So, school is finished and I have just received my ATAR and found out I'm going to uni to hopefully try and become an engineer
The course in particular that I'm looking at is a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Mechatronic) at Uni SA.
Just wanting to get people's opinions who have done, or are doing an engineering course on what it's like, how difficult it is, what the lifestyle is like, and what the job is actually like once it is finished, and the opportunities.
I live in the country, so will be moving to Adelaide, which is going to be difficult as I am not sure where my money is going to come from, considering Centrelink is going to give me f*** all. I have thought about taking a gap year and becoming 'financially independent' so I can get youth allowance or something from them, but I don't really want to as I think it would make it hard to get back in the swing of things/ I'd forget everything from high school with in that year lol. Also was thinking about getting a part time job whilst doing the course, but from what I understand it is a full time course, so not really much time for a job.
So yeah, just seeking people's opinions and experiences
I started to study Electrical/Electronic Engineering at Adelaide Uni, travelling from Murray Bridge everyday. The travelling was difficult (drive to Mount Barker, bus from there to Adelaide), at a minimum I'd be travelling 1.5 hours each way, depending on my timetable I may have finished late and only caught a non-express bus (close to 2.5 hours travel). So the travelling component is taxing.
Anyway, I dropped out of EE eng mid year, after getting a HD, HD, D and a P. Only reason I got a P was because it was my first exam and I choked. Anyway, I dropped out because it wasn't what I truely wanted to do and I had no idea what that was. I wouldn't say that the course so far was overly hard, but one of my school mates failed to pass anything because he is not maths minded (and shouldn't have gone into Engineering because of this). If you are a bright lad, you won't find it hard.
I've now put in my SATAC application again to do Software Engineering, at least 3/4 of the subject I already completed will count towards my new degree.
At Adelaide Uni, the first year of engineering is very similar in all degrees.
A good tip is to enrol in all your classes as soon as they are available, this way you can get a good, tight timetable. Otherwise you'll get left with the bad slots and your classes will be very spread out, which is not as good as it sounds.
I've had this last half of the year off, I worked full time for 3 months at the job I already had. Now I'm unemployed, having a holiday soon and I am keen to get back to studying.
I don't know what Uni SA is like, but Adelaide uni was great.
The one thing I will say is don't become an engineer if you just want to say you're an engineer, it's not as easy as it may be cut out to be, typically there's a lot of maths/theory involved. AND don't become an engineer just for the potential money. You need to enjoy your work.
Pick something you like to do and try to turn it into a career. If you like installing electronics, be an electrician. If you like working on cars, be a mechanic. If you like designing electronics, be an electronic engineer. If you like designing mechanical devices, be a mechanical engineer.
You're leaving it a bit late to get your preferences sorted. I would take a gap year, perhaps do some work experience with your dad and work out exactly what you want to do.
Money is not everything, you should enjoy/not dislike what you do for a living.