You can't be an engineer without proper accreditation. Just like how you can't be a medical doctor without a medical license or a lawyer without being bar certified.

The US just happens to be one of the few developed countries that doesn't protect the word "engineer". Here, you can know how to write a little bit of code and call yourself a software engineer -- that's illegal in many other places (and even in a few states).

 

Thank you.

 

My piece of paper proves I am who I say I am, someone reasonably competent in the fields of business and accounting. Doesn't change who I am, but it does offer my employer some level of proof that I can be trained and more or less know my ass from a hole in the ground. Someone who doesn't have that paper may be as skilled or more skilled than me, but they will have a harder time proving it without the paper.

 

Not correct. The state engineering boards are VERY strict in enforcing the rule that you cannot call yourself an engineer unless:

1. You are a registered professional engineer in good standing

OR

2. You are working internal to a company (ie, you are not serving the public)

Heck, in Texas they recently ruled that you can't even call yourself a professional engineer (P.E.) in Texas if you are registered as a P.E. in another state UNLESS you add the state in which you are licensed to your business card/letterhead/email signature.

Also, you can become a licensed software engineer in many states so they are starting to protect the term if someone is doing work external to their employer (or are self-employed). Problem is, you still have to pass two technical exams dealing with engineering principles that most "software engineers" don't use or know. In short, in Texas and virtually every other state, you cannot offer your public services with the title of "software engineer" UNLESS you have a P.E. designation.

Just look up your state board's recent rulings on different people that were practicing engineering without a license. They are fanatical about not allowing it.

 

GPA/experience matters for a doctorate in biochemistry/medical school or something similar; schools aren't going to waste time/resources if a student clearly is not motivated/serious. I don't know about business stuff.

 

I think it's more general to most top-tier schools. No matter the major.

To answer your statement about business:

If you want to get in to a top-20 post-grad business program you (most of the time) need to have at least graduated with some sort of honors (3.5+) and have at least 2 years experience. There's always going to be exceptions to the rules, but from the amount of research I've done, that's about what they all say.

 

I don't consider my school a top tier school (have you heard of Thomas Jefferson University ) but they have the same entrance requirements as more well known universities like Columbia.

 

"Top tier" is subjective. Are we talking region? Country? State? World?

Have you heard of Santa Clara University? It's very well known in the Bay Area--and pulls a lot of weight here. But outside of the bay area, it's just another private school.

 

I don't know, and I really don't care to know

They offer it here at FIU though. Sounds pretty stupid IMO