Board gaming?

Here! Though board games didn't really attract me to RPGs, I've always played board games with heavy rpg elements. Talisman has to be my favorite board game of all time and I've always wanted to play Lords of Waterdeep.
However, it's hard to find others who want to spend two hours on a board game... or RPGs for that matter.

I've heard a lot about cosmic encounter and that game looks really good. I just got two games: Dominion and 7 Wonders, but haven't played either of them. And Descent is one of those games I've always wanted to try, along with Drakon and Agricola/Caverna. I usually keep my eyes on Fantasy Flight, since their board games are usually phenomenal.

I love me some good old fashioned board gaming. I have played quite a few over the years. At work we have a group that plays them together, and like pure geniuses we schedule it during lunch hours and call the meeting a "Board Meeting." I like some of the easier to take around games that are easy to teach.
My favorite lately is Munchkin: Axe Cop because it takes the fun of Munchkin and turns it to 11 and then chops your head off! Saboteur is a another fun one. I recently helped Kickstart Exploding Kittens, and it is hilarious and tons of fun. I have a few others coming in that I helped Kickstart as well (Rum & Bones and Dungeon Saga: The Dwarf King's Quest.)
The ones that I really love because I remember playing them over 15 years ago are the original Dungeon and Space Hulk board games. So yeah, I love me some board games!

Most of my board gaming happens with my kids these days, although its getting tougher to convince them as they get older.

If you have kids (or you're just a kid at heart), I strongly recommend checking out Gamewright Games. We have several of their games, and they are awesome. They are the creators of Forbidden Island (the one I've heard other folks mention). My favorite games from them include the card game Frog Juice and their Story Dice. 

Frog Juice is a card game specifically designed so that parents can sit down with their younger kids (I'd put 6 as the lower cutoff, they recommend 8 and up) and play a game without reservation. What I mean by that is the parent doesn't have to hold back. They can play to their full ability, and still get beat hands down by their 8 year old. We've been playing this for years with our kids, I lose to my kids fair and square about 85% of the time. And I am not one for "letting the kids win".

Story Dice is a very simple game. It is a pack of nine d6 dice with pictures on the faces. We haven't read the actual rules, but the way we play is that each person selects two random dice from the pile, rolls them, and makes up a story from the pictures they roll. Then the next person picks two (preferably different) dice, rolls, and continues the story based on their roll. Its a fun and silly family game that we play around the table. There is zero competition and no real goal or end. The goal is just to make up stories (as a DM, you can see why this appeals to me).

As for more mature games, our RPG group tried out Arkham Horror from Fantasy Flight Games one evening. It was a complex game, and we would have had a great time, except that the player who brought the game (and the only one who had ever played it) was a bit...disorganized. Over the course of a three hour session, we got very little done and didn't come close to finishing the game.

You've mentioned that you're in school. I'm assuming college as you mentioned mechanical engineering. Have you looked into school clubs or social groups? They could be a good way to find a group to game with, either board games or RPGs. I know here in Madison, there is a UW chess club and a Go club that meets at the memorial union weekly. I can only assume there are many other such groups here and on other campuses.

If you're group of friends aren't really into gaming, perhaps its time to branch out?

I have a 10 year old and a 12 year old. The 12 year old doesn't enjoy Frog Juice (but then, he doesn't enjoy much that isn't video games or sports...he's 12) but I still play it with my 10 yo. He's the one who always beats me, and its a good quick game. Its more fun with more people, but we usually just play one on one.

If they enjoy card games, I think they'd like it. Its not especially complicated, either in the rules or the math involved. Instead, it presents a balanced challenge for all ages.

They do have a club that meets regularly and RPs in the pathfinder system I believe... however, it is the "My Little Ponies" club. And I'm not THAT desperate (plus it is probably MLP themed anyway).
But I'm sure there is a couple other board gamers/rpgers around, I just have to find them.

I have played a few board games that are fun. Tomb, Talisman, and a Pathfinder: Something game. Kind of a recent thing, but I need to check more out. Also King of Tokyo/New York is fun for quick action.