Is there any benefit in majoring Mechanical Engineering to Chinese Language? I know there is a benefit for either over History or any non-technical degree but does either majors have an advantage over the other?
Is there any benefit in majoring Mechanical Engineering to Chinese Language? I know there is a benefit for either over History or any non-technical degree but does either majors have an advantage over the other?
Is there any benefit in majoring Mechanical Engineering to Chinese Language? I know there is a benefit for either over History or any non-technical degree but does either majors have an advantage over the other?
As Mom of an Elec/Comp Engineering major... Unless you are one of those strange people that can learn anything regardless of how much interest you have in it, I would not go the Engineering route unless it was something you REALLY wanted to do for yourself. I am sure there are many out there that can get a 4.0 as an Engineering major even if they hated it, but for the average ME or ECE student that is not the case. It is a lot of work and effort to put in to something that you are feeling "so-so" about. It is arguably the hardest major, and if there is anything else out there that you REALLY want to do don't settle for ME, because that is what you would be doing to yourself. DS and I spent a long time deciding and he wasn't even sure until the end of this first semester that he wanted to stay in it. I wanted him to be in ECE because HE wanted it for himself.. Not NROTC, nor anything but "Do you find it interesting and can you see yourself enjoying going to work for the next 40 years in that career field if the Navy isn't your career? Just my thoughts.. good luck.
I don't know what year you are in school but you really don't take any classes that will have relevance in a future career until your junior and senior years. The classes you take your freshman and sophomore year are foundation courses that are necessary for your upper division classes but don't really provide any insight to skills you will develop and use as a mechanical engineer. I would suggest seeking out a few mechanical engineers and see what they do. I think you will find them doing everything and you may find more in technical fields doing non-engineering/design type work than you will find doing engineering/design work.I really never thought of myself 40 years from now. With all of the frustration I've had trying to study engineering I just realize that I can't really see myself being an engineer for the next 40 years. I do though, see a degree in Chinese may be helpful as I would be fluent in three languages (Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English). Thank you for that insight ma'am.
My son is an AROTC MS I at a big 10 U, in Chem Eng. He spent HS junior year in Brazil and gap year in Taiwan. It was total immersion in both places. You will find no bigger advocate of foreign language learning than me. I did the same thing in the 70's behind the iron curtain. Its where his mom and I met.
That having been said, despite his knack for languages, there are only a few avenues for the pure language major: teach or go get a degree in something else. Only one of those options doesn't involve learning a new trade. It doesn't have to be Eng. It could be business, Econ, or even Recreation Science.
Our advice since the beginning was to learn a real skill, like engineering, but every chance you get, go hard as heck after a language. I mean go all the way. The military has all kinds of summer programs like CULP, language schools and ROTC will even pay you to take certain strategic languages during college. There are all kinds of summer immersion programs that are cheap or free.
The entire world thinks Americans are arrogant about learning other languages, so folks are pleasantly shocked to meet an American who can speak another tongue. I lived it personally. I witnessed it yesterday. We went to the neighborhood chinese restaurant. They all remembered my son from the summer as the blond hair, blue eyed midwestern kid, who asked for a job in Chinese. It would work the same if you are working for Pratt and Whitney and trying to sell jet engines. It also works the same with girls. I have two sons and a wife of 31 years to prove it. It may even help you with one of the gazillion university teaching assistants who barely even speak English.
It can be chinese or any one of many languages, but whichever one you choose you should use it to augment your career, not be your career. Believe me, the dinner invitations and free beers are great. It is an excellent way to challenge yourself and to learn what makes other people tick. However, when you look for a job, you will be much better served with the Mech Eng degree.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask and best of luck.
I don't know what year you are in school but you really don't take any classes that will have relevance in a future career until your junior and senior years. The classes you take your freshman and sophomore year are foundation courses that are necessary for your upper division classes but don't really provide any insight to skills you will develop and use as a mechanical engineer. I would suggest seeking out a few mechanical engineers and see what they do. I think you will find them doing everything and you may find more in technical fields doing non-engineering/design type work than you will find doing engineering/design work.
It is hard but my experience was that the first 1-1/2 to 2 years were the most difficult.
Is there any benefit in majoring Mechanical Engineering to Chinese Language? I know there is a benefit for either over History or any non-technical degree but does either majors have an advantage over the other?
I really appreciate the opinions. I'm going for an AFROTC or AROTC scholarship just to clear things up. After taking a few engineering classes my interest in engineering dropped, but I still think about how much job security I would have once I get out of the military. Another thing I want to know is that does your major affect your branch slot/afsc? If I was to major in Chinese would the Army/Air Force make me become a translator or intel officer? Would they make me become an engineer if I major in Mechanical engineering? When I looked at the Air Force officer jobs at military about, I saw many career fields with degree requirements so I wondered if they assign jobs by degrees.
I really never thought of myself 40 years from now. With all of the frustration I've had trying to study engineering I just realize that I can't really see myself being an engineer for the next 40 years. I do though, see a degree in Chinese may be helpful as I would be fluent in three languages (Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English). Thank you for that insight ma'am.
Is there any benefit in majoring Mechanical Engineering to Chinese Language? I know there is a benefit for either over History or any non-technical degree but does either majors have an advantage over the other?
I really appreciate the opinions. I'm going for an AFROTC or AROTC scholarship just to clear things up. After taking a few engineering classes my interest in engineering dropped, but I still think about how much job security I would have once I get out of the military. Another thing I want to know is that does your major affect your branch slot/afsc? If I was to major in Chinese would the Army/Air Force make me become a translator or intel officer? Would they make me become an engineer if I major in Mechanical engineering? When I looked at the Air Force officer jobs at military about, I saw many career fields with degree requirements so I wondered if they assign jobs by degrees.
DukeFool said:Learning Chinese is still my interest but I can wait once I'm in the military to learn the language.
I should point out- that the huge majority of the jobs in the United States ARE NOT in the government or the military contracting jobs and anybody who thinks so has lived in Northern Virginia for far too long. Who does actually employ the vast majority of the population here and around the world? The private sector does, and the jobs that actually are value added- and pay accordingly are mostly in Industries that design or build hard goods or digital products. Boeing; Pratt & Whitney;Sikorsky; Siemens; Emerson; Bechtel, Parsons; Ford; Thyssen-Krupp; Northrop Grumman; Saint Gobain; 3M; Alcoa; Microsoft; Apple ;etc... (the list is almost infinite) - ALL employ millions of employees around the world (My company has 255,000 employees alone). They move people to locations around the world, and they can get employees from around the word who speak a language. What they need are people who possess the skills they need First and then can speak the language as well. They value engineering backgrounds - in factIn the AF world the engineering degree will open some more doors, but these doors maybe something like Test Pilot School. To become a TPS candidate you must have an engineering degree, it is a condition of eligibility.
Now if you don't want to be a Test Pilot they couldn't care less what your major is in the rated world. DS is a Govt/Int'l Relations major and he has a UPT slot.
It will come down to your OML. If engineering is dragging down your gpa because you despise it, change your majors. By remaining in it you are hurting yourself regarding your ability to be commissioned.
The gpa as a C200 will be a player in the selection process for SFT. You can't afford to get a ding there.
As far as Chinese, I totally disagree with anyone that says it equals no job. However, I live in No VA, and that may be the reason why. In this area, especially with a TS clearance that you would get via the AF, you wold be able to call your salary with many companies, including defense contractors.
Look at China's AF and how they are bringing out their new generation fighter jet. Booze Allen is going to want someone who can interpret Chinese for their company.
Govt agencies and Lobbyist will need them for the exact same reason.
I do agree that companies like McDonald's or Apple may send them to China to work there, because of that language experience, but there are also many jobs here stateside, and very very few of the applicant's will have that golden ticket known as Top Secret Clearance.
Now here is the negative flipside, you actually may pigeon hole yourself into a career, probably Intel. For example, if they need 10 Lts. with Chinese as their degree, but only have 5, you can bet they will place you into a career that is to utilize your assets, which is Chinese. If you want to fly, you may land up not being able to even compete for a UPT slot because your career field is under manned.
If you don't want to fly, but go Intel, I would tell you go for it. You will enter with a degree that has less supply than the demand, which is what you always want to have.
You may also find yourself rotating less often are to specific places due to the needs of the AF. For example, they may place you at the Pentagon or PacAF HQ often.
If you do go this route, be smart and get a Master's as soon as you can because more than likely you could also later on get one of the sweetest deals out there...AFA instructor. You would also want to get your doctorate at some point, but if you plot your career correctly the AF will pay for you to get it somewhere around your LTC point. Several of our friends got theirs from Harvard, not in Chinese, but you get the drift, if your career field will benefit from a doctorate, that means the AF will and that is why they will pay for you to get it in residence.
Finally, understand that you need to decide which career path you want rated or non-rated because that is truly the biggest factor for you currently.
Bullet was an engineering major, flew fighters for 21 yrs, now works on the 35, but not in engineering per se because he is sr. mgmt as a GS at the Pentagon for AF. He does not design anything on the 35, Lockheed engineers do that. His degree in college as an engineer was never utilized to it's potential because he went rated. It helped him in the flying world from a flying perspective, but it didn't get him a rated slot, just like our DS who is non-tech. What got him that slot was success in ROTC, and a gpa.
Good luck
Years 3 and 4 are difficult but the foundation was built in years 1 and 2. I am an ME and have friends that are CE, EE and Chem E. All of our gpa's improved significantly during years 3 and 4 but we would all say it was a LOT of work. The time required during years 3 and 4 is greater than years 1 and 2 but if you complete years 1 and 2 , years 2 and 4 are very doable.Your bachelors degree is like running the gauntlet in many ways: it shows others that you are capable of learning and completing a series of tasks.
Some 30 years ago those training in engineering disciplines basically were told that the completion of the degree had little to do with what you would actually do but was an indicator that you could learn what was needed for your first job. I doubt that has changed much today but others can certainly respond.
DH would disagree with the easing of the coursework during years 3 and 4 having trained in chemical engineering, maybe mechanical engineers would disagree, but I wouldn't base the decision on this data. Instead I suggest you explore the field by shadowing/talking/reading regarding possibilities.
Seems many young people say, "I like math and science, I'll do engineering." Exceptions to every rule but engineers generally are cut from a certain cloth with a love for detail, precision, processes, closed end projects and applied ideas. Ask others and yourself if this is naturally you; not can I be this way but am I wired this way. I like the book, Do What You Are, it's explores personality preferences in the work place.
Keep gathering information from as many sources as possible as you explore your options.
After taking a few engineering classes my interest in engineering dropped
When I looked at the Air Force officer jobs at military about, I saw many career fields with degree requirements so I wondered if they assign jobs by degrees.
With all of the frustration I've had trying to study engineering I just realize that I can't really see myself being an engineer for the next 40 years.
I think it would be the best for me to continue on the engineering major for the sake of having safety career paths when I get out of the military