Engineering Pursue Career Advice

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the challenges and perceptions surrounding various engineering disciplines, particularly civil and electrical engineering. A participant reflects on their father's influence, a geotechnical engineer, and their own journey into civil engineering. The conversation emphasizes that the perceived difficulty of engineering fields often correlates with personal interest and passion. Additionally, it highlights the essential role of mathematics in understanding engineering concepts, urging aspiring engineers to embrace math despite potential negative experiences with instructors.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic engineering principles
  • Familiarity with civil and electrical engineering concepts
  • Basic mathematical skills relevant to engineering
  • Awareness of the importance of passion in choosing an engineering discipline
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the curriculum differences between civil and electrical engineering
  • Explore resources on effective mathematical techniques for engineering
  • Investigate the role of passion in career satisfaction within engineering
  • Learn about common challenges faced by engineering students and strategies to overcome them
USEFUL FOR

Aspiring engineers, students considering engineering disciplines, and individuals seeking guidance on overcoming academic challenges in engineering.

jackkingsford
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My dad once told me that being an engineer is like, one of the greatest things. He told me that you’ll understand how life is if you become an engineer. I didn’t really understand why he said that. I just didn’t. When he passed away, (I was 16 then), i remembered his words so when I graduated, I took up civil engineering. And that’s when I understood why he said that. My dad was a geotechnical engineer and he wanted me to follow his footsteps. However, I’m afraid if I can make it. I feel like shifting to an easier engineering course. I still want to be an engineer, though. Which among the different kinds of engineering is much easier to pursue?
 
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Every engineering discipline is challenging. The one you'll find easiest is the one you're most interested in and most passionate about.
 
I chose one of the more "difficult" engineering disciplines: Electrical Engineering. I love to tinker with radios and RF.

Truthfully, these perceptions of difficulty are often expressed by people who don't want to learn much math. And in fairness, I have seen some schools use mathematics more as an idiotic hazing exercise than as a tool for learning and comprehension of more subjects. I have suffered many awful mathematics instructors (I refuse to call them teachers), and yet I still appreciate the beauty and intricacies of mathematics despite them.

However, if you think you're getting off easy by staying away from math, think again. Math actually helps understand some of the difficult conceptual aspects of engineering. Without it, you're practicing voodoo and rules of thumb. Your classes will seem very strange and incomprehensible without math.

Do not fear Math. Embrace it, and try to overlook the awful instructors who think they teach it.
 

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