So... is it too late for me to become an Civil Engineer?(serious)

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 12:41 AM

I've been really thinking about it alot lately, and even though I still don't know what I want to do for a living, I've decided that I'm going to set my goals high and try for to become an engineer.

There are, however, some concerns that i have:

-I am about to start my sophomore year at CSU-Sacramento, and have already picked my classes long ago. I am not taking ANY classes that will benefit me on my engineering pursuit, besides maybe a science class. Looking at the guidelines to become an CE, i would have to be super motivated to finish in 4 years, and thats if i was starting as a freshman. So, i wouldn't be able to start 2nd term sophomore year. this would mean that it would an additional 4-5 years starting THEN... obviously this is a concern...

-Another problem is that i have not taken calculus yet... Not because i can't do it, but because i got lazy my senior year, and have yet to take a math class in 2-3 years (H pre-cal). Because of this, i really don't feel strong in just jumping into a calc 1 next semester, but i would hate to waste another one and pro-long my degree goals. CE is heavily math based. i wont be able to understand a class if i dont take the math courses first...

-School starts Sept. 4, and im beginning to stress. After thinking it through, i went to a local JC today (Sierra College) and tried to get admited into the school right away. It stopped me online cuz of the whole, mandatory orientation/assessment/counseling. My plan is to just take a pre-cal class to refresh my memory. then, i'll be able to take calc 1 next semester, and be on my way...

-well, the thing is, school for the JC started Monday of this week. So, i have already missed the 1st class, an important one since everyone who wanted to add probably already has. Another thing, the pre-cal class i want is at 2pm, and my last class at Sac State is at 1:15pm. Anyone in the area knows that THAT'S impossible to make. So i would have to drop that class from Sac State and leave campus at noon.

So, my dilemma is, am i willing to go through all this? is it really worth it? it just scares me about the whole add/drop thing at colleges. Never done it before, and so don't know how easy/hard it is. I'm already trying to add another class at Sac State...
This really is a serious thread, so if you have any serious advice, thats fine. Even if you have any positive things to say about the field, i'd appreciate that too to keep my spirits up.

Cliffs:
-Want to be a CE
-Would have to start from scratch as a 2nd semester sophomore
-Would have to work out some crazy schedule going to two different schools
-Just wondering if my plan would work/doesnt sound pointless.

Mainly just venting, if you scrolled down just to read cliffs, you dont need to post.

JACKIECHANFAN · 08-30-2007, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

Mainly just venting, if you scrolled down just to read cliffs, you dont need to post.

Thank God.

hittman · 08-30-2007, 12:44 AM

don't worry about civil engineering, it's the easiest out of all of them. the maths is elementary **** compared to the other disciplines. it does pay well tho

best of luck!

againstall0dds · 08-30-2007, 12:45 AM

on a thread like this I don't wanna troll cus it could be me the one who's in deep **** and asking misc help me out.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by againstall0dds

on a thread like this I don't wanna troll cus it could be me the one who's in deep **** and asking misc help me out.

thanks

exbunobooga · 08-30-2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittman

don't worry about civil engineering, it's the easiest out of all of them. the maths is elementary **** compared to the other disciplines. it does pay well tho

best of luck!

I gotta disagree with you man but im a dumbass when it comes to math. Ive worked with 30+ engineers in the last 5 years (I am a design draftsman) and the guys earning $100,000 - $150,000 and more a year are also pulling 70+ hours a week.

The younger guys all tell me that for the amount of work, study and unpaid overtime (dont get overtime in most civil companies) they could be doctors or some **** and earn alot more.

Go for it if its your passion and if you are always willing to learn, study and think. Me, im pretty happy being a design drafty. Money is pretty good, plenty of work out there and I dont have to use my brain much. **** son im on the misc for 40% of my day!

4THRILLS · 08-30-2007, 12:54 AM

yeah civil is the easier major, but its still hard as all engineering is.

The only thing that can be said is, its never too late. Im doing eng and we got guys in there late 30's starting there degree.

Dont jump straight into eng maths without doing it for 2/3 years work your way up so you have the preliminaries covered. Eng is fun requires a great deal of thinking and its pretty cool thinking of what kind of projects you will find yourself working with in the future. Just be aware you're responsible for peoples lives.

Didnt read into your schedule but just know, eng is A LOT of study.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbunobooga

I gotta disagree with you man but im a dumbass when it comes to math. Ive worked with 30+ engineers in the last 5 years (I am a design draftsman) and the guys earning $100,000 - $150,000 and more a year are also pulling 70+ hours a week.

The younger guys all tell me that for the amount of work, study and unpaid overtime (dont get overtime in most civil companies) they could be doctors or some **** and earn alot more.

Go for it if its your passion and if you are always willing to learn, study and think. Me, im pretty happy being a design drafty. Money is pretty good, plenty of work out there and I dont have to use my brain much. **** son im on the misc for 40% of my day!

see, there's things like the work load that nobody could predict, its sketchy like that. but the reason i picked civil engineering is cuz i could take that other places too if i want, because i've thought becoming an environmental engineer (school doesnt offer this, so would just have to go civil and cross over).

santacruzach · 08-30-2007, 12:55 AM

I'm a civil engineer here at UCB, and it's easier in some ways than the other disciplines, math or physics. I don't know how it is at your college, but here the classes you take the first year or two are just core science classes, and some math. Only at the jr and such level do you hit the actual engineering courses. If you really want, you could take a couple summer courses and catch up. Seriously, don't feel bad if you're going to take another year. I'm taking another year so I can get my Mech E degree too.

Transportation is fun and chill, but I'm leaning more towards geotech or structural. Structural i could be a demo guy or something, geotech i can hang around outside and say that i'm working.

hittman · 08-30-2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbunobooga

I gotta disagree with you man but im a dumbass when it comes to math. Ive worked with 30+ engineers in the last 5 years (I am a design draftsman) and the guys earning $100,000 - $150,000 and more a year are also pulling 70+ hours a week.

The younger guys all tell me that for the amount of work, study and unpaid overtime (dont get overtime in most civil companies) they could be doctors or some **** and earn alot more.

Go for it if its your passion and if you are always willing to learn, study and think. Me, im pretty happy being a design drafty. Money is pretty good, plenty of work out there and I dont have to use my brain much. **** son im on the misc for 40% of my day!

lol yeah fair enough... but it does depend on what field you're in, and your luck. my boss makes 300k+ a year but he's probably one in 100. it's why im changing from civil and studying mech. eng. at uni. we just got 12d at work though... some guys get 80-100/hour if you're proficient. now that's good money

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4THRILLS

yeah civil is the easier major, but its still hard as all engineering is.

The only thing that can be said is, its never too late. Im doing eng and we got guys in there late 30's starting there degree.

Dont jump straight into eng maths without doing it for 2/3 years work your way up so you have the preliminaries covered. Eng is fun requires a great deal of thinking and its pretty cool thinking of what kind of projects you will find yourself working with in the future. Just be aware you're responsible for peoples lives.

Didnt read into your schedule but just know, eng is A LOT of study.

thank you

im getting to that point where im moving past that kid in H.S. who just dogged all his classes, and just did the minimum to get that A. when i get into it, i dont think i'll mind really pouring myself over it. But thanks for the heads up on the studying!

exbunobooga · 08-30-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

see, there's things like the work load that nobody could predict, its sketchy like that. but the reason i picked civil engineering is cuz i could take that other places too if i want, because i've thought becoming an environmental engineer (school doesnt offer this, so would just have to go civil and cross over).

screw the environmental side. Not as many jobs going (here anyway). I work with guys from new zealand, england, south africa and several asian countries if that gives you some idea of where you can go work.

hittman · 08-30-2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbunobooga

screw the environmental side. Not as many jobs going (here anyway). I work with guys from new zealand, england, south africa and several asian countries if that gives you some idea of where you can go work.

lol, screw subdivisions altogether. boooooooring.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbunobooga

screw the environmental side. Not as many jobs going (here anyway). I work with guys from new zealand, england, south africa and several asian countries if that gives you some idea of where you can go work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittman

lol, screw subdivisions altogether. boooooooring.

well call me a sucker, but ive kinda got that young, noble, foolish idea that i could help make the world a better place. And over here in the states, everything is going green right now. So actually the job market is opening up more for that field.

4THRILLS · 08-30-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

thank you

im getting to that point where im moving past that kid in H.S. who just dogged all his classes, and just did the minimum to get that A. when i get into it, i dont think i'll mind really pouring myself over it. But thanks for the heads up on the studying!

Dude, I went through school just getting the minimum to pass haha. But yeah now im doing what I want to do and it all depends on how badly you want and what your willing to sacrifice to get it. I never did any science did the maths i need to , and just making sure I study and DO NOT fall behind. Once you miss one concept then you're going to be out of it. Of course next year is when the fun begins (majoring subjects).

hittman · 08-30-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

well call me a sucker, but ive kinda got that young, noble, foolish idea that i could help make the world a better place. And over here in the states, everything is going green right now. So actually the job market is opening up more for that field.

dude come to western australia. the homeless can go up north and pretty much earn 3-4k a week

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santacruzach

I'm a civil engineer here at UCB, and it's easier in some ways than the other disciplines, math or physics. I don't know how it is at your college, but here the classes you take the first year or two are just core science classes, and some math. Only at the jr and such level do you hit the actual engineering courses. If you really want, you could take a couple summer courses and catch up. Seriously, don't feel bad if you're going to take another year. I'm taking another year so I can get my Mech E degree too.

Transportation is fun and chill, but I'm leaning more towards geotech or structural. Structural i could be a demo guy or something, geotech i can hang around outside and say that i'm working.

ya, thats true. thanks for that man. It just makes me feel like i wasted my freshman year on unnecessary classes and like just wasted my time. it feels like im starting a year behind, ya know?

but like you said, summer classes are always there.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittman

dude come to western australia. the homeless can go up north and pretty much earn 3-4k a week

wha?

hittman · 08-30-2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

wha?

job opportunities with the mining boom here

4THRILLS · 08-30-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBalla16

wha?

I think his referring to the mines. They get payed **** loads out there but the conditions are rough.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittman

job opportunities with the mining boom here

really? lol, i dont know about all that...

well i dont know about living there, but i actually was considering going there to study abroad... but thats another thread

maybe i'll bump that one next lol

4THRILLS · 08-30-2007, 01:12 AM

Our Bachelors are not worth much over in US im pretty sure.

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4THRILLS

Our Bachelors are not worth much over in US im pretty sure.

lol well, i would be going to school over there for a year, but i would still get my degree as if i were still here in the states

oh, and the tuition would be the same as here too lol

jvinci · 08-30-2007, 01:25 AM

reps to all, thank you. (4thrills, i'll get you on recharge).

thebadguy · 08-30-2007, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittman

dude come to western australia. the homeless can go up north and pretty much earn 3-4k a week

i'm being sent up north for a month in the summer holidays as part of my vacation work program and my friend says its like a prison over there. i would much rather work here in the city

WesMantooth · 08-30-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exbunobooga

I gotta disagree with you man but im a dumbass when it comes to math. Ive worked with 30+ engineers in the last 5 years (I am a design draftsman) and the guys earning $100,000 - $150,000 and more a year are also pulling 70+ hours a week.

The younger guys all tell me that for the amount of work, study and unpaid overtime (dont get overtime in most civil companies) they could be doctors or some **** and earn alot more.

Go for it if its your passion and if you are always willing to learn, study and think. Me, im pretty happy being a design drafty. Money is pretty good, plenty of work out there and I dont have to use my brain much. **** son im on the misc for 40% of my day!

By design drafty do you mean drawing up plans in CAD for arch/eng firms? Could you go into a little more detail about what you do and what your job is like? I'm interested in doing CAD work and what not. PM if you don't want to clutter this thread.

kay_kakes · 08-30-2007, 01:58 AM

Hai, Tups. I forgot to think about all the hours you would need to put into this job. I guess they would be worth it if it's something you are really passionate about. I love the Env Eng idea. There ARE gonna be tons of jobs here by the time you graduate. Especially because California is so green. I'm proud of you. I love you.

exbunobooga · 08-30-2007, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WesMantooth

By design drafty do you mean drawing up plans in CAD for arch/eng firms? Could you go into a little more detail about what you do and what your job is like? I'm interested in doing CAD work and what not. PM if you don't want to clutter this thread.

Well my title is civil design draftsman. Ive been using autocad/civil 3d for the last 5 years now. After doing all the cad monkey stuff which requires no brain activity, now I get to do design stuff. I still work heavily with engineers since I am still a design n00b though.

eg: last project I worked on was a roundabout on a tourist drive. I get a 3d survey file, then with the engineers we work out a plan of what the roundabout should look like and its requirements. Then I draw out a 2d model, it gets signed off, then the 3d fun (and frustrating) stuff starts. Using some of the programs here (civil3d and advanced road design) I create a 3d model of the roundabout which ties into the existing surface (from the survey file).

Being 3d it gives you an acurate measurment of all the cut/fill/asphalt/kerbing etc required. The guys building it use my 3d files to set out their stuff and away it goes. Good **** and feels pretty cool seeing something you drew up getting built.

The engineers job is sort of like saying what needs to be done and what it requires. The draftsmans job is to draw it all out so it can be built. The design draftsman is somewhere in the middle. He can do the engineering side of things and also the drafting side. Huge demand at the moment. Im moving back to the gold coast and should be on 60 - 70k a year. Not too bad for someone with a C average in high school and 2 years study. As I get more experienced I can earn round 100k if im incharge of a team.