A question...and perhaps some advice | FerrariChat
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A question...and perhaps some advice

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by pbfoot, Dec 7, 2008.

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  1. pbfoot

    pbfoot Karting

    Jun 2, 2007
    124
    #1 pbfoot, Dec 7, 2008
    Posed this on 6speed and figured since this is pretty much the same demographic I'd ask here too

    First off, as some of you may know I am currently a freshman majoring in Industrial Engineering at the University of Southern California. I actually don't like it here at all and will likely be transferring next fall but therein lies my problem. USC is a known as a pretty "top notch" school in the Southern California area. It seems, however, that outside of here it simply doesn't have the same reputation, with most people I have come across thinking it is a state school. Additionally it is not really known for it's engineering program, especially industrial engineering. I am considering transferring to either Penn State, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, or Northwestern.

    Now I have visited Penn State and really like it and I am a PA resident so tuition is a pittance compared to any of the other schools. Penn State and Michigan also have top engineering programs and their ISE programs are both top five ranked. With UMD I would be transferring into their business school to get a degree in Operations Management which is essentially industrial engineering. And Northwestern is generally known as a "better" school than the other three but is not necessarily as good for engineering.

    My parents, however, think that the reputation of the school as a whole is more important than the reputation of the engineering school, or the ISE program. I beg to differ, saying that if someone is going to hire me they are going to know that my degree is from a really top engineering school with not as good of a reputation rather than, say, a really reputable school with a mediocre engineering program and consider that accordingly.

    So I ask...if any of you were looking to hire-would you "look down" upon someone with a degree from a state school as opposed to somewhere else if they are clearly intelligent and qualified? Or rather would having a degree from somewhere like Northwestern be a major plus?

    And secondly-I am looking into going to get a joint JD/MBA after undergrad. I have heard that having those two degrees plus an undergraduate engineering degree pretty much guarantees me work pretty much whereever I want and with a pretty hefty salary. Is this true? Because I am pretty sure I do not actually want to go into engineering and am sticking with the degree largely because of that reason.

    Thanks for the help,
    Matt
     
  2. Mrpbody44

    Mrpbody44 F1 Veteran

    Jul 5, 2007
    7,899
    St Augustine Florida
    Full Name:
    Steve Metz
    #2 Mrpbody44, Dec 7, 2008
    Go to the good engineering school then go the the big name school for grad school. Penn Sate is good for undergrad work.

    If don't know about the salary. Engineering salaries are the pits. I make $250/hour as an fine art appraiser and engineering with a MS and 20 years experience pays about $60/hour. I left engineering a long time ago as the pay has been going nowhere due to the number of visas given out to foreigners who work for nothing.
     
  3. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

    Jan 7, 2006
    8,051
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Kyle
    #3 1_can_dream, Dec 7, 2008
    Join the SC football team, those graduates usually make out pretty well when they graduate.
     
  4. Gershwin

    Gershwin F1 Veteran

    Feb 21, 2005
    6,415
    Kentucky
    #4 Gershwin, Dec 7, 2008
    Rule #1 - in business get to the point.

    Not really sure what one does w/ Industrial engineering but I do employee geotech/enviro engs, mechanical engs, civil engs. structural engs., What I have heard from the men/women that hire engineers is teaching them to design w/out blinders on. If you know what that means - you'll do just fine!

    hint - use practical everyday applications that make sense.

    Good luck
     
  5. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2004
    1,851
    #5 fastback33, Dec 7, 2008
    If you're just doing it for the money why do it at all?? Find something you actually enjoy and will use in your life.
     
  6. brownsgolf

    brownsgolf Formula Junior

    Dec 18, 2007
    931
    Western PA
    Full Name:
    Dan
    #6 brownsgolf, Dec 7, 2008
    I'll second this comment.
     
  7. pbfoot

    pbfoot Karting

    Jun 2, 2007
    124
    #7 pbfoot, Dec 7, 2008
    That's a valid point, but like many on this board my passion is cars. However it is difficult to make good money in the automotive industry, so I would rather do something that I moderately enjoy (business) to give me the means to truly enjoy my passion outside of work. I would rather simply tolerate my job (not hate it, as that is also unacceptable) and have the means to provide well for my family and still have a nice stable than work, say, as an automotive engineer and be designing cars all day then driving home in a Kia!

    From what it sounds like it seems that undergrad work, or at least where you go for undergrad so long as it's a Tier 1 school, is relatively unimportant (and I stress relatively, I understand it is still important to work hard and do well) if I plan on going on to get a higher degree.

    Also if y'all don't mind could you post up what kind of schooling background you have and what you do now?
     
  8. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #8 tundraphile, Dec 8, 2008
    If you are a freshman, I assume you are in your first semester of undergrad. If you really don't like USC and are sure you want to transfer, then do it as soon as possible. This Christmas break if you can, but I doubt that will be feasible.

    The reason I say this is that if you don't like it now, chances are you will like it less next semester. And I would say the chances of you putting 100%, and I mean reaalllly 100% into your studies is much less if you are miserable where you are at during this early stage in your academic career. If you hated it your senior year I would say tough it out, but you are just getting started.

    Also understand that in this day and time just having an undergrad degree is like a high school diploma 25 years ago. You can do OK, and some do quite well, but almost all would be helped career-wise by going to graduate school. So if you want to earn enough money to indulge in nice cars, plan on going to graduate school. After you go to grad school, your undergrad major or school is somewhat meaningless. Your choice for undergrad school/major should then be chosen to set you up for the real thing you want which is an advanced degree. If you want an MBA, having a background in engineering would be a good place to start. Engineering teaches you to take complex problems, break them into smaller pieces that can then be solved individually, then re-assemble the smaller pieces into a final complete solution. These problem-solving skills would be valuable. You will find most non-engineering/science types don't have this ability. Not to mention any math or statistics in an MBA program will be a piece of cake.

    If you are from Pennsylvania and can get into Penn State, and still want to do engineering, then that is the logical choice. Your parents are misguided when it comes to general school reputation versus school's specific degree program repuation when it comes to hard sciences. Especially if you are going to end up in grad school somewhere anyway.

    I personally wouldn't pick U of Michigan if it were me. The entire state is in (permanent?) decline, and it wouldn't surprise me if 20 years from now the concensus is that UM's glory days were behind them at the end of this decade.

    BTW, my background is a BS and MS in Mechancial Engineering, both from state schools.
     
  9. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2004
    1,851
    #9 fastback33, Dec 9, 2008
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2008
    I'm studying plastics engineering and vehicle engineering. A lot of it is hands on lab work, which i enjoy a lot, and putting theory to practice.

    If you like car's surely you must like building things? I don't understand how the two could NOT go hand in hand?....

    Good luck with your decision.
     
  10. snowmann

    snowmann Karting

    Dec 4, 2004
    90
    #10 snowmann, Dec 10, 2008
    Just be the best at what you do, in 10 years the school you went to won't matter. Love the subject of study, be the best at what you do and the money will follow. Trying to "fill in the blanks" won't get you money or happiness.
     
  11. yoda

    yoda F1 Rookie

    Sep 27, 2004
    2,598
    UT
    #11 yoda, Dec 10, 2008
    We had a CEO come speak to us from a Fortune 500 company. He said he didn't care what school you went to, he's fired Harvard and State school graduates alike.
     

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