there is absolutely no need for any american kid to be studying engineering anymore, unless they want to compete for their wages with the Indians and Chinese. its a losing proposition, american parents are getting their kids out of the field in droves. US engineering programs would be imploding if not for enrollment of foreign nationals. enrollment in trade schools is booming - plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics.
2. Innovation - No other country has the track record of innovation like the US. If foreigners are the only ones innovating, then they will eventually take that knowledge back to their home country. This will devalue what little we do produce.
3. Education - Foreign professors tend to be hard to understand and cannot impart the complex nuances of engineering and science to students (most foreign professor's language skills do not match a native speaker). With the rise in foreign professors, I can understand the decline in domestic applicants. Who wants to learn chinese on top of learning calculus? The more native born professors we have, the more native born students we can attract.
4. Historical precedent - Most of the greatest men and women in American history had engineering degrees, or were involved in the Sciences, people like Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Lee, Edison, the list goes on... Science and Engineering are a quick way to fame and wealth in America. The wealthiest person in the world is Bill Gates after all.
If we give up on Engineering, then we will decline into the Third World faster than any other power in history. ITT tech isn't gonna be able to give you the theory needed to understand the electrical circuit, but you will definitely be able to wire the Chinese Engineer's house when he calls you for service. The $30/hour you're making will easily be affordable by his $60/hour career as a Software Engineer.
Cheers,
CSG CSG
Engineering Employment U.S.
Materials Engineers 16K 57K 21K 69K
Petroleum engineers 10K 70K 15K 92K
Chemical Engineers 41K 61K 30K 80K
Nuclear Engineers 10K 68K 17K 89K
Cival Engineers 171K 54K 218K 67K
Agricultural Engineers 3K 54K 3K 61K
Industrial Engineers 113K 54K 174K 67K
Mechanical Engineers 216K 55K 217K 69K
Marine Enginners 4K 53K 5K 74K
Computer Engineers 300K 60K 820K 79K
I feel sorry for any kid that you make that recommendation to. You really don't know what you are talking about.