What's up with all the engineering majors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of the kids at my child's high school and those from closeby schools are deciding to major in engineering. I'm curious as to why its become so popular, as it wasn't as common when I went to college in the 90's.

Do parents guide their kids towards engineering now because they think it will be AI-proof?

You just didn't hang out with the right kids in the 90s.

Seriously, wtf? Everyone other person I knew was in engineering. Graduated in 1992.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of the kids at my child's high school and those from closeby schools are deciding to major in engineering. I'm curious as to why its become so popular, as it wasn't as common when I went to college in the 90's.

Do parents guide their kids towards engineering now because they think it will be AI-proof?

You just didn't hang out with the right kids in the 90s.

Yeah, I guess not! Most of my friends and acquaintances went into law or medicine. There were very few engineers.

For the 90s child:
Did you play risk?
Did you play dungeons and dragons?
Did you watch Star Trek or read x men comics?
Did you own a graphing calculator?
Did you know what an electronic bulletin board was?
If so, you probably knew some engineers! I knew lots and I can only answer yes to two of those things!

No
No
No
Yes it was required for HS math
No

My family is all engineers. It's a very difficult major and they don't make a lot of money. Finacne is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Graduated from VT in the early 90s Tons of engineering majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many wash out after the first year.

True at engineering programs with intentional weed-out classes, but very few will wash out from some other programs that filter more in admissions -- and have much higher graduation rates.

[Anonymous]

Engineering is what modern advanced civilization is made of.

You can be a YouTuber without a college degree.

[Anonymous]

In general, it's still a fairly small number majoring. Google says there were 82,500 kids graduating with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in 1990 and it's 200,000 today.

Assume a 50% dropout rate, but those are still small numbers compared to the entire college population.

Like many other careers, the engineers who are best able to use AI to increase their productivity 5x will be in high demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the new brag seniors tell family and friends...."I'm going to be an engineer" with $ signs in their eyes.

Only 50% make it to the finish line.

That is on the low end for an engineering graduation rate, but no doubt some engineering programs are that low.

Top programs (like MIT) are 90+% graduation rate -- because they filter during admissions and also work to have supportive environments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is important to look at the curriculum.

Not every engineering degree is made equal if there is no objective bar and learning curve.

ABET means the minimum bar is set pretty high for accredited programs. Places like Stanford and MIT din't bother with ABET, but have a high bar anyway.

The key is to apply to an ABET program (or a program so obviously top that they don't bother).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Engineering is an extremely versatile degree. And it is a grind making your way through it. Engineering requires serious smarts, creativity, discipline and an ability to work well with others. These are valuable skills in every industry.

Today, even finance and consulting are more likely to recruit engineering majors rather than econ or other social science/humanities majors. The world is your oyster with an engineering degree from some of the better schools.

Plus, the AI carnage is just beginning for Gen Z. An engineering degree is more insulated from that nightmare than 99 percent of other majors. It's a perfectly rational choice for smart kids today and I don't really see that changing any time soon.

+1

[Anonymous]

Because you know if you hire an engineer, or any STEM grad, you've hard a smart problem-solving person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Engineers are born not made.

.

I agree with this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of the kids at my child's high school and those from closeby schools are deciding to major in engineering. I'm curious as to why its become so popular, as it wasn't as common when I went to college in the 90's.

Do parents guide their kids towards engineering now because they think it will be AI-proof?

You just didn't hang out with the right kids in the 90s.

Yeah, I guess not! Most of my friends and acquaintances went into law or medicine. There were very few engineers.

For the 90s child:
Did you play risk?
Did you play dungeons and dragons?
Did you watch Star Trek or read x men comics?
Did you own a graphing calculator?
Did you know what an electronic bulletin board was?
If so, you probably knew some engineers! I knew lots and I can only answer yes to two of those things!

That would be a no for 4/5. But I loved Risk. Still can't do math if they are some letters in it - like X and Y. The letters belong in the English class and someone should send them back.

Clearly not an engineer.

[Anonymous]

It's like anything, high salaries outcomes draw high applicants.

Just make sure you understand the end result. I know multiple people who got the engineering degree and hated the job/culture. Mostly cube living with the blinders on.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like anything, high salaries outcomes draw high applicants.

Just make sure you understand the end result. I know multiple people who got the engineering degree and hated the job/culture. Mostly cube living with the blinders on.......

except it's not really high salaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's great...until you spend your days breathing in carcinogens in a refinery or paper mill.

Engineers never get dirty.