One of my degrees is a BSME from Wichita State, which has a fairly good, ABET-accredited program. Currently work in aerospace...have an opportunity in automotive, but not interested in moving to the Detroit area. Establishing a plan to work for myself eventually.
Don't know much about the renewable resource niche. Sounds impressive, and I'm sure the demand will be greater in the future, but would it justify a course of study so specialized? For example, just a few years ago there was a big push for bio-mechanical in universities...hot new thing they were selling. No demand in the private sector leaves a lot of grads having a hard time finding work. A mechanical can do aero, auto, powerplant, etc...'renewable resource engineer' will not have that luxury.
I have a friend who's an EE. BIG demand. What used to be fully mechanical systems now are all electro-mech, or are working their way there. High starting pay relative to other disciplines. This is for TRUE calc-based ABET EE programs, not EE 'tech', which is a lighter, algebra-based courseload from what I've seen.
You won't get rich being an engineer, unless it grows into business mgmt/ownership down the line, but it will provide relatively good pay w/ more job security than most careers offer.
It's not as respected a career choice as it once was. Between the nerd/OCD stereotypes and the diluting of the word 'engineer' by everyone using it to describe themselves, it sometimes gets a reaction of mild eye-rolling.
As far as schooling, the first couple years are nothing but 'weed-out' classes. All the calcs, diff eq, physics, chem are to get rid of the students that aren't bright enough or willing to put the effort in. Once past these, things get a bit easier...class sizes decrease and relationships start to form w/ profs.
If I had it to do over again, I would've gone to law school.
