Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Hi all.

I was wondering if anyone can give some insight on the following 2 career:

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Engineering

1) How many years of college did it take you to get your degree? And if it is OK, can you give some details why it took you the length of time it did

2) What is your pay and promotional opportunities like

3) How is the career really? A lot of paper pushing? Does it seem satisfying?

4) What is the vacation time like...if any?

Accounting

1) How many years of college did it take you to get your degree? And if it is OK, can you give some details why it took you the length of time it did

2) What is your pay and promotional opportunities like

3) How is the career really? A lot of paper pushing? Does it seem satisfying? How is it throughout the year?

4) What is the vacation time like...if any?

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I am asking this, because by the middle of next year, I may finally have an opportunity to start college full time, and be able to safely cover expenses for 4 years.

But the problem I have is the following 3 points

1) I want to pursue Engineering more than Accounting, but Engineering may most likely need 5 years, because my last Engineering Pre-req class was PreCalculus, and I am unable to pursue classes beyond that like Calculus and Calculus based Physics classes etc...because those classes drop on weekdays and weeknights only, and my current job hours do not allow for me to take advantage of weekday class hours (which seriously screwed up my hopes to do these classes while still working at a job with reasonable pay)

Now the funny thing with Accounting is that technically it should also be 5 years (150 credits for CPA)...but I have taken a good amount of weekend classes at my community college where I can basically just use that to cover the 120 to 150 credit gap, and just do 120 credits within 4 years.

2) I really want a good career, with good employment prospects, and potentially high pay...and I seem to be OK with Engineering and Accounting...but I keep hearing stories that Engineering is so challenging and fun, and Accounting is so mindlessly boring, that I would like to hopefully get some real life experience from fellow Dreamers...but IMO it seems to be a pipe dream to try and pursue some kind of dream job that I would really like if it is more likely that I become poor and unemployed...and honestly I don't think too much about what my dream job would be, so I figure I would be content with any new career I can get into (as long I can get away from my old job)

Now this won't matter much if Donald Trump wins the presidency and DACA renewals cease to exist...but I do not want to talk about preparing for the worst...lol...

Any information would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Im thinking of just switching majors to try to beat trump. From Cs to IT, in any case you should practice that stuff on your own time in the meanwhile. Scheduling is a problem with calculus classes, ive seen it offered 3 times a week for 1 hour an a half during a reg semester. Anyways pre requisite classes suck in general. Expect to take all of the calculus courses in engineering though, so youre most likely dealing with a scheduling problem for a year and a half( if you're willing to take summer courses). Oh and do remember your trig identities.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Listen to Dres2011, this man has turned his life around academically.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

My degree audit reads at 62%, now I just take hard ass classes though ;_;

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

The funny thing is, the calculus and physics classes won't necessarily be prereqs, as it goes towards actual classes counted towards the 120 actual credits towards the degree, the problem I have is I am forced to take it at community college, so I can't really take much other classes that will definitely count towards engineering once I transfer...so it expands the time beyond 4 years...le sigh...

The scheduling problem is indeed real.

On the flip side, I can settle for Accounting, but not sure if it is a mistake...but then again, I am not really super enthusiastic about any college major...but I was the most engaged in my math classes...and I find STEM classes in general interesting...I would love to take Chemistry classes and Physics classes etc. if they were given on weekends...such a dilemma...

My ultimate problem is my current job is wearing me out...It literally feels like my actual body has gone through one too many stressful situations...and I am trying my best to work there another year...it is taking a real toll on my body, mentally and somewhat physically.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Go with Engineering, Accounting is a joke unless you kiss ass and get into the Big Four. That is the only way you will make money.

If you want the easy way go with Accounting. If you want pride in your education go with Engineering. Just remember that in Accounting major, you need to be top top of your class. Everybody in Accounting gets 3.8s, you need a 4.0 to get a job.

In Engineering, you can get 3.6,3.7 and be a top tier student.

I went to a community college for 3 years and half with a full 2 year scholarship in Electronics Engineering Technology (not a real engineering degree). Then went to a 4 year university to do a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering. I went here for 2 years and half. So it took me 6 years to get a BS in EE which for other people takes about 4 years.

The reason it took so long is because after the two years at the community college (CC), I graduated and hit a wall. I couldn't go to a 4-year university without paying out-of state tuition. I stayed in the CC and tried to get a second degree. After a year and half, my governor passed local Dream ACT which allowed us to go to University with in-state tuition.

I did not wasted any time and applied, accepted and paid that tuition. Also, I received a few scholarship which I worked on my own for.

Started at 69.1k with 5k bonus. First year raise was 3%. Waiting on the second year at the moment.

This question is very vague. It depends on the company. I am in a leadership program. I have done CAD modeling, electrical testing, simulations, software, reports, presentations, travel to another country, travel to sites, travel for training, anything you can think of. No paper pushing so far. It is satisfying, I love engineering. It is busy depending on the program you are on.

We started this past July a new policy, unlimited vacation days. Lots of companies do this.

Engineering is fun and challenging. If you work full-time, and you are a full-time engineering student, it can get rough. My engineering classes were tough in Junior year. Math and physics is a piece of cake compare to engineering classes.

Also, it depends what kind of Engineering you are trying to go for. Electrical is known as the hardest of them all but pays the most (software pays more). Civil engineering is a joke, and mechanical engineering is good as well.

If you want easy life and party at college with friends, go with Accounting. If you want to be the best of the best, go with Engineering.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Thanks for the info.

I really want to do Engineering, and if I had my choice right now between Engineering and Accounting, I would go Engineering...I am not avoiding Engineering because it is challenging or something...I like that...but the dilemma I am in is money vs. time related.

1) Can I last another 1-2 years in my current job so I can then go to college full time for 5 years for Engineering?

2) Will my savings be enough for 5 years in the long run?

I am trying my hardest to push through my dead-end job, but that is a challenge in itself.

I was also wondering 2 things...

1) How necessary is it to graduate from some ivy league school? For example, when the time comes, I hope I can attend City College for Engineering, but that is CUNY, and it is not the best school, but I like to think it is a respectable school that can give me great opportunities on a budget

2) How viable is it to do blanket attempts at scholarships? For example, sending in submissions to as many scholarships I am eligible for to try and reduce tuition costs bit by bit...I was hoping by doing this I can possibly cut tuition in half or eliminate it entirely...this way I can use those extra funds to help pay for living expenses

And oh yes, I would choose to major in either Electrical or Mechanical engineering.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Go to a community part-time, do CALC I one semester, then CALCII, Chemistry, Physics and so on.

Depends on the school. The school I went to had a tuition of 11k a semester with dorm. So the academic tuition alone was around 5k a semester (full time).

You will need to save around 80k if you want to go straight to university. I recommend going to a community college for two years then transfer. Find out about their transferring programs or which universities accept their credits.

Apply apply apply apply to several private scholarships. I received a few but denied many because I am not a US Citizen.


For Engineering, Ivy league is not necessary unless you want to earn more than 80k. CUNY is not bad, I head of it. I went to UConn, it is not the best school in the nation but beats Yale in electrical engineering (imo).

Look at CUNY's career fair and see what kind of companies go there to recruit.

Yes, that is what I did and I could of done a lot more. It takes dedication and hard work for this. There are scholarships out there that we can get.

It requires hard work.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

Thanks for the info.

I would've done part time for Calc 1 etc. a long time ago, but my work hours don't allow it...and I am able to save good money each year working here...so I'm stuck with the dilemma of just working and working to save up money to just do college full time.

Re: Questions about Engineer / Accounting career prospects
 

How old are you?