Thread: What did you study? What do you specialize in? What do you do for a living?

Originally Posted by chray00

One more semester of Cegep to go, in the natural science program. Next fall, I'll attend a bach in physics, which i will probably fail miserably, but honestly, I've no idea what else I should do of my life at this point

Physics isn't for everyone. You do learn the short easy way of doing things but only after you've rigorously learned the fundamentals.

I studied mechanical engineering for 3.5 years and then decided that was boring. Halfway through that, I picked up a major in physics, which I am working on right now, although my condition has made things very difficult to say the least.

I currently do research on high energy physics and work as a program director at my college's radio station, in other words, I get paid to listen to good music.

I think I want to get into medical physics as I think I would enjoy the work. Oh, and it pays well, that too.

I am also considering a degree in psychology to better understand myself, although my parents are opposed. It is what is though.

I graduated HS with a 4 year tuition waver to Arizona schools so I decided to go to Northern Arizona University and get a BS in Computer Engineering. I'm starting my 6th semester and I'll hopefully be done in about 4 more (I'm stretching it out so I can keep up my gpa and not kill myself). I did R&D at W.L. Gore and associates as a laser engineering intern making/researching medical products.

My brother just finished his Masters in Computer Science and is now teaching 7 classes at NAU (I will have his as my professor for 2 classes ) and we are working on producing some games/apps that we hope to get on the android marketplace and Steam for our bigger projects. I like doing art and graphic design type things so I will hopefully start up some web-based things soon as well. I'm in the process of building a website/web comic similar to XKCD called the "double ego" and it will feature alot of engineering/social taboos more specific to electrical engineering and the "double ego" as it's referred to I don't really expect to make money of these things though so if I can't find an Engineering position nearby when I graduate I may go back to finish my Masters in either CE or CS and do research for the department

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

Physics isn't for everyone. You do learn the short easy way of doing things but only after you've rigorously learned the fundamentals.

I studied mechanical engineering for 3.5 years and then decided that was boring. Halfway through that, I picked up a major in physics, which I am working on right now, although my condition has made things very difficult to say the least.

I currently do research on high energy physics and work as a program director at my college's radio station, in other words, I get paid to listen to good music.

I think I want to get into medical physics as I think I would enjoy the work. Oh, and it pays well, that too.

That is very interesting; I've talked to soooooooo many people who did exactly 3.5 years of mechanical, thought it was boring and switched to something else. I think alot of times parents who push their kids to get a technical degree and they jump right in without seeing what all is out there. Mechanical Engineering is a great degree but not for everyone. I have a number of friends that switched from mechanical to CS.

A solid quarter of shitty community college (grade 13), and two years of trade school.

Electrician. Masters License (meaningless), but work as a Journeyman. I did a lot of new construction and remodel of commercial and multi-family dwellings, as well as a mega-shit-ton of residential remodel and insurance work (single family).....with a touch of industrial and residential new-construction (WAY back in the day).

Volcanasm- You mentioned getting into LEED testing. One of my former co-workers and I (as well as our apprentices,of course) wired this place:
Shelter - Sustainable House - Live Green Live Smart

When they first did the LEED testing, the house scored higher than any house ever had. So they thought the tests were flawed, and retested.....It scored even higher. At one point (and maybe still?) it was the most energy efficient house in the country.
There are some pretty mind-blowing technologies in that place. Mega-kudos still go to my coworker Kurt....he basically designed the electrical systems (yes, plural) in that place, and was the brains behind the brains.

I'm a Freshman at Oregon State Studying Mechanical Engineer. On the side I work as a mechanic when I'm at home, I also work as a laborer, just depends on the week. We'll see what type of work comes my way this summer. So not a whole bunch to say about myself...

Originally Posted by salty99

That is very interesting; I've talked to soooooooo many people who did exactly 3.5 years of mechanical, thought it was boring and switched to something else. I think alot of times parents who push their kids to get a technical degree and they jump right in without seeing what all is out there. Mechanical Engineering is a great degree but not for everyone. I have a number of friends that switched from mechanical to CS.

Well, lets see. The last actual engineering I did was in my freshmen year. Junior year, in one of several statics classes, I learned about a dozen different ways to calculate stresses and strains in beams all by hand when in reality I'd write a program to do an F.E.A. analysis, which I learned how to do sophomore year. Senior year, I took a class where the point was to memorize a dictionary of machinist terms.

On the other hand, in the physics classes and labs I was taking I was actually doing engineering and learning how to do interesting things.

I did ME originally because I heard it was supposed to make you the most versatile of engineers. Oh, and when combined with a business management masters...kaching.

If I could go back in time, I would have gotten a minor in IT, a minor in computer science, a major in EE, and a major in Physics. Maybe another major in nano or biomed. That sounds like a lot, but a lot of the classes are redundant for those majors so I only have to take about 20-30 hours extra.

Originally Posted by roadhog0

I'm a Freshman at Oregon State Studying Mechanical Engineer. On the side I work as a mechanic when I'm at home, I also work as a laborer, just depends on the week. We'll see what type of work comes my way this summer. So not a whole bunch to say about myself...

I take it you want to do automotive engineering? If so, try and get involved in the Baja race project if your school is involved with that. Try and get internships, too. A lot of times, you'll get stipends, and they'll set you up most of the time with a secured future job. Also, keep in mind that to work for a good company, you really need at least a 3.2 GPA. Not even kidding. I would also recommend getting a minor in computer science as it will make a lot of your work easier (writing a page of reusable code vs. 5 pages of tedious calculations).

If you're more interested in powerplants, chemistry is always useful.

If running a production plant is your thingg...well, good luck. I would get bored to death personally.

You may as well get a math minor with all of the math you'll have to and should take.

Originally Posted by dex71

Volcanasm- You mentioned getting into LEED testing. One of my former co-workers and I (as well as our apprentices,of course) wired this place:
Shelter - Sustainable House - Live Green Live Smart

When they first did the LEED testing, the house scored higher than any house ever had. So they thought the tests were flawed, and retested.....It scored even higher. At one point (and maybe still?) it was the most energy efficient house in the country.
There are some pretty mind-blowing technologies in that place. Mega-kudos still go to my coworker Kurt....he basically designed the electrical systems (yes, plural) in that place, and was the brains behind the brains.

That house looks awesome. This is pretty much everything I have studied in one house. Geothermal, designing walls that are efficient but not a waste of material, and photovoltaics. That's a crazy design.

How did you like working on a project like that?