Does the University matter 4

[Bmanley]

Hello All

I’ve been reading this site off and on for some time now and I really appreciate it, thank you.

I am a 34 year old studying at a community college in order to get into an engineering program at the local University, UNF. I already have a BFA and a long work history but I have decided to pursuit a BS in either mechanical or civil. I am well into the math and science pre requisites.

My question is does the university matter much? Accreditation would of course but what about the difference between UNF, UF, and FIT? Does it matter beyond getting the first job?

It would be very difficult for me to go to another university as UF doesn’t give 2nd undergraduate degrees and FIT would involve moving my family.

Additionally, does anyone have any suggestions on things that I should focus on in my schooling?

Thanks

 

[xnuke]

I don't care about the reputation of the schools when interviewing recent graduates since I don't work in R&D. Too many graduates from big-name programs have a lot of theoretical knowledge but have no idea how to apply any of it and no practical experience with design, codes and standards, etc. It's not usually their fault, since big-name school professors tend to be heavily into theory and research and have no practical experience either. They just teach what they know and love - theory.

If I were interviewing for R&D positions I might feel differently about the school's reputation, but I think in the end I would still pay more attention to the applicant's knowledge and experiences than the school name.

I've personally seen several graduates from schools with top reputations get very flustered when confronted with problems that were beyond what was written in books. They had been great at memorizing material, but really didn't understand it.


xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[IRstuff]

So you recommend that we should only hire grads from A&Ms?

Been there, done that; one couldn't solve a TTL threshold problem to save his career, even after having it explained to hime twice before in the 4 hrs prior.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[SomptingGuy]

A&M?

I thought that was a record company?

- Steve

 

[GregLocock]

"I've personally seen several graduates from schools with top reputations get very flustered when confronted with problems that were beyond what was written in books. They had been great at memorizing material, but really didn't understand it."

Sure. Equally I've seen graduates from all sorts of universities who couldn't be trusted with a nailgun. Inverted snobbery doesn't seem much help when selecting applicants.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[FeX32]

Maybe you mean M&M's meat shops. Beef production at the same time as uni grads.



Fe

 

[xnuke]

I think some people took my previous post the wrong way. The main point was supposed to be that I don't take into consideration the school a graduate attended when evaluating them as an applicant. It definitely wasn't "inverted snobbery." I have also seen many students from lower-tier schools I wouldn't recommend hiring since they didn't have the knowledge required, either. I ask questions of all applicants to determine if they have a suitable background and knowledge, skills, and abilities, and if I'm not satisfied with their answers, I give them a low rating.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MechEng2005]

I have also found when I was being interviewed that many of the other engineers or technical people would ask questions that would allow me to demonstrate what I actually know and am capable of (or show my incompetence, but I hope not!). However, in interviews with HR it seems they are more likely that they ask questions and then jump to their own conclusions. Then, having a big name school can be helpful, because they won't ask you to prove your competence, they will assume it. However, without the big name school, they may not give you chance to prove your competence, and will assume that you aren't. It's not fair and it's not right, but that's how I see it. I do hope I'm wrong. And I do see the irony in me stereotyping HR for stereotyping schools...

However, more and more it seems that people are bypassing the HR department in setting up the initial interview. Cold-calling, introductions by friends, networking, etc seem to be better options. In which case HR is often farther removed from the hiring process anyways. Maybe I just see that happening more often as I get more experience and contacts myself (i.e. As I get more contacts, I would know who to speak to directly. As opposed to when I was a new grad and didn't know hardly anybody in industry).

-- MechEng2005

 

[hokiecivil08]

I have limited experience as i just graduated last may and have only had one job, but I can say that I went to Virginia Tech and the guy who was my mentor in my land development class gave me my best job offer and all but about 10 people out of 100 at the company all went to virginia tech. so in that regard it helped me.