Comments on: Mechanical Engineering?

By: gatorbai

gatorbai — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:27:44 +0000

Well there a few things to consider here:
1) Where do you want to get a job?
Certain companies are more selective that others. Companies like Boeing or Lockheed or other similarly large and “prestigious” companies are going to have a lot more people applying, and so will be a lot more strict with their hiring criteria. Consulting firms are another group that tend to have high standards. They will not give you a job based solely on a GPA, but they have enough people applying that they actually can deny people jobs based on GPA and still get people with high GPAs that ARE good workers.
2) What other experience do you have?
Internships go a long way to help you get jobs. You can make up for a somewhat weak GPA by having good experience out in actual industry. Having experience in your field of interest, and to a greater extent, the company’s field, will help you out even more.
3) What school do you go to?
I know it sounds pompous, but most companies DO weight your application at least somewhat on what school your degree comes from. If you come from a more well-known engineering school, they will think “well his GPA could be a little better, but he went to this school, so it was probably harder there and we should give him some leeway.” On top of this, a lot of employers have certain schools that they have had a lot of success in hiring quality people from in the past, and so they will give lots of weight to those schools.
4) What is the strength of the rest of your overall resume?
Companies usually like to see that you did things other than just bury your nose in a book all the time. If you have other activities that you did or other awards, they like that, particularly if it was leadership. Another GREAT thing to have on a resume… Eagle Scout.
Anyway, it comes down to more than just GPA, you have to consider the whole package. There are a lot of those “prestigious” companies that require a minimum 3.0 GPA to get hired, which is not too high, but still rules out some people, so be aware of that. Having greater than a 3.0 will put you in great shape though, so if you are above that, you are probably worrying for the wrong reason. I am a senior in ME, and got offered a job at General Dynamics last month, a full 7 months before I even graduate, and my GPA is only 3.17 and 3.4 within the ME curriculum.

By: Douglas L

Douglas L — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:06:11 +0000

I don’t believe that undergrad grades are all that important if you do not plan to study for a masters degree. If you can graduate with average grades you can get a good job in engineering.
Students with the best grades do not always make the best engineers, or employees for that matter, and the people that do the hiring know this.
If you take an extra year to graduate, it could cost you $50,000 to $60,000 in wages because you will still be in school instead of working, plus, to that you have to add the extra cost of another year of school which could be what?, another $10,000 to $15,000, or more??
I doubt that you will ever make up that amount of money in wages by graduating with better grades.

By: Tony B

Tony B — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:26:46 +0000

I graduated In Mechanical Engineering long ago. I had 17 job interviews before I finished fourth year. I have had many more since.
Almost never was I asked about my marks.They only care that you have the degree and will fit in. I suspect things are still the same today. I would go with the four years. If you want to advance your career, pay someone to write your resume. Someone good that does it for a living. Hire a coach to teach you how sell yourself in an interview. Learn how to research companies. Learn how to pick winner companies and avoid loser companies. I wish someone had told me and convinced me of this when I was in fourth year.

By: engin33r

engin33r — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:21:51 +0000

I work as an aviation engineer for the military. So let me break this down for you. The government assigns you a pay scale right out of college based on your GPA. I started out making $6,000 more than other individuals I got hired with because my grades were higher then them.
And in most places in the defense industry are like that. Their are tons of companies that want the cream of the crop, not the B- students cruising through school. The reason why for this is missiles need to hit the target and helicopters need not to crash for the defense industry to work.
And if you still think I’m blowing smoke up your butt. I’m on the recruitment committee at the aviation organization I work at. So trust me I know what I’m talking about. Interviewing well is important , but being technical sound is so so needed out in the industry. Hell it took me over 5 yrs to graduate, but it was worth it in the end I got the greatest job right out of college. And I wouldn’t have been offered it if my grades weren’t good.

By: Matt S

Matt S — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:43:43 +0000

can you not finish in 4 years with good grades? just work harder
i am in second year of mechanical engineering and i think its better to finish it instead of extending it..unless your going to masters and then PHD, in that case do whatever it takes to get the highest marks
I don’t think alot of companies care that much about the marks if you are average or a little above average.