Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Help me

I'm 16 and it's getting around that time to decide what college to go to and what degree to take. I would like to get into the automotive industry, possibly working for a major corporation and eventually starting my own business.(unless I really enjoy my position at the corporation). So here's what I need some help on... what degree should I get..I'm not very artistic, so designing the interior or exterior of the car is out, but engine,etc. is in,,, as well as any other position(p.r.,etc.) I would like to go to either Emory, UGA, or Georgia Tech... HOPE is going to pay for my education, and staying near home won't be a bad thing..... Thanks in advance.

perhaps looking into a degree in Mechanical Engineering would be good for you.

any good at math? You will need to take a lot of it for engineering and R/D type stuff

p/r is much easier

I'm good at math, though it's boring to me(sleep through class and still make A's). What would pay really good and be enjoyable. I'd really like to be the guy that gets to drive the cars, though that's a really hard job to get.

My advice, take a good look at what you enjoy doing and what you're interested in. Future money is a factor, but don't make it the the highest priority. If you like what you're doing, the money will come by itself. Don't lie to yourself when it comes to assessing your strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you don't like math and physics, then don't go into engineering thinking that it'll work out. It won't, because it'll only become less enjoyable as the material becomes more difficult. Hobbies are a good place to start, but remember working on cars is nothing like training to design one.

If you can, visit the campus. If you like the school, you'll be motivated to go to class. If you can visit during a school day, that's even better. If you can, talk to an advisor. Flip through the course catalog. Don't forget there's life outside of school also, so check out the local area.

I'm starting my fourth year at UT Austin. I wasted two years trying to do something that I didn't really enjoy (EE), and my GPA suffered as a result. It's way easier to break a GPA than to rebuild one, and I'm only now getting back on my feet, doing something I'm genuinely interested in (economics/finance). Hopefully this will be helpful to you, good luck!

I want to be in the automotive industry, not necessarily designing cars, just somehow working with them.(Maybe improving some of the problems Ford has.) I think that if I'm doing something I enjoy(like working with cars) than I would enjoy using math to do it, especially since I'm good with it.(I just get bored with the monotony of doing work in school that has no point) I think chosing a school will come down to what degree I decide on. (Engineering=GA Tech,etc.)

What level math courses are you taking? (business, college, honors or advanced placement (AP)?) If you can, next year take a harder course than what you are now ... oftentimes colleges look at the level of course you're taking rather than your grades. If you were college admissions, would you rather accept a student with an A in business level or with a C in honors?

EDIT: I meant that they do look at your grades, but they weigh the higher level ones more than the lower ones ... for example, getting a 60, even in an AP course, will never be a good thing

Wow man... I rememeber my first girlfriend's father worked at the Product testing department at Fiat... I wanted to work with him so badly...

I remember he would come back home with all these european prototypes... even before they were released on the magazines... So coool...

The guys has been testing drives cars for Fiat for about 15 years.... i remember when they had a F-50 for testing and he was on the team. (he didn't drive it though... they had an italian guy that came only to drive the car...)

LOL! I'm picturing this greasy haired Italian guy showing up at the track. I am Vigo I come to drive da Ferarri and not-ing else!

If you fall asleep and get As in math in high school, I can guarentee you won't get As in college by falling asleep. It is a much more challenging environment.