Calling Engineer People - Page 2 - United Bimmer Community

**CAPiTUL** · 03-02-2007, 02:24 PM

Good luck man! :-)

drz · 03-02-2007, 03:06 PM

^^ Thanks for the support

Not a PE yet. I have been lazy and havent taken the FE, plus I only have 3 years of preofessional experience. My sister (ME) and I will take the exam this fall.

**RSF5** · 03-02-2007, 03:16 PM

Wish you luck! I'm sure you can get it.

**mullethunter3** · 03-02-2007, 03:37 PM

I have to take the FE exam, and pass, to get into my Senior Design class. I have to take the PE exam, and pass, to graduate. Granted, I'm an ArchE/CivE, so I basically have to be licensed to work since most civil projects are though the government.

**Pawel** · 03-02-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

I have to take the FE exam, and pass, to get into my Senior Design class. I have to take the PE exam, and pass, to graduate. Granted, I'm an ArchE/CivE, so I basically have to be licensed to work since most civil projects are though the government.

Can't really speak for you, because I'm from New Jersey, but how are you going to take the PE, you need 4years of working expirience for that, and I mean after you graduate in addition to passing of your EIT/FE. Or 3 years of expirience if you have a Masters, at least that's how it is in New Jersey.

**Pawel** · 03-02-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drz

^^ Thanks for the support

Not a PE yet. I have been lazy and havent taken the FE, plus I only have 3 years of preofessional experience. My sister (ME) and I will take the exam this fall.

The sooner you take it the easier it will be. Best thing to do is to take it before you graduate, during your Senior year, or right after you graduate.

The school that I went to, you need to take a FE in order to graduate. I have completed all my courses in order to gradute in May, but I couldn't graduate since I didn't take the FE. Just took it back in Oct. and luckly passed it. I still haven't "technically" graduated, but I've been working full time for almost 1year.

Good luck to all you future FE examineers.

**cainchapman** · 03-02-2007, 11:02 PM

Being an engineer is a great career. I'm an Electical Engineer and have been paid to travel the world specifying and overseeing the installation of equipment. Salaries range from country to country and are largely dependant on the company than the location.

How much you can earn? Well. how long is a piece of string. My uncle started his own company and is now one of the richest guys in this country.

I would have no hesitation in recommending it as a career. You won't earn a lot to start with, but performance and experience soon earn you the respect and money.

drz · 03-03-2007, 12:05 PM

Our school contemplated making seniors take the FE, but decided against it for some phylosophical reason that actually made a lot of sense to me, but I cannot remember what it was.

**mullethunter3** · 03-03-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawel

Can't really speak for you, because I'm from New Jersey, but how are you going to take the PE, you need 4years of working expirience for that, and I mean after you graduate in addition to passing of your EIT/FE. Or 3 years of expirience if you have a Masters, at least that's how it is in New Jersey.

Missouri laws are different for engineering licenses. Actually, every state is different.

**delmarco** · 03-05-2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPiTUL

Question:
How would you best describe a day in the life of an engineer?
How are starting/entry level salaries coming out of the Uni?
How would you best describe a day in the life of an engineering student?

grazie mille.

1. I'm an Environmental Engineer. So I spend the day studying water samples. I also research Alternative Energy methods specifically solar and geothermal storage potential...I plan on doing a doctorate in that when I'm done completeing my MS.

2. I live in NYC and on the east coast DC is the only place hiring us that pay well. Most cities have engineering position of all types. As I'm looking for jobs Canada and Midwest and west coast cities and town start us at $60,000. Most engineers start with $45,000 for General and Civil to $60,000-$75,000 for Aero and other specialties.

3. As a student you pretty much work hands on with your topic, All you work is usually group study based, but no whinny prissies and princesses, its usually all guy classes so expect that. Most of the hands on work is really simple to grasp, but the core classes and group assignments are time consuming to prepare for and challenging. Also alot of people are friendly and not as edgy and stuck up like the "know-it-all" geeks you find in Medical and Law schools. Professors are more helpful as well.

I have no regrets, I like most about it that everything you do makes a difference and everything you work on is ALWAYS important for something.

good luck!

nick_318is · 03-05-2007, 02:26 AM

^i thought you were in law school

**delmarco** · 03-05-2007, 12:17 PM

No I dropped out at FSU two ago. Moved back to NY and went to Engineering School at NJIT/Rutgers to finish my MS in Environmental Engineering.

Its on my myspace....

www.myspace.com/delmarco

**CAPiTUL** · 03-06-2007, 09:44 AM

Delmarco - unfortunately, you went to FSU so I must discredit everything you have just said!

VIVA THE GATOR NATION!

lol.

Nah, thanks for the details. I appreciate it.

**Gomerino** · 04-03-2007, 09:17 AM

I finally get my BS ME in May.... didn't sign up for the FE in time this semester so I'll need to take that yet next year...

A day in the life of the engineer will vary depending on numerous things-- which school you're at, the specific discipline in engr., credit load, year in school, personal goals, etc... this semester I have 19 credits so I've been spending just about every day on campus...
8am-2am on weekdays--though none of my semesters prior were nearly this bad...

I haven't taken a full-time job offer yet, but most of the seniors here aren't taking anything under $50k/yr. it seems $50-$60 is pretty standard for entry-level MEs here (WI/MN/IA)

**doughboyea** · 04-03-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPiTUL

Question:
How would you best describe a day in the life of an engineer?
How are starting/entry level salaries coming out of the Uni?
How would you best describe a day in the life of an engineering student?

grazie mille.

Ok, I'll jump in on the band wagon....

I've been in the work force since May of 2006. It took me nearly 7years to finish my civil engineering degree. I started out in the fall of 2000. Now, granted, I'm by no means an A student, but I hold my own. Taking 7 years was because:

1. Shit ain't easy.
2. Shit ain't cheap.
3. I'm lazy (should really be #1).

Life as an Engineering Student:
The easy classes are ALL your basic stuff, ie. transportation, fluids, Statics, physics, etc etc etc.... What get's harder is when things become strickly theory. Thermo is a real bitch! But, as I've discussed with my friend, Pawel, it really all depends on which teacher you have. Example, one semester I took a Strengths class with a particular bitchy female professor, she gave me an F. The following semester in the summer, I took it with an ME professor, he gave me an A... go figure

.

Studying was constant, though, like I said, I was lazy. Working on projects in groups severly effected your grades, so that was major stress. Pawel can atest to that...you never know what can happen.

Gotta make time for alot of stuff, working at a job will effect you.

Taking the FE asap is really important. My paperwork for the test got seriously confused and I was delayed by 6 months.... over the summer, I forgot EVERYTHING and failed the following fall. I'm now setup for the exam comming up and I'm so fucking worried that I'm going to fail it again. It's not easy taking an 8 hour exam, and Pawel, you mofo

you got lucky!

Starting/entry level salaries coming out of the Uni
At the time, I didn't have a degree, I was hired at $18/hr ($37,440/yr). When my degree was earned, I was raised to $24/hr ($49,920/yr.). Other's that I've confered with are making over $50k with a few years experience. Like Pawel said, with a masters, you'll earn another $5 to $10k/yr. My direct boss is making ~$37/hr, his boss, ~$110k (salary). This company that I work for now contacted me. In this state, entry level engineers are in demand. Each state is different.

How would you best describe a day in the life of an engineering student?
My day starts out at 6am, shower breakfast, COMMUTE and I'm in my cubical by 7:30am. Log onto my computer, check the company email and see da boss. He'll give me some little task, ie, design a Cold Formed Steel Curtain Wall..... or.... Figure the quantity of conrete needed for this foundation..... or.....check his engineering work.... or make photo copies of plans (yes, as an entry level engineer, you will be a bitch). In the summer months we do inspection work. Not all companies do that. We arrive at work at 6am and commute over to a facility. I've posted about it before. Last summer it was at J.F.K. airport inspecting a Hangar. Comming up this summer is at Newark Airport, inspecting one of thier FedEx Buildings. You meet some "intersting" people and get into some "interesting" places while doing these inspections. The inspections are to ensure structural stability and safety, ie. no loosly hanging HVAC ducts/pipes/etc. No settling concrete slabs and blablabla.

My boss constantly bitches about how he hates it as an engineer. Acording to him, buisness is where it's at. He's leaving the field and finishing up his MBA. Starting salary for an MBA is ~$60k I think, with rapid salary growth.

Well... gotta get back to work, I'm getting looks now.....

Dough