Other Becoming an Engineer: Considerations and Personal Experiences

[John Mario]

At the suggestion of Shahil, I'm starting this thread as a general guidance thread for prospective engineers. Some typical questions:

-Should I become an engineer?
-What engineering discipline should I study?
-Is engineering difficult?

I encourage people to post personal experiences in school and in the professional world regarding the field of engineering.

Some background info on me - I'm a mechanical engineer working in the field of HVAC design. I started off studying aerospace engineering, but the math was just too much for me. I like mechanical engineering because it is a very wide field with all sorts of job opportunities everywhere.

The most important discipline in Engineering is the ability to analyze and resolve a problem; even when one is under pressure to meet a deadline. This requires a practical application of one's knowledge. I am a retired Electrical Engineer.

 

[John Mario]

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

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.

I agree. Someone with hands-on experience is much more likely to recognize a reasonable projected time to complete a design.

 

[John Mario]

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.

Communication skills is a requirement today. You may have to explain your design to a customer and listen to the customer's comments, questions and criticisms of your design.

Writing is another required skill. I had to write my design documents and submit them to the customer. The customer commented on my design documents. This is one way to ensure that your interpretation of the customer's needs matches the customer's actual needs.

In school, math is the tool used to explain a concept. Some teachers insert practical examples in their lectures. I was fortunate enough to have a professor who worked as an Engineering Manager during the day and taught an Engineering course at night. First he would teach the theory and math. Then he would explain what works in the real world.

 

[Tshephisho]

Im'm interested in studying mechanical engineering next year but I like working more with my hands, taking things apart and puting them back again, figuring out why something does not want to work and trying to find a solution to make that thing work by making use of "trial-and-error", my question is what career path within the mechanical field should i pursue, mechanical techinician or mechanical technologist or engineer, oh I'm also into cars, love everything about them.

 

[John Mario]

Im'm interested in studying mechanical engineering next year but I like working more with my hands, taking things apart and puting them back again, figuring out why something does not want to work and trying to find a solution to make that thing work by making use of "trial-and-error", my question is what career path within the mechanical field should i pursue, mechanical techinician or mechanical technologist or engineer, oh I'm also into cars, love everything about them.

I can only relate to my observations having consulted with a mechanical engineer on several occasions. The mechanical technician does most of the hands-on testing. I don't know about the mechanical technologist. I know the engineer becomes involved when the technician reports a problem.

 

[i_wish_i_was_smart]

I can only relate to my observations having consulted with a mechanical engineer on several occasions. The mechanical technician does most of the hands-on testing. I don't know about the mechanical technologist. I know the engineer becomes involved when the technician reports a problem.

Hey I'll add to this

If you enjoy fixing cars and troubleshoot their problems- become a Thechnician (technicians are mechanics)

if you like to test new car parts until they fail and collect data on it to then submit said data to an engineer to fix the problem - become a technologist

if you like to design new car parts and and trouble shoot why they fail in some manner or another to find a proper solution to your problem - become and engineer

this is just one example of many


i myself became an Engineer to find intuitive solutions to problems, you might build 2 bridges of the same design, but garanteed you will have different problems, this is why onsite civil engineers have not gone out of style yet
i didnt become a mechanic for the simple fact that i didnt think i was going to enjoy it as a profession, i love working on cars... as a hobby, i didnt think i was going to get the mental stimulation that i wanted out of a job, did i make the right choice? well i still love to tinker on my car on my time off, and i love my job... best of both worlds really

now the reason i chose my dicipline
i chose the type of engineering i am in because of a childhood job i had, i was working as a shop boy on a mine site in the Canadian arctic, as soon as i stepped off the plane, that type of lifestyle called to me, as the summer went on i met many engineers who shared with me their insight into what the job is and it all got me hooked on more and more. where before the sumer i had many career paths i wanted to take, at the end of the summer that choice was clear, i had to become... a drunken Mining Engineer haha

point is you have to choose the dicipline that makes you tick, the one that makes you want to achieve the unachievable, the makes you thrive as a professional and as a human being...

... and that is worth more than the paycheck at the end of the week

 

[musk]

It's really awesome to see how much help the members are giving to the ppl who can't decide what major to enroll into. Anyway i have some questions. I am a 1st year ME student and so far it's been 'O.K.' I chose ME mainly because i thought i was crazy about physics but didn't like the opportunities a physics course would offer (scientist, lab, teaching). And yeah, I didn't also like the fact how physicist where payed so low for their work. I am fairly good at math and physics and i can say that i like them, they are interesting but they don't quite make my blood boil when i hear talking about them. What really makes me go crazy is modern physics. I absolutely love everything about it, from relativity, quantum mechanics, astrophysics and others. I literally sit in front of the TV and don't move at all while watching documentaries about it (like a kid watching cartoons). Not to mention that i swallow every book i can get on that subject (now reading The Large, The Small and Human Mind by Penrose :P).

However even considering my love for modern physics I wouldn't like going 5 years through hell just to teach or be enclosed in some laboratory. I'd like something practical. My ideal course would be Modern Physics Engineering, but unfortunately i never heard about it =/, so i assume it doesn't exist. Overall that has been my dilemma since i finished high school and for now i am not quite sure if i made the right decision. thanks i'll keep checking this forum :)

 

[p1ayaone1]

It's really awesome to see how much help the members are giving to the ppl who can't decide what major to enroll into. Anyway i have some questions. I am a 1st year ME student and so far it's been 'O.K.' I chose ME mainly because i thought i was crazy about physics but didn't like the opportunities a physics course would offer (scientist, lab, teaching). And yeah, I didn't also like the fact how physicist where payed so low for their work. I am fairly good at math and physics and i can say that i like them, they are interesting but they don't quite make my blood boil when i hear talking about them. What really makes me go crazy is modern physics. I absolutely love everything about it, from relativity, quantum mechanics, astrophysics and others. I literally sit in front of the TV and don't move at all while watching documentaries about it (like a kid watching cartoons). Not to mention that i swallow every book i can get on that subject (now reading The Large, The Small and Human Mind by Penrose :P).

However even considering my love for modern physics I wouldn't like going 5 years through hell just to teach or be enclosed in some laboratory. I'd like something practical. My ideal course would be Modern Physics Engineering, but unfortunately i never heard about it =/, so i assume it doesn't exist. Overall that has been my dilemma since i finished high school and for now i am not quite sure if i made the right decision. thanks i'll keep checking this forum :)

There is a discipline called "Engineering Physics" offered at some schools, but if you're interested in modern physics, you might enjoy semiconductors (that would be in ELEC) or nano/materials engineering. For now, you'll have to slog through Introduction to This and Fundamentals of That until you get to the good stuff ;)

 

[eventob]

I am currently studying petroleum geosciences engineering. I am thinking about maybe taking an exchange semester to some other school (preferably in the US or Canada) (also considering Australia or ZA), but I'm not sure which one to choose. My university has an exchange programme with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and San Diego State, but I may also arrange it with some other school.

Any thoughts? Probably not a lot of people in here studying petroleum/geo engineering?

I am also a bit uncertain whether I should attend grad school after I've finished my bachelor degree. Is it worth the two extra years and the money to get a masters degree?

Anyways. I was going to study business administration, but I decided to go for engineering ... Was admitted into two different universities, one business school and one engineering school ... So I had to decide in the last minute. I don't regret choosing engineering, even though the science subjects can be very challenging from time to time. :)

 

[p1ayaone1]

I am currently studying petroleum geosciences engineering. I am thinking about maybe taking an exchange semester to some other school (preferably in the US or Canada) (also considering Australia or ZA), but I'm not sure which one to choose. My university has an exchange programme with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and San Diego State, but I may also arrange it with some other school.

Any thoughts? Probably not a lot of people in here studying petroleum/geo engineering?

I am also a bit uncertain whether I should attend grad school after I've finished my bachelor degree. Is it worth the two extra years and the money to get a masters degree?

I don't study in that field or go to this university, but McGill (Montreal, Canada) has a mining engineering program. I think it's the only one where they do Co-op, but no idea about exchanges.

 

[rainbowchelle]

I'm thinking of going into electrical engineering (also considering civil, computer or industrial; however electrical seems most interesting to me) but I'm not terribly good at or passionate about math. When I took Pre-Calc and Trig in high school I didn't do so well. I'm not sure if this is important enough to re-think this career path or not. When I took entrance exams for college (I went and dropped out, am going back this Spring) I scored into the highest math placement I could without testing out of it entirely, and I did really well in Intermediate Algebra. I'm just concerned that this might not be good enough because I hear a lot about how math intensive engineering is, and I'm pretty sure I'll have to do a bit more than factoring to graduate. I don't mind doing math and find some of it fun, but I guess I'm concerned that I'd be bad at it and if it's really that crazy important I might as well just decide on another career path.

On the other hand, I find electricity and the physics behind it fascinating. I love to design things and solve puzzles. I'm naturally inquisitive which seems to be a plus for this career field. I love to write and enjoy finding the most efficient way to do things. I think that designing electronics would be really fulfilling, I love technology and looking at the progress we have made so far and thinking about how much further we have the potential to go.

What do you think? Would I make a good electrical engineer or should I go back to the drawing board?

 

[p1ayaone1]

Would I make a good electrical engineer or should I go back to the drawing board?

You'll do great because:

1. You found this forum
2. You used the following words in your post: "fun", "fascinating", "love", "fulfilling", "progress", "potential"

Don't worry about the math. They will drill you over and over on all the little tricks you need to (eventually) solve more involved design problems.

You are leaps and bounds above many other final-year Elec students I know because you already have an engineer's brain. Sure, they might be able to do convolution integrals in their sleep, but anyone can learn how to do that. You can't teach someone to be passionate and inquisitive. Play your advantages, be patient, slog through the math courses and I'm sure you will find an incredibly rewarding career.

 

[rainbowchelle]

You'll do great because:

1. You found this forum
2. You used the following words in your post: "fun", "fascinating", "love", "fulfilling", "progress", "potential"

Don't worry about the math. They will drill you over and over on all the little tricks you need to (eventually) solve more involved design problems.

You are leaps and bounds above many other final-year Elec students I know because you already have an engineer's brain. Sure, they might be able to do convolution integrals in their sleep, but anyone can learn how to do that. You can't teach someone to be passionate and inquisitive. Play your advantages, be patient, slog through the math courses and I'm sure you will find an incredibly rewarding career.

Thank you! That's really encouraging to hear :)

 

[Hellius]

I've pretty much decided on being an engineer. I've created an academic plan and I am shooting for the moon. Problem is, I'm not sure what branch I'd like to get into.

I'd love to learn how to generate electricity and I'd like to learn how to sanitate water for communities. I'd like to invent... anything that comes to my mind and I'd like to develop skills that I can use outside of work. I'd like to do humanitarian work; make sure people have clean water to drink, have safe living conditions, and I'd like to make their lives easier.

I guess I'd like to have an eclectic mix of everything and anything. I think of mechanical for this reason, but I'm not sure if it fits the bill.

 

[Angry Citizen]

Most engineering degrees start off relatively similar. You study the same math, the same physics, the same basic engineering courses. You have plenty of time to decide on a sub-discipline. You might consider civil engineering based on your preferences.

 

[pongo38]

If you stick with electrical and do well, you could consider doing a masters afterwards in water and/or environmental engineering. That choice should be possible in the UK, anyway. You can adapt this suggestion to closely related fields and other countries. What admissions tutors will want to establish is (a) your ability to learn at a higher level and (b) your motivation for the chosen course.

 

[Hellius]

Electrical engineering was the initial discipline I was looking at when I began my search. I've been thinking about civil lately as well.

I do want to have my bachelor's degree be a core branch of engineering, so civil or electrical would work for me. I'm not sure which I'd like more, but I'm leaning towards electrical.

I don't intend to get into any Ivy League or top prestigious school or anything like that, so does the university you attend make a huge difference in your ability to get hired? My school has an agreement with UC Santa Barbara, Davis, Santa Cruz, and San Diego where, if I complete all the lower division requirements for whichever major, I am guaranteed acceptance. UC Santa Cruz attracts me the most, but it's relatively unknown.

 

[Nikitin]

thoughts about chemical engineering?

engineers with Physical chemistry specialization, what do they do?

Which engineers typically work in the field as opposed in offices?

 

[viscousflow]

Electrical engineering was the initial discipline I was looking at when I began my search. I've been thinking about civil lately as well.

I do want to have my bachelor's degree be a core branch of engineering, so civil or electrical would work for me. I'm not sure which I'd like more, but I'm leaning towards electrical.

I don't intend to get into any Ivy League or top prestigious school or anything like that, so does the university you attend make a huge difference in your ability to get hired? My school has an agreement with UC Santa Barbara, Davis, Santa Cruz, and San Diego where, if I complete all the lower division requirements for whichever major, I am guaranteed acceptance. UC Santa Cruz attracts me the most, but it's relatively unknown.

I would check if the university is abet accredited and the job rate for the engineering department. If those qualities are present and the university is indeed in good standing, in terms of job rate, then I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Cod]

From reading about different university programs, a three semester calculus sequence and differential equations are the only math courses typically required for engineering majors. What other undergraduate math courses would benefit an engineering major? Linear Algebra? Real Analysis? Numerical Analysis? Others...

EDIT: I'm primarily speaking of aerospace and computer/electrical engineering.

 

[viscousflow]

From reading about different university programs, a three semester calculus sequence and differential equations are the only math courses typically required for engineering majors. What other undergraduate math courses would benefit an engineering major? Linear Algebra? Real Analysis? Numerical Analysis? Others...

EDIT: I'm primarily speaking of aerospace and computer/electrical engineering.

I am an AE senior now and I found that a linear algebra course and some higher courses in diff eq (After intro to PDE and complex functions etc..) would've been very helpful because of my field of interest, Flight Controls. Also, if I chose to go into FEA or CFD, numerical analysis would help. Usually you simply want to tailor your electives to what you want to study, there is no real all encompassing advice on math courses to take for an engineer. All of it depends on your interests.

 

[Cod]

I am an AE senior now and I found that a linear algebra course and some higher courses in diff eq (After intro to PDE and complex functions etc..) would've been very helpful because of my field of interest, Flight Controls. Also, if I chose to go into FEA or CFD, numerical analysis would help. Usually you simply want to tailor your electives to what you want to study, there is no real all encompassing advice on math courses to take for an engineer. All of it depends on your interests.

Thanks for the assistance. Right now, my interests are in avionics, navigation, and guidance...primarily software / CmpEng type stuff within air and space craft. I'd like to tailor my minor so I can get more specific when going to graduate school, hopefully in an aerospace program.

 

[story645]

What other undergraduate math courses would benefit an engineering major? Linear Algebra? Real Analysis? Numerical Analysis? Others...

I had to take a combined Linear Algebra/Vector Calculus course, which was super useful for E&M.

I'd like to tailor my minor so I can get more specific when going to graduate school, hopefully in an aerospace program.

A friend of mine is in an aerospace phd program because of robotics research (also CompE undergrad) so you've got a good idea with focusing on control systems. Take the EE electives and figure it out from that side. Might give you an advantage of sorts on the software side.

 

[Cod]

A friend of mine is in an aerospace phd program because of robotics research (also CompE undergrad) so you've got a good idea with focusing on control systems. Take the EE electives and figure it out from that side. Might give you an advantage of sorts on the software side.

My university doesn't have an engineering program, so I went with a computer science major; however, I've tailored my electives to reflect as much EE and CmpE as the school offers (digital logic, circuits intro, etc.). I'm hoping to take some classes as a non-traditional student prior to applying to engineering graduate programs. Hopefully I can put together a nice package and sell my CS degree towards avionics and such. We'll see...

Thanks for the words.

 

[viscousflow]

Thanks for the assistance. Right now, my interests are in avionics, navigation, and guidance...primarily software / CmpEng type stuff within air and space craft. I'd like to tailor my minor so I can get more specific when going to graduate school, hopefully in an aerospace program.

Welcome to the club. I'm into flight controls/navigation and plan to to my masters in it, this fall. All I can say is do as much linear algebra as you possibly can. I wish I did if formally. I did self-study in linear algebra before so I understand what is happening but if I had formal study I would have more insight into more advanced study. Also, you may want to get acquainted with MATLAB and simulink software. Good luck in your endeavors, if you have any question on controls, feel free to message me.

 

[denks]

Finding lots of good thoughts here so figured I'd ask about my own situation.

After doing a couple of years of electrical engineering a few years back I dropped out and pursued a career in software dev for approx 10 years. Did quite well but never got any great satisfaction, I missed the maths and physics. I have returned to study engineering (doing a common first year, thought about trying to get exemptions but have forgotten most of the theory due to lack of use) and am trying to decide between mechatronics and electrical engineering. I want to do something where my programming background won't count for nothing (I do enjoy coding, just want to do something useful with it). My likes are electrostatics/dynamics/magnetics, quantum physics, digital circuits, AI, maths, programming, mechanics. My dislikes are thermodynamics (still don't like it) and circuit analysis (used to dislike it, not sure if it was due to lack of study at the time). I'm also thinking of a double major electrical eng / mathematics, mechatronics / mathematics or mechatronics / physics as I really love phys and maths. I'm thinking of getting into r+d in autonomous robots as I think this would be an ideal fit, I considered a computer sci / maths double major but want to have a physical product at the end - what I was missing in software dev. A local university is offering mechatronics with a sub major in space engineering which has certainly taken my interest.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[OUmecheng]

I am very interested in engineering... I used to take stuff apart when I was younger just to see all the little parts integrated into simple machines. The only toys I played with were legos (lol until I was 14, actually). But as I delve deeper into school, I feel like I won't be able to complete my goal of becoming a Mechanical Engineer. I feel like I MIGHT be slightly more behind than everyone else in understanding math and physics. I was only wondering if anyone else felt the same but still succeeded? I must say, it's killing my morale.

 

[General_Sax]

Don't worry about it... most likely you're near the average in terms of comprehension and understanding. What one does in the present matters more in life than what one did in the past.

 

[denks]

I am very interested in engineering... I used to take stuff apart when I was younger just to see all the little parts integrated into simple machines. The only toys I played with were legos (lol until I was 14, actually). But as I delve deeper into school, I feel like I won't be able to complete my goal of becoming a Mechanical Engineer. I feel like I MIGHT be slightly more behind than everyone else in understanding math and physics. I was only wondering if anyone else felt the same but still succeeded? I must say, it's killing my morale.

A big question you need to ask yourself (and be honest with yourself) is why you are slightly behind in these subjects. Is it due to not "getting it", lack of study, or just loving the hands-on but hating the theory behind it? Lack of study is simple - study more. Not "getting it" may need help from teachers or fellow classmates. If you love the hands on and dislike the theory you may prefer a career as a technician where you will be doing hands on all day rather than at a desk doing the calculations behind it - engineering study will comprise very heavy theoretical work, especially in maths and physics.

 

[denks]

Don't worry about it... most likely you're near the average in terms of comprehension and understanding. What one does in the present matters more in life than what one did in the past.

Agreed, however unless one learns why things happened in the past one will be destined to repeat it.