Thinking of transferring and need real advice?
Before you start judging me, I have a lot of respect for my adviser, but she’s a Sociology professor and doesn’t know much about anything I’d like to do. The school I’m currently attending is a phenomenal school and gives me the opportunity to create my own major of Industrial Design, by combing Engineering Science, Physics, and various forms of Art, but I’m considering transferring for a few reasons. I don’t like liberal arts particularly because it’s making focus on classes that I don’t not care about, but it’s not something I want to have to worry about when I could be focusing on my major, even though that’s what I thought I would enjoy because that set apart this school from others. Also, I don’t want to have to worry about getting my major approved by curriculum and worrying whether or not it’ll work. I also don’t really like the location of the school, it’s too rural.
So, to make a long story short, I want to transfer to a school where I’ll have a better opportunity in Industrial Design. The problem though is that the schools that all offer industrial design are not of appeal to me, so I was wondering what majors would relate best to Industrial Design that has a design aspect and involves engineering and product design in some way? I was considering Civil Engineering or just majoring in Physics and having a minor in studio art or graphic design.
Please help because I don’t quite know what to do.
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9 Answers
Packaging Engineering. The school I went to, Michigan State University, is one of the few that offers that specialized degree. I think there is a school in Georgia also? I don’t remember for sure. I had a great time at MSU. The only negative is the very cold winter, but te campus is beautiful and it has everything including a performing arts center that gets Broadway tours, a dairy store with ice cream made from campus cows, good cafeteria food, great football stadium, new art museum, and more.
Well, first of all, what country (or countries) are you considering for college / university now? As I recall (and welcome back, by the way), you’re not American, are you? So, where do you want to be going to school?
Future employers want to know you are a well-rounded individual who studied a wide variety of subjects in college. Do not transfer. Study hard in the liberal arts classes.
@CWOTUS well, I was thinking of Ohio University and applying for civil engineering, or UConn for the same, or University of Bridgeport for Industrial design. I just want a major that involves design and engineering.
@Hawaii_Jake but when I say I hate it here, I’m absolutely miserable. I don’t like this school at all,it’s very disorganized and not what I expected at all.
Follow your heart. Transfer if you think that will be your best plan.
If you’re considering UConn and Ohio, both Eastern colleges, then I would also suggest WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) for any engineering discipline. If you’d like to talk to a graduate from the school – not me – I can PM you a Fluther contact who might also say good things about it.
WPI has been enabling “custom-designed” engineering majors for about 40-odd years now, and they have an excellent reputation among employers who want engineers and industrial designers.
Here is the link to the undergrad coursework. I don’t think I put the right link that brings you directly to it. You do take design and engineering, but you also have to specialize within packaging.
It sounds like you have already narrowed it down though. I do think you should transfer, just to contradict @Hawaii_Jake for a second. If you know what you want, and it’s industrial design/packaging, that’s fairly specialized, in demand, and not many people have that degree. It’s a gift to know you are interested in something so specific, and you are willing to do the work involved. Plus, the school you are at now just isn’t a good fit.
You get to explore other elective classes in the first two years of school, at least that is the case at most universities, which I think is plenty of roundness. You aren’t going to a technical school, it’s a university. Use the electives to have fun and explore several different areas outside of your major.
Liberal arts is great but it’s such a common degree. Everyone has it. If you want to stand out from the very crowded crowd and have what I believe will be better earning potential, go with the Industrial Design degree.
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