Other Becoming an Engineer: Considerations and Personal Experiences

[Detlen1]

Hi.
I am interested in becoming an engineer but after what I have read, math is really important, but I have a C in math is that good enough.

to go along with Harelo, i found out that if you have a real interest in your field that you will find and take the time to really understand your field, in your case Math, as i am in the same boat as you are i have started to self teach myself in Algorithms, however i am not that far into my studies, i have found out ways to improve myself into understanding. Basically what I’m saying is that if you find yourself wanting to learn, you will find a way, perhaps YOUR way. Lol I just hope spelling won't be a problem as I am a real terrible speller.

 

[Detlen1]

I’m about to undergo college and was wondering what other courses would help or inspire an engineer trait. i am still not sure what type of engineer i want to become but general or just good common sense courses would be appreciated.
I know that i need to hone my math skill and courses that perhaps let's u think outside of the box. not quite sure what I’m looking for. so any suggestions would be helpful
Thank you in advance.

 

[General_Sax]

I’m about to undergo college and was wondering what other courses would help or inspire an engineer trait.

Perhaps majoring in an engineering program could "help or inspire an engineer trait".

 

[SLR]

Ok so I'm pretty sure this question has been answered but there is way too many pages to go through to find out this answer... Anyways here it goes I'm turning 25 years old and wasted 7 years of my life to pursue music and film, with the other 5.5 billion people pursuing the same thing in over saturated NYC, I'm in school now for film production and screen writing and having a change of heart. I've always had this things for planes, but was to afraid to fly to actually learn to fly one so it hit me about a year ago to design them and get into aerospace engineering.. one of my dilemmas is that i suck in math, but my strong sense is being creative and following through with things, wondering how things do what they do. I want to go back to school and switch my major to engineering but I was wondering if people think its too late to go to school for such a tough field, and what should I do about my weak math skills if I want to pursue this field? i def do not want to let math and my age stop me from pursuing my dream with aviation, but if I should give up hope i would like someone to kick the honest bucket @ me!

 

[NanjoeBot]

Its not too late. Your're young. At my school I know a number of 40+ year olds in the engineering programs and they're doing great.

As for your math, just get a book and start reading. Math doesn't actually require any special talent, just hard work and practice. I play instruments too and I'll tell you, learning math is exactly like learning music. It just takes a lot of time and efficient practice.

 

[Rainier9]

Hello everybody, I'm a 19 years old Telematics Engineering student from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_republic" .

You might ask, what is Telematics Engineering? It's in simple words, Electrical Engineering and Communications. [Telematics is the ambiguous term used in countries that native tongue is Spanish]

Anyways, after a little introduction I'll talk about why I decided to study engineering.

Well, since little I always wondered how everything around me worked. But it was in High School when I built a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubens_tube" that it all made sense. Since then I decided that I'll be studying Engineering.

But at the same time as that was a solution it was also a problem...So many fields, so much interests, what would I have to pick to fulfill my need to know how my own world worked. That question was and still is really hard to answer. I actually decided what to study days before the university deadline. And I think I did the right choice, after studying and learning every engineering programm in my university I realized that Electrical Engineering and Communications was the broadest in terms of subjects. You see the curriculum has General Engineering subjects (Physics, Calculus and even Management...), it has Electrical Engineering of course (Circuits, Electronics, Microprocessors...) , it has IT subjects (Programming, Databases Administration...) and finally but not least, it had the Communications subjects (Information Networks, Signal Processing,Network Security...)

It also was what the university offered better labs, because even though the university offers Engineering degrees, the Mech labs are in another campus and I would have had to move.

So here I am, finished my freshman year of college and it was incredibly awesome, it's challenging which I have always liked (I believe that the best things are those that are hard to achieve) and so far so good.

I'm planning to become a Cisco Certified Network Associate next year (I'll be taking the classes outside my career program) and if it's possible the year after that I'll be taking some Mechanical Eng. extracurricular classes. The only thing I'm kind of sad about is that you can't find any Chemical Engineering courses, at least here in my country so I'll probably have to marry a ChemEng so I can fulfill my desires, haha xD

I have only one question, are Chemistry classes really a NEED in Electrical Engineering? My college programm doesn't have a single Chemistry class in my engineering degree. (IT has in every other one though, even in Electrical Engineering [without the communications concentration]).

So thank you for reading and, I'll be around the forums! I already read some questions that I can answer about Circuits!

 

[Angry Citizen]

Its not too late. Your're young. At my school I know a number of 40+ year olds in the engineering programs and they're doing great.

As for your math, just get a book and start reading. Math doesn't actually require any special talent, just hard work and practice. I play instruments too and I'll tell you, learning math is exactly like learning music. It just takes a lot of time and efficient practice.

This having been said, if you just plain don't get it, avoid aerospace engineering like the plague. If you just plain hate it, see above You will be doing incredibly advanced math very often. If you can't at least tolerate it and find it mildly interesting at times, engineering should be the last thing you look at.

I say go for it though. I hated math till I started taking some college courses in it. Thought it'd be a major problem with engineering. Now I find it pretty cool.

 

[Scottidott]

I suck at math and i get a C in math but i love to be creative and create stuff. I make robots and rockets and many other things . I always want to get my creativity out.
I am thinking of becoming an engineer but should I.
Is engineering a creative job or is it only sitting in an office and solving problems.
My Dad is an engineer and he make machines that do the necessary stuff to get wood like wrap it in and paint it and cut.

Should i become an engineer

 

[pongo38]

Engineers are "people who make things out of stuff". You use the Maths you know, and you know the Maths you use.

 

[story645]

Should i become an engineer

Do you have the patience/work ethic/etc. to teach yourself math or find a tutor to help you bring your skills up to par so that you don't land up on academic probation due to your math grades?

Go for the major you want to, just go into it willing to put in some time and effort to improve.

Is engineering a creative job or is it only sitting in an office and solving problems.

Depends on who you work for and what you work as.

. I want to go back to school and switch my major to engineering but I was wondering if people think its too late to go to school for such a tough field, and what should I do about my weak math skills if I want to pursue this field?

Most days it seems like half the guys in engineering at CCNY are over 30, so you'll fit right in if you plan to take the public school route. In the mean time, take advantage of NYC having some of the cheapest public colleges around and grab some math courses at which ever community college is closest to you (or at your current school).

 

[AlbanianBlood]

Hey folks, can anyone tell me how much important is to know Programming C++ or another Computer Langauge in Electrical Engineering and what about AutoCAD.

Would be glad if someone helped, thanx!

 

[sweetpotato]

As an electrical engineering major I am not required to take AutoCAD and I don't know other EE majors who have taken it. So, it's probably not important.

It is definitely important for EE majors to be familiar with at least one programming language. This is so that you have a general idea about how programming and software works, and also because in some of your classes you might have to write programs. Most EE majors that I know are familiar with at least one of Java, C++, or C.

 

[OpticalSuit]

Hey yall I am a first year in electro-optical engineering. The work is a lot and very tuff. My school moves very fast. We cover two semesters of calc in the first. Next semester we are doing calc 2 which is the equivalent of a graduate level calc. And that's only a 6th of one semsters work, there are other courses too. Like I said a lot of work. My teacher did say this is calc for those who have a death wish. So far my favorite subject.
why I chose to do this to myself? Simple i love it to the core. I enjoy solving problems and thinking through scenerios. I already have tons of experience in live and recording engineering. which is what actually got me into physics. I wanted to be the better recording engineer, so I thought no better way than understanding in depth about sound and how all the gear works. Use that knowledge to my advantage. Then i got hooked to physics.
Thats that...

 

[deluks917]

What is graduate level calculus? What book are you using/topics are you covering?

 

[kk727]

While I feel both capable and interested in engineering fields, at the same time I'm interested in the business/corporate side of things. Would there be possible positions that incorporate both engineering (most likely chemical) with perhaps some sort of business position for a company?

In my head, I think of engineers as people sitting in labs all day...I'm sure this is not the case, but I'd like to be interacting with people, negotiating, managing, leading, etc - hence where my interest in business comes in. So maybe this is all a stupid question...but could I major in engineering, minor in business, and find a job that kind of fits both fields?

 

[Astronuc]

While I feel both capable and interested in engineering fields, at the same time I'm interested in the business/corporate side of things. Would there be possible positions that incorporate both engineering (most likely chemical) with perhaps some sort of business position for a company?

In my head, I think of engineers as people sitting in labs all day...I'm sure this is not the case, but I'd like to be interacting with people, negotiating, managing, leading, etc - hence where my interest in business comes in. So maybe this is all a stupid question...but could I major in engineering, minor in business, and find a job that kind of fits both fields?

Engineering management.

 

[CharliH]

I'm three quarters of the way through first year (electronic) engineering, but seriously considering switching to a physics/maths double major. My academic advisor is pretty focused on preventing engineering 'dropouts' and seems to think that if, like me, you're getting straight firsts, you'd have no reason to switch. I'm kind of frustrated by the narrowness of the physics ahead of me (after Physics I everything is tightly focused on circuit theory, power electronics, etc) and the fact that our engineering courses never seem to go to the roots of anything, while our out-of-faculty courses do it quite well. I'm also apprehensive of the idea (introduced by my lecturers) that most of engineering is dealing with people-problems. (Working with people on science problems is cool; but I don't like the concept that half or less of my work will actually be science related.)

I know that I'd probably need an academic or research type job to focus on pure physics; right now that sounds awesome. I'm just not sure how much this is 'grass is greener' syndrome, and how true the idea that I'd need a large handful of luck to even get a job like that is. (It seems as likely as I could hope for that I could find an engineering job if I graduate with good marks and a BSc(Eng), but I know I'd need a much longer/harder/more costly qualification to actually do pure physics as a career.)

Advice on whether I've misjudged engineering and/or am being a silly fool to even think this way would be great. Thanks.

 

[kk727]

Engineering management.

Considering I'm still in high school...how would I go about this? Could I do an Engineering Major with a Business Minor, and then go back and get my masters in Engineering Management?

 

[pongo38]

"I'm also apprehensive of the idea (introduced by my lecturers) that most of engineering is dealing with people-problems. (Working with people on science problems is cool; but I don't like the concept that half or less of my work will actually be science related.)"

What makes you think that Physics wouldn't be just the same? Most people have to work effectively in teams in order to achieve things. When I consider physicists and engineers I know, and the way their careers have gone, I see that whatever degree they started with was no incumbrence to them making progress along their preferred path. And in many cases they have used their first degree as a stepping stone to things they could not have predicted. The idea that you can map out a career is (in many cases) hope mixed with wishful thinking. Last week my taxi driver was a physics PhD without a job. That should make you think.

 

[CharliH]

What makes you think that Physics wouldn't be just the same? Most people have to work effectively in teams in order to achieve things.

My physics lecturer has never said that his job more often than not involves being called in, checking the basic technical stuff, analysing the problem and discovering that the issue is a fraudulent employee/improperly trained personnel/something very non-technical. My engineering lecturer most definitely has. Maybe I just have cynical engineering lecturers and naive physics lecturers, though, which is why I asked - probably should've been a bit clearer. I know I'll work in teams either way, but that's different to dealing with the type of situation above.

Last week my taxi driver was a physics PhD without a job. That should make you think.

I'm aware that there are employment risks with pretty much any degree. I don't think I'd pick my degree based on a limited part of a single person's experience, though.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[lol_nl]

What kind of character do you think you need for engineering? Surely, willingness to work hard is definitely a prerequisite, and good analytical and problem solving skills are trained.

But apart from that, once you get into the profession, does it get tough when it comes to e.g. pressure and deadlines? Does an engineer have to have the stereotype tough-headed impersonal character in order to succeed? Should people with less stable personality types avoid the area altogether?
I found this somewhere on the web: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1955.tb01224.x/abstract -> how true do you think it is?

I know that many engineers get into highly specialized areas and get to do very specialized, narrow (?) work in the end. How common is it to find engineers who have many other intellectual interests outside their focus? Would someone who has interest in languages and music for instance make a capable engineer as well?

Furthermore, would you say that there is any value in studying liberal arts for a year or two before switching to engineering? Are gaining good communication skills by studying e.g. the humanities and broader areas an asset or would studying at such a place be a waste of time?

 

[sweetpotato]

I would take this article with a grain of salt. Engineering attracts all kinds of people, in my experience. My best friends are engineering majors but also love music and have an active social life. Also consider the fact that many people with engineering degrees don't end up working as engineers at all. Some go to law school, medical school, or business school. Some become professors or teachers.

To answer your question about studying liberal arts before studying engineering: why do you think that going straight into engineering school would stop you from learning communication skills? Engineering majors can (and are usually required to) take liberal arts classes as well. You could even minor or double-major in a humanities or social science discipline. Many engineering classes, especially the more advanced classes, teach you communication skills as well, by making you complete lengthy group projects and present them to the class, etc.

I don't think it's necessarily a waste of time to study liberal arts before engineering, if you are interested in liberal arts. But don't do it just because you want to learn good communication skills.

In my experience there are always some engineering majors that fit the nerd stereotype, but many more that don't.

 

[pongo38]

How common is it to find engineers who have many other intellectual interests outside their focus? Would someone who has interest in languages and music for instance make a capable engineer as well?

Furthermore, would you say that there is any value in studying liberal arts for a year or two before switching to engineering? Are gaining good communication skills by studying e.g. the humanities and broader areas an asset or would studying at such a place be a waste of time?

Languages and music bring humanity to engineering enterprises, quite commonly in my experience, but I don't think it's worth following these except as a hobby while you study engineering, or you can do it after graduation when you are a more efficient and motivated learner. You can develop your own communication skills in the context of engineering by (for example) making and taking opportunities to write and speak about things you know about. Even a letter to the technical press will concentrate your mind on the effectiveness of what you are trying to say.

 

[Ranzar]

I am still in high-school ,17 years old (almost 18) ,but I couldn't stop thinking about my future and what I should have my mind set on.

Last year ,I was in love with Aerospace physics.

But in the last two weeks ,I tend to like engineering ,building robots ,looking forward to doing projects like building spaceships. And I also like programming ,the idea of building a machine + building the program that is like it's brain is something that gets me VERY exited and helps me escape all the high-school attraction (girls ,fun etc) and concentrate on my studies.

But today ,my physics teacher talked to me about Quantum physics ,and the idea of understanding the very WHY tends me so much.

Thus ,I find myself lost ,I don't know what I want anymore ,and I know it's high-school and it's early but believe me ,it helps me to get my mind set on something ,and I can study better and have more confidence.

If it helps ,I want to know what should I think about being ? A physicist ? or an Engineer ? I want something that involves building things ,programming ,maybe Aerospace ,and using physics and the understanding of the how.

Thanks :)

 

[Ranzar]

My question got answered ,thanks :)

 

[OpticalSuit]

im currently studying engineering over seas. I am curious to know what is covered in first year calculus in the states. We have so far covered in the past 3 months: limits, derivatives, implicit, rates of change,max and min, indefinite and definite integration, volume, integration by parts, logarithms, inverse trig functions, l'hospital, infinite series/power series. Seems like a lot of material, or is that normal? I personally love it :)

 

[Angry Citizen]

I covered everything in that list in calc I and II. I'd say it's a little much for the first three months, but it's to be expected. The only thing that's solidly calc II is the infinite series stuff.

 

[vela]

I'm three quarters of the way through first year (electronic) engineering, but seriously considering switching to a physics/maths double major. My academic advisor is pretty focused on preventing engineering 'dropouts' and seems to think that if, like me, you're getting straight firsts, you'd have no reason to switch.

I gather your advisor is an engineer. To him or her, it might be unfathomable that anyone could find engineering uninteresting or boring. I also wonder if your advisor isn't placing the department's interest ahead of yours. The department obviously would like to retain its best students, but bolstering its reputation shouldn't be at the expense of what you want out of your education.

I'm kind of frustrated by the narrowness of the physics ahead of me (after Physics I everything is tightly focused on circuit theory, power electronics, etc) and the fact that our engineering courses never seem to go to the roots of anything, while our out-of-faculty courses do it quite well.

I think a physics degree would give you more options. It's easy to go from physics into engineering; it's not so easy going the other way because, as you noted, engineering is very limited.

I'm also apprehensive of the idea (introduced by my lecturers) that most of engineering is dealing with people-problems. (Working with people on science problems is cool; but I don't like the concept that half or less of my work will actually be science related.)

This isn't peculiar to engineering. You have to be able to work well with people in almost any job. I'd say if you don't want to deal with people problems, the most important thing is to stay away from the management career track.

I know that I'd probably need an academic or research type job to focus on pure physics; right now that sounds awesome. I'm just not sure how much this is 'grass is greener' syndrome, and how true the idea that I'd need a large handful of luck to even get a job like that is. (It seems as likely as I could hope for that I could find an engineering job if I graduate with good marks and a BSc(Eng), but I know I'd need a much longer/harder/more costly qualification to actually do pure physics as a career.)

Advice on whether I've misjudged engineering and/or am being a silly fool to even think this way would be great. Thanks.

Part of the problem is you probably don't get a good feel for what a job is like until you actually do it. Research sounds cool to a lot of people, but when they discover they don't like it, they turn into bitter grad students.

Obviously career considerations are important, but I always found it kind of sad when someone said finding a job was the primary reason for choosing what to study. I think you should go with what excites you intellectually. College is probably one of the last chances you'll have to study a subject simply because you like it.

 

[Astronuc]

Considering I'm still in high school...how would I go about this? Could I do an Engineering Major with a Business Minor, and then go back and get my masters in Engineering Management?

Engineering management is typically done at the graduate (MS) level. For example - http://memp.pratt.duke.edu/
http://engineering.jhu.edu/msem/index.html?gclid=COmqmfWJxKUCFUGo4Aod1i33YA
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/MSandE/cgi-bin/index.php

See also - http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/teamcenter/solutions_by_product/engineering_process_mgmt.shtml?stc=usiia400107&gclid=CJPR7-OQxKUCFUGo4Aod1i33YA

However I have encountered one person doing a bachelors program in Engineering Management.

I believe it is better to get a scientific/technical/engineering degree first, and then do engineering management. One could do engineering and business/entrepreneurship programs as an undergraduate.

The VPs, president and CEO where I work have MS or PhDs in various engineering disciplines, and they perform management as well as engineeing functions. Based on my experience, the best managers are those who understand the science (physics) behind the engineering and technology, as well as business knowledge such as planning, finance, etc.

 

[MECHster]

im currently studying engineering over seas. I am curious to know what is covered in first year calculus in the states. We have so far covered in the past 3 months: limits, derivatives, implicit, rates of change,max and min, indefinite and definite integration, volume, integration by parts, logarithms, inverse trig functions, l'hospital, infinite series/power series. Seems like a lot of material, or is that normal? I personally love it :)

That's pretty much exactly what I'm studying in Canada, and I'd assume it's very similar in the states.