Malformed University Name, Uncategorized Surveys

Date: Apr 29 2003
Major: Electrical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Kettering University provided a challenging environment which I feel is necessary for growth. I was an electrical engineering student at Kettering and found the program hard enough to make you feel you've done something worthwhile when you get good grades. As far as I'm concerned theres not better way to go to school than with the co-op system. Rotating on 3 month intervals I was able to take a break from school and concentrate on understanding the workplace (and making excellent money). Immediately after school you have an entire network of friends spread across the country working industry or continuing education. Unfortunately the school is located in Flint, MI, which is simply put a depressed, industrialized area. I found quickly that despite the poor location it was the people that made Kettering a great experience. Now that I'm finished I have 2.5 years of experience in an large aerospace company and have seen many facets of engineering (quality, design, test, etc…). If you are into anything with wheels or tracks Kettering has automotive studies in the bag, and you certainly don't have to be an ME to participate, the formula electric verhicle team is there for the EE's. The school has a beautiful recreation center, and since the school is small the recreation center can feel like it's your own.

Academically kettering is "intense", by intense I mean you'll have 10 weeks to complete 20 credits of coursework (5 classes). Sometimes you'll get lucky and have 3 engineering labs to juggle on top of that. At the end the real treat comes when you have five finals over a period of 3 days, you do actually get used to it. When you term is over you can relax knowing you'll be working for the next 11 weeks and have the weekends study-free. As with most schools there are "weeder" courses such as physics and calculus, some have no problem, some learn to study, some leave.

One more problem, lack of female companionship opportunities, there aren't many too choose from. Kettering is better now than in the past for sure so things are looking up in this arena. And if your going to school in Flint and have a job in california then you'll either have to juggle two, take her with you, or forget it.

Kettering has a diverse fraternal set, there are laid back fraternities, agressive, and academically focused. Although I was not in a fraternity it didn't really seem to matter, I had just as many fraternity friends as I did non. I never felt I was the "North" and the fraternity people were the "South".

Personally I was very lucky to land a job at one of the best co-op's at the school, they paid for the apartment, telephone, etc… while at work. Not all co-op's have it this good, regardless the opportunity exists. Friends that I've met over the past five years work for Sun Microsystems, Rockwell (aerospace), Honeywell, GM, Ford, Chrysler, GE, NSA (National Security), FBI, CIA, UTC (Sikorsky, Otis, Hamilton Sundstrand, Pratt Whitney..), and Bose to name a few. So co-op's can be at big companys, they don't have to be, you could co-op at just about anywhere related to your field of study. I know an individual who works for a yacht builder on the east coast, weird stuff like that is possible. One warning, the school will "assist" you with finding a job, ultimately it took my energy to get a job.

So if you want some experience, challenging academics and money at the same time and are willing to work relatively hard (it's not that hard really, you just get used to it) Kettering is for you. I don't regret one minute of my time at Kettering.

Peace out word to your mother.