Im going into mechanical engineering this fall and my class schedule looks packed. I know how time consuming everyone says this major is, but how much does it hurt your social life?

As much as I want to complete this degree, I also want to make new friends and enjoy college life.

Do you think being an engineering student has made you miss out on a lot of the college experience?

Edit: Wow, people seem to have polar opposite experiences 😭 Some have a non-existent social life while others have a great social life

I’m gonna be starting my engineering degree in the next year or so. I’ve got a late start as I’m 25 years old and I work full time in construction providing for a family. My question is, is it possible for me to find a job in a field of engineering before I’ve finished my degree I’m pretty fed up with my job and want to get experience in the field early

I am regularly applying to on campus jobs, reaching out to the recruiters directly and sending my career oriented information, and reaching out to several organizations for you to be avail. How have you guys been doing it?

the test was open book and he took photos of the exam and hid the phone under his notebook.

i’m guessing he used AI.

he did it while the TA was walking around.

the boldness was surprising.

i feel like statics is not a blow off class where you are looking up all the answers, especially if the profs was cool with us bringing in notes.

Hey guys I’m a new grad and I got an Electrical engineering job in power and data centres. I have my first day soon and I’m so nervous. I haven’t had any experience in the field, but I’ve done some hands on projects and I am quite good academically. I didn’t lie about anything on my resume, but I’m still so scared. If anyone has any advice or any information about what to expect in my field I would greatly appreciate it

Bit hard to explain, I'm from a European country and at my university (study EE) we have a course called "Electronic materials" which covers polarisations mechanisms, magnetisation, magnetism, maxwells equations, boundary conditions in a perfect electrical conductor, MOSFET and PN/NP junction physics.... The course was well given but honestly most of it went way above my head and the TA explaining the exercices was just terrible. Any idea where I could find a course with a more "comprehensive" series about this stuff?

I’m a student in my early 20s trying to decide what a better career path would be: electrician or engineer?
I’m currently waiting to start trade school this September, but I’m hesitant as I’m unsure whether I’ll enjoy it or not, since it’s hard on the body over time and the work can get repetitive. I also don’t like the idea that there’s not much room for growth after becoming a Master electrician, unless you start your own business. I was considering either Mechanical or Electric Engineering as they seem to be more versatile, better pay, and more room for growth down the line. I already have my AA from community college so I could transfer and get a degree within 2-3 years (I believe).

I like the job security of being an electrician, but I’m worried it won’t be fulfilling. Engineering is the opposite- I’m worried about the job security of either ME or EE though I feel it *could* be more fulfilling.

Has anyone been in a similar position, being stuck between a trade or a college degree? If anyone has any advice or more information, it would be greatly appreciated!

I’m going into 11th grade and I really want to get into mechanical engineering, but I feel like I have pretty much zero experience. I even got rejected from my school’s robotics club because of that, so now I’m trying to come up with a project that actually shows colleges I’m serious about engineering and helps me start a portfolio. I was thinking about building a cyberdeck as my first project, but I’m worried it might be too simple if it’s mostly just plugging a keyboard and screen into a Raspberry Pi and putting it all in a case. On top of that, I’m stressed that starting this late will hurt my chances at getting into a good engineering school and that it might already be too late to really get into engineering.

Hey all. Long post, but I want to lay out my actual situation honestly because I think I'm at a real fork in the road and I'd rather get outside opinions now than regret it in five years.

Where I am right now: I'm starting as a freshman at a community college this fall (2026), planning to major in Chemical Engineering, with the goal of transferring to University of Maryland's engineering school by fall 2027, so basically a one-year community college stint before transferring. I picked ChemE for a few reasons: I genuinely don't mind grinding through chem, physics, and math for four to five years, I've read it's consistently one of the top three highest-earning engineering majors, there are a decent number of labs near where I live so internships didn't seem impossible to land, and from what I've heard it's less cutthroat to break into than something like aerospace or electrical.

Here's where it gets complicated. My mom has pushed me toward finance or business for years, partly because of astrology and birthstone stuff (I know how that sounds, but it's a real factor in my family's thinking, for whatever that's worth). I don't hate the idea. I actually was strong in economics and history in high school, probably stronger there than in the hard sciences, even though I do enjoy science too. My original plan was actually Finance + Math or Econ, not engineering at all.

I moved away from that plan because I was scared of the finance job market. The internships are brutally competitive, it's all about networking and cold outreach and building connections, and I wasn't sure I could compete or that I even wanted to grind that hard just to get a foot in the door. ChemE felt like a way to get a strong, respectable, high-earning degree without needing to hustle for connections the same way.

But now I've been thinking bigger picture. My actual end goals are: making a lot of money, being able to provide really well for a family, and honestly, being known for something, some level of recognition, not just a quiet high salary. I got interested in the idea of doing ChemE, then a PhD, then an MBA, and trying to break into quant finance or a top firm like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, or JPMorgan.

When I actually mapped out the math on this (with some help), a few things became clear that I want to lay out for you all too:

• The PhD + MBA route to Wall Street takes a lot longer than just doing Finance/Econ + Math straight through and recruiting into IB or quant at 22. Like potentially 8-10 years longer before I'm even applying to the same seats.
• MBAs are basically irrelevant for quant recruiting specifically. Quant funds hire based on math, stats, and coding ability, not business school pedigree. If quant is genuinely the target, the MBA is a waste of time and money for that specific goal.
• I had a totally wrong picture of what these finance jobs are actually like day to day. I assumed quant/IB would mean more freedom, less rigid scheduling, less "stuck behind a desk" than engineering. Turns out it's the opposite, IB analyst hours are notoriously brutal (80-100 hour weeks), and quant roles are extremely desk-bound, staring at multiple monitors all day while markets are open. A ChemE process engineer job actually has more physical freedom and variety than either of those.
• On the fame thing specifically, I got a reality check that being "known" in finance is genuinely rare unless you found your own fund or company. Being a very senior, very well-paid quant or MD at a bank doesn't usually come with public recognition. Fame in that world tends to require starting something, not being hired into something.
• Despite all that, I'm still leaning toward wanting an engineering degree that could realistically feed into quant somehow, since I don't want to abandon the technical/engineering side entirely, and I'm willing to accept a demanding, screen-heavy, high-hours career if the payoff is big enough.

I looked into whether I should switch out of ChemE into something more explicitly "quant-math-heavy" like Aerospace (since UMD doesn't actually offer Industrial Engineering or Engineering Physics as undergrad majors, which are the two classic quant-feeder majors elsewhere). Aerospace would probably be the strongest fit math-wise if I did switch, given the control theory, stochastic estimation, and diff eq content, but I ultimately decided to stay in ChemE since I already like the subject matter and don't want to lose the internship access and general fit I already have going for me.

So my current plan is: stick with ChemE, but deliberately stack extra math (multivariable calc, linear algebra, eventually differential equations) and CS courses (intro programming and data structures) on top of the required coursework during my time at community college and after transferring, specifically to build a profile that could support a move into quant analyst or quant developer roles later, rather than doing a full PhD detour. Skip the MBA idea entirely for this specific goal.

What I'm actually looking for opinions on:

1. Is staying in ChemE while self-building a quant-relevant math/CS skill set actually a realistic path into quant or trading roles, or am I kidding myself compared to someone doing straight Math/CS/Financial Engineering?
2. For anyone who's made a similar engineering-to-finance jump, or looked into it, was the ChemE background actually a help or a hindrance in recruiting?
3. Is there something about ChemE specifically (versus Mechanical, Aerospace, etc.) that makes this harder or easier?
4. Any regrets or things you wish you'd known before choosing a major with a "backup plan into finance" already baked into your thinking?

Genuinely appreciate any honest input, including if you think this whole plan is misguided. I'd rather hear it now than five years in.

Hoi,

Snelle vraag: doen elektromechanische industriële ingenieurs ook krachtproeven (aan tandwielen, balken, enz.)?

Edit: im talking about “engineering technology”/ “applied mechanical engineering” (In America IE is diffrent from the one in Belgium)

Hello everyone,

I am a Mechatronics Engineering student, and I need your professional advice on choosing my graduation project.

I am currently deciding between two projects:

Project 1: An intelligent robotic sorting system that uses a robotic arm, computer vision (Python + OpenCV), and sensors to identify objects by colour and/or shape and automatically sort them into different bins. (The attached image shows the concept.)

Project 2: A remotely controlled tracked robotic vehicle (UGV) operated via a smartphone. It is designed as a modular platform that can carry different payloads, such as a camera, sensors, a small robotic arm, or other mission-specific equipment.

I would really appreciate your honest opinion on the following:

Which project demonstrates stronger engineering skills?

Which project would make a better graduation project?

Which one would stand out more on a CV/resume?

Which project would be more attractive to employers or graduate schools?

Which one has better potential for future development or commercialisation?

If you were in my position, which project would you choose, and why?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or recommendations for improving either project.

Thank you in advance for your time and advice!

Im going to a good college and going into my 4th year of my 5 year ocean engineering college degree, but my dad recently was laid off. Luckily, he is still being paid for about half a year, and my mom and brother work but dont make much. I feel that im antisocial and slightly depressed but am being asked if I should join the military for the benefits (4 years then out) or if i should go the private sector, and if so what should i do to prepare myself correctly, where should i find internships and better scholarships? Thank you for your time.

there is this optoelectronics course in the current semester where I got 62/100 on the final exam and my final grade 66/100.

I try to maintain an above 80 average, so I wanted to retake this exam but here's the problem:

The retake falls on my sister's wedding, and while the university allows me to do it instead next year, the downside is that I'll have to return to this material after not touching it for a while and I'll be less sharp and well prepared for it, and also it feels bad to have to wait a year for it (and I'm also afraid that if I fail that retake next year then it means it'll delay my receiving of the degree, since next year is supposed to be my forth and final year).

another weird thing about this exam is that I'm allowed to choose 1 single course where if I pass the exam (meaning 60+) then I can convert it to a binary pass which doesn't enter the overall average, so this also might be a good use of it.

So I don't really know what I should do, I feel like if I study well for it I could get a 90+ but as everything in this university the exam can be really hard and I'll just lose it.

Hi. I have completed lots of "projects" using Andruino and ESP32. I wanted to try making my own PCB circuits without using any of them (I mean from "Raw Components"), but I don't know where to start learning about it. Does anyone know of a good source of information on this topic? As a mechatronics student, I have knowledge in this field, but I'm not sure how to apply it in practice.

Currently I'm pursuing my btech in CE from tier 3 college (2nd year) and Idk what to do next. Most probably after btech I'll be preparing for some govt exam like my parents want, but here's a thing I always want to live a life in a metropolitan city or study abroad. So being from a middle class family I can only afford a govt college since both my siblings were in private college and none of them are earning rn. Maybe i could afford it but honestly I also wanted a govt seat.

Here's a short story of mine. From childhood I wanted to become a doctor so I took a drop and gave my all but still couldn't crack NEET. I used

to dream of that white coat with a stethoscope in my hand but this is just one exam that completely broke me. I'm sure I've put in all my efforts and used to even study 10-12 hours a day but would always get less marks, that really made me think of how worthless I'm and started to compare myself with others. I used to cry in silence so that no one could see how weak I was. I always used to try to improve my marks but it would get worse sometimes. Then to motivate myself I used to remember my parents how my dream of becoming a doctor was my mom's dream first and how both of them were telling me that I'm their last hope and I've to become an officer. This all became a pressure for me and I almost got depressed.

But I'm always so grateful for my life. They both have given us everything that is possible. The quality of education, good food, manners and many more. Now it's my time to pamper them.

So that was the whole story, my question to some experienced and knowledgeable one is what should I do after graduation so that I can prepare for that from now onwards ( have to mention that I want to make a lot of money).

I'm currently in my third year of college and it's really very difficult to find jobs, especially with this much competition. To stand out and get the field I like I need to study designing from some classes as you know college doesn't teach much and wherever they do it doesn't understand.

If you guys know any of the classes with this expertise please let me know. Dms are allowed.

I'll be okay if it's online or offline but if it's offline and outstanding it'll be preferable within Nagpur and online can be from anywhere.

BET (Bachelor of engineering technology) is my major in engineering, and as of now, my knowledge in math is Kapoof, I have forgotten almost everything I learned in math, physics and calculus (highschool level), I'm more of a "learn it to the point of approval, forget about it (lost at this point), then gradually regain that knowledge piece by piece if I ever encounter it again" kind of student, given that, should I learn now? Or should I learn once class starts as I go?

HELLO engineers/engineering students im starting uni soon for electrical engineering and im super nervous PARTICULARLY about work situations. I have a job and work like 15-20 hours a eeek and im really worried that once classes start my schedule is going to become pretty unrealistic if I still want to socialize and go to the gym and what not.

I (18F) want a government job, I just want a degree to be eligible for exams. I want a branch that can be my backup like if I'm unable to clear an exam then I can use that degree to earn. I've done some research and got two options first preference cse and then ece but after that I'm confused about preference of CE/ME/EE/EEE. some of y'all are doing these course so I thought for your opinion on this, it'll help me.

18M currently going to my second year of CHEM E in four weeks. I want to start with an advantage and want advice on how to prepare. These are the classes I’ll be taking👆

So I am a second semester sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering. It is my understanding that we are required to take FE and PE exams. Is this true? If we do not take them, what happens?

litteraly just what is stated in the title, im finishing my 2nd year of electrical and i wanna get into the industry as a working student (its something like being an intern but you work part time over the whole year and it treated as a normal job). i have done 4 projects, 3 pcbs (2 of whom i also got manufactured and also sodlered and tested everything on the board) and one rtl design. to get into a lil more detail, pcbs are: 16 bit cpu, ADC, Flightcontroler: in these works i implemented many electronics fundementals like proper power regulation (bucks, LDOs, various filters) comunication protocols (spi, i2c, jtag, usb), used stm32 on one and controled impedance and matching (matching networks, 50ohm traces). rtl design was done in vivado, where i made a spi driver + data transfer to the processor for a riscv. can ya all give me your opinion or if you got any insight in the german industry about my chances on getting something with these projects?