3 answers
Faridosha
Student
1
Question
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What college is best for engineering classes?
How to succeed in my career, what to do inorder to be able to achieve my dreams, and what are the steps to follow and what can mentor me to able to see my dreams come through.
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3 answers
Stephen Osborne
Data Analyst
1
Answer
Irving, Texas
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
Finding top-rated engineering schools should be a breeze using your favorite search engine. But remember, there's more to choosing a school than just its ranking. You need to consider factors that matter to you personally. For instance, I earned my Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois, a large public school just a short drive from my home. I have friends who chose Rose Hulman, a private institution with a strong focus on Engineering, even though it was farther away, costlier, and smaller in size.
Even though my current career doesn't directly involve Electrical Engineering, the skills I honed during my degree are still invaluable to me. So, think about what motivates your aspirations.
If you're drawn to engineering, what led you to this decision? What branch of engineering excites you? Are you interested in designing circuits, constructing bridges, testing rockets, or something else?
Consider why you're attracted to engineering. Is it the allure of math, the fascination with science, the thrill of creating something new? Could another career satisfy these interests?
When it comes to choosing a school, think about what you want from your college experience. Larger schools might provide more chances to diversify your interests and meet a variety of people. Smaller institutions might offer a more focused study environment and dedicated resources.
Once in school, you'll find professors and other resources who can guide you and help you transition from being a student to a professional. Make sure to identify these resources early on and make the most of them.
Even though my current career doesn't directly involve Electrical Engineering, the skills I honed during my degree are still invaluable to me. So, think about what motivates your aspirations.
If you're drawn to engineering, what led you to this decision? What branch of engineering excites you? Are you interested in designing circuits, constructing bridges, testing rockets, or something else?
Consider why you're attracted to engineering. Is it the allure of math, the fascination with science, the thrill of creating something new? Could another career satisfy these interests?
When it comes to choosing a school, think about what you want from your college experience. Larger schools might provide more chances to diversify your interests and meet a variety of people. Smaller institutions might offer a more focused study environment and dedicated resources.
Once in school, you'll find professors and other resources who can guide you and help you transition from being a student to a professional. Make sure to identify these resources early on and make the most of them.
Robert McAdams
Software Engineer
30
Answers
Roseville, California
Updated
Robert’s Answer
STEM fields are generally not impressed with the school a candidate attends. So the "best" school for an engineering major would be, in my opinion, the one you can best afford, which is accredited, and which accepts you. All Science, Math, Engineering, Computer Science, programs are roughly the same across all accredited universities. And all of the employees who would be interviewing you for a job know that, so they will likely skip over the education section of your resume anyway, as the HR department will verify your degree, and that will be all of the confirmation they would need. There are two schools in the United States which have a reputation for being the best of the best for STEM fields: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and The California Institute of Technology (CalTech). Having a STEM degree from either of those two schools will impress some people, and maybe get you some extra interviews, but that's it. At the end of the day it will be your experience, your body of work with your name on which you can point to, and how well you interview which will land you jobs. Not which school you attend.
Why do you care which school is "best" anyway? "Best" is a subjective concept, and good people who are equally educated and unbiased will disagree when asked about which is best from a field of choices. Asking which school is "best" is like asking which flavor of ice cream is "best." My question for you would be: what do you want from the university you attend?
If you want a job that pays you well, then your selection of major is FAR MORE important than which university you attend. Aside from maybe MIT and CalTech, the university you attend won't impress most people in the technology and science fields, so long as it is accredited. If you plan to major in: math, science, engineering, computer science, business, and other similarly highly employable and fairly high salary fields, my advice to you would be to pick the easiest and cheapest university which accepts you, pay as little money as you can, take out as few student loans as you can, and get that degree ASAP.
On the other hand, if you are not as concerned about financial rewards from a job, and you are more concerned about studying a specific field, or with a specific professor, then obviously you need to apply to the universities which can meet that need for you.
If prestige is your only concern, then apply to the Ivy League schools. Those schools are mostly beneficial for those who are entering non-science fields, such as: law school, sociology, and (weirdly) medicine (not considered in the same science category as STEM fields). Writers and other creatives can also get a boost from an Ivy League school, if for no other reason than the connections you will get.
That's the best advice anyone is going to be able to give you. It ultimately comes down to a personal and financial decision on your part. There is no such thing as a "best" school. It literally doesn't exist. A Junior College is going to be the best option for a working parent who has zero extra dollars to spend on a university. Harvard is going to be a giant waste of money for an engineering student, and a University of State school is likely not going to have the prestigious professors someone who is studying a very esoteric field may crave.
As for mentoring, the short answer right now is that there are very few people and companies with the time to mentor right now. The pandemic caused most of the soon-to-retire workforce to go ahead and retire, and companies are currently scrambling to hire mid and senior positions. Any junior positions they hire would have to be able to hit the ground running, without mentoring. That will change with time, but right now, your best mentors will be YouTube, and the teachers at your school.
Why do you care which school is "best" anyway? "Best" is a subjective concept, and good people who are equally educated and unbiased will disagree when asked about which is best from a field of choices. Asking which school is "best" is like asking which flavor of ice cream is "best." My question for you would be: what do you want from the university you attend?
If you want a job that pays you well, then your selection of major is FAR MORE important than which university you attend. Aside from maybe MIT and CalTech, the university you attend won't impress most people in the technology and science fields, so long as it is accredited. If you plan to major in: math, science, engineering, computer science, business, and other similarly highly employable and fairly high salary fields, my advice to you would be to pick the easiest and cheapest university which accepts you, pay as little money as you can, take out as few student loans as you can, and get that degree ASAP.
On the other hand, if you are not as concerned about financial rewards from a job, and you are more concerned about studying a specific field, or with a specific professor, then obviously you need to apply to the universities which can meet that need for you.
If prestige is your only concern, then apply to the Ivy League schools. Those schools are mostly beneficial for those who are entering non-science fields, such as: law school, sociology, and (weirdly) medicine (not considered in the same science category as STEM fields). Writers and other creatives can also get a boost from an Ivy League school, if for no other reason than the connections you will get.
That's the best advice anyone is going to be able to give you. It ultimately comes down to a personal and financial decision on your part. There is no such thing as a "best" school. It literally doesn't exist. A Junior College is going to be the best option for a working parent who has zero extra dollars to spend on a university. Harvard is going to be a giant waste of money for an engineering student, and a University of State school is likely not going to have the prestigious professors someone who is studying a very esoteric field may crave.
As for mentoring, the short answer right now is that there are very few people and companies with the time to mentor right now. The pandemic caused most of the soon-to-retire workforce to go ahead and retire, and companies are currently scrambling to hire mid and senior positions. Any junior positions they hire would have to be able to hit the ground running, without mentoring. That will change with time, but right now, your best mentors will be YouTube, and the teachers at your school.
Josh Thias
IT
6
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Absolutely, you can utilize any search engine to explore various rankings and listings of premier Engineering Schools and Colleges. These rankings and lists are readily available from reputable sources such as Forbes, Newsweek, and Educational reviews, among others.
I strongly suggest consulting with your Career Counselor at your High School or college. They are an invaluable resource on your educational journey. Make it a point to participate in as many Career Assessments as possible. These assessments will provide insights into your strengths and potential career paths, which is incredibly beneficial for your future planning. As you grow and your skills evolve, these assessments may also help you discover new areas of interest.
I strongly suggest consulting with your Career Counselor at your High School or college. They are an invaluable resource on your educational journey. Make it a point to participate in as many Career Assessments as possible. These assessments will provide insights into your strengths and potential career paths, which is incredibly beneficial for your future planning. As you grow and your skills evolve, these assessments may also help you discover new areas of interest.