I wasn't really sure what type of engineering I wanted to do when I first applied to uni so I went with the flexi first year option and it did not take long for me to realise that mechanical engineering is definitely the way to go. I was not really passionate about chemistry so that ruled out chemical engineering and I definitely was not keen about pouring concrete for the rest of my life so that also ruled out being a civil. I had considered one of the other streams offered by the AMME school but I think that a mechanicals can still work in most areas of the other streams. We are the people who design and maintain the aircrafts engines and with a bit more of an understanding of electronics and programming, mechatronics is very similar to mechanical anyway.

I have just started putting my mechanical engineering degree to use by working in a coal power plant. Working with 50m long turbines and boilers operating at 1400^oC with superheated steam at 20MPa can really keep you on your toes.

But equations and problems solving is only half of what being an engineer is about. The other half involves being mates with some of the best people in the world. You will soon find plenty of these people when you start uni and if you don't meet enough by the of the first week then join up for first year camp where you will meet 60 of them right there and then.

Bill