Educational Decisions, Please Help

Currently I am completing a 3 year Canadian, (ON) College course in Civil Engineering Technology, personaly i feal that being a technologist isn't enough for me, espcially in the structural field, but being in depth of over $25 000 (can) I find myself stuck between going to University for four year and increasing my dept to (70 000) or ending at a technologist job. Any suggestion would be greatly appriated

Thanks

 

[Qshake]

If you are able, my advice would be to continue on with the goal of a four-year engineering degree.

Ultimately, you will make the money to pay off the loan and then some. However, if you stop now you will forever be blaming yourself later for not at least trying.

 

[civeng]

Hi,
I personnally encourage you to continu on with your studies, for at the university level you'll discover a whole new depth of what your studying at the moment, and maybe even discover a specialisation that really interests you.
Moneywise, once you have your BA degree, its alot easier to apply for jobs in the US, where you have bigger salaries.
Anyway, thats my personnal opinion, But I do wish you all the luck.

 

[par060]

70,000 dollars is nothing over the amount of time you spend in your career. If that is all that is stopping you from getting your 4 year degree...think of it this way how much is a nice new car...and how long does that last?

 

[FSS]

Depending on your circumstances, another option to consider is going to work for someone in your desired field as a field technician or maybe cad operator, and then taking advantage of tuition reimbursement to finish your studies in engineering. Most larger firms, and many small ones, have some sort of tuition reimbursement program. An added plus is that your studies become easier when you can see practical applications of theories on a daily basis.

 

[LPPE]

Education is power. Go for the 4 yr. degree. Also, when you go to the 4 yr. school, you will have a leg up on other students because you obtained valuable practical experience. Also, I dont know what the lisencing laws are in Can, but perhaps you cannot become PE without BS.

However, you can always start working now, get your foot in the door, and with hard work and dedication, move right up.

 

[visitor]

Your desire to achieve in the field of Civil Engineering Technology is admirable.

I am a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil) in the state of Oregon in the United States. I began my career in 1977 doing manual structural drafting using a parallel bar, triangles, lead holder pencils, lead sharpner, and a scale. I have worked under the direction of a gradutate from a civil engineering technology program who is now a well respected structural engineer practicing in Oregon and also licensed in California and Washington, USA. I was able to take the required Fundamentals of Engineering Examination in Oregon based on experience without a BS degree in Civil Engineering. I was mentored by civil and structural engineers as an engineer in training for a number of years. While I was drafting and designing, I enrolled in a civil engineering program at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA. When I had completed a number of "core" and design courses and had enough experience approved by the state engineering board, I wrote the professional exam and passed. I became licensed and a few months later I graduated with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. I believe that eduation through course work is an essential part of becoming a Civil Engineer, whether you design highways, bridges, water treatment plants and distribution systems, wastewater treatment plants and collection systems, building structures, or any other engineering area in which you achieve competence. I also believe working under the direction of a competent engineering is also necessary to gain experience.

I have work for "academic" engineers and found them lacking "real world" experience. Engineers who offer services coming directly from an academic institution without knowing how to put a set of construction documents together should be prevented from practiceing engineering.

None the less, I believe Civil Engineering is a noble profession and ranks with doctors of medicine, attorneys, and architects.