Student getting into EE, any advice? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Joshuamcd22
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 08:11:48 pm
content: Hi,I hope I have but this in the correct section... I apologize if this isn't the right area for this post.I am essentially going to be asking for education advice from people that have become EE’s and may have some insight, into what they found most helpful for them.I'll start by introducing myself; My name is Joshua McDonald, I am a 16 year old homeschooled student that Is very interested in Electrical Engineering; infact I have been interested in anything that beeps, lights up or moves, since the age of 5 (when I took apart a remote control truck I had just gotten for my birthday to see how it works) I have been building stuff ever since, including a CNC, Plasma speaker, Jacobs ladder, Tricopter, and just general fooling around with electronics.I have completed 3 online courses:Introductory Physics 1 with Lab (Georgia Institute of Technology)Introduction to Engineering Mechanics (Georgia Institute of Technology)CS50 (Harvard)and have been getting work experience at a local EE company for the past year and a half.I am currently working on getting my math up to a level where I can take some EE courses online, which requires a bit more calculus then I have right now.I eventually want to have a general knowledge of electrical engineering, to be employable in that field.Ok, now onto my question, knowing what experience/knowledge I currently have, what would you personally recommend I do over the next 2 year? This could be what you wish you did at my age, or what you did at my age, or really anything.Also, are companies, in general, looking for lots of work experience, or lots of schooling, or something in between?Thanks,Josh

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 10:49:02 pm
content: Not many replies here so I'll have a go.I see you are 16, which means you may not yet have a good understanding of what you don't yet know. I certainly didn't know at 16 what was involved in being an engineer and I couldn't dream of what I was yet to learn.I think the answer is, if you aspire to be an EE, that you need to enroll in a college or university and do an EE degree, to bachelors or masters level, whatever you are able. It follows therefore that you ought to study now with that aim in mind.The reason for this is that engineering is a profession, like being a doctor or a lawyer, and it needs a program of study at college level to have the best chance of success in such a profession.I'm sure you will get more replies and opinions in due course...

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 11:22:28 pm
content: Ahh! To be 16 again, repairing televisions and video recorders as an apprentice to my first ever bossI'd like to be 16 again, and have that fresh, enthusiasm which you clearly have (I am only 38, mind)My "advice" to you is this - DO NOT focus on the nay-sayers; focus ONLY on the positive, kind people who encourage you and help you. I am not saying that you should not be realistic in your expectations, but if you let the negative people "convince" you from THEIR experience that something you love with a passion "is not the right thing for you", you'll end up viewing and living your life through their experiences, and not learning from your own.See life as it is; like a roll of film that is continuously playing through the projector. Many people have a bad experience (one SINGLE frame of that continuously playing film), and theyfixateand obsess over that ONE SINGLE event, and allow it to colourtheiroutlook on life, seeing the future as being defined by the past - that IS A LIE; it's called a self-fulfilling prophecy and you will, with experience, be able to discern when people are being genuinely being realistic and advising you gently with love for you and your future, and when people are simply projecting that one (or many) stuck "frame" of film onto your life, expecting your experiences to be as tainted as their's was, because they couldn't let go of that and leave it behind.There's MANY negative people on the internet, as well as there are MANY kind, positive people too. If you get the feeling that someone is bitter and forcing you to see what lies ahead, negatively as they did (and maybe do still), I can only urge you to cut all ties with them and focus clearly on the good people who edify and encourage you. In fact, I'd encourage you to seek people in the "real world" - the physical world (people who you can look at face to face) for advice and guidance, more than anonymous people online."Hurt people hurt people" - if you have not been filled with love, nurtured and encouraged in life, you do not have that to give out to others - many people do not have that to give, so STEER CLEAR... and remember:God loves you - you can do many things, and you WILL do many things. You are a fantastic person, and you are well and able, and of a sound, clear mind. I encourage you to seek your destiny, and I shall certainly be praying for you to feel encouraged my friend, as I learnt from TWO AMAZING bosses when I was your age, both of whom were personal friends of mine (and still are) and they stood me in good stead for my life, and I still thank God for the blessing of an amazing start in my career as an electroncs technician and a general tinkererTake care - keep us posted. You're FULL of potential - GRAB IT!

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 12:36:33 am
content: I echo roland's words. God has only good things planned for you. I also agree with IanB. Education is a most powerful tool. Take another 2 years to get your math and science up to college level standards. Also, don't leave out everything else, history, art, English, possibly a 2nd language, geography, sociology and so on. Make sure your education is as rounded as you can make it. It will stand you in good stead when you get to college. Good luck and never stop reaching for the stars.

author: slowaudio
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 01:49:15 am
content: "Ok, now onto my question, knowing what experience/knowledge I currently have, what would you personally recommend I do over the next 2 year?"Honestly, enjoy yourself. Maybe pick a project that it more fun than work, but that's pushing it. As a 5th year EE student, juggling a work and school schedule, I relish the simpler days.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:04:40 am
content: I am going to be one of those "negative" people.You say you are "home schooled".If this means you have been shielded from the "rough & tumble" of normal school life,& been surrounded by people that love you,you will be in for a shock when you go to University.In theory,people who get to Uni are the "intellectual elite",& have long grown out of acting like schoolboys (& schoolgirls),but this is not often the case.I know this sounds like "harden up,Princess",but it isn't meant that way,its just that people "in the wild"are not as nice as your family,so you need to be a bit cautious.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:11:59 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on January 16, 2014, 02:04:40 amHome schooled does not mean locked in a room all your life, never having been in contact with peers.LOL!

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:44:29 am
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 16, 2014, 02:11:59 amIt can,if you live in the country.When I went to High school after doing "correspondence lessons" for years,it scared the poop out of me.You may associate with your "peers",but not the really aggressive ones!And strangely enough,some of these Psychos will be smart enough to make it to Uni!

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:47:40 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on January 16, 2014, 02:44:29 amI respect your view - that was yourpersonalexperience, however; that doesn't mean that what you believe will happen to everyone else@ OP: As was said before - focus on the encouraging people mate

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 03:41:20 am
content: I'd say you have a good attitude, as well as a good start (already pursuing useful/needed material on your own, such as calculus).As per what to recommend you study right now, I say follow your interests. Even if it's all over the place, you'll get exposure to things you may find useful, and better be able to decide a few more details as to the path you want to take (EE is pretty big, so lots of different opportunities). Part of the learning aspect, is building stuff. But most of all, have fun.Might want to see if you can get some experience at a local EE company if possible, even if it's unpaid. You can meet some great people that could help mentor you this way, even after you've moved on (make great references too, when you've graduated and are out looking for a job later on).I'm also withIanBand others, particularly on the university education aspect. Will be much easier to get started in the field this way, and allow you to climb the ladder better than someone that doesn't have it.Do understand, the further you progress, the pressure will increase.But don't be afraid of this. By taking it on gradually (you've already started IMHO with online university course exposure), you'll be better prepared to handle it when you reach university and so on.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 04:49:16 am
content: A few points:1. A University education, including a bachelor's degree, will open more doors in this field than anything else. Aim to graduate from a good school with a bachelor's degree. At this point, that means you should be studying as much math and science as you can, and working on figuring out which school to attend.2. Pursue your passion. People who do what they're enthusiastic about are much better at it than people who are in it for the money, or for job security, or whatever other reason.3. It sounds like you're pretty well set on a career path. Congratulations! Few 16-year-olds have their career path so clearly in their sights. I'll just point out that it's ok to get slightly sidetracked. If you go to a large engineering school, you'll probably find that much of the first couple of years of engineering is the same across different engineering fields. Don't be afraid to explore a few related fields, and maybe pursue some interest there. For example, someone who understands both mechanical and electrical engineering might be well suited to work in robotics. Not that I want to steer you toward another field, but if you have the kind of aptitude that opens doors in EE, it will also open doors in related fields. It's also OK to stick with the EE plan all the way. Even if you stay strictly EE, it's always good to have some fundamental understanding of other aspects of different engineering fields.4. Don't become so absorbed in EE that you neglect all the other interesting things the world has to offer. Pursue something else, too -- music, camping, athletics, photography, astronomy, whatever you find interesting. Be a whole person, not only an engineer.5. I notice you have good spelling and grammar. Congratulations! You will have a significant advantage over some of your peers who may be good technicians but poor communicators. When working with others (and almost everyone works with others), communications skills are hugely important. Cultivate your writing skills.

author: Joshuamcd22
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 06:18:39 am
content: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@rolandpenplotterThanks so much for you advice!One of this things I have been doing recently is trying to find someone locally that can mentor me as I go thorough the last, most important stages of education.I do ask questions at the EE company that I get Work Experience at, but that's 1 company, and I would like to get a more well rounded perspective. So that I am generally employable, not just by that 1 company--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@vk6zoThat is actually one of the first things people often ask me, when I mention that I am home schooled: "does that mean that you have been shielded from the real world, and kept locked in a room?"To be entirely honest, I know multiple other home-schoolers that fit this description perfectly.I on the other hand believe, (although I am admittedly biased, as I am talking about myself) that I do not fall into that camp. I don't live in the "country" and have plenty of real word experience with peers (including the psychos). Now, admittedly, I do have less experience dealing with peers then someone who went to a public school. My experience is in a much wider age range, IE: I'm just as comfortable interacting with someone my own age, as I am with someone who is 5 times my age.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@nanofrogI have actually been getting (unpaid) work experience at a local EE company for about a year and a half; and I have found it incredibly valuable, and like you said, it will make a great reference later on!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@AG6QR2: Engineering in general is definitely my passion, I will often work through lunch at the EE company I am getting (unpaid) work experience at, simply because I am enjoying what I am doing!5: Thanks for the kind words! Being able to communicate effectively is something that I definitely value. I don't know if you are familiar with Toast Masters (http://www.toastmasters.org/), but I am involved in a youth version of the program, intact I am actually the president.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Finally I want to get a bit of feedback on the best way to peruse a collage education.The availability of online education is changing, and in some cases removing the need to go to a physical collage. I do however see the advantages of actually going to a collage when it comes to engineering in general, as you gain experience working with equipment and components that you just cant get online.This is my plan as it stands so far, and I want to get some feedback on it: Continue working on math and other subjects needed to take collage level EE courses, then take a few online courses in EE, including:https://www.coursera.org/course/circuitshttps://6002x.mitx.mit.edu/https://www.edx.org/course/utaustinx/utaustinx-ut-6-01x-embedded-systems-1172etc...Once that is done, I would then work for a few years at an EE company, this work could be in manufacturing... whatever; this would allow me to determine what field of EE I am most interested in.At that point, I would actually go to a university.What is your opinion on that plan, is it something that you think could work out for me, or do you think a more traditional rout would be better?Thanks,Josh

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 06:45:46 am
content: Quote from: AG6QR on January 16, 2014, 04:49:16 amYou forgot to list one interesting thing the world has to offer to 16 year olds (or is that illegal in the US?): Girls, or whatever else floats his boat.Maybe one remark, since it wasn't clearly mentioned. A large part of EE and of studying it is not about repairing TVs or soldering parts. That's more what they (should) teach technicians and apprentices. It is good if you know it and can do it, but you won't see much, if anything, of this during university. Studying EE is more about theory than practice.Oh, and the field people end up working in is often only determined after they have studied. It is more the exception than the norm that someone who focused on field X during his EE studies really ends up working in field X. Some stay close to it, some move away further.I once saw some statistics of the work old EE engineers do. Something like 70% were not even working in EE at all, except maybe nominally. They moved to management, running businesses, doing something completely different. Some became video bloggers :-) I don't see that as a bad thing, but that EE studies gives you a good start to do a lot of things.And what do companies want? Well, companies are strange creatures. They want everything, even if they don't need it, all at once. And they want it for free. Like the mystical 23 year old with 10 years of job experience, an EE masters and a PhD, fluently in several languages, international experience, doing 12 hour/day shifts, including weekends, doubeling as everything from the janitor to the mechanical engineer, for not even so much as a thank you. The good news is, companies do settle for less if they don't get someone like this. E.g. they know a young EE fresh out of university typically has no work experience. If you have to offer a bit of work experience you already have a competitive edge over a lot of the other applicants.Edit: Something companies like is young people. Not the least because they are cheaper, don't have an opinion and are easier to indoctrinate with company propaganda. So don't wait too long until you go to university.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 06:55:48 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on January 16, 2014, 02:04:40 amMan, people have some misconceptions about homeschool.If you are a homeschooler, you understand all this. This is absolutely true.Oh, and for the homeschooler, hopefully you will find this video entertaining. The sequels are great too!Speaking from experience (I was homeschooled from K-10th grade. That's a LONG time), it's not as hard to adjust as you think. I started sophomore year, being public schooled for the first time in my life. The hardest thing for me was learning all the rules and stuff, not dealing with people. Sure there are a whole lot more people to deal with but it's not like "oh my gosh. Finding Nemo did NOT prepare me for this". Homeschooling is NOT staying home alone, doing nothing, and having no life. I had social interaction with people all throughout my homeschooling. And it honestly made me pissed when my school counselor got wind that I was homeschooled and suggested that I not graduate a year ahead of classes because of the "social interaction" I would gain. People think I've never talked to another human being before, but when I talk to adults people are shocked because I can actually have a conversation with them. That's not to say every homeschooler isn't locked in a room, indeed some are, but be careful making generalizations.To the OP: keep going with this, you're actually ahead of me in all this! If you are homeschooled and working a job, you're getting lots of skills you're going to need in business. Obviously to make it this far you've got to be pretty dang smart- and you are. Just looking at your communication skills and level of writing I'm betting you're a straight- A student. Keep up with your schoolwork, but make sure to take time to explore other options and have fun. Personally, I'd keep going with electronics but make sure it doesn't take up your life. One day you'll find a sport (Bowling is fun!) or a team or something you want to be a part of and you can't do that if you're working all the time.

author: Abstr7ct
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 11:06:03 am
content: If you decided to enroll into a university program, then expect a 4-5 years of electrical engineering theory with very little practice in comparison. I'm in my 5th year and I lack good practical skills, let alone that some theoretical concepts have already been forgotten due to the fact that they're provided in a compressed 3-4 months semester, with no linking between the theory, the applications and the practice in a lot of cases. A lot of material was just mathematical derivations and graphs, more like voodooing, with no insight on how these symbols connect to the practical world. You don't get enough time for outside reading and practice because you will be overloaded with college work like majors, homeworks, reports...etc.I'm no trying to scare you or lure you into thinking that studying EE in university isn't good, but I'm just telling you an experience that I'm still going through. University can't teach you everything theoretical and practical, but I think they're doing their best with the current acceptable model. However, truth must be told that the current model isn't suitable for a practice-oriented mind.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 11:26:36 am
content: Go to easiest and least problematic school that will give you the official degree. The less the effort the better. Spend your time to learn on your own - technical schools and universities will not teach you anything useful. Read stuff: books (eg. Horowitz and Tietze & Schenk), online tutorials, dissect old and new equipment, experiment, read, read, read and then experiment more. Don't fall for easy stuff, say no to toys like [insert-random-string-here]-uino.Your degree has nothing to do with your skills, but your future employers expect you to have both and you cannot get true skills in school.Simply put: Play Hard, Go Pro. Worked for me...

author: IntegratedValve
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 03:46:26 pm
content: My one and only one advice for a fresh young man/woman is MAKE YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND NEVER WORK FOR OTHERS. Yes I'm yelling my anger and desperation. Plan it well from the beginning before you head to the "institute of jokers". The only thing you will get from there is a piece of paper that will open hell gates for you. They train you to be a slave to merciless asshole employers. Very late in life you will find that your employer has no degree.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 05:17:56 pm
content: Quote from: IntegratedValve on January 16, 2014, 03:46:26 pm^To the OP: Another prime example of someone offering "advice" based on theirownpersonal, negative experience, (as I mentioned in my first response to youabout not taking on board all the negative people) which does not determine what yours will be.This is one reason why I mentioned that you could be better served by talking to people *face to face*, getting to know them, and when you know you can trust them, listening to their advice; people with whom you have spent time in their presence; the internet is devoid of this completely.@IntegratedValveThis is not "advice", this is your anger for the negativity YOU have experienced, being used to shape this person's path; unwise, to say the least.I don't think it is very considerate to hand out "advice" which is based on PERSONAL experience, and which could quite easily be based on individuals YOU encountered, and myriad other variables.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 05:42:04 pm
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 16, 2014, 05:17:56 pmDoesn't the very definition of advice imply that it's based off of personal experience? No offense, but I'm not seeing how anyone could give out "advice" without it being based on personal experience. Even yours. The OP asked for some advice and got some, it's up to him to listen to it or not.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 05:45:42 pm
content: Advice isbasedon personal experience, yes. Butsomeadvice makes consideration for the fact that other people have different experiences. Some does not.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 06:34:18 pm
content: Aspiring to start your own business is an admirable idea. However, many start-up businesses fail (perhaps most of them). A person will be much better placed to succeed in starting their own business with an engineering degree under their belt followed by a few years in the workplace learning first hand how businesses do (and don't) work.If you do a survey of the VP's and CEO's of major engineering businesses you will find many of them trained as engineers. Professional engineering contains a large element of financial accounting and cost management, business planning and project management. That is experience that serves well in executive roles.

author: IntegratedValve
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 07:03:06 pm
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 16, 2014, 05:17:56 pmOk sorry next time I will give an "advice" based on delusional and dreamy experiences.

author: Joshuamcd22
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 02:34:26 am
content: So, I've heard some mixed reviews on collage in general, from people where I work and people on this form. What is your opinion on the needed college education for an EE???

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 02:53:36 am
content: Quote from: Joshuamcd22 on January 17, 2014, 02:34:26 amdepends on your definition of EE. (typically, EE = Electrical Engineering ala most general term)do you intend to do electronics design/development/etc, say for Boeing or perhaps Westinghouse Nuclear (or one of their consumer divisions, megacorp has it's hands in basically everything) - probably going to want you to have a degree.you could join a startup, or perhaps get in through various networking channels = maybe no degree.do you intend to do power engineering ala power company, either plant or field, etc.or consulting for xyz?or research into xyz?ridiculously wide field for EEs. some require you to be a PEng (which in Canada, requires a degree in an engineering field (even tangentially))some will want you to have an MEng, perhaps not required but the coursework adds much information.others want your PhD (ie research, to patent everything that could make them a buck - again, or academic), or for consulting: lets you fluff your fees - again, depending on what exactly you're consulting on.short version: HR-types like acronyms behind your name and pieces of paper which say you've achieved something.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 04:14:35 am
content: Quote from: Joshuamcd22 on January 17, 2014, 02:34:26 amI mentioned above that you really don't know what it is that you don't know. So if you try to teach yourself, you won't be sure that you are covering everything appropriate, or that your understanding is good enough. On the other hand a university is full of people who have a good idea of what you ought to know (and an accredited degree program has been reviewed by others in the field to affirm this). By going through a college degree program you will be fairly confident of coming out of it with a good grounding in the subject and a good preparation for beginning your professional career.Youcantry to go it alone, but it will likely take longer, be harder work, and you will always have that credibility gap with your peers where you have to go the extra mile to convince them to take you seriously.Whatever anyone tells you, engineering is a profession where college matters. If you doubt this, ask yourself if you would be happy being treated by a self-taught doctor, one who has only read books and taken online courses?

author: IntegratedValve
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 04:34:05 am
content: QuoteAnd seriously how is this any different than doing it at college? At least I'm free to pick the lecturer/book I want.Academia is heading in a different direction and it will not be too long before we see a new system taking over, which is online learning. It's already under experimentation. To catch up with new technology and market demands you need a fast-paced learning system to be in place.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 04:42:11 am
content: Distance learning has always been there and certainly may become more common in the future. In the UK, for example, you have the Open University, which is a highly respected institution. The key thing is that you have a formal program with a carefully designed curriculum, project work, assessment, access to tutors to help you with questions when you don't understand things, and a recognized qualification at the end of it.

author: Falcon69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 05:08:55 am
content: Joshua,If you are serious about being an Electronic Engineer, get started early.I waited 22 years out of high school to go back and learn to be a mechanical engineer, big mistake.Don't wait. Your learning curve gets worse the longer you wait. You get older; your capacity to learn diminishes. At a younger age, as you are 16, you learn and retain memory much better and easier.With that said...Electronic Engineering requires about the same amount of mathematics and other studies as mechanical engineering, perhaps even more. Speaking from experience, start studying up right now on mathematics. Don't worry too much about calculus right now, as you are 16 and still have 2 years to go till college. Unless you are in a state like Washington which has a running start program where 16 year old students are attending college already. Nothing like being 40 years old, in college, and more than half the students are 16 years old. That really makes you feel old. LOL. But you being home schooled, most likely you would not be able to get into that program.Anyway, right now, start concentrating and spending any free time you have on Algebra and Trigonometry. You will need to be VERY VERY good in those before you can excel in calculus. Calculus is very algebra and trigonometry heavy.If you can afford it, hire a tutor to help you.Buy college level trigonometry and algebra books and start looking at those and figuring out how the problems are done.www.KhanAcademy.orgis a great site for learning mathematics, as well as other subjects.Also, you will need to know Physics as well as Chemistry. I'm not sure how much you need for those to get your required credits for an EE, but for mechanical, I needed 3 classes of each, at the community college, then more once I get to the University.I want to also say one other thing...If you go on to get your masters in EE or mechanical, if you choose too, because it is so math heavy you would only need a few more classes to get a masters in Mathematics, which with that you could be a professor to a community college. So, you could have two Masters degrees, for the price (pretty much) of one!Just make sure this is what you rally want to do. You are allowed to change majors, but if you are using financial aid, I think you are limited to the number of times you can change your major. Also, It would suck to study and go almost all the way, then to realize that you really wanted to be a Nurse (or other profession) instead.Hope I helped!Jason

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 06:30:53 am
content: Quote from: Joshuamcd22 on January 17, 2014, 02:34:26 amYes, you need one. Yes, there are always people who will tell you no one needs one and it is a waste of time. But you can identify a few types:The lucky ones.Just because they managed to get by without doesn't mean you will be one of the lucky ones. In fact, you never hear from those who weren't lucky. Try the shady corner of your city where the bums hang out.The "I could have if I cared, I can if I would care" ones.Those are often the most annoying ones. They will tell you at every opportunity they could have gotten a degree if they just cared. But they were and are to cool to care to get a degree. Yeah ... They like to vary this with statements like it's so easy to get a degree, anyone can get one, but they haven't one because they didn't care, not because they couldn't, because anyone can, and it is soooo unfair they don't get the job they want (repeat in endless loop).Hic rhodus, hic salta!.The "just look at the poster child genius/criminal/lucky one" ones.Those pointing at others as "prove" you don't need one, while they aren't part of the group they refer to. Especially very funny if they themselves went the classic way of earning a degree at a college/university, or combined with the "I could if I cared" type.The anti-establishment ones.They will tell you you need to stand up and make a statement to show evil HR and evil corporations that you can get by without. Good luck with your fight to change the world single-handed.The "it is all a big conspiracy" ones.Yeah ... Very similar to the previous ones.The technician believing what he does is engineering.No, most technicians don't do this. But you do find engineers with a degree, and self-styled "engineers", effectively working as technicians, and they wrongly conclude that engineering is all about what they do (soldering cans, and consequently there is no need to learn all that university stuff.If you sort out these types, and certainly a few more, you'll find it is a rather good idea to get a formal engineering education. And as others said, get it while you are young, don't wait. Unless you are:The very rare genius.The very rare case where a pure genius, without luck (see above) and without criminal activities made it. When I write very rare, I mean very rare. Any self-styled "genius" doesn't count. Criminal geniuses don't count. Only those who made it, without criminal or other dodgy activities count. Any sign of this in you? Or just the normal ingenuity, good enough for becoming an engineer?

author: IntegratedValve
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2014, 03:48:41 pm
content: EE degree does not make of someone genius. It may give some sort of confidence...but it does not matter, if you can do it you will with/out degree. However there are many degreed types especially the Masters and PhDs try to degrade the self-taught simply competition. They feel challenged especially at work where real knowledge is not on papers any more.