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I've heard that any degree in engineering (particularly mechanical) has a pretty good employment rate. Just wanted to make sure it's true.
Tell me if this is a good reason to get this degree: I love nature and helping the environment, but I think that a degree like environmental science will be worthless. The closest thing to that and what I would love to do is environmental engineering... Except the university I'll be going to only offers that as a phd. What the school does offer is mechanical engineering, though 'm not quite sure this is for me. I'm pretty good at math and I really like it, but I don't really like physics. The main reason I'm looking at this degree is because I've read that it can lead to jobs where you create things to help the environment. Do you think I should get this degree? Are my reasons enough or should I look somewhere else?
As noted, civil engineering is worth looking into. As a side comment, engineering in all fields is about the efficient use of resources, so likely helps the environment independent of the specific company/ field you work in.
In general job prospects for engineering graduates have been good to better than very good, depending on the economy of course. You can get more detailed information from (1) the placement office at the university you are interested in (2) professional organizations and (3) recent graduates. Keep in mind that no one source should be regarded as authoritative.
Engineering often requires an understanding of and ability to apply physics concepts.
I've heard that any degree in engineering (particularly mechanical) has a pretty good employment rate. Just wanted to make sure it's true.
Tell me if this is a good reason to get this degree: I love nature and helping the environment, but I think that a degree like environmental science will be worthless. The closest thing to that and what I would love to do is environmental engineering... Except the university I'll be going to only offers that as a phd. What the school does offer is mechanical engineering, though 'm not quite sure this is for me. I'm pretty good at math and I really like it, but I don't really like physics. The main reason I'm looking at this degree is because I've read that it can lead to jobs where you create things to help the environment. Do you think I should get this degree? Are my reasons enough or should I look somewhere else?
Consider being more practical. Make a trade off. Consider the hypothetical: Be 100% happy in a career in which there are 50 jobs, or be 80% happy in a career in which there are 50,000 jobs.
A mechanical engineer can design a mechanism that uses less energy to perform functions. The conservation of energy is far more beneficial than extracting it from sources. In this day and age of technology, so often we forget that mechanics is technology.
No matter how you slice it and cover it with virtual technology or anything else derived from the other engineering disciplines, at some point work is a requirement without which nothing else can happen. The mechanical engineers make those things possible.
It is a strange thing that sometimes those with great experience and knowledge of the other engineering disciplines can't figure out how to apply the theory of mechanics to something more than an equation. A computer scientist and an information systems engineer can send an email to one another but is is the mechanical engineer that made it possible for them the turn on the computer, type on the keyboard and after reading the message, get in their car to drive to the movies.
My main concern right now is if Mechanical engineering is right for me. I've had no experience in it at all and I was wondering if someone could explain what it's like. Also, what types of skills are required? Do you have to be the creative one coming up with new ideas, or do you just have to be able to work in a team and figure out what works best?
My main concern right now is if Mechanical engineering is right for me. I've had no experience in it at all and I was wondering if someone could explain what it's like. Also, what types of skills are required? Do you have to be the creative one coming up with new ideas, or do you just have to be able to work in a team and figure out what works best?
Both and a million other things you could be doing from high level requirements definition and design to verification, project management, sales, and product support.
I've heard that any degree in engineering (particularly mechanical) has a pretty good employment rate. Just wanted to make sure it's true.
Tell me if this is a good reason to get this degree: I love nature and helping the environment, but I think that a degree like environmental science will be worthless. The closest thing to that and what I would love to do is environmental engineering... Except the university I'll be going to only offers that as a phd. What the school does offer is mechanical engineering, though 'm not quite sure this is for me. I'm pretty good at math and I really like it, but I don't really like physics. The main reason I'm looking at this degree is because I've read that it can lead to jobs where you create things to help the environment. Do you think I should get this degree? Are my reasons enough or should I look somewhere else?
Civil engineering all the way.
You could get a mechanical engineering degree and still go to work in the civil/environmental field or continue on with a masters in environmental.
But if you are so focused on helping the environment, civil all the way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinnamon731
My main concern right now is if Mechanical engineering is right for me. I've had no experience in it at all and I was wondering if someone could explain what it's like. Also, what types of skills are required? Do you have to be the creative one coming up with new ideas, or do you just have to be able to work in a team and figure out what works best?
Mechanical to me is the purest form of engineering.
You are building things to run, and mechanical focuses on the science and knowledge required to harness the forces that makes thing run.
There is some overlap with Civil, but in general Mechanical goes way more into detail with objects in motion. Dynamics. Thermodynamics. Compressed fluids in motion.
Again, given your interests, Civil seems like a no-brainer.
Geology is also a good option as someone else mentioned, but coming from someone in the field, a Civ E degree will usually trump a geology degree.
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