Going Back To School....Again

[QuickLX]

I'm kicking myself for selling my math book back when I graduated a year ago. I found out today that I've got placement testing in exactly one week. Ughh. I plan on getting help if I even think I'm struggling with a class. I don't like feeling lost.
Yes, I picked my major because I love cars. I figure if I'm doing something I love, I'm not working.

I understand why you have made your choice, as I had done the same. Once you get into the industry, you will realize that 99% of the engineers in the automotive industry would struggle to change a starter without detailed instructions. Not a a week goes by where I don't come into contact with someone that completely shocks me with a new level of ignorance. The best part is when I get the pleasure of dealing with a new engineering Manager or director that doesn't even have an engineering degree!!!

All that aside, I do like my job. However, it has nothing to do with the fact that I develop new components for cars. Its the people I am surrounded by at the company I am with. Its like working with my buddies....well, I actually am. If not for that, I would have left the automotive industry long ago. I have been at this for 16 years (Chief Engineer, BSME UofM, MSME UofM, SixSigma BB, blah, blah, blah, etc).......FYI you can make 4 times the money in sales if you really want to be in the automotive industry.

Unfortunately, I am so sick of looking at cars and fixing piss poor designs, manufacturing quality issues, etc....I am selling my own race car. My other hobbies have now taken priority as they do not remind me of work. BAHAHAHAHA!!!

Seriously though, best of luck in everything you do.

 

[mhthomas2010]

I'm gonna be transferring there in the next year myself, gonna be going for Electrical Engineering. Glad to know a fellow member will be there as well! Where have you been looking at for living accommodations?

 

[dave89iroc]

welcome back and good luck, good thing is, once you get your degree, you have lots of people to help get you in with the manufacturers

 

[littlemissGTO]

I understand why you have made your choice, as I had done the same. Once you get into the industry, you will realize that 99% of the engineers in the automotive industry would struggle to change a starter without detailed instructions. Not a a week goes by where I don't come into contact with someone that completely shocks me with a new level of ignorance. The best part is when I get the pleasure of dealing with a new engineering Manager or director that doesn't even have an engineering degree!!!

All that aside, I do like my job. However, it has nothing to do with the fact that I develop new components for cars. Its the people I am surrounded by at the company I am with. Its like working with my buddies....well, I actually am. If not for that, I would have left the automotive industry long ago. I have been at this for 16 years (Chief Engineer, BSME UofM, MSME UofM, SixSigma BB, blah, blah, blah, etc).......FYI you can make 4 times the money in sales if you really want to be in the automotive industry.

Unfortunately, I am so sick of looking at cars and fixing piss poor designs, manufacturing quality issues, etc....I am selling my own race car. My other hobbies have now taken priority as they do not remind me of work. BAHAHAHAHA!!!

Seriously though, best of luck in everything you do.

Thank you.

I'm gonna be transferring there in the next year myself, gonna be going for Electrical Engineering. Glad to know a fellow member will be there as well! Where have you been looking at for living accommodations?

I'll be in the Southfield area at The Lakes Apartments. Who knows where I'll end up next year...LOL

welcome back and good luck, good thing is, once you get your degree, you have lots of people to help get you in with the manufacturers

Thank you. Yeah, that is a nice thing. I pretty much said good bye to the car club here in St. Louis tonight. The big question was, "Will you be back?" My response was, "Not if I get hired by one of the manufacturers."

 

[littlemissGTO]

I'll leaving St. Louis in five days. Wow. I'm looking forward to starting this aspect of my life. Does anyone know of places looking for part-time help? They have to be willing to work around my school schedule.

 

[SVTSINR]

It took me 9 years to get my associate (3 years), bachelors (4 years) and masters (2 years) part time. If I had a chance to do it over again I would become an optometrist or podiatrist.

Now I chase forms and get yelled at for having the wrong color sticker on dunnage. I'm also responsible for a list of safety items so I fully expect to testify in 10-12 years after production release.

Good luck to you and try to take some classes at a community college at about 1/5th of the cost.

 

[OldbutNew]

Are you sensing a recurring theme here? That a lot of the guys who work at OE as engineers are disillusioned or worse?
I am one of those guys who sat in study hall in Jr. High doodling engine parts and dreaming of working on real racecars. When someone asks "How's it going?", I am one of the few people I know who can respond that I'm living the dream... and mean it. I've built my own road race cars, worked for NASCAR Cup teams, built concept cars, worked for an OE for the last 15 years, etc. All withOUT an engineering degree. I've truly enjoyed most of it. I consider myself blessed. Given the chance for a do-over, I would ABSOLUTELY 120% make every effort to finish my BSME.

That being said, the Design & Release engineer at an OE isn't the job you might think it is. Process and Politics uses up more of you than actual engineering by a wide margin. There ARE engineering jobs that give a real car person chances to innovate and excel, but they are about 1 in 10. I don't say this to discourage you in any way. Just be aware of the facts. You've spent a lot of time and effort to get to this point. By the time you walk out of LTU, you'll have even MORE time and money invested!!!

I admire you for the path that you are on. A BSME from LTU on top of your practical experience and machine shop cred will take you a LONG way. Just be careful what you wish for when it comes to working for an OE! We have 10 years to get the fleet to 54.5 Mpg...

 

[Scooter70]

Are you sensing a recurring theme here? That a lot of the guys who work at OE as engineers are disillusioned or worse?
I am one of those guys who sat in study hall in Jr. High doodling engine parts and dreaming of working on real racecars. When someone asks "How's it going?", I am one of the few people I know who can respond that I'm living the dream... and mean it. I've built my own road race cars, worked for NASCAR Cup teams, built concept cars, worked for an OE for the last 15 years, etc. All withOUT an engineering degree. I've truly enjoyed most of it. I consider myself blessed. Given the chance for a do-over, I would ABSOLUTELY 120% make every effort to finish my BSME.

I'm not sure that disillusioned is the correct term.

That being said, the Design & Release engineer at an OE isn't the job you might think it is. Process and Politics uses up more of you than actual engineering by a wide margin. There ARE engineering jobs that give a real car person chances to innovate and excel, but they are about 1 in 10. I don't say this to discourage you in any way. Just be aware of the facts. You've spent a lot of time and effort to get to this point. By the time you walk out of LTU, you'll have even MORE time and money invested!!!

I agree that the actual job isn't what we expected when we started. There are some incredible jobs out here but 99% of them contain much more paperwork and politics than what we thought coming in. In the last 10 years things have changed with respect to degrees. Nowadays, you can't get in the door without a BSME and will probably hit roadblocks if you want to get into management without a Masters degree of some type.

I admire you for the path that you are on. A BSME from LTU on top of your practical experience and machine shop cred will take you a LONG way. Just be careful what you wish for when it comes to working for an OE! We have 10 years to get the fleet to 54.5 Mpg...

I agree whole heartedly. I moved to Detroit 15 years ago after accepting a job at Ford. I've been here ever since and have enjoyed 99% of it. I came in with my BSME and got the company to pay for my Masters. Come in with an open mind and realistic expectations and it's a great way to make a living.

Good luck with your education. We're all here for support if you need help as many of us have been there and done that.

 

[Scooter70]

It took me 9 years to get my associate (3 years), bachelors (4 years) and masters (2 years) part time. If I had a chance to do it over again I would become an optometrist or podiatrist.

Tommy Boy: Lots of people go to college for 7 years.
Richard: Yeah, they're called "doctors".

 

[SVTSINR]

Tommy Boy: Lots of people go to college for 7 years.
Richard: Yeah, they're called "doctors".

I ate a lot of paint chips when I was younger.


Sent from my thumbs so expect spelling errors

 

[OldbutNew]

Mmmmm... Paint chips....