I want to major in engineering, and make products that will help with sustainability

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Im wondering if anyone has recommendations on schools and majors to look into, and websites and resources that could help me. I know engineering is the field of study I atleast want to start in, and I really feel strongly about living more sustainably.
If this is what I could be doing for the rest of my life, I'd be happy

Oct 29 2012 8:25PM

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Loco-Deer-Slayer

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That's great you feel that way engineering it's a good degree, I don't have the brains or motivation to complete a degree but you will make bank when you graduate.

That being said, I would say pretty much all disciplines of engineering can be directly tied to sustainability. You could become a nuclear engineer and mess around with cold fusion, you could become an environmental engineer (pretty self-explanatory), materials engineer where you work with making more efficient polymer chains.

Really you need to narrow down what you mean by sustainability because, in my mind, the options are endless with what you could do with that and an engineering degree.

Oct 29 2012 8:34PM

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Loco-Deer-Slayer

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Also...I don't know specific schools that excel in their engineering programs, but I'm sure someone else on here does or google.

Oct 29 2012 8:37PM

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Rialb

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He basically hit the nail on the head. But from what I've heard with the bigger majors such as civil, chemical and mechanical a job in a sustainability related business is harder to find.

I think environmental engineering would be a great choice for what it sounds like you want to do, just do some research on it and be prepared to work your ass off, coming from an oil and gas engineering student.

Oct 29 2012 8:38PM

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Steeze_Minister

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MSU has a pretty strong engineering department, and the skiing is awesome here

Oct 29 2012 8:39PM

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daannnnieel

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I don't know much about this sort of thing, but good luck. Don't do what the rest of my family did and drop out 3/4 through their degree, and you should be set.

Oct 29 2012 8:39PM

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Rialb

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I don't know if you're from the US or Canada, but U of T, Queens, UBC, U of A and Carleton (Aerospace engineering) all have great engineering programs.

Oct 29 2012 8:40PM

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icon1234

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MIT, CAL TECH, Purdue, G.TECH, etc. Just google it bro...

Oct 29 2012 8:43PM

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Spic-N-SpaN

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Thanks everybody. To clarify I'm in the US, Idaho specifically. I'm not positive I'm bright enough to compete with a lot of other sort of people in the engineering field, but its a step in the right direction

Oct 29 2012 8:50PM

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FerrisBueller

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CU Engineering is awesome, but from what I hear very difficult, just like most engineering. You can major in the fields of sustainability at boulder by going into an Environmental Science or Earth Science major.

Geology is what my major is and its fucking awesome.

Oct 29 2012 8:51PM

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BlackCupid

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Hey, if you actually have humanitarian interests, you'll be golden for your essays. The rest of us had to make up some bullshit to write our essays about.

Oct 29 2012 8:52PM

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RickAstley

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If you're Canadian, Queen's University has a great eng program

Oct 29 2012 8:59PM

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joshua

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Environmental engineering?
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I am getting an environmental technician diploma this year most likely, and will possible to transfering into enviro engineering next year (two years credit from college to university, pretty sweet gig really)

Anyone take Environmental engineering? Should I do it? I just want a stable job where I can make a decent amount of money to live oomfortably on, and I don't really like the idea of 15 day on 5 days off kind of remote work, which a lot of technician level jobs seem to require...

Oct 29 2012 9:03PM

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Heart

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In a sense all engineering can be about sustainability. A lot of engineering comes down to utilizing resources effectively, such as making an existing product stronger, lighter, faster, etc., or increasing efficiency.

Oct 29 2012 9:07PM

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joshua

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One thing I have noticed about college, is that being "smart" is not as much of an advantage as it was in high school, I mean obviousely some people don't have to work as hard as others, but its really the work ethic that gets you the good marks.

At least for a lot of my classes, which involve a lot of lab reports and stuff like that. Math seems to be a more of natural talent though.

Oct 29 2012 9:07PM

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accualyisdolan

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Get good at physics or occupy wall street

Oct 29 2012 9:08PM

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smooticus

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Look into mechanical and chemical engineering. Both will open doors all over the place for what your describing.

Oct 29 2012 9:12PM

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Loco-Deer-Slayer

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Don't worry about being "smart enough" it's really all about the work you are willing to put in to your schooling. If you enjoy what you are doing you will apply yourself.

I would also consider Geological Engineering. I'm a Geo Science major and really wish that I had started with this emphasis.

Just a helpful tip since it doesn't sound like you are in college. MAKE FRIENDS WITH TA'S IN YOUR TOUGH CLASSES. Took me way too long to figure this out but once your friends with the TA classes will become so much easier because they will teach exactly what you need to learn on 1-on-1 basis and at your pace.

Oct 29 2012 9:18PM

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