Exengineer
Well-known member
Does anyone remember the statements made by high school guidance counselors and university administrators about the glories of enrolling in engineering? Such lines as "you'll always be in demand" and " a bachelors degree in engineering gives the highest starting salary of any bachelors degree." These are designed to lure people into engineering who have not done their homework regarding the truth about these statements. As for starting salaries, does anyone know the range of salaries offered by companies employing engineers? Some are very low and not much different than what a person could get based on their own natural abilities. Many interstate truck drivers make more in their first job than an engineer but without the high cost of a university education.
Looking at the demand part, many engineers have discovered that they are part of a boom-and-bust cycle (mining and petroleum) and will have to budget that into their careers. Some fields of engineering have become derelict and obsolete (metallurgical engineering) and have largely disappeared from universities due to poor demand. So it's not a rosy guaranteed life, in fact by choosing engineering you are choosing a very difficult life with a lower than average career span and job security compared to other university-based careers. Choose wisely.
Looking at the demand part, many engineers have discovered that they are part of a boom-and-bust cycle (mining and petroleum) and will have to budget that into their careers. Some fields of engineering have become derelict and obsolete (metallurgical engineering) and have largely disappeared from universities due to poor demand. So it's not a rosy guaranteed life, in fact by choosing engineering you are choosing a very difficult life with a lower than average career span and job security compared to other university-based careers. Choose wisely.
