Anyone Into Energy?

Energy is used in every discipline that humanity has ever studied. Even if it is just the energy of the Krebs cycle energy of the human doing the studying. So saying that you want an "energy engineering" degree is to vague of an request. It is so vague of a request that I would wonder about the quality of a degree from a school with such a title. There are a lot of truly bogus schools out there willing to take your money.

As for your understandable desire for finding a job in the field of your choice, all I can say is good luck. The only people that can expect to work in the field of their choice are those individuals with enough financial backing and drive that they can start their own business fresh out of school. Everybody else must look for a job opening in whatever field comes their way.

I want to study in the renewable energy field. I am not looking forward to opening a business,anyway. Do you think I can work in renewable energy if I have an "energy engineering Bsc" or "renewable energy Bsc? I am really not into other types of engineering.

"Live in Lebanon,an underdeveloped countr of the middle east" Beirut was known, not so long ago, as the Paris of the Middle East.

"My SAT score is 1520 total(on the three parts) I am taking the AP(advanced placement program)" So you keep telling us. This place (CR4) is heavily populated with individuals who could similarly tout their varied impressive credentials... please note that you haven't seen any members wearing these credentials on their sleeves.

Ya know, if these fields of energy conservation are your passion, you don't need a degree to make a difference.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/getting-greener-when-to-seek-a-renewable-energy-degree

To be honest with you, I loved the idea! Thanks for this useful link, I read some of its pages and will continue later =)

Yep, that's why I was looking for unis in europe(Most unis there don't need sat scores). Thanks for your advice,will certainly take it. Glad to head from you again:)

Don't be so harsh, lyn. 1520 SAT score from a country under duress where English is not a primary language is above average (albeit just barely) for all students including those from countries with English is their primary language. Remember these three section SAT tests have 1600 of a maximum 2400 points are English based.

A reality check reminder that no degree guarantees anyone from any country a job let alone a job in ones preferred field is appropriate. This is why it is good to have an ideal job as a goal but it is better to be practical and consider any employment opportunity when they happen.

I would recommend the OP should consider trying to formally emigrate to the country that they get their schooling. If they succeed in obtaining residence if not citizenship they will have an easier time getting an intern/apprentice positions between or during semesters. Nothing looks better on a resume than actual employment.

Harsh? NEVER!

OP has stated that he wanted to attend an English speaking university in a foreign (to us) country.

To me, that says highest entrance requirements.

Please don't leave out ChEs! We have to take physics, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics as well as organic & inorganic chemistry and chemical reaction engineering (among other topics).

I agree that these DO encompass energy conversion and, regardless of ones particular discipline, one can choose where to focus ones knowledge to where ones passion is.

Good post!

Why do you think you need to get a degree first before doing something that you, by your own admission, have a passion for?

If you want to start your own business, then do so. Degrees are mainly for other people, to help them assess the likelihood of your knowing what they think you should know for the job - a job where you're working for them.

What a degree is not, is proof that you know anything at all - it shows only that you went to the conferring school and got a degree. In other words, all a degree does is prove to others that you have a degree. The rest of it depends on the school's reputation and the requirements that the school imposes on students who expect to successfully complete that school's course of study. Even then, a degree is not proof that you know what the school's reputation suggests you should have learnt by the time you graduate.

We've all seen plenty of erstwhile students coming here, to this forum, asking for us to hand them their homework/exam-question answers on a silver platter. Cheaters, by any other name, taking the path of least resistance - and least acquired knowledge. Dummies who will leave their respective schools with degrees in hand. Dummies whom I wouldn't hire to tie my shoes, much less trust them to know what they're doing. Thing is, these same people will go on to design bridges and nuclear power plants, cheating their way to the top, just like they did in school. Would you trust their designs to be safe and reliable? They've degrees alright, but because of the nature of the student, those degrees aren't worth a plugged nickel. It's only when their designs kill people that the true worth of their degree becomes evident. With all the cheaters I've seen here and elsewhere, I rely less and less on a degree as being proof of anything, and look more to what the person actually knows. This takes time to find out.

So, what is your objective? A degree or an education? You can get both, either, or none; it all comes down to you. If you want a degree, then go to school and get one. But if you want an education, one that will help you fulfill your passion, my advice is to you is to stop talking get moving. If that includes getting a degree, all well and good, but you can get an education starting right now. Ultimately it's all up to you and what you're willing to invest of yourself towards accomplishing your dream.

Not only do I love renewable energy, but also I want to be a member of the energy institute so that I can be renowned in the industrial world of energy, and hopefully get employed. I visited the energy institute site, and saw that one would only need education(technical school) if they want to know how to install energy equipment. If I need to do something else like power generation,equipment design,energy efficency etc I will need an internationally accredited degree. However, I am also looking for an online bachelor's degree so that I can have time to research and gain more and more knowledge on my subject. At the end of this degree I am gonna pass the LEED greenstep exam and other energy related exam to increase my reputation and knowledge in the renewable energy world. Thanks for your advice

I give up.

Good bye.

YOU are a dreamer and right now in deep trance!

I read a lot of good sensible advice thrown to you..

I am going to match your current state of your mind with a matching advice....

What you need to do is WAKE UP!

A LEED AP, eh?

One of the more sycophantic and unctuous organizations you have mentioned thus far.

Typically very few people get to choose exactly what job they will get. That is not the point of what I am about to suggest.

Make a list of the top 3 to 5 SPECIFIC things you would like to do at an ideal job. List them in order from best downward.

Was it easy to make a SPECIFIC list? If it was then the things you listed should tell you a lot about where you should try to focus your study efforts.

If you have a hard time making a SPECIFIC list then that tells you something about yourself. In this case try to learn more about the energy field so you can be more specific than just "renewable".

Most of us did not get the jobs we trained for. If we did then that job usually went away in 10 years of less and the next job is something different. Try to be at least OK at everything and try to find a short list of areas where you personally want to work hard to become very good. Prepare to be ready when a moment of good luck appears in front of you.

Well that would be: 1)Design and plan big or small projects in energy(e.g:improving energy efficiency in homes,companies,government,designing fields of solar panels,designing the architecture of a building etc) 2)Design and build new and more energy efficient electric cars,solar panels,computer software and any other thing or gadget that can be improved. 3)Research and explore energy resources and see if they are new,better ways to generate energy. 4)Suggest to a company or factory what they could do to save power and therefore money I didn't take time to answer your question. Those 4 things directly came to my mind. Perhaps I must explore more of the energy field and know about it more. There may be some things that I am intersted in that I am unaware of. I didn't get what you said at the end of your answer. Do you mean in the worst case scenario where I will be unemployed, I need to be open minded and not have a problem working in them?What can one do with an energy degree other than something that is energy based?(I doubt I could get employed in a mechanical engineering job with an energy degree,for example) Thanks for your help!

Entering college I hoped to get into nuclear research, but that didn't work out. Ended up as a PE in Ohio. Not what I hoped, but still technical. Redfred is on the right track, as are many of the others.

As to energy: That will be a very important topic in the world! But what kind? It is my observation that renewable energy, wind and solar, do not have the capacity to handle the needs/wants of worldwide society. Coal, natural gas, etc have to be out because of global warming. Looks to me like fast nuclear is going to be our best bet; does your passion embrace that? There are many, many skills involved in making nuclear work.

I still didn't read about nuclear energy but just checked it out. I would have no problem learning how to generate power with this way, and neither would I have a problem working in that specific field since I am still generating energy and doin what I love. But yes, I got your point,thanks.

What makes you think that nuclear energy may be better than other types?

Re-read the second paragraph, several times!

Nuclear energy has the best safety record (in spite of Chernobyl and Three-mile Island), and produces by far the lowest amount of real pollution per unit of energy supplied. Check out the amount of radioactive pollution emitted by coal-burning power plants, for example.

What makes you think that nuclear energy may be better than other types?

The reply is too long for this thread, and might count as off-topic, so I'll try to send a PM later this evening.

A PM message for some reason apparently didn't work; at least there has been no reply and it did complain at me. Will try again, but don't know what will happen.

Look for an energy efficiency consulting firm in your area. Ask for their recommendations for your educational path. Don't imply that you want a job with them, but do express your interest and enthusiasm for this field of work. This may lead to some networking opportunities.

I happen to visit this web site:www.bloomenergy.com. They mfr. Bloom Box which is new technology introduced in U.S. The promoter is Indian scientist Mr.K.R.Shridhar an ex employee of NASA. He has developed above energy saving technology for GOOGLE and many other big Corporations. I suggest you to visit the site and learn more about renewable green technology.

Well, this thread came to a screeching halt. Looks like his passion died!