Topic: I Want To Become A Computer Engineer
PredatorYonan's photo
Wed 07/02/08 10:30 PM
Edited by PredatorYonan on Wed 07/02/08 10:30 PM
I want to become a computer engineer when I attend a four-year college and/or university. However, I have poor mathematics skills, but I love computers and electronics. I know it helps to be skilled in mathematics, is it still possible for me to become a computer engineer?

no photo
Wed 07/02/08 10:31 PM
if you want it bad enough , yes. good luck on that mission.drinker drinker

MirrorMirror's photo
Wed 07/02/08 10:32 PM
bigsmile good luckbigsmile

PredatorYonan's photo
Wed 07/02/08 10:32 PM

if you want it bad enough , yes. good luck on that mission.drinker drinker

Thank you.

PredatorYonan's photo
Wed 07/02/08 10:32 PM

bigsmile good luckbigsmile

Thank you.

Jtevans's photo
Thu 07/03/08 12:23 AM

I want to become a computer engineer when I attend a four-year college and/or university. However, I have poor mathematics skills, but I love computers and electronics. I know it helps to be skilled in mathematics, is it still possible for me to become a computer engineer?



i know what you mean.my math skills suck,that's why i gave up on trying to become a programmer

Chazster's photo
Thu 07/03/08 08:10 AM

I want to become a computer engineer when I attend a four-year college and/or university. However, I have poor mathematics skills, but I love computers and electronics. I know it helps to be skilled in mathematics, is it still possible for me to become a computer engineer?


Ok, take this from a recent graduate in electrical engineering. Our degrees are not that far off. At LSU it would only take about an extra year to double major btw the two. Strong mathamatics is helpful but not necessary. The math you do in your classes is usually not as complicated as the math in your math class. Word of advice. Buy a TI-89 calculator and learn how to use it. Best $150 i spent in my college career. This baby can do about everything and stuff it cant you can download programs for and it will do it.

For example I downloaded the laplace transform program so it could do laplace and inverse laplace. Does derivatives, multiple integrations, solves complex algebra, just tons of stuff. It comes with an EE pro that has lots of electrical equations in it that you will prob use. You might even be able to get a computer engineering pro, not sure but I have seen people with mechanical engineering pro.

FreeToB's photo
Thu 07/03/08 10:33 AM
Edited by FreeToB on Thu 07/03/08 10:37 AM
I've been a computer technician and programmer since 1976. Rather, building and repairing computers, writing software, etc. Repairing computers is easy. Helluva lot easier than it used to be in those days for sure when we did component level (semiconductors, ICs, etc) repairs. I have also held electronic and computer/telecommunications design and engineering jobs since the 80 and designed digital electronic equipment in a wide range of applications from offshore rig towing (strain gauges, inclinometers, GPS, electronic compass, etc) to railyard switching, telecommunications, and X-Rays.

You can repair computer hardware issues with little more than a brain, a VOM and a POST diagnostics board most of the time. But you're a tech, not an engineer. You can write some business applications with little more than some in-depth knowledge of the issue you are working on, addition, subtraction and possibly some statistical analysis.
You can write graphics applications with set arithmetic, boolean algebra and not much more. But you're a programmer, not an engineer.
You can be a network administrator by knowing your operating systems, your routers, switches and hubs, wiring pinouts and rules and knowing some boolean math to calculate subnet ranges, etc. But you are not an engineer.

To be a computer engineer you MUST know math, algebra, calculus and a lot more. Computers are electronics and even though the DIGITAL logic is very simple at it's root..TTL logic... all electronics depend on analog functions too. Like power supplies for instance. You cant run a conductor from point a to point B without knowing what kind of power loss, inductance, heat, etc will occur. Ohms law comes to mind, Kirchoffs current laws, power formulae, on and on and on.

The good news is that I'm not an engineer except in some Microsoft and Novell Certifications...not schooling, and I've done very well. But I'm the exception, not the rule. Actually I'm a high school dropout who was in Angola (thats the State Pen for you non-Louisianians) at 17 years old when I was supposed to be graduating. (That hacking thing) But, I've been a techno geek (programmer, electronics buff) since before IBM even HAD a PC and a hacker when it meant beating the telephone system and, later when the Internet was DARPANet and you routed through someones mainframe at a university somewhere. And I've spent my life NOT reading fiction, watching TV or screwing off..even when I WAS high. I studied hard and studied the hard stuff and BUILT things. NOTHING, even that electrical engineering degree, can do more than experience. Plus I'm blessed genetically. lol

The only engineering job that I know of that does not require math comes with a little cap and a train whistle though.

I know ALL of you are thinking "What a stuck up jerk"...but it aint so. Im not handsome, rich or too socially skilled. But I am smart. My forte. So take my advice. Do your math...it's not that hard once you get over the Oh ****! mindset.

no photo
Thu 07/03/08 02:03 PM
Don't let the difficulties you've had with math dissuade you! Take a closer look at the -kinds- of math you will need to be a CE. You might find that 'math applied to CE problems' far more interesting to you than the math you've taken so far. Yes, you will need to take and pass a ton of more general math classes to get your degree, but your performances in those classes does not tie directly to your professional performance, after you graduate.

Alex740il's photo
Fri 07/04/08 11:56 PM

I've been a computer technician and programmer since 1976. Rather, building and repairing computers, writing software, etc. Repairing computers is easy. Helluva lot easier than it used to be in those days for sure when we did component level (semiconductors, ICs, etc) repairs. I have also held electronic and computer/telecommunications design and engineering jobs since the 80 and designed digital electronic equipment in a wide range of applications from offshore rig towing (strain gauges, inclinometers, GPS, electronic compass, etc) to railyard switching, telecommunications, and X-Rays.

You can repair computer hardware issues with little more than a brain, a VOM and a POST diagnostics board most of the time. But you're a tech, not an engineer. You can write some business applications with little more than some in-depth knowledge of the issue you are working on, addition, subtraction and possibly some statistical analysis.
You can write graphics applications with set arithmetic, boolean algebra and not much more. But you're a programmer, not an engineer.
You can be a network administrator by knowing your operating systems, your routers, switches and hubs, wiring pinouts and rules and knowing some boolean math to calculate subnet ranges, etc. But you are not an engineer.

To be a computer engineer you MUST know math, algebra, calculus and a lot more. Computers are electronics and even though the DIGITAL logic is very simple at it's root..TTL logic... all electronics depend on analog functions too. Like power supplies for instance. You cant run a conductor from point a to point B without knowing what kind of power loss, inductance, heat, etc will occur. Ohms law comes to mind, Kirchoffs current laws, power formulae, on and on and on.

The good news is that I'm not an engineer except in some Microsoft and Novell Certifications...not schooling, and I've done very well. But I'm the exception, not the rule. Actually I'm a high school dropout who was in Angola (thats the State Pen for you non-Louisianians) at 17 years old when I was supposed to be graduating. (That hacking thing) But, I've been a techno geek (programmer, electronics buff) since before IBM even HAD a PC and a hacker when it meant beating the telephone system and, later when the Internet was DARPANet and you routed through someones mainframe at a university somewhere. And I've spent my life NOT reading fiction, watching TV or screwing off..even when I WAS high. I studied hard and studied the hard stuff and BUILT things. NOTHING, even that electrical engineering degree, can do more than experience. Plus I'm blessed genetically. lol

The only engineering job that I know of that does not require math comes with a little cap and a train whistle though.

I know ALL of you are thinking "What a stuck up jerk"...but it aint so. Im not handsome, rich or too socially skilled. But I am smart. My forte. So take my advice. Do your math...it's not that hard once you get over the Oh ****! mindset.



Nice... :)

You know Kevin M. ?