you haven't started engineering school yet, make sure you can handle the math! it's important.

 

I'll answer for my dad. Tenn Tech, 1955, ended up in management for a power company, nice living, now happily retired.

 

I don't know if this helps or counts...but I'm a 25 year old Electrical Engineer.
Graduated with my EE degree from San Diego State University over a year ago.
Took me 6 years to finish school.

Have been working as a professional engineer for the last 2 years.
Good money right off the bat, but long hours, lots of responsibility.
It'll pay the bills...but it's not my dream thats for sure.

 

University of Pittsburgh - BSME - 1993

Successful? I guess... I can pay the bills, own a house, and play with cars.

Somewhat happy. I can't imagine myself working in a field not related to Mechanical things. I am not really doing Engineering anymore, as I am in a Product Manager role. I like it... a bit more challanging to learn the business side of things after 15 years of slogging through drawings, etc. I only say "somewhat happy" because the field ain't what it used to be. Much of the "prestige" is gone, and Engineers are viewed as a necessary PITA, and a drain on profits by much of today's management (IMO).

If you like it, sure... I'd say this path is OK.

Future is a good question.... seeing more and more outsourcing of basic Engineering tasks, and even product development activities. On the other hand, many collegues are in the 50 and over group, and fewer and fewer young people are getting into the field because of the way Engineers are viewed (see comments above).

If big money is a prime objective, there may be better choices. However, if you love Engineering, you can certainly make a decent living.

 

Have a BSME from University of M***achusetts Lowell. I was raised on hot rods and machine tools so my father and I thought it was a natural progression. I am happy I went through it and have worked as an engineer for about 10 yrs know, but I am not entirely happy with it. If you are looking for big pay it is not the correct path. If you have a general need and/or desire to work with your hands it may also not be the correct path for you. I for one have chosen to work at small capital equipment design and build shops so it has worked for me, but as you get older and more experienced you get further from the manual work. I don't regret doing it because all experiences make you a better person, but I don't know if I would choose it again. Any questions please feel free to PM me.

 

I'm a master at " afro engineering"

 

Not sure if it's the same or not, but I went to ITT and did the Tool Design and then the Automated Manufaturing for my Bachelor's degree. I guess it's pretty close to a Mechanical Engineering degree, at least that's what the people that do the same job as me have. If I had to do it over I would definitely go to a regular 4 year school. I was in too much of a hurry to get out on my own, and I regret it now.

Mechanical Engineering is kind of a generic ***le really, there is a whole slew of different jobs you can get with it. Some are going to **** more than others, that's life. I'm pretty happy with my job so far, I can't complain about the pay and it's a nice challenge most times. The most important thing about a degree, in my opinion, is that it gets your foot in the door to the higher paying jobs right off the bat.

Plus, chicks dig guys with business cards.

 

Got my ***ociate degree from OIT (Oregon Ins***ute of Technology, KFalls, OR), was drafted during Viet Nam, got back and then got my BSME at OTI (Oregon Technical Ins***ute, Portland, OR). Was offered a sales job and took that, then went back to night school to get a BS in Business at Portland State. I feel into the Industrial Automation business, selling industrial robots and systems for manufacturing goods from the Kodak to Boeing and everywhere in between.

I considered my sucessfull, but I sold used my engineering background to sell products to other engineers/distributors/state/federal governments. I fell into selling Industrial Automation products; robots, ***embly systems, and components. I sold into small and large companies like Kodak, Boeing, Coke, Pepsi..........................and others.

I liked what I did and had a lot of fun, also went through two wives doing it as the hours and time spent away from home were long (I also sold products Internationally to all over the world) and sometimes I would be gone for 8 weeks at a time. I made really good money and making a six figure income is nice, but at what cost.

My goal after high school was to be an Archietect, but my drafting teacher talked me out of it with the famous line..............."70% mortality rate the first year".

If I had it to do over.....................I'd do it again. Saw the world, meet a lot of very talented engineers/groups/departments, and still have a lot of friends working............I am retired now.............but I loved what I did and was good at it.

Best advice is to do something you really, really, really enjoy.

IMHO

 

Graduated from Penn State in 1968 with a BSME

Now retired after 34 great years at GM, working mainly on new products. Since I was a car addict from about age 6 or so, this was a career goal, and I was sucessful !!

This is still a good degree to have, and pays well. EE is also good - probably even more demand with the information age.

PM me if I can help further.

 

How to determine if Mech Eng is a good fit?
If you enjoy solving problems, if you can visualize levers, mechanisms and rotating stuff. If you want to design, then be prepared for long hours learning and running a CAD-based computer. If you tend to "see" solutions, if you get a buzz when seeing innovation in practice, new ways of doing things. Are you able or tending to want to tweak any device, to get maximum effect out of it? It means having a natural curiosity, and the desire to create, in terms of design at least. Many other paths begin by learning the traditional ME degree. Tech sales, project management, tech service, patent work, including pat. attorney. The better that you write and communicate, the more possibilities open.

 

alfred state not finnished yet

work for corning inc combustion tech

enjoy it so far

do what you like Its your life I like to play with fire and i get payed well to do it

 

**** ... what school did you attend?

I graduated from UC Riverside in 2003. IF you go for it, go to a school that's had an engineering program for a long time and is known for producing good engineers. It is difficult. IF you do it, consider taking your time by not taking the 18 units they want you to cram in almost every quarter/semester. I suggest trying to figure out your motivation, as in WHY might you want to be an engineer? If it's not solidly for you, then seriously consider something else. Don't do it just because you want to think you're smart. And, try to figure out what industry, type of job, et cetera, et cetera, beforehand. And, figure out what curriculum you would take at the school you might attend.

**** Would you consider your successfull?

No. I got the exact job (in a narrow field) that I thought I wanted. The company had lots of leadership problems. I was "laid off" after after 3-1/2 years. I haven't wanted to get back on that horse, so I haven't tried hard at all to get a job, and it's been a long time.

**** Are you happy with your occupation?

No, I wasn't. It's stressful. If you have a hard time dealing with stress, do something else.

Thanks,
Kurt

ps: Search for the "eng tips" forum, join, and check out what different people have to say.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I went to a 2-year tech. school for automotive maintenance (***ociates degree). The more I think about it, I can not image myself working on cars in 10 years. Hell, I do not want to be doing this in 5 years. As much as I love cars, I do not want to work on them for a living. It is killing the hobby for me, and I am starting to hate automobiles. I talked to some other tech. at work and they basically all advised me to go back and advance my education.

Math was never too hard for me. I really love physics.
I want to see what else is out there and I have interest in the mechanical engineering field. It appeals to me in that fact that it is such a broad field.

I enjoy tweaking things to maximum potential and enjoy repairing machines. (I realize that statement some-what contradicts my feeling about cars, but just follow it with me.) I am thinking long term here. I had a few discussions with a few people, and one gave me great advice. To quote, "Find a job when you use your mind not your body, you body will be done for well before your mind."

I feel like I could do well in this field having a professional automotive background.

Thanks again guys!

TTT for more opinions.

 

when i graduated from high school in 1995 i went into the ford college program were i earned an a/s degree and got a vocation. i have always loved cars and have been employed with various ford dealer ships since 1995. My relation ship with cars has had its ups and downs. i am currently going back to school to finish my b/a in what ever i can get quickly. i make decent money as a diesel tech and the hours aren't so bad if you take into consideration the managers are there before i get there and after i leave. but when i started, i to said 10 years and i am out but now its going on 13-14 years and i am just getting back to school. i totally agree with do what makes you happy. hope this helps

 

thanks man! I have a lot of thinking to do. I do not want to wait too long until I am unable to go back. I do not want to end up with a house, kids, and a bunch of things to pay for and end up being stuck where I am at.

 

One more example for you. I was supposed to graduate H.S. in 1980 (didn't quite make it). I joined the Army (4 years), got married, had a couple of kids. Then at the age of 28, packed up the family and moved to Oregon and enrolled at Portland State University. Took 5 years to graduate with a BSME. 12 years later and I make very good money and don't really have to work very hard. I have always liked to tinker and invent things so my job is great. That is what I get to do all day, invent machines and tinker with things. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
If I were to identify one problem with mechanical engineers, it is that they sometimes have no idea what they want to do. As a M.E. you can work in many different industries but, you need to decide what you enjoy and focus on that. Going back to school worked out for me, and I'm not the brightest bulb is the string. If you are creative and get in with the right company, it&#8217;s an easy gig. Just my opinion though.

 

BSME Univ of Illinois (Champaign) '74. I've been working almost continuously ever since, switched jobs by choice twice, laid off twice, changed the type of work I do as the market changed. Money's good, demand is still high. Manufacturing and design type jobs are still out there, typically in smaller companies not the mega-corps. I can't imagine doing anything else; it's creative, good feeling to see my designs being built, but don't underestimate the grind college will be!!

 

Do NOT wait too long before going back to get your degree! I did & ended up working looong hours & trying to go back to school at the same time. That ****ed! Then I got transferred to a road job & I've never finished the degree.

There is always a danger when you make your avocation, your vocation, but you have to pick a field that you love or you'll ***** about the job forever.

My cousin's kid was a teacher & loved it, but got an offer to work with hip & joint implants, now he makes twice what his dad & I do, combined! Little ***** even works less hours per week too!

Good luck.

 

I would recomend getting into design, I work in a 400+ employee indy egineering company. Designing is really good if you have a little creative flare and are a good problem solver. Your not banging away at spreadsheets all day, and trying to work out pissy details to give to the designer . I really enjoy my job. And if you get good at CAD package, you can get paid pretty well. And you get to model all your **** for your cars
But what the f#$k do I know.

 

Forwarded this thread to my oldest son,a recent M E graduate.

Maybe he will chime in.

 

BSME U of Wa.
It took me 10 years to finish because I got drafted midway.
I started out working for other people and soon found out that many people I worked with had the at***ude that "this is the way we do it because it is traditional"...I was and am an inovator and just could not go along with the status quo.
I started my own business (race machine shop)40 years ago and never looked back.
I haven't gotten rich but I have made a VERY comfortable living doing what I really enjoy. The ammount of money you can make is dependent on how much effort you are willing to expend.
I would recommend mechanical engineering to people that have the interest to seek out what satisfies them and not get stuck in a pidgeon hole.