graduating 2 years older

Malebranche · 08-10-2007, 02:46 PM

Hello,

can graduating 2 years later than the average engineering student hurt me for employment (industry? finance?) or seen as a bad point for employer (or for grad schools ?). I will lose years in Transfering to an US College, so its as if I'm 2 years late compared to Americans.

RETHEEM · 08-10-2007, 02:52 PM

nope...i will be graduating a BS in Chemical engineering when am 25 yrs of age.As long as u have research experience and good grades in the core competencies,u r set to go.U can explain that u lost some credits due to transferring,but rarely would they ask that

chuy · 08-10-2007, 02:57 PM

I figure the advantages you'd have from graduating from a US school (assuming you want a job or to go to grad school in the US) would greatly outweigh any problems they would have with your age. I also doubt your age would be a problem at all. It's not like you're 39 just getting a degree or something.

proton · 08-10-2007, 04:48 PM

isn't it against the law to discriminate based on age?

cessnovember · 08-10-2007, 05:12 PM

Proton, it is, but even if it weren't, I don't think that your date of birth is a big part of your job application. They do ask for it but it's for identity purposes and if you just put B.A. Engineering, XYZ College, 2013 or something on your resume, I don't see how it would be that noticable.

proton · 08-10-2007, 05:24 PM

no thats what im saying. i thought they don't even ask for your birthdate.

Watson&Crick · 08-10-2007, 05:27 PM

MaleBranche, are you french? (just curiosity)

Malebranche · 08-11-2007, 04:33 AM

Thanks for your answers, I shouldn't worry about that anymore then.
Watson&Crick: yes I am, good guess.

Watson&Crick · 08-11-2007, 08:50 AM

So did you manage you do the "classes preparatoires" and then go to the "grande ecole" (very competitive engineering schools). If you started the "classes preparatoires" already, I don't think you will have a hard time in math since math and the physical sciences in the US are very easy. Be careful to land in a good US engineering school (ABET accredited). Also, be careful to build up practical skills, do interships, research etc... In the US, extracurriculars are as important as your academic skills.

Malebranche · 08-12-2007, 04:46 PM

Watson&Crick: you seem to know our system! I just did classes prep, but I was admitted in transfer to caltech and will leave the traditional system for the US. Its true I'm not worrying for maths (rather physics and maybe other things). I will indeed be careful about internships and research, I have 0 experience in those.

cessnovember · 08-12-2007, 05:31 PM

I don't know if you were educated in English or not but if you weren't, I'd recommend a good technical dictionary. I had a friend who was educated in China and was way ahead of the rest of us in math/science but she wasn't allowed to progress because she didn't know the English terms for things.

chaoses · 08-20-2007, 10:56 AM

2,3 years doesn't hurt, probably 10 years doesn't hurt either. But if you graduate when you're like 45, 50 then they might not consider you for entry level position. They're not gonna invest in someone for like 2 years then that person retire and get all the benefits. but if you're under 35, entry level position doesn't discriminate based on age. each individual company my view it differently though.