EET vs. EE - Page 5

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 09:36 PM

So what should you do? Learn a trade or go into healthcare. Stay away from engineering (petro excluded), third tier toilet law schools, third tier toilet business schools, journalism, and IT.

ken285 · 08-22-2010, 09:50 PM

You mean stay away from engineering jobs that are prone to outsourcing. I know in civil engineering, outsourcing has not even remotely been a problem. There are barriers to enter civil engineering (and some mechanical and electrical) that are not in others, such as licensure. Even in EE, there are location sensitive positions in power systems. I'm not very familiar with nuclear engineering, but I'd imagine outsourcing isn't a problem there as well.

Don't bother with a 4 year college if you're going to learn a trade.

Is the healthcare industry really doing that well? I know of 2 hospitals here in Manhattan that closed down for financial reasons this year.

ME 76 · 08-22-2010, 09:53 PM

Homer, did you not read what I just posted? Healthcare is becoming less desirable for a number of reasons that I touched on. Why the animosity towards engineering? Why are you just focusing on outsourcing in the engineering field and not all the others? Are you an engineer or even an engineering student? Please enlighten us as to your experiences that have given you such a negative outlook towards engineering. If you have no experience with the engineering industry, please stop already. I will say it again, engineers out earn practically any other undergraduate major throughout their careers. Your advice to learn a trade doesn't make sense either. Statistically, an engineer will out earn someone in a trade. An engineering degree is very versitile. An engineering major can work in business but a business major can't work in engineering. This is fact.

Stop with the doomsday stuff about engineering, especially if you have no first hand experience. Engineering is not going away. Salaries continue to increase and many engineers will be retiring in the coming years.

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 09:55 PM

Well, my mother is an RN and has never been out of work. Neither have the 6 doctors in my family. Or the 2 pharmacists (I come from a health care dominated family).

jym626 · 08-22-2010, 09:56 PM

Maybe the Drs aren't "unemployed", but if they are in private practice, ask them what has happened to their income in the past 10 years

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 10:00 PM

"Certainly business professions, accounting, ect. even law firms are outsourcing work. You can argue that medical professions can't be outsourced but with the cost of medical school skyrocketing, health care reform, and rising malpractice insurance rates, becoming a doctor is becoming less appealing. I know doctors who do not recommend their children become doctors."

Yes, I know about outsourcing in accounting and law. And there is more to healthcare than doctors: Nurses (CRNAs make $200k +), physical/ occupational therapist, pharmacist, etc. You cannot judge the entire HC field based on doctors.

And as far as doctors, not all are created equal. Specialsits and surgeons still make big money.

ME 76 · 08-22-2010, 10:02 PM

Then go be a doctor. If engineering is so bad, then why is it one of the most lucrative degrees to have? I come from a family of engineers and none of them have ever been unemployed either. My point is that if you don't want to be an engineer, then don't. But please stop bashing engineering when you are yet to prove that you have any experience with it. You are coming across as someone who failed out of engineering and are resentful and bitter of the entire profession. You make engineering out to be a horrible career and I assure you it is not. Engineering starting salaries are higher than many end of career salaries for other professions.

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 10:02 PM

"Maybe the Drs aren't "unemployed", but if they are in private practice, ask them what has happened to their income in the past 10 years"

I have a cousin who is a surgeon and is married to another surgeon. They recently sold their 50s ranch house and bought a new one, which is MASSIVE. Combined they make about $750k a year.

jym626 · 08-22-2010, 10:05 PM

I repeat- ask them what has happened to their income-- assuming they accept insurance and aren't plastic surgeons or in another field that accepts predominantly private pay

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 10:07 PM

Maybe their income has gone down, maybe it has not. I don't know. But a decline in income when your making $750k is nowhere near as bad as when your making $60k. I can only comment on my mother, and her income has not gone down by a penny.

ME 76 · 08-22-2010, 10:08 PM

Seriously Homer, nobody cares! I know an engineer who started a consulting firm and sold it for tens of millions of dollars. There are very successful people in all careers. Yes, I have heard this argument about surgeons making more than engineers before but not everyone wants to be a doctor. If you enjoy engineering, there are limitless possibilities. Consulting, starting a company, etc....

Homer, what are your qualifications that make you an expert on engineering?

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 10:12 PM

And for the record, I am not just hard on engineering. I am hard toward people of virtually every major. When your in school, you see the world through a much different perspective then when your in the job market. I know because it happened to me. When your in school, you wear rose colored glasses and convince yourself that everything will be "fine." How many times have you heard someoen say they are going to law school or business school because in 3 years the economy will be "better"? I hear these comments all the time. When your in school, you never have to worry about losing your job. This is why people such as myself who are not in school tend to be more pessimistic.

Homer28 · 08-22-2010, 10:15 PM

Well, I am not going to argue about engineering anymore. I was originally going to end it a few days ago, but someone called me a tea partier and I had to respond. So good luck.

And FYI: There is far more to healthcare then being a doctor. I would bet that most people in the HC industry are not doctors.

ME 76 · 08-22-2010, 10:16 PM

You didn't answer the question. What are your qualifications that make you an expert on engineering and the engineering profession? Do you have engineering experience or are you even an engineering student?

boneh3ad · 08-22-2010, 10:17 PM

Don't bother, he won't answer. I looked at his post history. He graduated recently as an accounting major and hasn't found a job yet. He has NO experience with engineering, and apparently spends his time looking up articles to put down engineers. I get the feeling he is just trying to convince himself that it is good that he never did engineering.