ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Faculties => Engineering => Topic started by: perfectscore on August 11, 2008, 11:15:55 pm

Title: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: perfectscore on August 11, 2008, 11:15:55 pm
which is more easier (in terms of coursework/exams)/best for the future? Is civil more physics than mechanical? can someone explain the 2 differences and the advantages of each?
thanks
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Flaming_Arrow on August 11, 2008, 11:20:30 pm
civil imo
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Ken on August 11, 2008, 11:21:25 pm
civil seems to have more job opportunities than mechanical
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Collin Li on August 12, 2008, 01:28:33 am
Civil seems to always have a skills shortage, but I'm not sure if it means you'll be easily employed. A skills shortage is merely what its name suggests: a shortage of skills.

It could be that universities are not educating civil engineer graduates with the appropriate skills. That's just a possibility, and I haven't done any research into the matter, but I've heard anecdotes that are consistent with this.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Anonymou5 on August 18, 2008, 10:07:37 pm
Skills shortage is just another way of saying that employers can't find enough people with the 'right' cultural fit. It has little to do with graduates lacking in technical ability/aptitude.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Collin Li on August 18, 2008, 10:30:41 pm
Interesting, do you have any evidence for that?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Anonymou5 on August 18, 2008, 11:31:52 pm
Of course I can't find any documentation stating those exact words. However, from what I can gather, I am not too far off target. In publications released by professional bodies (APESMA for example), I frequently see summaries of industry surveys stating that employers would have actually offered more graduate positions if they had found the 'right' people. The constant 'skills' shortage due to a lack of suitable graduates can't be an academic problem seeing that many people average over the widely used academic prerequisite of 65. I don't believe that it has anything to do with teaching material not being relevant enough to industry either. The fact is that most of the stuff that is taught in university has never been used in the workplace; you're going to be using FEA packages, not deflection and stress equations. It can't be expected that universities will invest in every possible software package that is used in industry. Universities can only teach the fundamentals and encourage the right type of thinking.

On top of all that, comments by careers advisors and responses from company reps about what they look for in graduates all point to the importance that firms place on cultural fit. I haven't seen anything which would suggest that there has been a consistent lack of graduates with the necessary level of technical aptitude over the last few years.

As for the topic: Most people I've spoken to say that civil is easier than mechanical.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: bucket on August 19, 2008, 12:05:51 am
what do you mean cultural fit??
I was planning to do civil engineer but :S
I want to be able to get a job after I finish my course!
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Anonymou5 on August 19, 2008, 02:53:07 am
You will (hopefully) learn the meaning of terms like 'cultural fit' as you progress through your course. I don't want to give a definition since people have different interpretations of the term. If you want to know now then just ask people in the industry or career advisors.

But basically as long you have good interpersonal skills, decent marks (no, a pass average is not decent, you need at least a 65 average which isn't exactly hard to attain), participate in extracurrcular activities and can BS a bit you'll be fine in terms of getting a job. On a personal level I'm not exactly a big proponent of the extreme lack of emphasis (IMO) on academics but that's just how it is.

Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: rubiks on August 15, 2010, 09:56:56 pm
Didn't want to start a new thread so I thought I'd bump this one.

Which engineering do you guys think offers the broadest career opportunities?  I've read everywhere that mechanical is the broadest of the two but it seems civil offers the most in terms of job availability. Which one would be easiest to get a job?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: IntoTheNewWorld on August 15, 2010, 10:00:11 pm
In Australia, at this moment in time, it seems it is easiest to get a job with Civil.

Dunno about after you graduate though =p
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: 98.40_for_sure on August 15, 2010, 10:08:59 pm
What about chem eng?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Mulan on August 16, 2010, 02:03:41 am
did you know that if you're a girl and wanting to do masters of engineering, you can apply for Access Melbourne scholarships? it is apparently *unfortunate* for females to apply for a male dominant course
;D

Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: poohead on August 16, 2010, 08:08:34 pm
did you know that if you're a girl and wanting to do masters of engineering, you can apply for Access Melbourne scholarships? it is apparently *unfortunate* for females to apply for a male dominant course
;D




D:
no wayyyyyy?
any link to this claim?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: rubiks on August 16, 2010, 09:05:18 pm
I guess that's a plus for the guys doing engineering
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Mulan on August 16, 2010, 10:21:50 pm
i saw it in the access melbourne brochure thingo.
It has "Women in engineering" as one of the categories for eligibility.
"You are eligible for this category if you:
are a female applicant to Melbourne School of Engineering graduate programs offering Commonwealth supported places."
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: IntoTheNewWorld on August 16, 2010, 10:23:53 pm
^Although quite clearly it's not working in terms of getting females to do Engineering XD

another benefit of breadth I guess (choosing Arts subs)
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: gemgem49 on August 17, 2010, 06:04:43 pm
http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/scholarships/opportunities/faculty/women-it-bursary.html

Same with females in Business and IT
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Mulan on August 17, 2010, 06:13:17 pm
would this apply for bioengineering btw?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 06, 2010, 11:42:19 pm
A week till we get our results and I'm so confused at to what course I want to do. Originally I decided on mechanical but now I'm swinging back to civil because I've heard it is the easiest and they are in really high demand. What I really want to know is, which is the most fun? I don't want to do something I won't like so I guess the main thing is to decide is which one I will enjoy more.

Yeah... I'm more amused than offended by your name, but I want to ask, why do you think the site sucks? :P
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: Chavi on December 07, 2010, 01:03:51 am
A week till we get our results and I'm so confused at to what course I want to do. Originally I decided on mechanical but now I'm swinging back to civil because I've heard it is the easiest and they are in really high demand. What I really want to know is, which is the most fun? I don't want to do something I won't like so I guess the main thing is to decide is which one I will enjoy more.

Yeah... I'm more amused than offended by your name, but I want to ask, why do you think the site sucks? :P
re-offending ip address?
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 07, 2010, 01:04:35 am
A week till we get our results and I'm so confused at to what course I want to do. Originally I decided on mechanical but now I'm swinging back to civil because I've heard it is the easiest and they are in really high demand. What I really want to know is, which is the most fun? I don't want to do something I won't like so I guess the main thing is to decide is which one I will enjoy more.

Yeah... I'm more amused than offended by your name, but I want to ask, why do you think the site sucks? :P
re-offending ip address?

Proxy
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: berryy on December 07, 2010, 01:09:48 am
A week till we get our results and I'm so confused at to what course I want to do. Originally I decided on mechanical but now I'm swinging back to civil because I've heard it is the easiest and they are in really high demand. What I really want to know is, which is the most fun? I don't want to do something I won't like so I guess the main thing is to decide is which one I will enjoy more.

in in the same boat as you!
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 07, 2010, 01:30:44 am
Why don't you guys take it elsewhere, stay on topic.

Because, diddums, keeping the forum troll free is a great reason why VCENotes rocks! :)

EDIT: Tell you what, you honestly answer my question, and I'll honestly answer yours.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: stonecold on December 07, 2010, 01:50:06 am
Is it just me enwiabe or are the trolls increasing?  Or is it a 'holiday fad'?

Is there much we can do about it?

This may be too far, but I reckon it would be cool that to register, you need to use your mobile number and then it sends you a confirmation code to enter to complete registration.

And then you have a name which is legally attached to the account.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: stonecold on December 07, 2010, 01:54:43 am
As if they could afford to get a system like that going.

No one asked for your opinion.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: samiira on December 07, 2010, 01:57:29 am
As if they could afford to get a system like that going.

No one asked for your opinion.
LOL!.. well said
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 07, 2010, 01:57:49 am
As if they could afford to get a system like that going.

Bulk SMS isn't expensive, but it's not necessary when all I have to do is delete an account and hit the "remove all topics and posts" option...

Now. You've signed up with an IP originating outside Australia (proxy), with the username vcenotessucks. That sounds awfully suspicious to me, possibly a ban evader.

The part that sucks for you is that I have the answer to your question ready and waiting...
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 07, 2010, 02:02:46 am
He was deletebanned for trolling, ban evasion and abuse of other members :)
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: MuggedByReality on December 07, 2010, 02:01:55 pm
He was deletebanned for trolling, ban evasion and abuse of other members :)
Unlike the fellow you're alluding to, I am here to learn, share and engage positively. If you continue to deny me privileges that you'd accord to any other respectable member in a heartbeat, I may decide to contact you/your household in search of an explanation when you return from overseas.
Title: Re: Mechanical or Civil engineering
Post by: enwiabe on December 07, 2010, 09:05:52 pm
He was deletebanned for trolling, ban evasion and abuse of other members :)
Unlike the fellow you're alluding to, I am here to learn, share and engage positively. If you continue to deny me privileges that you'd accord to any other respectable member in a heartbeat, I may decide to contact you/your household in search of an explanation when you return from overseas.

It's shit like this, that makes you extremely creepy, and the sole reason why I don't treat you like a normal member. In the past you have e-stalked and harassed myself and other members, and you can't come back here a year later thinking that anything's changed and that I suddenly have forgiven and forgotten your past actions. Further correspondence between us will be continued via PM.