Why Sally can't buy a new car

[KARNUT]

Yeah I was mechanical engineering, turns out the only reason I ever did good in math was good math teachers, in college there aren't good math teachers. On the ACT my lowest score was math, no bueno for engineering. Got through engineering physics and Calc 2 and just hit a wall. So far I like the construction side of things a lot more. All the teachers are nice and honestly it's looking like it'll be easier to land a job. Not to mention starting salaries are similar from what I've seen. I'm already Solid Works certified and have some experience with CAD, have to take the full class next semester. I do live smarter than some students. Dorms are $7500 a year here, for crappy ones, really crazy IMO. I have that much space in my bedroom alone, and I live for less. Also have an actual kitchen, appliances, and off the street parking. Don't have to go down an elevator to do laundry or walk a quarter mile to my pickup.

Pipeline, utility, forestry, oil and gas, refinery, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Kansas. Just some ideas of booming industries.

[Carder09]

Fortunately, at least at the moment, the military provides me with t.a. every year for schooling. Only downside is I can only take one to two classes at a time due to the high tempo ops I work. It'll be a good while before I get my bachelor's but its better than nothing!

[dirtfan21]

Yeah I was mechanical engineering, turns out the only reason I ever did good in math was good math teachers, in college there aren't good math teachers. On the ACT my lowest score was math, no bueno for engineering. Got through engineering physics and Calc 2 and just hit a wall. So far I like the construction side of things a lot more. All the teachers are nice and honestly it's looking like it'll be easier to land a job. Not to mention starting salaries are similar from what I've seen. I'm already Solid Works certified and have some experience with CAD, have to take the full class next semester. I do live smarter than some students. Dorms are $7500 a year here, for crappy ones, really crazy IMO. I have that much space in my bedroom alone, and I live for less. Also have an actual kitchen, appliances, and off the street parking. Don't have to go down an elevator to do laundry or walk a quarter mile to my pickup.

 

I struggled with math too until college, had to learn everything my POS high school didn't teach me. I didn't go the Engineering route because I didn't want to be stuck in an office all day. I actually went the best of both worlds with my degree, it is construction engineering and management. Therefore, I can take a couple more classes and qualify to take the civil engineer's exam if I ever wanted to. Our curriculum was based off purdue's civil engineering platform but added the BCM classes with it, pretty cool degree actually. Over the winter we do a lot of design in house and I handle the smaller projects so I use CAD, Civil 3D, ArcMap, and the usual Microsoft Office programs. If you can't tell I really enjoy my job.

 

You are doing the right thing with your living situation bud. I stayed at home as long as I could, no embarrassment in that at all. Really most all my college buddies that weren't on campus lived at home until they graduated. The only buddies that moved out right after high school went straight to the union or the mill.

[kstruckcountry]

Glad to hear you enjoy it, all the depressed mech engineers was another reason I lost interest in that, haha. I'm really good at Solid Works so I'm thinking getting better at CAD should be quick. I really enjoy surveying too, I've heard some schools aren't even teaching it now so that may be an asset. There are a lot of options for careers in this field. My dream job would probably be ski lift surveying/constructing. And testing.

 

The issue most people run into with housing is not hunting for a place soon enough. I got a jump on it, signed my August lease in February last year.

[dirtfan21]

The ability to do survey work is a HUGE asset. I can't believe schools wouldn't teach that, hell I had three classes in it and learned on the job here when I was part time. IMO you absolutely have to be able to shoot grade, run percentages on pipe, construction layout, and I could go on. Jesus, surveying is essential. Haha, that would be a really cool job. I always wanted to travel with Monster Energy Supercross and build the tracks.

[truckofwinandawesome]

 

Same here (TN). I have three to help through, and my oldest will start in 2015. I'll gladly do without to help them, if needed, so long as they're doing their part... but not if they start spending their money on new cars.

but if I remember correctly, Gov Haslam is wanting to give HS Graduates 2 free years at a Commuinty College or one of the 27 Colleges of Applied Technology (Formerly called Tennessee Technology Centers). I'm actually Working on my THIRD Vocational Degree in Diesel Powered Equipment (with the Intention for getting a career on America's Railroad Network either working on the Locomotives, or working on the Heavy Equipment or their Medium Duty Trucks)

[music]

but if I remember correctly, Gov Haslam is wanting to give HS Graduates 2 free years at a Commuinty College or one of the 27 Colleges of Applied Technology (Formerly called Tennessee Technology Centers). I'm actually Working on my THIRD Vocational Degree in Diesel Powered Equipment (with the Intention for getting a career on America's Railroad Network either working on the Locomotives, or working on the Heavy Equipment or their Medium Duty Trucks)

 

I saw where it has been proposed, but I don't think it has been approved yet. I have mixed feelings about it, but haven't really thought much on it either. Sounds like you're going in a direction that will be (forever) in demand. I don't see rail transport going away for a very long time, and it's still an industry that tends to value long term employees.