[Robert Coats]

My late father studied Mechanical Engineering at Auburn. He did poorly, but was determined to graduate. His advisor told him, in general terms, the Chemical Engineering program was 'easier' than Mechanical, so my dad changed majors, and aced his last two years. He got his Professional Engineering stamp/license around 30, and worked mostly in the pulp/paper industry for nearly 50 years, the last 20 as a hired gun. His only professional regret was not going independent earlier.

Rewind to 1978, and as a freshly-graduated high school punk, I too, felt the tug to study engineering. I'd dabbled in electrical, but did not have the grades/SAT to get into a 'pure' engineering school, and opted for the 'engineering technology' track instead. My freshman year, I honestly tried, and did okay with English and History, but the math, drafting, chemistry, etc. totally kicked my butt. After three quarters, and sub-2.0 GPA, it was clear this was not a good choice, and I'd not even taken a single electrical class!t

I ended up switching to Business/Print Media and did just fine. When I think back on that ill-fated freshman year, I am so thankful the system worked as it should. I could not make 'the cut' but if I had manged to squeak by I would have made an absolutely lousy engineer.

So yeah, you can get whatever printed on a business card, but I'm a firm supporter than formally learning theory and the roots of a specific engineering area and actually graduating is critical in many situations. Hell, if nothing else, having a formal degree will open more doors than not.