Engineering Should I go for engineering? 23 yrs old

[CrossFit415]

Hello, I'm 23 years old, I go to a community college, I've been there for 4 years .. yea its embarrassing.

Engineering is what I want to pursue. It seems impossible to me due to my aptitude in mathematics. I'm not a genius but can I continue to work hard at math and become an engineer?

I'm taking Calculus I next semester. At times I may feel like giving up and dropping out of my community college. This is also due to losing my chances of getting into a State because I had to drop 2 classes which were required for me to transfer this semster.

Now I'm thinking about dropping out of college to join the Air Force and be an engineer there instead. But military life doesn't seem right for me, I feel like that I should join for the experience involved such as traveling and seeing new places and not waste my youth.

I would like to continue school but I feel like I'm wasting time not doing anything with my life besides go to school and work at a part time job. I want to aim high and pursue something in engineering. Aviation, space, computers and machines fascinate me. What should I do?

 

[stevenb]

What should I do?

I wouldn't say this to everyone, but in your case I say, "keep going, - you will succeed if you don't quit". I have a good friend that eventually obtained his Mech. Eng. degree via a very similar path as you are taking now.

Math is very important in engineering, but it is not the only thing that is important. There are some engineers that struggle some with the math, but make up for it in other ways. If you don't quit, you will eventually have the minimum math requirements and minimum math knowledge needed to move forward.

I'm not going to kid you and say that the engineering courses you take later will not be very difficult, but you can pass them and get a degree to go on to do good engineering work. I've personally seen it happen quite a few times, and in every case the person was stubborn as hell and refused to accept the world's opinion that the attempt would be futile.

The famous scientist/engineer Faraday did not use math at all and was even skeptical of it's usefulness in science. How did he accomplish so much with this unusual view? By having one of the best intuitive minds the world has ever seen. You don't need his talent to have enough intuition to do productive work, and engineering math is not so difficult that you can't eventually master it.

 

[Shackleford]

The famous scientist/engineer Faraday did not use math at all and was even skeptical of it's usefulness in science. How did he accomplish so much with this unusual view? By having one of the best intuitive minds the world has ever seen. You don't need his talent to have enough intuition to do productive work, and engineering math is not so difficult that you can't eventually master it.

He didn't?

 

[CrossFit415]

Thanks for your response Steve. I guess I'll continue to go to school.
My friends are surpassing me, they've all got degrees and I'm lagging behind.

I just felt a need to join Air Force before I hit 27 so that I can travel around the world, pursue engineering there and learn different cultures. I would leave my life behind if I join Air Force. They say its great experience...

But I'll continue school.

 

[stevenb]

He didn't?

Not really. Of course, I'm not saying that he couldn't do basic math. But, he did not formulate his discoveries via equations in the fashion of an Ampere or a Maxwell. Most of his life he ridiculed (probably not the most accurate word) the use of math to formulate electrodynamic laws. It's said that later in life, he did begin to see the power of math in physics, but never fully embraced it.

It's been a while since I've read his "Experimental Researches in Electricity", but thinking back, I can't say I recall seeing a single formula. However, words and pictures abound. I expect someone can dig and find a formula or two, but this is not the point. The point is that he did not think in mathematical terms (at least not in the rigorous formulaic sense) at all when making or documenting his discoveries.

EDIT: I should also say that his commitment and skill in doing experimental work went hand in hand with his intuition. Either one alone is not as useful and the combination of the two.

 

[stevenb]

But I'll continue school.

I wish you good luck, and good fortune!

 

[aurao2003]

Hi
I wouldn't worry about the age issue. I am 32 and intend to start a degree in 2012. Currently, I am taking A levels over a period of 3 years. Would I have like to have started a career earlier? Of course! Would I have suceeded? Maybe. What of now? I will definitely suceed. My advanced age means my level of committment is hard to match. Last year I got married, worked full time and got an A grade in Maths. So, soildier on. If you ever take the renewable energy route, we might meet someday!

All the best.
PS: Do as much maths as you can. There is only one way, UP!

 

[ellamarie]

I wouldn't say this to everyone, but in your case I say, "keep going, - you will succeed if you don't quit". I have a good friend that eventually obtained his Mech. Eng. degree via a very similar path as you are taking now.

Math is very important in engineering, but it is not the only thing that is important. There are some engineers that struggle some with the math, but make up for it in other ways. If you don't quit, you will eventually have the minimum math requirements and minimum math knowledge needed to move forward.

I'm not going to kid you and say that the engineering courses you take later will not be very difficult, but you can pass them and get a degree to go on to do good engineering work. I've personally seen it happen quite a few times, and in every case the person was stubborn as hell and refused to accept the world's opinion that the attempt would be futile.

The famous scientist/engineer Faraday did not use math at all and was even skeptical of it's usefulness in science. How did he accomplish so much with this unusual view? By having one of the best intuitive minds the world has ever seen. You don't need his talent to have enough intuition to do productive work, and engineering math is not so difficult that you can't eventually master it.

He is definitely right. Dont give up. Believe in your self..

 

[Donaldson]

I am 25 and have been in the Navy for 5 years. I should have gone to college when I got out of high school but instead I sat on my butt 2 years then joined the military. I thought I would join the Navy and see the world but I ended up only visiting Japan and Canada. Now that I am older I realize how important an education is and will be leaving the Navy very soon to start school. My point is although I loved the military I feel like I have put my life on hold for 5 years because I had other ambitions the whole time. If you join the Air force the amount of "engineering" you do will probably be very minimal and you may end up not liking the military because your expectations did not meet the reality. If engineering truly is your calling then stick it out and get your degree. If it is not what you want then you will find that out too. I am not trying to dissuade you from enlisting but know two things 1. It is the recruiter’s job to lie to you (this is fact) and 2. Once you enlist you have to do the time and you may not like it. I did love the military life and because of my own dissatisfaction with my job I let it ruin the overall experience. Despite all my babbling my point is enlisted air force guys really won’t do much real engineering and you need a bachelors to be an officer anyway so you might as well get your degree first then go officer if you still choose to.

 

[Donaldson]

BTW if I was not clear on this let me say it again. You are more likely to waste your youth doing somthing that may not suit you for 5 years (I think that's min AF enlistment) then being a civillian and having the freedom to change your path.

 

[CrossFit415]

BTW if I was not clear on this let me say it again. You are more likely to waste your youth doing somthing that may not suit you for 5 years (I think that's min AF enlistment) then being a civillian and having the freedom to change your path.

Well I'm also thinking about joining due to benefits, the G I Bill (60 K) and the character you build through 4 years. I want discipline because I lack it. I'm thinking joining military can translate to civilian world. That way I have these traits to pursue my educational goals once I get out of AF..

 

[CrossFit415]

I am 25 and have been in the Navy for 5 years. I should have gone to college when I got out of high school but instead I sat on my butt 2 years then joined the military. I thought I would join the Navy and see the world but I ended up only visiting Japan and Canada. Now that I am older I realize how important an education is and will be leaving the Navy very soon to start school. My point is although I loved the military I feel like I have put my life on hold for 5 years because I had other ambitions the whole time. If you join the Air force the amount of "engineering" you do will probably be very minimal and you may end up not liking the military because your expectations did not meet the reality. If engineering truly is your calling then stick it out and get your degree. If it is not what you want then you will find that out too. I am not trying to dissuade you from enlisting but know two things 1. It is the recruiter’s job to lie to you (this is fact) and 2. Once you enlist you have to do the time and you may not like it. I did love the military life and because of my own dissatisfaction with my job I let it ruin the overall experience. Despite all my babbling my point is enlisted air force guys really won’t do much real engineering and you need a bachelors to be an officer anyway so you might as well get your degree first then go officer if you still choose to.

What did you do in the Navy?

 

[c03rcion]

Not really. Of course, I'm not saying that he couldn't do basic math. But, he did not formulate his discoveries via equations in the fashion of an Ampere or a Maxwell. Most of his life he ridiculed (probably not the most accurate word) the use of math to formulate electrodynamic laws. It's said that later in life, he did begin to see the power of math in physics, but never fully embraced it.

It's been a while since I've read his "Experimental Researches in Electricity", but thinking back, I can't say I recall seeing a single formula. However, words and pictures abound. I expect someone can dig and find a formula or two, but this is not the point. The point is that he did not think in mathematical terms (at least not in the rigorous formulaic sense) at all when making or documenting his discoveries.

EDIT: I should also say that his commitment and skill in doing experimental work went hand in hand with his intuition. Either one alone is not as useful and the combination of the two.

Farday is an inspiring figure!