To all engineers/engineers to-be

[Mercutio47]

I'm hoping to get into engineering (preferably chemical) next fall for undergrad. Here's my question to all engineering students past and present: if you could go back in time, knowing what you know -- with the exception of the actual concepts, etc. -- what would you have done differently? Better time management? Stronger study habits? Or, perhaps, being less critical of oneself, lessening pressures, pursuing extra curriculars, etc.

Any advice is welcome, and thanks in advance!

 

[brewnog]

Taken a gap year.

 

[Topher925]

I would have picked a different major entirely.

 

[Adjuster]

If I had known how badly the engineering sector was going to decline in my country, I might have kept Electronics as an interesting hobby, and taken up something else as a career.

Right now there seems to be only limited opportunities for engineers in the old developed world, particularly in Europe. The situation is of course very different in some places, notably China. Unless you are planning to work in one of those regions, I would not really recommend a career in engineering.

 

[gmax137]

Taken a gap year.

That's really good advice, but not everyone can do it; some people shouldn't do it - because they'll never leave the gap.

I would have picked a different major entirely.

...I would not really recommend a career in engineering.

You guys are depressing. I've been working for over 30 years, and I still like it, I still learn new things every day.

 

[JaredJames]

You guys are depressing. I've been working for over 30 years, and I still like it, I still learn new things every day.

There's a difference between being there and trying to get in there.

I am currently looking for an engineering position and in my country the prospects are slim. I honestly would have chosen a different path if I could go back.

I second what Adjuster said.

 

[viscousflow]

Slept more, or studied harder. Can't decide.

 

[mack_10]

If you can do second order differential equations and laplace transforms you can do engineering. If you read up in advance on them and gain a clear understanding you will breeze through if you cannot then consider yoga instructor instead

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

I would have picked a different major entirely.

Seconded.

I would probably have accepted my admission into a pure math program.

Electrical Engineering opportunities in Canada is great but I don't enjoy EE; it's just meh.

 

[clope023]

Seconded.

I would probably have accepted my admission into a pure math program.

Electrical Engineering opportunities in Canada is great but I don't enjoy EE; it's just meh.

It's like I'm looking at a mirror image!

To the OP, I would've picked physics or (maybe) mechanical engineering and maybe taken some interesting electives from electrical engineering like Electronics (about the only class in EE I've really enjoyed so far). I tend to have way more fun in my math and physics courses; hell last semester a lot of my time was spent with my Complex Analysis course and that was the most fun course of the semester even though it was by far more difficult than Electronics, Controls, and Logic. EE is just kind of bland and I have little to no interest in some of the subjects like logic and computer design/architecture, they're just boring.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

It's like I'm looking at a mirror image!

To the OP, I would've picked physics or (maybe) mechanical engineering and maybe taken some interesting electives from electrical engineering like Electronics (about the only class in EE I've really enjoyed so far). I tend to have way more fun in my math and physics courses; hell last semester a lot of my time was spent with my Complex Analysis course and that was the most fun course of the semester even though it was by far more difficult than Electronics, Controls, and Logic. EE is just kind of bland and I have little to no interest in some of the subjects like logic and computer design/architecture, they're just boring.

I hate electronics!

I would have taken more programing courses. I love assembly language.

I would also have taken controls and signals but that's about it.


XD I also had too much fun in Real Analysis last semester; I ended up doing not so great in my EE courses.

 

[pongo38]

I've been an engineer all my life and loved it. However, I do believe I could have any of a number of alternative careers in design, art, computing, architecture, philosophy, teaching... If you are bright, you can do anything you want, and then just make the best of it in the circumstances you find yourself in. I don't think you can expect anyone in this forum to guide you into something not of your own choosing. Once you have thouight of a field in which you have an interest, try to get someone practising to give you half an hour of careers advice. If they are enthusiastic about what they do (Or, more cynically, justifying their own decision, mistake or not) they will probably end up giving you more than half an hour. If you are really serious, ask to work shadow someone for a day. You will learn that either it is something you would like to do, or the opposite.