Engineering!?

I think that engineering is a solid field to study, because of the options that you have after your diploma. I know lots of people who study engineering and end up, in management, studying for an MBA, lawyers, I have even heard that if you study engineering, you have a higher acceptance rate in medical school than other disciplines.

As far as laying off older engineers, I have heard of this in mechanical and aerospace, another thing to beware is companies that hire you for contracts only (another common practise) you don't have the same benefits as full time employees.

I study civil engineering, I have worked several co-op terms, and from what I have seen, the older engineers are FAAARRR more valuable than the younger ones, a civil engineering company won't do very well without the experience of older engineers to offer guidance to the younger ones.

edit:

much of what I have learned working is that school doesn't teach you as much as what you really need. young engineers just don't have the experitise required to run the show.

There are some fields and areas of study I can think of that may well soon become obsolete or replaced by technology or cheap overseas labor; and Engineering is NOT one of them. This is a rock solid "not going anywhere" industry that always has and always will be necessary and have an ever increasing demand. The issue of old being replaced by new has nothing to do with choosing any career. If you can look at it, point to it, or hold it in your hand; somebody had to design it! I would choose a direction in engineering as a designer of the software that will design the buildings, bridges, aircraft, etc. of the future.