Engineering Degree Vs Business Degree?

[Layers]

Which one would most ppl prefer or which is more versatile?

 

[Raider04]

Which one would most ppl prefer or which is more versatile?

Depends on what is your ultimate goal?

 

[uselessbum]

From my days studying in the local uni and till present,I notice that business degrees tend to be in higher demand among the students.This is not to say that business degrees are better than engineering degrees but I guess many of our youths have developed an aversion to subjects that are very technical/"boring" in nature.Programming,physics and maths are the main subjects of engineering among many others so people who do not have the patience or affinity for them will be turned off.Do you like to do programming?Do you like advanced physics?Doing lots of calculations?

On a note,engineering students can usually transit to jobs that business degree students take up but business degree students cannot just simply take up engineering related jobs without some form of engineering background.

 

[Laguna123]

if u have a engineering dip then not so bad to go into business degree.
like most engineering ppl from poly did

 

[Messidonna]

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.salary.sg/income-jobs/866-really-bad-engineers.html

 

[Layers]

becoause i am thinking whether i shld change to SMU, current in NTU

dunno if i shld do that?

 

[Petrelli_83]

becoause i am thinking whether i shld change to SMU, current in NTU

dunno if i shld do that?

Not if you want any semblence of a life.

 

[Petrelli_83]

From my days studying in the local uni and till present,I notice that business degrees tend to be in higher demand among the students.This is not to say that business degrees are better than engineering degrees but I guess many of our youths have developed an aversion to subjects that are very technical/"boring" in nature.Programming,physics and maths are the main subjects of engineering among many others so people who do not have the patience or affinity for them will be turned off.Do you like to do programming?Do you like advanced physics?Doing lots of calculations?

On a note,engineering students can usually transit to jobs that business degree students take up but business degree students cannot just simply take up engineering related jobs without some form of engineering background.

very true. But there's little meaning in acquiring technical skills for which you will have little application in your future employment, or for which the benefits acquired versus the cost of acquisition is too disproportionate.

 

[Annyeong]

yup the switch is usually from engrg degree to biz degree. from biz deg to engrg deg is rare for it requires some reasonable & updated knowledge in physics.

 

[Layers]

Not if you want any semblence of a life.

what do u mean

your english very chim for me

 

[direbmem]

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.salary.sg/income-jobs/866-really-bad-engineers.html

studying engineering does not preclude one from working as a non-engineer after graduation. U have to plan early if that is the route one has decided to take. I myself feel that studying an engineering field for which u have some curiousity and interest and flair is gd. Studying biz doesnt mean u will be able to take up a biz role after grad.

 

[cosycatus]

This topic has always been discussed to death and again, let me offer my views.

In singapore context, it's always better to have a specialised degree in engineering, law, medicine or accountancy. In these fields, starting pay is decent and you will see a improvement in salary as you get rewarded for your experience and expertise. These fields do not offer you the starting 8K that SMU loves to showcase in newspaper for it's business graduates, but they will get you your condo by age 35 if you work hard. They are also more recession proof and in some fields it can be considered an iron-rice bowl.

Business/finance course seem to be popular because it seemed to be able to confer quick riches on people but there is nothing free in this world. Those grads who get 8K starting are few, and they work like **** , probably burning out by early 30s. Talent is also needed and employers are quick to let go those who cannot make the mark.

The thing about the engineering field is that there is a lot of variety and depth for someone who puts in the effort to excel in. You can be a master of your trade and you will be rewarded for that.

I have an fellow engineer who is a mechanical engineer by training. After working for a few years in a large MNC overseeing projects, he gain enough experience to set up a company putting up scaffolds. He can do it faster, taller, cheaper and safer than most of the veterans in the industry after observing and learning from the many companies that he had work with. It's not something terribly exciting but it showcase the extreme variety of opportunities avaliable.

The engineer's job isn't really about doing programing, solving cheem equations all day long which tends to bore the **** out of most student ( me included). Those stuff you learn in school might just be future tools you use in your daily work, but what most engineers really utilise when working is an application of common sense, ingeunity, communication , diligence and just ocassionally, that cheem equation/concept.
I guess studying biz/finance is more exciting becuase of the involvement of real examples showing fascinating amount of money or case studies of succesful marketing. But really, where as far as biz/finance is concern , the excitment really ends at studying. You are not likely to get involved in huge M&As, do a succesful marketing blizz for Loreal when you graduate ( at least not so soon) or pick a winning investment. On the other hand, I studied none of the exciting engineering projects but to date, in my 4.5 years of engineering life, i've handle roughly $5 million worth of project with an estimated return at about 4 times the value anually. In a sense, i guess i am the businessman for my company, being able to understand the technology, see an opportunity, convince my management to do my project, design the thing and get people to build it.

The riches in banking/investment might be higher but very few people are able to do something different that lets them stay at the top of the game. Most folks are normal back office workers.

I know studying engineering is difficult and we have many threads of people who complain of the lack of interest or some engineers condemning the life of an engineer, but really, these guys are already losers whatever they do or study.

And the fact is , studying engineering might not be as difficult as what some contributors had said

 

[amerell]

This topic has always been discussed to death and again, let me offer my views.

In singapore context, it's always better to have a specialised degree in engineering, law, medicine or accountancy. In these fields, starting pay is decent and you will see a improvement in salary as you get rewarded for your experience and expertise. These fields do not offer you the starting 8K that SMU loves to showcase in newspaper for it's business graduates, but they will get you your condo by age 35 if you work hard. They are also more recession proof and in some fields it can be considered an iron-rice bowl.

Business/finance course seem to be popular because it seemed to be able to confer quick riches on people but there is nothing free in this world. Those grads who get 8K starting are few, and they work like **** , probably burning out by early 30s. Talent is also needed and employers are quick to let go those who cannot make the mark.

The thing about the engineering field is that there is a lot of variety and depth for someone who puts in the effort to excel in. You can be a master of your trade and you will be rewarded for that.

I have an fellow engineer who is a mechanical engineer by training. After working for a few years in a large MNC overseeing projects, he gain enough experience to set up a company putting up scaffolds. He can do it faster, taller, cheaper and safer than most of the veterans in the industry after observing and learning from the many companies that he had work with. It's not something terribly exciting but it showcase the extreme variety of opportunities avaliable.

The engineer's job isn't really about doing programing, solving cheem equations all day long which tends to bore the **** out of most student ( me included). Those stuff you learn in school might just be future tools you use in your daily work, but what most engineers really utilise when working is an application of common sense, ingeunity, communication , diligence and just ocassionally, that cheem equation/concept.
I guess studying biz/finance is more exciting becuase of the involvement of real examples showing fascinating amount of money or case studies of succesful marketing. But really, where as far as biz/finance is concern , the excitment really ends at studying. You are not likely to get involved in huge M&As, do a succesful marketing blizz for Loreal when you graduate ( at least not so soon) or pick a winning investment. On the other hand, I studied none of the exciting engineering projects but to date, in my 4.5 years of engineering life, i've handle roughly $5 million worth of project with an estimated return at about 4 times the value anually. In a sense, i guess i am the businessman for my company, being able to understand the technology, see an opportunity, convince my management to do my project, design the thing and get people to build it.

The riches in banking/investment might be higher but very few people are able to do something different that lets them stay at the top of the game. Most folks are normal back office workers.

I know studying engineering is difficult and we have many threads of people who complain of the lack of interest or some engineers condemning the life of an engineer, but really, these guys are already losers whatever they do or study.

And the fact is , studying engineering might not be as difficult as what some contributors had said

If a person can't study technical mathematics, programming or advanced physics, then its really safe to rule that person out for engineering. Its hard, but definitely some of us are not made for it.

 

[Kyoji83]

Hmm...I am okay in engineering for Technical Skills but not Academic, so am I safe or a risk to work in engineering field?

If a person can't study technical mathematics, programming or advanced physics, then its really safe to rule that person out for engineering. Its hard, but definitely some of us are not made for it.

 

[Messidonna]

studying engineering does not preclude one from working as a non-engineer after graduation. U have to plan early if that is the route one has decided to take. I myself feel that studying an engineering field for which u have some curiousity and interest and flair is gd. Studying biz doesnt mean u will be able to take up a biz role after grad.

I think of one of the main points highlighted in the thread is again the problem of FTs. Especially in Engineering SG companies prefer to hire them at cheaper wage with longer working hours

 

[cosycatus]

I think of one of the main points highlighted in the thread is again the problem of FTs. Especially in Engineering SG companies prefer to hire them at cheaper wage with longer working hours

Comapanies do not really prefer to hire FT b/c they are cheaper. This again is a myth perputated by a few people who complain very loudly on this forum.
Fact is, companies actually prefer to employ local engineers b/c they are in tune culturally, communicate better and are basically more solid engineers most of the time. The problem is that many local engineers are leaving engineering b/c they find it too tough, and there's no choice but to hire FT.

 

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[-Wanderer-]

I know studying engineering is difficult and we have many threads of people who complain of the lack of interest or some engineers condemning the life of an engineer, but really, these guys are already losers whatever they do or study.

That is a very huge sweeping statement/generalisation to make...

 

[milo178]

Pls study Engineering only if Engineering is your passion. Else...

1. Today's news - Engineer who lost job throws pot from flat. And he's a cheap FT you are competing with

2. Last week news - Research Engineer after 4 years changed career to become Insurance Agent and Quadrupled his pay.

3. Last week news - 35 year old mechanical engineer made tough choice to change career to medical.

Here's the reason...

1. Engineering is a sunset industry.

2. Especially for PMETs in the construction industry. After the 2 IRs, construction will be in a long long contraction and consolidation phase.

3. Cheap FT's coming in to compete and depress Engineer's pay.

4. Super cheap FT's that remain in their home country competing with your pay.

I believe that one should look further in time on where the enonomy is heading and by the looks of it .... Singapore is heading the way of being a financial and services industry. But one should choose to go finance as it is one of the (if not the biggest) GDP pie. And if you are good, the pay in the finance industry is unlimited.

 

[Laguna123]

Pls study Engineering only if Engineering is your passion. Else...

1. Today's news - Engineer who lost job throws pot from flat. And he's a cheap FT you are competing with

2. Last week news - Research Engineer after 4 years changed career to become Insurance Agent and Quadrupled his pay.

3. Last week news - 35 year old mechanical engineer made tough choice to change career to medical.

Here's the reason...

1. Engineering is a sunset industry.

2. Especially for PMETs in the construction industry. After the 2 IRs, construction will be in a long long contraction and consolidation phase.

3. Cheap FT's coming in to compete and depress Engineer's pay.

4. Super cheap FT's that remain in their home country competing with your pay.

I believe that one should look further in time on where the enonomy is heading and by the looks of it .... Singapore is heading the way of being a financial and services industry. But one should choose to go finance as it is one of the (if not the biggest) GDP pie. And if you are good, the pay in the finance industry is unlimited.

finance also depend on which side u r at right ?
those earning big money is either wealth management or IB ?
how about those doing backend/operation? they r only salaried workers?