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ADVISING
 

Degrees & Certificates -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Students are STRONGLY advised to complete degrees and certificates.

Degrees and certificates formalize your education.  You specify it on your resume, and it helps you land a job.
Our programs are designed in consultation with industry so that they teach you the skills that land jobs.

We have had students who have decide against completing a degree/cert because their current employer did not require it AT THE TIME.  Later, they switched jobs or their company was taken over, and suddently they now needed the degree/cert.  They were at risk for losing their jobs without it!  An earned degree/certificate is "portable" - you take it with you wherever you go.  No one can take it away from you.  It helps ensure against job loss

Consult with engineering faculty (esp the Chair) about what is the best engineering coursework to take. 
They know best.  Counselors are helpful, but discipline-area faculty know their field the best.

Counseling -------------------------------------

Consult with counselors to complete an "ed plan".  Counselors are especially helpful at selecting general education coursework and to help strategize transfer to the university.

However, you should ALSO consult with the Engineering Dept Chair about selecting engineering courses to take!  Discipline-area faculty know their programs and field best (better than counselors!).
This applies to any discipline (e.g., talk to Computer Science faculty about CMPR courses!).

You may be counseled against taking discipline-area coursework, to complete a simple, generic liberal arts degree, and to focus only on transfer.  We think this is a mistake.  Of course, you should focus on transfer - more education means more money!  And of course students need to take SOME gen ed courses (note - you don't need to complete ALL gen ed courses to transfer!).
However, we stongly suggest you also take some engineering courses.  They teach valuable JOB SKILLS.  Even taking only 1 or 2 of these courses may be enough to help you land an internship, or perhaps entry-level work as CAD drafter or technician at an engineering firm.

These are great jobs to have while you finish your degree.
- the pay tends to be better than random low-skill jobs
- you build applicable experience that looks great on a resume (which helps you get that first engineering job!).
- you get to see and experience what it is really like working at an engineering firm.
- many engineering companies support their workers' education (will work around your class schedule).
- some engineering companies will even help pay for school!

TRANSFER STUDENTS also benefit from taking job-skills engineering courses.
These courses may not transfer to the university, but they teach important skills that help you land your first engineering job!
Note to transfer students: you get a BS from the university, not jobs skills!

It can be tough to get that first engineering job out of school.  There will be competition for the position (many applicants, one job).  You need to set yourself apart.  The applicant with more job skills and experience is more likely to land the job!  A great applicant has on their resume:
- prior or current internship at an engineering firm
- references from an engineering firm (e.g., an engineer or engineering dept manager)
- engineering-related certificate or degree (e.g., drafting or engineering technology)
- professional certifications (e.g., CSWA, CSWP, Autodesk Certiport)
- list of valuable job skills/experience/coursework (examples below):
- for Mechanical engineers: proficient at Solidworks, CATIA, Pro/E, knowledge of good drafting practices, GD&T (ASME Y14.5M); experience with : machining, circuits, programming micro-controllers, working with sensors, motor control, rapid prototyping (3d printing, SLA, lasers), welding;
- for Civil engineers: proficient at AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, taken courses civil drafting, surveying, etc.
- for Electrical engineers: proficient at OrCAD (sorry we don't teach it),  programming in various languages (C++, Python, Java, etc.); experience with programming micro-controllers, building & debugging circuits, use of oscilloscope, function generator, multi-meter,

Note to transfer students - you do not need to complete every gen ed course to transfer, just a few of them (ask counselors which ones!  Ask about the "Golden 4")


Financial Aid ---------------------------------------

Financial aid may help you work less, which will help you succeed in school.

But you must be careful about how to use financial aid, especially those of you who plan to transfer.

Please consult with the financial aid office about this!