Want to get the HECK of of Central California one day, looking at different areas including SE Michigan/Ann Arbor

[IhateCA]

Thanks for all your input! I will eventually transfer to a 4-year college, and possibly go into the car industry in marketing or design. I have been a car lover as long as I can remember. Also, to the last poster on this thread, who said I have been yelling about how bad my current location is, let me just say, I have HUGE problems with constant heat waves. I used to suffer from severe asthma as a child (been to the emergency room for breathing treatments a few times), and, I actually seasonal allergies, thanks to my area's awful air quality. A few days ago (when the temperature was well into the 100s), the sky was VERY hazy, and you could NOT see a full ten miles down a long street. Another factor to this is the major wildfires we have which run from late March to early November usually, and the very dry weather has taken a major toll on my skin, in which I get lots of cracks and my skin is very flaky during the dry season. On a different note, my family and I are working on a plan to get me out of here within the next couple of years. My high school counselor was actually a huge help in starting up a plan for me to leave the area. Thanks again for the input!

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by IhateCA

Thanks for all your input! I will eventually transfer to a 4-year college, and possibly go into the car industry in marketing or design.

As someone who works for one of the Big-3 in marketing, your 4-year college is going to need to be in the top-20 in the nation (or a well-recognized school in Michigan like MSU) and even then you are going to have to be at the very top of your game to get into one of the OEMs. It can be done, but just know that it's a LOT of work with no guarantee of a pay-off.

If you think your seasonal allergies are bad in Central CA, just wait until spring comes in Michigan...

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

As someone who works for one of the Big-3 in marketing, your 4-year college is going to need to be in the top-20 in the nation (or a well-recognized school in Michigan like MSU) and even then you are going to have to be at the very top of your game to get into one of the OEMs. It can be done, but just know that it's a LOT of work with no guarantee of a pay-off.

If you think your seasonal allergies are bad in Central CA, just wait until spring comes in Michigan...

To work directly for one of the OEMs straight out of college, yes. However, there are advertising, marketing, event and PR agencies that do work for the OEMs and suppliers that don't necessarily require elite credentials. I work for one of them. You do need to work your way up and pay dues at the bottom for at least few years to be successful at any of these places. I'm talking about handing out t-shirts and brochures at enthusiast events every weekend. You're not going to be able to waltz in and start working on vehicle campaigns.

And, yes, Michigan is absolutely miserable for seasonal allergies.

[brodie734]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

As someone who works for one of the Big-3 in marketing, your 4-year college is going to need to be in the top-20 in the nation (or a well-recognized school in Michigan like MSU) and even then you are going to have to be at the very top of your game to get into one of the OEMs. It can be done, but just know that it's a LOT of work with no guarantee of a pay-off.

If you think your seasonal allergies are bad in Central CA, just wait until spring comes in Michigan...

Point of order, it doesn't have to be a top 20 school it just has to be a top level engineering department. You can't really throw a rock in Big 3 land without hitting a Clemson or Purdue grad... and much of the grunt engineering work at suppliers is done by graduates of local schools who effectively have arrangements with the car companies. Pretty much everyone who graduates from U of M Dearborn works as an engineer at a Ford supplier or Roush due to internships and career placement, ditto Lawrence Tech

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

If you think your seasonal allergies are bad in Central CA, just wait until spring comes in Michigan...

My wife never had allergies until we left Michigan for the Central Valley.
I also now hate rosemary and dogwood. Everyone plants that everywhere in Sacramento

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by brodie734

Point of order, it doesn't have to be a top 20 school it just has to be a top level engineering department.

Point of order, OP isn't interested in Engineering. Marketing/design is a different ballgame - and marketing is very different from design, so OP is really all over the place.

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

To work directly for one of the OEMs straight out of college, yes. However, there are advertising, marketing, event and PR agencies that do work for the OEMs and suppliers that don't necessarily require elite credentials.

It didn't sound like agency work was something OP is interested in, though. Then again, given the wide gulf between marketing and design, I'm not sure what OP is interested in.

[brodie734]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

Point of order, OP isn't interested in Engineering. Marketing/design is a different ballgame - and marketing is very different from design, so OP is really all over the place.

Depends on what they mean by "design". I read it as designing cars, which is an engineering job even from an aesthetics point of view. It appears you interpreted it to be related to the OP's interest in marketing.

[DoggieMatic]

If you don't like the 'progressive' ideology & policies of California, I suggest you eliminate Ann Arbor from your potential new home cities.