Mechanical or electrical engineer

[7window]

My son is interested int this major. How doors one know if someone is ciut out for it. I heard there is a lot of programming. Thanks

 

[Drako]

Yes!

 

[Childs]

Who does he like better...Iron Man or Dilbert?

 

[rcpratt]

No reason to really even think about this until he makes it through his first semester of engineering school.

 

[EagleKeeper]

No reason to really even think about this until he makes it through his first semester of engineering school.

Used to be the first year before targeted classes were started. Even then, crossing disciplines could be done after the second year

 

[The_Dude8]

Chemical Engineer.
why not double major in ME and EE?

 

[BladeVenom]

Who does he like better...Iron Man or Dilbert?

Tony Stark was an electrical engineer.

 

[jteef]

it's not a requirement, but he should be taking calculus I / II as a senior in high school as a good gauge. Also known as AB/BC calc. Pre-calculus does not count.

Again, most engineering schools have a track for freshman who've never taken calc, but it's a huge leap in complexity and mastering it early is important for a successful engineering degree.

 

[veri745]

it's not a requirement, but he should be taking calculus I / II as a senior in high school as a good gauge. Also known as AB/BC calc. Pre-calculus does not count.

Again, most engineering schools have a track for freshman who've never taken calc, but it's a huge leap in complexity and mastering it early is important for a successful engineering degree.

Differential Equations and Linear Algebra were by far the most helpful math classes for engineering (CmpE for me).

I had taken Calc AB in HS before starting my degree, but I don't think the people who hadn't taken that were significantly behind.

Programming before college is definitely not required, but you definitely need to be able to think logically and be able to break problems into their smallest component pieces.

 

[Printer Bandit]

EE > *.

Trust me as a EE that works in Silicon Valley.

 

[Baked]

EE people have the biggest fucking ego I know, and they're never wrong. ME people are more chill, although only slightly less egotistical. Trust me, I know this shit, I have one of each as brothers.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

<==== EE who used to make fun of ME students.

EE people have the biggest fucking ego I know, and they're never wrong. ME people are more chill, although only slightly less egotistical. Trust me, I know this shit, I have one of each as brothers.

EE stands for Elite Engineer and ME stands for Mediocre Engineer. You knew that, right? (just kidding MEs out there!)

 

[The_Dude8]

Differential Equations and Linear Algebra were by far the most helpful math classes for engineering (CmpE for me).

I had taken Calc AB in HS before starting my degree, but I don't think the people who hadn't taken that were significantly behind.

Programming before college is definitely not required, but you definitely need to be able to think logically and be able to break problems into their smallest component pieces.

how often do you use differential equations and linear algerabra at your work?

 

[Childs]

Tony Stark was an electrical engineer.

hmm..., this appears to correct via Marvel wiki, but building the variations of the armor and other stuff requires a strong mechanical engineering background. I would have bet the farm he was an ME.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Differential Equations and Linear Algebra were by far the most helpful math classes for engineering (CmpE for me).

I had taken Calc AB in HS before starting my degree, but I don't think the people who hadn't taken that were significantly behind.

Programming before college is definitely not required, but you definitely need to be able to think logically and be able to break problems into their smallest component pieces.

How has linear algebra helped you out for CpE? Everyone at UVA that takes it here says that it's too theoretical, poorly taught, and overall useless to be practical for anything at all. Basically one of those classes that one should avoid unless it's a hard requirement.

Do the class's applications in the field go beyond using eigenvalues and eigenvectors very often?

 

[Jeff7]

<==== EE who used to make fun of ME students.



EE stands for Elite Engineer and ME stands for Mediocre Engineer. You knew that, right? (just kidding MEs out there!)

Miscellaneous Engineer.

 

[DrPizza]

If he's not cut out for it, then if he applies to a good university for those majors, he's not likely to be accepted.

 

[rcpratt]

Used to be the first year before targeted classes were started. Even then, crossing disciplines could be done after the second year

It still is at most schools, I believe. Was for me.

 

[drinkmorejava]

He will have the opportunity to take several programming class, but odds are he'll only have to take one intro class.

I vote for Aero. I think it's much more interesting, and you can still be hired for any ME job. You can also find some dual Aero/ME degrees that count towards a PE license if that's what he wants.

 

[7window]

If he's not cut out for it, then if he applies to a good university for those majors, he's not likely to be accepted.

He was accepted at a university although only ranked #38.

He did well in calc and science. Any site where he could see if he can think logically.

 

[Printer Bandit]

If he can't cut it as a EE or ME, he can always fall back on Industrial Engineering (aka Imaginary Engineering).

 

[the DRIZZLE]

As someone who has a BSME and comes from a family of ME's, I would strongly discourage a young person from pursuing this career. It's a dying field, from both a theory and applications standpoint. While there will always been a need for ME's, more and more of the world is solid state.

 

[Awkward]

EE for sure

 

[Matthiasa]

Depending on how social... or lack there off he could do both.
Either will open a lot of doors...
Although for either one, internships are quite a bit more important then say GPA for getting a real job.
Or they could just use it to go into something else.
For instance I have a B.S EE but currently work at a software company doing QA, well more school type work than anything now but yeah.

 

[Texashiker]

Mechanical engineer with something in either metallurgy or welding.

Associates in something like welding, bachelors in Mechanical engineering. That will make him a prime candidate to go to work for a chemical refinery.