Are there any college educated electricians?

Status
Not open for further replies.
peter d

peter d

Senior Member
Location
New England
To make a short story short....

It took 5 years and a few setbacks but I did graduate from a local university with a degree in Electrical Systems. I looked for jobs in my field of study but wasn't terribly thrilled by the corporate world.

After some soul searching I finally decided that I really like being an electrician. I had always worked during the summers, holidays and time off doing electrical work. So with the blessing of my parents and friends I reentered the electrical field, and that's where I am today. :)

Edit: I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way. I'm not suggesting that having a college education makes one more qualified than someone without. I only lasted 2 semesters in EE after all. :eek: I was simply curious if anyone else went through something similar.

[ January 05, 2005, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: peter d ]
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Did 2 years of electronics got asociates degree.Did not like the idea of computers back then so went back to repairing TV then in early 80s seen that about to have bottom fall out so started wiring for a friend.Must admit the money was great for a while.But with times changing and the workers south of the border killing wages i am thinking of going back to computers.Nothing wrong in changing directions
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I graduated from Syracuse University (NY) back in the 70's with a degree in Landscape Architecture. I pursued that career for a short time to my father's chagrine, then I fell into the electrical field and have not looked back. It has been a great career for me, and I plan on staying here for quite a while longer.

Pierre
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I thought it would be interesting to say how the grass always looks greener on the other side. I know more than my share of EE's that wish they were EC's. And the other way around too.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

not quite a degree for me in lit., but worked for ec that had a doctorate in arcane medeival something (ABD-all but dissertation). he's still an ec. outside, own boss (%), physical satisfaction, that's him. me i just dig sitting in my car going nowhere a few hours a day. or did. :cool:

paul
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Two years at Texas A&M for EE back in the late 70's. Decided that the engineering wasn't my thing, was tired of living off Mom and Dad. Got accepted into the apprenticeship program, spent four years working at a small shop with a few of the best electricians in the state of Texas, learned more than I ever could have hoped for, and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I was doing electronics for fun and working full time doing electro-mechanical repair at 15. I could do that because I had passed the California State Proficiency Test and had a legal high school education.

When I was 16 I was old enough to enlist in San Francisco Junior College. My two missions were electrical engineering and business. After a couple years I decided my time was being wasted. In some ways I was right, in others I was wrong.

After nearly 20 years of being an employee I decided I'd had enough of that too. With no actuall plan I through my security blanket in the trash and became self employed, with no work and no idea what I would do for a living.

Leaving out the hardest parts I now sort of free lance for EC's and GC's.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

The degree of technical ability of the electrician today has grown so complex that the electrician needs a good technical education.
The last apprenticeship class at the company that I worked for had to attend a two-year college and get an Associates Degree for Electrical/Instrument Technology.
This is a changing world, and as been said, "get on the train, or you will be left at the station".
We, as electrical technicians are expected to be flexible with are abilities.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Soon I will be spending 4 months at Boston University Medical School does that count? Maybe I will learn something, last time I was there I did get to see inside real human bodies which was pretty interesting.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I went to college at night and thanks to the GI bill. I was a dual major and have a BA in accounting and business mgmt. Never spent one day in either field. I've been doing electrical work since 1971 and wouldn't have it any other way. But to give credit where it's due, having accounting and business mgmt. knowledge has helped me greatly in my own business.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

B.S. and M.S. from Virginia Tech in E.E. in the eighties. 6 year apprenticeship 1997-2003. Now a Journeyman electrician working on Master Electrician.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

We currently have at least two apprentices with electrical engineering degrees in our apprentice program.
Don
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I think Bob and I use the same college attendance standard. When I was an electrical contractor employee I worked at Harvard University pretty much daily. Now when I tell a story to my wife I like to start with "When I went to Harvard...." :D That is as close to college as I have come.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

received my degree in accounting in the 90's, but couldn't handle the thought of always being behinda desk.
Mike
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Associates Degree in ET back in 1976-77 era Studied a lot of vacuum tube and transistor stuff, geared toward radio industry, but never found gainful employment there...

Ended up working in the United Mine Workers and in the Coal Mining industry for 11 years (Southern Illinois) before making the decision to change careers back to the electrical field.

I moved to Delaware circa 1990 and immediately got involved with the apprenticeship program, received journeyman 1993 and went on to get Limited Master's, then Master's License.

I am currently working as an industrial E&I Tech (with limited engineering duties).

God has blessed me through the years and provided me with the guidance to make the right choices in my career. Switching careers back to electrical was the best career move I ever made...

Thanks for asking!

Mike
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I have a Bach. in EE and had a little residential experience before college. I'm working now as an Engineer in Training and I'm picking up both Engineering values and field values at the same time. I will most definitely agree that experience as an electrician is the most valuable experience one could get because all of our coordinating guys where I work really know what they are doing and they are whom I go to for most of my information. If I could do it over, much more field experience before the Engineering would be very helpful. It is also nice using my engineering background and applying that to what I am learning both in the office and out in the field when I discuss work with the electricians.

David
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

I'm like Bob and Scott, except I go to Western Carolina University, and as a matter of fact, I have to go there now. ;)

Roger
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Started electrical training in high school local tech school, dropped out to many dopers (drug users) finished regular high school. Worked several jobs after school still wanted to be in the electrical field. Finally got low paying electrical employment, and apprentice training. Received my journeymans, ran small and large projects residential, commercial, some industrial, have taught in an apprentice program. Over the years I have achieved a master electrical license in one state, a state fire alarm installers and electrical contractors license in another, and still another electrical contractors license in my home state. I have been in this trade for 21 years and I absolutely love it. I have been project estimating now for 5 years I really miss the challenges presented in the field, and the feeling of looking back at the end of the day and seeing what I had accomplished. Never went to college but as others have noted I worked on many, but they don't give degrees for that. There just isn't a more rewarding trade that I am aware of!

:D
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

IIRC, the UAW electrician program (really an industrial electrician/technician/instrucment tech/electronic tech/...) requires something like 60 credit hours of college work as part of the apprenticeship.
 
Re: Are there any college educated electricians?

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
I think Bob and I use the same college attendance standard. When I was an electrical contractor employee I worked at Harvard University pretty much daily. Now when I tell a story to my wife I like to start with "When I went to Harvard...." :D That is as close to college as I have come.
Click to expand...
Scott,
I like that one.

I jumped around.
I've been to Penn State, Rutgers, and the U of Delaware, to name a few.

Of all the hours, days, nights, and week-ends that I've spent on thoses campuses, I never attended a single class.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top