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flux_core
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I'm a 25 year old undergrad, who has just returned to academia after a summer job as an iron worker - which is also the source of my screen name. Now at a community college, I've gotten myself into a "pre-engineering" program which would get me an AA and acceptance into any of Florida's universities for the major I wish to pursue, which is primarily Materials science and Engineering. While my school is able to help me with the course work I have now, none of the advisers or professors can give me any direction towards where to go with a MSE career, and what to expect for a "day in the life". Additionally, because UF, the only school in Florida that offers a MSE program, requires me to pick a specialization by the end of the undergrad degree, I'm trying to figure that out now and do some preparation, instead of simply making a random decision.
While I grew up around computers, I found I also had a great deal of mechanical aptitude in my teens; the last real job I had was Welding. Trying to pick a major that would let me get a little of all of that was a challenge, and I had a great deal of trouble trying to pick between EE or ME. Since material science has its reach into basically everything, that seemed to be a natural step, because I like looking at little details and how it relates to the whole and being able to do a lot of testing and research for a job. Breaking things sounds like a great way to pass a work day.
However, since I have to pick a specialization, I find myself returning back to the original problem! http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/programs/majors/materials.html gives me the choice between Biomaterials, Ceramics, Electronic Materials, Metals and polymers, and I have not been able to find any real information about which specializations are the most in demand, have the most growth, or what not; any information I've found is about MSE in general from bls.org, nothing that grainy seems to be available.
So, in case anyone where is already in the field, or teaching it, which would be the way to go? Which would be the most 'fun' in that I'd get to run tests; which would be marketable, and in what areas? Having moved from a very nice, metropolitan area to the hick region better known as Jacksonville, I cannot think of myself being happy here or anywhere as awful to live in.
Additionally, since Electronic Materials looks like it would have a lot of direct overlap with EE, it makes me wonder if I should just get a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and then go to get a Master's in MSE, or, if I should get a BS in MSE and then get a MSEE.
I apologize for the litany of questions, but I feel I've found a place which can actually offer aid except for recommendations to just put off looking into things and making the decision.
While I grew up around computers, I found I also had a great deal of mechanical aptitude in my teens; the last real job I had was Welding. Trying to pick a major that would let me get a little of all of that was a challenge, and I had a great deal of trouble trying to pick between EE or ME. Since material science has its reach into basically everything, that seemed to be a natural step, because I like looking at little details and how it relates to the whole and being able to do a lot of testing and research for a job. Breaking things sounds like a great way to pass a work day.
However, since I have to pick a specialization, I find myself returning back to the original problem! http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/programs/majors/materials.html gives me the choice between Biomaterials, Ceramics, Electronic Materials, Metals and polymers, and I have not been able to find any real information about which specializations are the most in demand, have the most growth, or what not; any information I've found is about MSE in general from bls.org, nothing that grainy seems to be available.
So, in case anyone where is already in the field, or teaching it, which would be the way to go? Which would be the most 'fun' in that I'd get to run tests; which would be marketable, and in what areas? Having moved from a very nice, metropolitan area to the hick region better known as Jacksonville, I cannot think of myself being happy here or anywhere as awful to live in.
Additionally, since Electronic Materials looks like it would have a lot of direct overlap with EE, it makes me wonder if I should just get a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and then go to get a Master's in MSE, or, if I should get a BS in MSE and then get a MSEE.
I apologize for the litany of questions, but I feel I've found a place which can actually offer aid except for recommendations to just put off looking into things and making the decision.
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