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[Phoenix]

Most people know my opinion on the whole thing. This is likely going to influence the rest of your life pretty heavily. I almost compare it to buying a brand new car - if you're going to pay through the ass, you should make sure you're going to enjoy it.

My selection criteria was actually a little bit strange. My parents wanted me to go to school for engineering. At the time I had absolutely no idea what engineering majors did - when I was a LOT younger I used to think that engineers only worked on trains Lets just say that my parents didn't communicate engineering to me very well.

What I really wanted to do was go into computer law, but that field was soooooo young at that point that I didn't have anyone who understood it enough to advide me on what to do. Just to give you some perspective, Microsoft wasn't even 1k employees at that point.

So I was really floating around. I knew I liked computers, I enjoyed programming, and I enjoyed graphics. My parents (being the anti-me when it comes to technology) weren't much help. I went with what I liked (Computer Science) and immediately went for an internship as soon as I was allowed to(went to Microsoft my Sophmore year). This helped me decide that this is what I really wanted to do.

 

[Suranga3]

i studied electrical engineering because i like math, physics and electronics. it's odd though, as i have an intuitive leaning towards chemistry, i have always done well in chemistry even without studying. so the perfect path for me would have been chemical engineering--->bio-medical engineering (MS).
but i dont like chemistry!
since i liked physics and electronics instead i went for electrical. could have done mechanical as well, but once i started with control systems and semiconductors engineering, i didnt look back, as that was my calling.
initially though, its hard to figure out what you want to do, i'd suggest declaring something you are interested in and going in that route but taking classes general enough for you to switch if you feel that your chosen major isnt really working out. but you never know without delving deep into your major courses though. i hated my first circuits course and wanted to switch, but i hung on. and all of a sudden it got better and better.

Hey nitewulf,
I'm currently doing my second year of Electrical Engineering, my dad really wants me to specialize into control systems, but I'm not too sure yet what I want to do. Did you find it difficult to find a job in that field, also how much money would a recent grade be making comming out of univeristy (if you have a clue on that)?

 

[nitewulf]

Hey nitewulf,
I'm currently doing my second year of Electrical Engineering, my dad really wants me to specialize into control systems, but I'm not too sure yet what I want to do. Did you find it difficult to find a job in that field, also how much money would a recent grade be making comming out of univeristy (if you have a clue on that)?

well with a specialization in controls, its quite easy to get a job at the moment. as all the defense contractors are hiring in huge numbers. you'll be working on radar systems and missile/jet navigation systems, and/or top secret weapons projects (depending on what level security clearence you can get).

for me the situation is a bit different as even though a few defense contractors contacted me, i wasnt eligible for those jobs as i'm not a citizen. and i was more interested in the automobile industry myself, which is very tough to break into.
since that option is closed, i'm having a difficult time finding an EE job. gave a few interviews, and they went well enough to be called back for 2nd and even 3rd interviews, but my lack of actual industry experience came back to bite me on the ass.
everybody is downsizing whereas defense is expanding, ironic really

so i suggest specializing in controls if you're an american citizen, finding a job would be very easy. and definitely get some internships done, which wasnt possible for me due to several complicated reasons.

as for salary, it varies. for federal jobs (MTA) you can expect to start off at 40K+, for private industries (Verizon) expect 45K+, for a controls job with a defense contractor expect 50K+.

 

[videogamer]

Seriously, if you go to any CS class in America, ask 90% of the non Asian/Indian kids why they signed up for it, they'd say because they love games and wanted to make their own.

Or how their parents pushed them into it. seriously.

 

[demon]

Or how their parents pushed them into it. seriously.

Yeah. I almost fell victim to that. Sad thing is, I'd probably be better off if I had. Or maybe i should say, if I didn't fuckin fail the classes.