Why is engineering disliked so much in this country? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
In other countries it is liked as much as say medicine. In America so many engineers get great jobs every year.
In Australia, people rate simple arts degrees or say BEd better than engineering. Even law, commerce and even fashion designing etc are in demand. But enginnering courses that really involve mathematical brains is so much under-rated. No wonder our Australia is not actually a clever country but a rich country. Clever migrants come here and use their brains to fill up jobs requiring intellect.
Probably all those who actually love maths don't even go for engineering as they end up doing medicine or law (how weird). All they want is a job that gives more money. If Engineers start making as much money as doctors do, then all high UAI people will start going there.
That also means most people who do get admission into engineering courses (at least the ones requiring a UAI or 85 or less), are actually not so bright in maths and physics so they find it hard to cope up with. Engineering syllabus is meant for bright students but is often opted for by average students.
So.....are there students out there who got say top 99 plus UAI last year and the went for some engineering course? There are some engo courses requiring 99 or 98 or 95 ATAR. If so, please share your experiences as probably you are the ones who don't feel miserable for you love maths and physics for the love of it.
First of all I'm at Melbourne, so I don't know about average students taking courses requiring less than 85 because everything at Melbourne requires at least 85, also I should just say on the record that I'm a Science student, not an engineering student but...
Yes you are correct that if you payed engineers more then the number of good students taking it and hence the enter required/quality of engineers would go up, but this isn't necessary. The current engineering graduates can do their jobs fine, and Engineers get payed fairly well for just a bachelors degree. If there was a shortage of engineers, then maybe you could start thinking about that, but salaries are fine now. Medicine students usually need to take a much longer degree, often involving postgraduate work, followed by an internship before they can really start their career.
I disagree that students who love maths would do medicine or commerce. I think students that truely loved maths would be studying maths, as opposed to the students who just worked extremely hard and did well at maths in highschool to get into medicine or law.
I agree that engineering requires above average intelligence, and requires a good ability with maths and physics, but I haven't seen many problems with people incapable of doing the maths or the physics. If they are failing its because they aren't working hard enough.
Don't get me wrong, i find uni a shitload harder than than the HSC, but i i think its much more interesting so it strikes a good balance. Apparently you haven't had the same experience, such a shame. I hope things get better for you when you transfer.
Yes I agree! I went from a good high school student to a great uni student, (high distinction for most assesment) Uni just suits my personality and learning style much more then school did, I feel much more that I own my own knowledge. But many people find the reverse is true. Thats pretty interesting. Obviously the OP is someone who isn't as fond of uni, or at least the course they picked.
Also, Uni isn't for everyone, at least a proper rigorous course isn't for everyone, despite what the politicians say. The historical average IQ for university students has been 115, or around the 85th percentile, and you do actually need to be fairly bright to really benifit from university. Of course in Australia this would be considered elitist, but I can't see people with average intelligence doing well at university until there is a massive cultural change and Australians grow up in a society that respects academia, knowledge, critical thinking and science to a greater extent then it respects the ability to kick a ball between a few sticks. This just isn't going to happen any time soon.
I think a big problem is a misconception high school students have for what uni is like. People are told that uni is alot easier then year 12, and I'll say now, it can feel easier, but it isn't easier. In a years time you will look back to your old year 12 maths textbooks and laugh. But your abilities grow at the same rate, if not faster then the difficulty of the work you do, so it doesn't feel so increadibly harder, when in fact it is.
