uwi - mechanical vs electrical and computer engineering

[john5231]

first off....i like both fields...they both have courses i would like and hate......

but which is the better option....no is what u like more answer

i wana hear peoples views in both fields and what they think about the course they doing/did and the jobs they got and what they did at their jobs if they have experience in the field.

i keep switching between the two and i wana make a final decision to decide on what i rather do

i am in uwi (dont ask what i do...i am in engineering thats all u need to know cause i dont what it influencing answers) but i have this lecturer that really bad talks mechanical and talks real good bout electrical cause he did it (dont ask his name)

again no is what u like answers plz.... thanx

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

My good friend has his BSc in Electrical and Computer from UWI.

Took 100 interviews to find a Job which ended up paying less than a doubles man.

But I think Computer Eng is still the best field cause you have everything on the PC to build software etc. With Mechanical Eng you need to find a Job from an employer. If you are good programmer you could become a millionaire as the PC is all you need.

[web_phantom]

It all depends on what you want to be when you grow up.... Both have a wide arc of specialisations you can choose. With both of them you can start your own business if so inclined although that is not the real purpose of an engineering degree. At the end of the day a Bsc is an entry into a technical management position and must consistently upgraded.

The last fact is that both these degrees are a bit out of date as the new trend in machinery and system is electromechanical systems and would realistically need a good base in both of these areas for competence

[Trini Hookah]

I have a couple names in mind with who that lec is

This is clearly a thread about which field is easier to find a job in the long run, because I know you can't come here asking our opinion on what you SHOULD like right?

The harsh truth is all the different fields of engineering are getting more and more saturated as time progresses, you just have to choose the one you can see yourself enjoying, don't ever base your choice on a paycheck, when you catching your ass at 2am doing a tutorial thinking of a paycheck won't exactly be much motivation.

[black start]

opie, utt men getting wok and uwi men struggling.....consider that....

[10-01]

opie, utt men getting wok and uwi men struggling.....consider that....

uwi men starting with 6500


op best u do law .....

[kavaninho]

Don't do Electrical and Comp. Eng, flashes of a gramoxone bottle will lurk in your mind...lol
OP, both Mech. and Elec. are very intensive courses, they require a lot of late hours and 'beat up'. Its all according to what you want to be in life. Becoming an engineer will not make make anyone filthy rich.

[brandonology1]

As someone who currently studying his ass off for uP exam in d morning... I would advise u not to do elec eng. This degree is verrryyyy heavy and a lot of work. N you wont understand how much it actually is untill u caught up in d middle of it. If u think you can manage tho, go right ahead.. but elec is a killer

[goalpost]

Oh geed. uP. Radix still teaching that? I barely pass that. Good luck.

Electrical & Computer Engineering is IMO an excellent course. Year 3 courses are pretty good. Getting a job wasn't too difficult to me. I spent the first three years after graduating moving around between jobs before settling where I am now which I don't think is too bad. Graduated 10 years ago.

[brandonology1]

Nah... she gave it up this year... she still calling the shots tho

[uncle sam]

OP if you plan to stay in Trinidad and make money, civil and chemical engineering.

My first degree is in comp. eng. and I'm very poor

[pete]

Do land surveying.

Friend of mine did that, started to work for a surveying company here (offshore) and has now been living in the UK for the past five years doing exploration.

[Daran]

Ppl have mostly been right.

Elec is the hardest but probably the least money as energy jobs are in lesser demand for elecs than Chem/Mech. Civil has potential to make a lot too but on average I think they're the poorest based on my circle or friends.

Elec has the advantage of being one of the best based for future studies as you literally can branch into almost any STEM field quite easily.

I did Chem and I make a lot as a freelance consultant right now around 30k/mo after tax. That said I've got a friend who's 29 and is also a consultant in a specialized elec field and makes 60k/mo before taxes.

Money isn't everything and money comes in any field by having good connections. Networking is essential.

Also in almost every 'engineering' job in trinidad you will not be doing real engineering per say, you will be overseeing projects that were usually already engineered by foreign vendors. It does get frustrating imo.

Also engineering in uwi isn't a cake walk. Be prepared to work hard especially in elec.

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

UTT Engineering is easier than UWI and since its government they find Jobs for you.

So sad to say but I think UTT is the much better University if you never plan on leaving Trinidad cause yeah nobody makes microchips and robots etc down here. My electronics professor said its a lot of problems to get H1B1 to work in the US so he stooped bothering with it. And he has a Phd from University of Florida and he also worked for Intel developing the core 2 duo and i series CPU.

So imagine if it so hard for him? lol

[Trini Hookah]

opie, utt men getting wok and uwi men struggling.....consider that....

uwi men starting with 6500


op best u do law .....

Where @ $6500?

Trainee position awa?

[Daran]

UWI is a real engineering degree (accredited internationally)
UTT is just a glorified technician degree.

That said, there's probably more demand (can't say for sure honestly) for UTT tech type jobs and the pay difference between what they get and what the engineering people get isn't that significant.

For instance in TSTT, it's quite laughable that experienced engineers (20+ years) with international MScs and work experience earn less than 21 year old technicians due to overtime allowances.

So yea life isn't fair, but just do what you like, and if you really like engineering, do you MSc away.....UWI's MScs are tata.

[black start]

opie, utt men getting wok and uwi men struggling.....consider that....

uwi men starting with 6500


op best u do law .....

Where @ $6500?

Trainee position awa?

Hookah daz real talk there. I know some working for less....believe it or not!

I made more money last year as a heavy equipment mechanic than a lot of my peoples who were working "engineering jobs"

I feel i jus going back and fix ole backhoe and loader and thing after d 14th...

[S_2NR]

oh good grief. is every day we will have a which engineering, medicine or law thread.

OP search and you shall find.

[konartis]

my school mate working for 10k and he is a process engineer....

[adnj]

If you want to work in the energy sector, try Mechanical. If you want to leave Trinidad, try Electrical. Electrical and Computer Engineering is not in high demand in Europe and North American without a specialty Masters degree. It is easier to get an engineering management position if you have a strong background in electrical and mechanical systems engineering.

Systems Engineering is touched on by the computer engineering curriculum.

[greenlime100]

Elect is definitely the most challenging engineering UWI probably offers. I've seen men look like they'll go mad just from the stress.
Mech is another great course..their program also entails a couple electrical courses.

I know persons from both fields who graduated from UWI and were able to build their own successful engineering company and are well off being self employed.

It all honestly boils down to which you prefer....I love both elect and mechanical. But if I had to choose one it will always be electrical regardless of starting salary.

Similar debates arise between comp sci and IT. Comp sci persons look down on IT students and the reverse is just as true.

Just go to the faculty office and take a look at the final projects put out from elect and mech and that gives a good indication of what the degree will prepare you for. However what they prepare you for is not what you're limited to after graduation.

[Scoop]

Ppl have mostly been right.

Elec is the hardest but probably the least money as energy jobs are in lesser demand for elecs than Chem/Mech. Civil has potential to make a lot too but on average I think they're the poorest based on my circle or friends.

Elec has the advantage of being one of the best based for future studies as you literally can branch into almost any STEM field quite easily.

I did Chem and I make a lot as a freelance consultant right now around 30k/mo after tax. That said I've got a friend who's 29 and is also a consultant in a specialized elec field and makes 60k/mo before taxes.

Money isn't everything and money comes in any field by having good connections. Networking is essential.

Also in almost every 'engineering' job in trinidad you will not be doing real engineering per say, you will be overseeing projects that were usually already engineered by foreign vendors. It does get frustrating imo.

Also engineering in uwi isn't a cake walk. Be prepared to work hard especially in elec.

point me in the direction of this "freelance consultancy ting"

[JF.K]

UWI is a real engineering degree (accredited internationally)
UTT is just a glorified technician degree.

I just really need to bring back this statement for others to understand and remember!

[cincuanta]

Pal, if I had to do it all over again I would have done Plumbing in Ytep. You see how much it is to hire a plumber?

[Sully]

The IEEE does not recognize the Electrical and Computer Engineering degree from UWI. Additionally the level of which true computer engineering is covered in that degree is very limited.

In short, if you're staying in Trinidad (or the Caribbean for that matter) then the Elec degree is fine. If you're thinking about working outside of here then Mech may be better.

With that being said, a lot of companies, particularly in the energy industry, don't care about what engineering degree you have, just so long as you have one.

[Trini Hookah]

The IEEE does not recognize the Electrical and Computer Engineering degree from UWI. Additionally the level of which true computer engineering is covered in that degree is very limited.

In short, if you're staying in Trinidad (or the Caribbean for that matter) then the Elec degree is fine. If you're thinking about working outside of here then Mech may be better.

With that being said, a lot of companies, particularly in the energy industry, don't care about what engineering degree you have, just so long as you have one.

Agreed with the last statement, alot of these companies don't mind as they will provide training.

But that bit about the IEEE, how true is it? Because i've seen students from that Dept. as IEEE members (student).

[Sully]

The IEEE requires that an engineering degree be 4 years. As the degree only requires 3 years to complete it's not recognized. UWI gets its accreditation from the IEE which is only recognized in the UK and I'm assuming colonial and ex-colonial countries.

Most professional organizations don't actually check that you have a degree in the relevant field for you to join. I'm a member of the SPE with and electrical engineering degree; see what I'm getting at.

[Daran]

Elec is accredited by IET
https://sta.uwi.edu/eng/electrical/accreditation.asp

Need to check and see if they ever were accredited by IEEE but doesn't really matter, all UWI's engineering degrees hold up internationally.

That said the difficulty and exposure you get in top international institutions are vastly superior, especially with regard to math which is a joke in UWI's eng program. UTT is far worse I'm afraid.

My advice though go UWI, do the eng you're most passionate about, get first class honors and go to a top Uni in the UK or US and do a cool MSc.

You'll get a tonne of job offers in many cool companies.

[Corn Bird]

especially with regard to math which is a joke in UWI's eng program

is the maths in uwi eng too easy, too hard or not meeting the prerequisites for other courses?

[black start]

Most would say it hard....