Would You Encourage Your Kids to become Engineers? 4

[Christine74]

Suppose you had a child that was in the process of choosing which career path to pursue. Knowing what you know now about the engineering profession, would you encourage them to pursue that field of study, assuming that they had the necessary skills to succeed as an engineer?

I think most of us would agree that there are plenty of other careers out there that earn better pay, garner higher status, and get better benefits than engineers. And many of these degrees are much easier to obtain than an engineering degree.

What would you advise your children?

Thanks.


-Christine

 

[GregLocock]

sms, How do you propose to run that comparison? I don't think $$ cut it.

From personal experience I could rank engineering graduates from many countries... but even that is just anecdotal evidence.



Cheers

Greg Locock

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[sms]

Sorry Greg, that was meant as a joke...

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970

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[kchayfie]

Even now, at 30 years old, my parents aren't encouraging me to be an engineer. Every time I have any complaint about my job my parents try to get me to "find another vocation". Given that they complained about their jobs (teaching) for as long as I can remember, you'd think they'd have more understanding of the need to off-load every once in while!

 

[KENAT]

sms, while your post may have been a joke, just to clarify. Up until about 10 years ago university in the UK was 'free'. In fact all but the wealthiest students (or students with wealthy parents) also got a grant to cover a portion of living costs.

The size of grant had gradually shrunk over time being suplemented with government backed student loans.

Then in about 99 they started to charge tuition fees, which now are apparantly up at $3000.

So basically, university education in the UK is government subsidized.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[JsTyLz]

The individual determines how well they learn, not the university or the country for that matter. And yes I will try to get my kids in tech jobs, not necessarily engineering, but something in the science based industry. This is not only for them, but for the welfare of there kids. I am not sure that I would continue to urge them if they resisted, but I would push them if they had doubts. All kids need to be pushed to be the best they can. So I guess if they picked a different job path, I would push them to be the best they could in that field. I think that is the most important thing, relating to coercing childern.

 

[civilperson]

Nothing is more fun than engineering a tough problem into a workable solution!

 

[KENAT]

Nothing? I love engineering but can think of at least one thing that's more fun.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[MachinaMan]

KENAT,

So can I, but I wouldn't encourage any kid to do THAT for a living !

RP

 

[plasgears]

Pud,
My highest complement came from a German engineer in Hamburg who replied to my presentation:
'You haff really done your heimwerk.'

Yes, I had done much research in cigarette super-filtration and replacement flavors. It was good to have the feeling that I was operating with equals. I consider Germany a second home.

After a year in Germany I went thru a reverse cultural shock. Having been acclimated to Germany, my return to Kennedy airport and NYC was a little disturbing.

 

[csd72]

I definately wouldnt encourage anyone to become a structural engineer.

Have a look at the last 2 jobs on this link:

http://www.justlondonjobs.co.uk/keywords-Structural_Engineer.html

Talk about a kick in the teeth.

 

[JAE]

I probably wouldn't - I suggested to my son to become an engineer and....gasp! He's now a practicing [red]Architect!!![/red]

 

[IRstuff]

The grass is always greener...

The much vaunted medical profession: Most doctors that are family practice are supposed to crank through 4 patients per hour. Barely enough time to gladhand someone and grab the vitals, ask a couple of questions and generate a diagnosis.

Or imagine being a GI specialist and looking up people's butts 4 hrs every day of the week, averaging about 2 butts per hour. And the rest of the day, you're still either looking up people's butts in your office, or talking to people about looking up their butts.


TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Hoagie]

Not in a million years.

 

[Gymmeh]

I cant wait to have an excuse to play with Legos and by all the cool ones they didnt have when I was a kid.

Basically they have Legos with everything for a robot that is programmable in LabView... I guess its indirect preparation for engineering.

see:

http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/Overview/default.aspx

 

[KENAT]

My son wants to sign up for a class in that at the local community college, he's only 12 so I'm thinking he'd be better waiting a year or so but I'll definitely support and encourage him in it.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[TheTick]

Perhaps I will encourage my kids to become the engineers' boss.

 

[mechmama]

A couple days ago, my 10 y.o. son told me that he wanted to "fix people's spines so they can walk again." I don't know where that came from, but last I checked those neurosurgeon guys make about 4x what I make. I think I'll encourage THAT for as long as he's interested : )

 

[KENAT]

Neuro or Orthopedic, at least orthopedic involves some mechanical engineering in a way;-)



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[ChrisConley]

My daughter (4) want to be an 'awfur' (author). She spends hours a day (and hours a night if we let her) composing stories. I have a library of 60 stories she's authored.

I hope she follows her dream to become an author, or any of the 100 dreams she's going to have before she's 20 years old.

My son (2) just wants to play 'ockey' (hockey).

Both professions stack up pretty well salary-wise...

 

[521AB]

I did not read all the posts. Maybe some 20%.
But I read the thread, and it is a very actual question.
Let me share my opinion.

It is a matter of "basic values" here.
I do not see, for instance, philosophy as "basic value". You start to think about "who you are", "what you do here", "what is the meaning of life", when your belly is full, when you are repaired from rain, wind.
Do you follow me? When you have food and a house. When you have mainly satisfied your basic needs (basic values). Let me say: when the engineer has done the house, has provided you weapons to kill animals etc.

So, YES. As engineers are providing the basics for the survival, I would tell my son to study engineering (not only engineers belong to the "basic list". Doctors for instance are also there, more then there).

BUT, there is a but.

Is Research and Development (R&D) included in this list? Of course!
I live in Europe. I see that main engineering companies are moving out of Europe a BIG portion (if not all) of technical R&D. The managers that are driving this removal, probably will say to their son: "don't study programming, it is not worth". There is no future in Europe. "Programming is today the basic of R&D, in a lot of branches".
No problem in developing other Countries, I think it is quite correct and fair, but not with the risk of killing one "basic activity" in my own. That is not fair.

RESULT: I don't know if I will tell my son to study some particular technical subjects -basic subjects to my opinion- , that some smart people are moving away from my Country (Europe).
But probably yes, I would encourage him, because everything will come back, but it's a pitty.