and I should be happy for them but I have this sense of bitterness within that I can't get rid of. The story: I was a EE student who shifted course to IE. I was their classmate, we had many social gatherings, I was able to keep up with them academically until the third year when the course became too uninteresting for my tastes. They were more focused than I was, able to understand subjects like Thermodynamics and Electrical Circuits, and this ultimately lead to me deciding to change course because I knew that if I couldn't be the best of the class, I would never be the best at my job. Note: I barely failed any subjects under EE, and was not forced or anything to change course... it was simply my choice alone, that my heart wasn't into what EE is all about. Why I took IE instead of any other course? I took an aptitude test that basically said I was matchmade for IE, and after 2 years in, I'd say that's about right. I think it's a field I could excel in; not too difficult or too easy but just about right. Doesn't particularly deal with math or the sciences too much, and is more on statistics and qualititative analysis, which I like. So what's the prob? It is a popular view that IE is the 'lesser' of all the Engineering courses. It doesn't even have a board exam. This makes me feel inadequate, especially the fact that my EE classmates are now on their way to have a successful, guaranteed future now that they have passed their board exam. While I still have one year left of this course, with the likelihood that when I start my career it would never be up to their level money-wise... I know in life you have to accept that some people are just flat out better than you, but it's hard. I kept up with them, side by side, but decided to quit, what if I tried harder? Those are the thoughts running in my mind. Yeah, in life you should never compare yourself with others. Everyone has their own path, etc. etc. I just hate feeling inferior. Anyone ever had this feeling?
My bad... I should have clarified, EE stands for electrical engineering and IE stands for industrial engineering. also, the board exam is a difficult exam that many usually fail on their first take.
In your post, you said you quit on your own accord, but then you said, "What if I tried harder?"... Which one of these is correct? I guess both could be, but it doesn't seem very forthcoming. I'm 24. I started my "career" at 20 (two months shy of 21). I went to some college, and a technical school. I watched a lot of the kids I graduated high school with go off to colleges and do well. I told myself over and over again that I wasn't set up with an opportunity to go off to college (despite being in the top 5% of my class, I definitely did not have the foundation at home to head off to college). So, I went to technical school, graduated at the top of my class, got my certificate, took my boards, got a job, got named employee of the month within my first 18 months on the job, etc. etc. I felt inferior all the while anyways. I saw other kids that I graduated with (the "burnouts") going to the same school and doing well. I told myself that if they could do the same schooling, I needed to do something better. Three years later, I have a decent paying job (I probably don't make as much as some of my friends from high school do right now, but I make enough to get by), little debt (my 2,000 dollars in school loans are looking a lot better than their 100,000 dollars), a house, and a happy life. I couldn't ask for more. At the same time, I'm also at that point to where I'm just about to finish up my first wave of extra schooling, and next August, I'll start the second part. My long-winded point: It's not about where you start out. It's about staying true to yourself, and where you end up. As long as you're happy, you're good. You can't spend life comparing yourself to others, because there is always going to be someone that has done more than you. Do you IE (Industrial Engineering, I'm assuming) job for a few years, and see what happens. Work your ass off, and see where you go. If you're not where you want to be, lower your head and do your work to get there. It's a continuous cycle.
here is my edit: an exam for engineering graduates to become registered/ official engineers. there are board exams for nurses too.
Because you don't have to take an exam to become an engineer in the US.... But anyway, my advice is to go with industrial engineering over electrical engineering. It's an easier job with better looking women and equal pay.
You'd have to apply for your P.Eng/PE...for foreign students there is usually an exam and a requirement to have completed certain courses. Its not to difficult to find this information online, if you were seriously interested you'd already know this.
Btw, can you share what else you know about industrial engineers? Whats your experience with them & how easy is it? Pretty women, eh?
What does the P in PE stand for? This has all been very informative... Ill check all of this out. Thank you.
