h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

 Well, here I am back in the middle of England.
Leicester, the place where I come to attend the institution of learning.
University is the reason I'm here, but why did I choose here? I think the reason
I used at the time of choosing was "I got a good feeling from the place". I
suppose that still stands, but in a different way from when I came to the open day.
I though that the course would be very informative, innovative and exciting. Instead
I find it boring and, quite possibly, a waste of time. Anybody thinking of Engineering
as a career move had better be ready for the mental torture of tedious lectures,
in which you are supposed to accumulate all the knowledge you need to get you through
the years. The excuse for my choice of course? "I will get shed loads of money
at the end of it." I made two fatal errors in this:

1. I need to actually complete three years of this before being allowed to write
four letters after my name and justify a huge salary.
2. I struggle with maths.
3. I actually want to have a social life.

It's a well known fact here in Leicester that only one other group of students has
it worse than engineers. The Medics. Not only do they have lectures all day every day,
but they also have to do extra EXTRA work in the evenings to get their degree AND they
have exams nearly every week. Engineers only get exams at the end of each semester and
are usually too busy down the pub to care about extra work, let alone the extra EXTRA
work.
So, here's some advice to those thinking of becoming the future's hope of reaching
other habitable planets and advancing the computer at a pace only matched by the deployment
of bombs in the name of peace:

Take time to think about it carefully.
Then:
DON'T BOTHER

Ok, I accept that while at uni it may seem as if the arts students have all the fun, and it's true. I graduated in engineering last year and yes it's boring, yes it's hard work but at the end of the day at least you're more likely to get a job. Many of my friends who did arts courses are still looking for work.
Also, many of my engineering friends who didn't want to be engineers were more sought after by the big management consultants because they had more than one brain cell.
Everyone complains about the course they are doing and the grass is always greener on the other side.
By the way, it's a myth that engineers earn loads of money.

As far as I've seen, it's the engineers who are likely to get the management jobs, and that's where the money lies. So although my statement about money was grossly sweeping *holding hands up* I believe that it is a stepping stone to get to the money. Also, I was thinking more about job prospects than money, as I think Electronic and Electrical Enginnering is the future (or part of it at least).
Cheers for the comments though. I was beginning to think nobody bothers to read my drivel.

As a working engineer I have plenty of time to read anyones drivel, as well as create a bit of my own.

Yes you are likely to get into management, even if it takes a while. But it's bloody boring getting there! I'm an Electronics Designer and there are benefits. Engineers are pissheads, they spend most of their working life drinking coffee (or in my case writing messages on this wonderful thing) and yes the money is better than you may think.

For example, I'm in the office right now and although I could be doing more useful to our project, what I am actually doing is perfecting my electronic research and communication skills. Also, I'm learning how to talk a load of drivel to lots of different types of people.

Engineering isn't all that bad. Take heart from the knowledge that about 90% of what you are learning now will be useful in any future job.

I'm taking heart in the knowledge that on the day these exams finish there is about 25 pints with my name on them. Oh, and I suppose there will be a job at the end of the line somewhere.
90% you say. Hmmmmmm, let me see, I've learnt about 20% of what I've been lectured on, so that'll make it 90% of 20%. Cool, so I guess not much then!

It is true, engineers earn lots of money... Im a Process Engineer in the Oil industry up in Aberdeen. Ive been working for 3 years and have doubled my starting salery! as far as using what you have learned at Uni.... I think its only about 20% of it, the important thing is to be able to visulise the problem and think of a practical(cheap) solution..... best of luck with your exams and a Job.

Cheers, bud. Tell you what, I'll have a cheap drink for you when I finish next week

I actually meant to say 90% of what you learn WON'T be useful.

Ah, but you work in oil! I have a friend who works for a rather famous avionics company (no names) as a software engineer and is on the same salary he started on when he graduated. Of course, having worked for this company myself, it is a notoriously bad payer.

There are some excellently paid jobs out there but you do have to be something special to get them. It is important to realise that you are not goiung to get a whopping salary in your first job. Instead you should use this to make contacts and for training. Once you've got your foot in the door it really is about who you know and how you seel yourself.

As with many things in life, it is getting your foot in the door that is the hardest bit (not to mention painful).

Oh and just in case there are some hard nosed feminists out there, I for one have never encountered any kind of sexism within engineering and I love being a female engineer.

Engineers are so dull. Who cares if you find it tough. Can't you tell us more about the socialising bit that you said you do?

Cheers for the complement Rob. We actually have lectures in being dull, so it's a fine practised art Now that is a tough lecture.

Now socialising. That's a difficult one. I don't have time for socialising at the moment - I'm always out with my friends, you know?