u/Yochefdom

I'm 31 and currently making a major career change. I previously worked as a chef and am now studying Computer Engineering at a UC in California just entering my 3rd year as a transfer

I'm trying to decide between two very different long-term paths:

Path 1: Engineer then Master's then going into Industry/R&D

- Transfer into Computer Engineering

- Complete a B.S. + potentially an accelerated M.S.

- Pursue internships and research in hardware, semiconductors, VLSI, computer architecture, aerospace/defense, etc.

- Enter industry or potentially continue into a Ph.D./research later

Path 2: Engineer → Medical School → Physician

- Finish my engineering degree

- Complete the prerequisites for medical school

- Apply to medical school

- Complete residency and eventually practice medicine

I'm attracted to engineering because I genuinely enjoy math, physics, electromagnetism, computer architecture, and figuring out how things work. I'm particularly interested in hardware and semiconductor engineering, but I also enjoy the possibility of eventually doing research.

Medicine appeals to me for a different reason. I like the idea of having a highly specialized career where the work directly impacts people's lives, and medicine has a very high ceiling in terms of expertise, responsibility, and income.

The biggest issue is that I'm starting this transition at 31, so the timelines matter. The engineering path could put me into a professional career relatively quickly, while medicine would mean many more years of school and residency before reaching the endpoint.

I guess in not really asking "which career makes more money?" I'm trying to figure out which path is more likely to be fulfilling over the next 30+ years.

For engineers, physicians, medical students, or people who made a major career change later in life:

How would you think about this decision?

Would you choose the engineering + M.S. route and potentially move into advanced R&D, or is medicine worth the additional 8–12+ years of training if you're genuinely interested in becoming a physician?

And for anyone who changed careers around 30+, I'd especially appreciate hearing what you wish you had considered before committing to your second career.

I’m currently a Computer Engineering student transferring to a four-year university and I’m starting to seriously explore careers in chip design and the semiconductor industry. I am based in SoCal right now but wouldn’t mind moving even internationally career wise.

My background is a little unconventional. I previously worked professionally in cooking before returning to school, so I’m still building my engineering foundation. I have some experience with programming, using an Arduino, digital logic, and basic hardware concepts, but I haven’t taken many upper-division VLSI or semiconductor courses yet. I am considering the standard hardware route or the semi conductor industry. My school has a clean room and if I pursue my masters here I think making my own tape out would be a cool project to bring to interviews. I would also have the opportunity to get my masters in 5 years total instead of 6.

I’m particularly interested in eventually working in areas like digital design, ASIC/FPGA development, computer architecture, or potentially physical design.

For people currently working in the industry or who recently went through school:

•	What courses would you consider essential for someone targeting chip design?

•	How important are Verilog/SystemVerilog, FPGA projects, and RTL design for getting an internship?

•	What kinds of personal or undergraduate research projects actually stand out on a resume?

•	Is it worth learning tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or similar EDA software independently?

•	How important is semiconductor device physics compared with digital design and computer architecture?

•	Would you recommend trying to get research experience in a university cleanroom/fabrication lab?

•	For internships, what skills separate a student who has taken the required courses from someone who is actually competitive for semiconductor companies?

•	Are there particular areas of chip design that are more accessible to students entering the field today?

I’m trying to build a roadmap rather than just collect random skills, so I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have hired interns or started their own careers in the semiconductor industry.

Hi everyone! First I want to say thank everyone in this community for the resources, knowledge, effort, and help that has been put together. I am currently in build 0.1 of my app and after having some friends/family try it I am looking for more feedback. The app is a local restaurant discovery app that also allows you to keep track of your favorite places with some more features as well. There is also a website if you would like to learn more no. No sign up is needed to just use it right away — Eatgrumble.com

Also for a more general discussion , how have people’s experiences been with a beta rollout until official launch? Anything’s you would have done differently? Right now I really want to focus on having the fundamentals and foundation spot on before I start going crazy promoting it. Anyone other ways to get beta testers?

Hey everyone I’m currently transferring to my 4 year and will be getting a bachelors in CpE with the option for masters a year after. I really can’t decide between general hardware(embedded systems) or going into semi conductors. The technology and science is way more interesting to me but I hear a lot of negatives about this industry and it’s not what I want. On the other hand I do know there are a lot of different areas as well such as VLSI design to the actual fabrication. I think RnD is more up my interest but I also won’t likely get a PhD. I am in the US btw. My school has a clean room and fab lab so I would be able to get some hands on work before going into industry. I would be getting my masters.

Main things I’m looking for are what are the different sub areas that are available career wise? What is the difference between high volume CMOS production and I guess more specialized work? Do you enjoy your job in general? What would a typical day to day be like ? Sorry for such broad question I just have very little insight to this career path.

Hey everyone I’m currently transferring to my 4 year and will be getting a bachelors in CpE with the option for masters a year after. I really can’t decide between general hardware(embedded systems) or going into semi conductors. The technology and science is way more interesting to me but I hear a lot of negatives about this industry and it’s not what I want. On the other hand I do know there are a lot of different areas as well such as VLSI design to the actual fabrication. I think RnD is more up my interest but I also won’t likely get a PhD. I am in the US btw. My school has a clean room and fab lab so I would be able to get some hands on work before going into industry. I would be getting my masters.

Edit: Sorry for clarity i guess mainly looking for insights to the industry as I am trying to decide between two paths. Also what would a masters degree bring to the table. I don’t know anyone in the semiconductor field but I find the technology fascinating. Is it something where academia is better than the actual industry side?

Hey everyone I’m currently transferring to my 4 year and will be getting a bachelors in CpE with the option for masters a year after. I really can’t decide between general hardware(embedded systems) or going into semi conductors. The technology and science is way more interesting to me but I hear a lot of negatives about this industry and it’s not what I want. On the other hand I do know there are a lot of different areas as well such as VLSI design to the actual fabrication. I think RnD is more up my interest but I also won’t likely get a PhD. I am in the US btw. My school has a clean room and fab lab so I would be able to get some hands on work before going into industry. I would be getting my masters.

Let’s go!! Very excited for this and I’m glad I applied. Older transfer student so this whole going back to college has been an interesting experience in general. Any other computer engineering majors or engineering in general? Any tips for crushing it here and getting the most out of the school?