The (Engineering + FAQ) = Thread

[Andale]

Additional FAQs
I know many people have probably wondered this, including myself.

What is considered a good GPA in engineering?

If you wanna go to grad or professional school afterwards/get a job?

There is probably no definitive answer to this. Certainly the common wisdom is that, for many if not all Engineering majors, high GPAs are harder to achieve than in a variety of other majors. At some universities, the GPA required to maintain academic scholarships, or honors standing, or Dean's List, is lower for Engineering than for other majors.

I think many people believe that a student in a tough Engineering program who can maintain >= 3.0 is doing well, >=3.25 is doing very well, and >=3.5 is stellar.

From personal (limited) experience, I saw Engineering majors in the 3.4 range receive multiple job offers in the last two years' very tough economic environment.

What would be better? Lab research, or internship at a company?

Not clear that either is better. Both are good. If you have the choice, you might consider discussing the options with your advisor based on your own particular career plans. Other valuable resources for discussing your options - an informational interview with someone currently employed in the industry/job function you are targeting. Or an informational interview with a graduate student in your planned field for further study or a professor in that field.

[boneh3ad]

Originally Posted by Andale

What is considered a good GPA in engineering?

Generally, staying above a 3.0 should be the goal regardless of whether you want to go to graduate school or go straight to work; obviously, higher is better.

For industry, 3.0 will likely allow you to find a job just fine. I have seen more competitive companies who list 3.3 and 3.5 as a "soft" cutoff line for who they are would like to apply (e.g. Boeing). Then you have the VERY competitive companies like Google where you may need upwards of 3.8 to get a look in any given year. Having relevant experience can go a long way to help make up for a subpar GPA.

For graduate school, the answer is more complex. A GPA of 3.0 won't likely automatically disqualify you unless you are aiming for the top 10 or so schools, but even in the top 25, having below a 3.5 will put you at a disadvantage. below that and you will need to have something (or a combinations of things) on your application to make up for it. For example (in order of roughly decreasing benefit), publications, research experience, recommendations, and high GRE scores.

Originally Posted by Andale

What would be better? Lab research, or internship at a company?

As a general rule, research is a better choice if you want to go to graduate school and an internship is a better choice if you want to go straight into industry when you graduate.

[ken285]

Additional links for Engineering Organizations

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC | Home) and Institute of Transportation Engineers (Institute of Transportation Engineers -- ITE) offer student memberships, but I'm not sure how many schools out there have actual active school chapters.

[jwxie]

Should we have the real engineers to give insights about what {insert_engineering_name} engineer typically do in the industry?
IMO the Internet isn't too helpful because all they list is the a list of possible work. Maybe an engineer can make it more sound - more clear. Just a thought.

[ken285]

I think that's a pretty good idea.

[boneh3ad]

The issue with that is the fact that you would need a ton of engineers in each area to give their two cents because the jobs are so diverse. You can't really concisely sum up what goes on in a particular field of engineering better than listing all the possible jobs.

[ken285]

Something is better than nothing. Jobs are diverse, even within the same field, but we'd have to start somewhere. Job descriptions don't really tell college students what the day to day life is like.

[jwxie]

Computer Engineering/CpE, Computer Science/Electrical Engineering

For a discussion of these curricular/major options, see the following thread:

CpE or EE + CS?

[aibarr]

Questions of this nature will be Ice Creamed.

Sweeeeet... It's a transitive verb now.

Should we have the real engineers to give insights about what {insert_engineering_name} engineer typically do in the industry?

You want we should each start our own threads? Kind of an "Ask me about being a ______ engineer!" sort of thing?

[Toshtemirov]

I didn't know that engineers are so smart...lol


"Three engineers and three accountants were traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three accountants each bought tickets and watched as the three engineers bought only one ticket. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asked an accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answered an engineer.

They all boarded the train. The accountants took their respective seats, but the three engineers all crammed into a rest room and closed the door behind them. Shortly after the train departed, the conductor came around collecting tickets. He knocked on the restroom door and said, "Ticket, please." The door opened just a crack and a single arm emerged with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on. The accountants saw this and agreed it was a quite clever idea.

So, after the conference, the accountants decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). When they got to the station, they bought a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers didn't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to ride without a ticket?" said one perplexed accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answered an engineer. When they boarded the train, the three accountants crammed into a restroom and the three engineers crammed into another one nearby. The train departed. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers left his restroom and walked over to the restroom where the accountants were hiding.

He knocked on the door and said, "Ticket, please."

[jwxie]

@aibarr
Yes. We can pick a few hottest questions and let a volunteer engineer to answer them at their best, whenever possible.

If they can include a small description of the work they perform is even better.
We can think of this as a written interview.

[ijamjl]

Question about the GPA deal: when you guys mention a 3.0 +, and whichever other situations that are sort of generalized, are you talking about the overall GPA or the major GPA?

[ken285]

I work for a construction management firm in a field supervision role. Even though this isn't engineering, I'm adding this here because many civil engineering majors do enter the construction management field. There are a variety of roles in this field, and each of them are pretty different. The following is just one aspect of construction management.

Basically, I'm a part of a team whose job is to manage construction projects so that they are completed on time, on budget, safely and in accordance with project contract drawings and specifications. It's easy to summarize, but difficult to achieve. There are so many factors and so many stakeholders involved that there is never a project that is run perfectly. Every construction project is different and is subject to different conditions, so there are steep learning curves.

I spend time both in the field office and in the field. In the office, I write daily reports, which summarize the manpower, work performed and the weather. There are also weekly reports and monthly reports that I have a role in writing. Sometimes I also put together reports detailing work in place.

The more exciting part of the job is the work that takes place in the field. I manage trade contractors, meaning I coordinate work among them and plan ahead. I make sure they are meeting the project schedule, and if not, figure out a mitigation plan. With the contractor, we determine the best means and methods for doing the work.

Safety management is also a signficant responsibility. Part of my job is to make sure everyone is doing their job in a safe manner and following the safety rules (such as OSHA, fire code, my company's safety code, etc). For risky work, I review the procedure the contractor intends to use.

There are lots of meetings, some formal, some informal. They can be with the client, the contractors, inspectors, internal team members, etc.

My hours are technically 7am-4pm, though I typically like to get in at 6am to prepare for the day (the trades begin their day at 7am). I usually leave around 4:30pm-5pm, unless it's my turn to cover the overtime work. We also have a rotation schedule for Saturday work. On my current project, we also have a 2nd and 3rd shift going daily (with separate personnel), because some work can only be performed at night due to logistics or proximity to active rail lines and subway station. That's not the norm though.

It is a pretty stressful job though. There's a lot of money on the line and everybody is looking after their own companys' best interest, which creates adversarial relationships. Arguing with the the trade contractor foremen and project managers is common. The reward lies with seeing the completion of the project, knowing you had a significant role in the process. I pass by my old projects sometimes and I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The economy has hit the construction industry hard, particularly the companies focused on general building construction. I have been recommended for a promotion 2 years in a row now, and still have not received it due to the economy. When things are good, things are really good. People shoot up the ranks, and there's more work than we have the personnel for and actually turn down projects if necessary. The industry ebbs and flows with the economy.

The good news is that this job can't be outsourced. You have to be on the actual construction site to do the work. Construction is also an industry that is not going away. Infrastructure will continue to decay and need to be rehabilitated and new buildings will continue to be built to accomodate the increasing population.

I love my job, though of course it's not right for everyone.

[ucbalumnus]

Originally Posted by Enginox

What kind of preparation should prospective engineers have?

Before enrolling in an Engineering program, prospective individuals should be proficient in Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry. Additionally, solid knowledge of basic, elementary science is beneficial. Calculus knowledge is a plus but not necessary since your academic institution will teach you the higher level mathematics you need to know.

It is best for a prospective engineering major to have completed at least high school physics and chemistry. Computer programming experience is also desirable. If AP or IB courses are offered in these subjects and math, it is well worth taking them for better (compared to typical high school courses) preparation for university level courses, even though (except for math) they are not that likely to be accepted in place of the university level courses.

Of course, good high school course work in reading, writing, humanities, and social studies is also helpful for engineering students as it is for any university student. Again, AP or IB courses, if offered, can improve the level of preparation compared to typical high school courses.

Regarding adding a minor to an engineering major...

Originally Posted by Enginox

If you wish to minor, do it primarily for intellectual purposes and/or consider minoring in a field that strengthens some of your weaknesses (e.g. CE + English, if your verbal skills are weak) or in a field that sharpens some of your strengths (e.g. ChemE + Math, if you wish to have killer math skills).

Another type of minor is one which would be a supporting subject to the major. For example, a civil engineering major might do architecture minor. Or a computer science or engineering major might do an art minor if s/he is interested in user interfaces, animation, etc..

[mnmmom]

Thanks for compiling all this reference info!