Mid-College Crisis!

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

I've come to a point in my collegiate career that I finally realized that I'm not good at what I'm doing. I'm studying CE right now, and am already half way through the major. My gpa is 2.93, which is a bit less than average, I'm sure I can bring it up, but I really don't feel like doing this anymore. Every quarter, it's the same thing over and over again. It's a hearty dose of math, physics, CE/CS/EE - right now, I'm taking logic design, integral vector calc, diff eqs, and linear algebra. My life is practically pointless. I talked with my dad about how much money you "really" make. Starting engineers make about 50g's, but after taxes, I only get to keep about 35g's. I had dreams about buying a car and a house right out of college, but I really won't be making that much. The work to pay ratio doesn't seem all that worth it right now. The campus provost at my school got a job offer at USC, to be something like what he was like here, 200g's a year with a 50g signing bonus. Engineers will never make that much money. So, I guess the question that goes out to the ATOT community is what should I do? Anyone just stop midway through college and do something completely different? I want to say the money doesn't matter, but it does. I don't want to go to med/dental school like everyone else does, but at the same time, it seems like all they have to do is memorize everything they see and then get paid 120G's a year for it.

Sigh... any fun, high paying jobs out there ?

 

[xirtam]

I'm with you, and the only reason I'm not starting over with something else is because I'm lazy.

 

[imported_Mike]

alot of people get our of Engineering....but i dont think you should think to heavily on the $$ aspect of it. Do what you know you will enjoy

 

[Cenalian]

better marks = more $$$

if you graduate near the top of your class, guarenteed you have no problems finding a job or getting paid well

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

I've been tinkering with computers ever since I was in 5th grade. I figured in HS, that since I had been tinkering with computers for so long, I might as well make a career out of it. But I had no idea that there was so much crap you needed to know.

I have no shot at graduating near the top of my class because I have no motivation to do well anymore. I just want to get the hell out of here. Who wants a half-assed engineer?

 

[radioouman]

Just remember that engineering pays better than 90% of the jobs that entry level people with a four year degree will get out of school. Also, engineering has some demand to it, whereas some majors have absolutely no demand once you graduate.

<---- happy with my mechanical engineering job at 45k. This June, I will have been here for 1 year.

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: Cenalian
better marks = more $$$

if you graduate near the top of your class, guarenteed you have no problems finding a job or getting paid well

My old roommate went to Austin with a bunch of other potential recruits for Motorola. He talked to this girl who went to one of the elite engineering schools, got top marks, and was already a definite hire by IBM. Motorola wanted her and asked her what it would take. She told them she would have to start at 90K for her to consider it. I don't know if Motorola was willing to go that high, but she ended up working for IBM.

 

[AUMM]

you can make lots of money being an engineer, you just have to do you own business. im studying civil engineering right now, i dont enjoy it SOOOO much, but its something i dont mind doing if i can make a damn good living doing so. make much more money than a doctor, etc.. with about half the amount of time in school

 

[rgwalt]

Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class. If you change and have to stay in school an extra semester or year, you have to figure the cost of tuition, housing, books, AND lost earnings. I would only change majors if I knew I wanted to do something else, and I knew what that was. The fact remains that engineers get paid more than most of the people graduating with a 4 year degree. Also, even though you will only start at $50K a year, that figure increases once you get into management. You can get better money, but it requires more school and an advanced degree.

Speaking of which, have you considered finishing up with your CE degree, and then going to grad school? Law or MBA are good options, as is advanced Comp Sci.

Best of luck to you.

Ryan

 

[psydancerqt]

my brother went to university of michigan and graduated with a computer engineering degree in 2 1/2 years. he then moved to california and made the big bucks for 4 years. he is currently living in new york going to law school. he got bored with computers.

my advice is to find something you LIKE to do and not worry about money issues.

 

[Stealth1024]

If you are going to a college well known for its Computer Engineering program, CE is probably the best major to get into since it opens up potential jobs to the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering fields.

You could always go to a local college for a year and get the necessary high school teaching degree and with all the courses you have to take for CE you could probably teach any Calculus, Physics, Computer Science, or Digital Systems classes in high school, get the summers and holidays off, have a practically permanent job, retirement provided for, and if you pick a good school district in a rural area where the price of living is rather low, 50 grand a year would make you relatively wealthy.

I am presently majoring in computer engineering at RIT as a first year student, but I have come to realize while I enjoy CE, I also enjoy the business and management aspect of a business. Since I need to choose a concentration, and because I'm ahead with AP credits, I would only need to take 1 extra course to have a minor in something such as business or economics.

Just one bit of advice: IT is probably not the major to get into

As the joke goes, the CE's build it, the IT's take it out of the box and plug it in...

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

I have actually thought about grad school. But as I mentioned before, my grades aren't that hot. I actually want to go to UT Austin, but I heard that's a pretty tough grad school to get into. I just like Texas for some reason.

 

[Ranger X]

Don't do it for the money or you'll be miserable (which in the end turns into Quarter-Life Crisis).

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
I have actually thought about grad school. But as I mentioned before, my grades aren't that hot. I actually want to go to UT Austin, but I heard that's a pretty tough grad school to get into. I just like Texas for some reason.

Warm winds blowing, heating blue skies, and a road that goes forever.

If you come to UT, will you buy me alcohol?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
I have actually thought about grad school. But as I mentioned before, my grades aren't that hot. I actually want to go to UT Austin, but I heard that's a pretty tough grad school to get into. I just like Texas for some reason.

Warm winds blowing, heating blue skies, and a road that goes forever.

If you come to UT, will you buy me alcohol?

dude i'll buy you alcohol, you just gotta find me a hottie willing to perform sexual favors in exchange for it

 

[Scarpozzi]

Hang in there and finish up. Then get a job at McDonald's. When you wise up, you'll have your degree to fall back on and you'll understand that the true meaning of life is to live in a cubicle to pay a mortgage.

 

[edro]

Finish up the degree..... Who really does what they went to school for anyways? The important thing is having a degree in something.... and CE is one of the most versitile degrees there are. I mean, what company doesn't use computers now a days? No matter what job you want, being a Computer Engineer will impress them.

And no matter what school you go to, or what your major is, you WON'T get $200k a year, with a $50k signing bonus (right out of school). Not even doctors or MIT grads going to NASA make that much.

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Hang in there and finish up. Then get a job at McDonald's. When you wise up, you'll have your degree to fall back on and you'll understand that the true meaning of life is to live in a cubicle to pay a mortgage.

Man, that is grim.... but true.

 

[Krye]

Here's my $0.0002

1) Do what you enjoy doing, or you'll never be happy in life. But...you didn't tell us what you DO like to do.

2) What's wrong with starting with a $50k job? As as AF Officer I won't even hit that until my 4th year in (about to hit the 3 year point soon). And even so, I bought a new truck out of college (yes, I have loans too) and I just bought a house. So you're dream is possible.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Have you had any internships? Getting out and seeing the work environment for a summer might give you a better perspective on this. Don't do it solely for the money. If you're miserable and know enough to know you'd be miserable doing engineering for a living, you're better off getting into some other field ASAP.

It's also not the end of the world if you step back and drop a class (if it's not too late) in order to keep your head above water. Or stick it out until summer, go work somewhere, and come back in fall with a hopefully fresh outlook on things. Sometimes a few months can make a big difference.

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

True, but I think graduating in 4 years (or less) is an important thing to strive for. Taking 5 or 6(!!!) years can get really expensive, really fast. I got out in four because my scholarships would have run out if I hadn't. If I hadn't, I would have paid for the last year or two out of pocket, and would have lost wages on top of that, making my last year or two of school cost between $50K and $100K.

Ryan

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: rgwalt

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

True, but I think graduating in 4 years (or less) is an important thing to strive for. Taking 5 or 6(!!!) years can get really expensive, really fast. I got out in four because my scholarships would have run out if I hadn't. If I hadn't, I would have paid for the last year or two out of pocket, and would have lost wages on top of that, making my last year or two of school cost between $50K and $100K.

Ryan

i don't think its as important as getting a well-rounded education of something you enjoy and stopping to enjoy life before becoming a cog for the next 40 years, but hey, its your $

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: rgwalt

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

True, but I think graduating in 4 years (or less) is an important thing to strive for. Taking 5 or 6(!!!) years can get really expensive, really fast. I got out in four because my scholarships would have run out if I hadn't. If I hadn't, I would have paid for the last year or two out of pocket, and would have lost wages on top of that, making my last year or two of school cost between $50K and $100K.

Ryan

What college cost 50k a year????

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

True, but I think graduating in 4 years (or less) is an important thing to strive for. Taking 5 or 6(!!!) years can get really expensive, really fast. I got out in four because my scholarships would have run out if I hadn't. If I hadn't, I would have paid for the last year or two out of pocket, and would have lost wages on top of that, making my last year or two of school cost between $50K and $100K.

Ryan

i don't think its as important as getting a well-rounded education of something you enjoy and stopping to enjoy life before becoming a cog for the next 40 years, but hey, its your $

I view college as a stepping stone and not a life experience. It can be both, but I think the primary reason to go to school is to learn skills and gain knowledge that will help you get a job, make money, and live your life. A well rounded education is important to an extent, but ultimately it will not put food on your table.

Ryan

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: rgwalt

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Whatever you decide to do, decide quickly. The longer you wait to change your major, the tougher it will be to get caught up and graduate with your class.

Ryan

class? with many people taking 5 or 6 years i don't think theres any semblence of a class anymore

True, but I think graduating in 4 years (or less) is an important thing to strive for. Taking 5 or 6(!!!) years can get really expensive, really fast. I got out in four because my scholarships would have run out if I hadn't. If I hadn't, I would have paid for the last year or two out of pocket, and would have lost wages on top of that, making my last year or two of school cost between $50K and $100K.

Ryan

What college cost 50k a year????

I figured a college costing $10K per year, and then $40K per year in wages lost. If you take five years to do what could have been done in four, you not only have to pay to stay in school, but you've lost a year of earnings by not having a job.

Ryan