Interest vs Practicality: Choosing a career stream

Hidden_MotiveS

Canada2562 Posts

February 25 2011 19:46 GMT

Hi TL, I'm at one of those big crossroads in my life and I need some help picking a curriculum stream.

I'm a computer engineering student, second year, studying at the University of Toronto. I have to pick an area of specialization for third year.

The school hasn't helped us to figure out what we would like to do as a career (fucking douchebags), so I'm turning to you guys.

I have to pick two kernels for next semester, and two technical electives. Two kernels the semester after that.

Now I'm not very smort, so I'm not going to grad school.
http://www.ece.utoronto.ca/Current_Undergraduate_Studies/program/Curriculum_Streams.htm

1. Communications: Professor T.J. Lim
2. Systems Control: Professor Raymong Kwong
3. Computer Engineering: Professor Baochun Li
4. Electronics: Professor Wai Tung Ng
5. Electromagnetics: Professor Micah Stickel,
6. Energy Systems: Professor Zeb Tate
7. Biomedical: Professor Kevin Truong
8. Photonics: Professor Joyce Poon

I kinda just want a stream that will offer me a job that's easy to find, while at the same time, is interesting. I know these two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but right now it seems that way.

I don't know whether I should be taking these courses on random probabilities and algorithms or which I like, or courses that will go into a field that offers lots of jobs. For those of you that have graduated: what have you found? Does interest really matter that much? Or would you rather have more money?

I suppose it's a grass is always greener sort of thing. Like the money people think what life would've been like if they'd chosen interest instead and vice versa. I thought I'd like this major but now I get jealous of artsies a lot, even though I know that they'll have their difficulties too.

While the UofT does graduate a lot of managers I don't want to be one. I just want a nice, simple job. It doesn't even have to pay too well

Thanks guys!

Links
+ Show Spoiler +

Mai courses
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Assets/UndergradEng Digital Assets/calendar1011/Chapter 8.pdf
My courses as they fit in areas of specialization
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Assets/UndergradEng Digital Assets/calendar1011/ECE.pdf

Marksman

Malaysia523 Posts

February 25 2011 19:54 GMT

Question 1: What is actually interesting for you?

If you want to get a job easier while interesting will be a bit tough if we do not know whats actually interesting.

Just my opinion wise, I'd recommend Systems Control and Energy Systems. This is due to the fact that a lot of industries have systems that are automated or at least require technicians. These systems need to be constructed and thus have a large demand. Large demand = large requirement = available jobs.

Energy systems will help you in multiple fields such as IT or Power related industries. The directive people are looking for is to save energy, being efficient and so on. This field is very wide and should be helpful.

Note, its just my 2 cents.
By: 3rd Year Mechatronic Student

Hidden_MotiveS

Canada2562 Posts

February 25 2011 21:01 GMT

Robotics used to be interesting for me. I'm not as sure anymore, it seems to be too much hardware and hardware debugging, not enough coding, designing, or building.

I'm still into coding, (so is everyone) and optimization theories.
This makes systems control sound pretty cool.

Does anyone have any experience in bioengineering? My dad says that after I graduate undergrad, I can find jobs in the field fixing hospital machinery. Is that true? He's a biochemist so he thinks he can help me find jobs if I go into this field.

_romantic

United States455 Posts

February 25 2011 22:35 GMT

On February 26 2011 04:46 Hidden_MotiveS wrote:
Hi TL, I'm at one of those big crossroads in my life and I need some help picking a curriculum stream.

I'm a computer engineering student, second year, studying at the University of Toronto. I have to pick an area of specialization for third year.

The school hasn't helped us to figure out what we would like to do as a career (fucking douchebags), so I'm turning to you guys.

I have to pick two kernels for next semester, and two technical electives. Two kernels the semester after that.

Now I'm not very smort, so I'm not going to grad school.
http://www.ece.utoronto.ca/Current_Undergraduate_Studies/program/Curriculum_Streams.htm

1. Communications: Professor T.J. Lim
2. Systems Control: Professor Raymong Kwong
3. Computer Engineering: Professor Baochun Li
4. Electronics: Professor Wai Tung Ng
5. Electromagnetics: Professor Micah Stickel,
6. Energy Systems: Professor Zeb Tate
7. Biomedical: Professor Kevin Truong
8. Photonics: Professor Joyce Poon

Thanks guys!

Links
+ Show Spoiler +

Have you ever thought about starting your own company?

If you imagine jobs available as a chart, with industries (aerospace, finance, manufacturing, etc.) as columns and functions (product R&D, sales, marketing, IT) as rows, then I'd imagine CompE must be one of those "enabler" majors that can put you into any industry vertical desired as the designated IT/support function.

There will be some industry verticals in which you can play in more "rows", e.g. if you go work for a computer company you can do R&D, but that might require additional study in the field (MS or PhD).

Generally as IT/support, you're a cost center, so you won't be very satisfied with your job and your prospects for advancement are not that great unless you amass enough expertise to become an independent consultant. (The only other way up in a cost center is to climb on the shoulders of your peers and engage in the petty office politics bullshit that 99% of people hate).

Hidden_MotiveS

Canada2562 Posts

February 26 2011 01:52 GMT

On February 26 2011 07:35 l0st_romantic wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +

On February 26 2011 04:46 Hidden_MotiveS wrote:
"BIG QUOTE"

Have you ever thought about starting your own company?

I have, it sounds like a good idea, but again it's a very large risk for something that I don't believe many people can do.

geometryb

United States1249 Posts

February 26 2011 17:02 GMT

If you're not going to get a masters, i would probably go with computer engineering. If you want to do work in those other fields, most places will want at least a masters.

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