What I did in grad school as a univ wide research assoc was prototype development - my 1st proj was a 1/125th scale gas augumented water jet propulsion engine. After ONR approved where we were headed, I then got to build a 1/25 scale - developed 1300lbs thrust and just about wrecked the test stand it was bolted too - maxxed out the load cell we initially used. I drew all the mechanical drawings, revised them until everybody in the dept and ONR was satisified, drew up bill of materials, located and purchased equipment. I did about half the machining and supervised the other half. Dream job - only prob it didn't pay crap! Wonderful hours, but lousy pay - typical univ job.

In the real world, I've build huge pieces of complex machinery - but basically through supervising crafts on the how and the where and in what order. That pulp machine was 600' long , 16' tall and moved a sheet of finished cellulose at 45mph, cranked out a 1.5ton finished roll every 15minutes - took almost a yr to built it. Other jobs have been much more on the intellectual side - NASA - my work and recommendations are flying every time Shuttle's on orbit. Things I never got to see other than on paper - the cargo compartment bay door radiators that manage heating and cooling are largely mine - god what a struggle that was. MEs tend to design stuff - someone comes up with a need in the business you're in and you go figure out how to make it happen.

You start in pre-engineering - thats usually the 1st year, get a taste of a few things - math, chem, and physics. You may need some remedial math work to make up for what this last bozo has failed to deliver. Its critical to get a good solid start with the math. If it takes semester to bring your pre-calculus skills up to par, so be it - it'll be time well spent. Who knows, you may find something you like more that 1st year, I saw many leave engr for other fields in the 1st 2 yrs and saw a lot of switching disciplines. I never wavered and I guess I was the one the dean talked about when we had orientation - the 1 of every 3 that actually graduate in ME.

I'm working as a senior consultant now on my own, self employed, and never dreamed I'd be doing this well. I can quit right now and never hurt for money, but I love what I'm doing and the folks I'm doing it with and for. I look forward to getting up everyday and going to work - I usually get to see or learn something new almost every day. I credit the ME background with making all this possible.