Earning an engineering degree can open up a world of opportunity — with the discipline extending into every industry, one can work in just about any specialty in which they are passionate about. While your future will be full of options, undertaking and completing an engineering degree is a challenge even for the most intelligent and diligent of students.
Many students with an interest in engineering begin their journey while they are in high school by focusing on the sciences and mathematics. These courses provide the building blocks for future employment in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professions and may help one decide what engineering field they would like to specialize in, for example, biological, chemical, civil, electrical, or mechanical — to name the main “branches” of the profession. Once in college, most students first learn the basics that make up each field, such as understanding Ohm’s law Wheel in electrical engineering — and then proceed to specialize in the later two years as an undergraduate.
Build Your STEM Knowledge
Engineering draws heavily on mathematics and the sciences, so if you decide to pursue an engineering degree, expect those classes to make up 80 to 100% of your college coursework. You will definitely have to take more calculus in college — and likely will have classes in engineering-related calculus. Keep in mind that engineering — at its core — is about how to solve problems. You will deeply develop your critical thinking by learning how to explore multiple angles of a problem. One of the great benefits of an engineering degree is becoming an efficient problem-solver.
Become An Effective Engineering Student
An engineering degree requires a serious commitment. You will likely have to attend every class — because instruction can move at a fast pace — so you don’t want to miss any lectures. You will find it helpful to complete your assigned reading before class, in order to have a broader understanding of the in-class instruction and discussion.
Don’t be surprised if you end up taking extensive notes, which you will find yourself organizing and reviewing after class. Many students have found it useful to collect the basic ideas, concepts, and key instruction points from each class into a separate notebook to use as a study guide for exams.
Collaboration with peers, often in a study group environment, provides a great deal of academic support. Search for an established group related to the classes you find yourself needing the extra help in — or form your own group with a few friends from your class.
Look For Internships And Opportunities
Many students find that they learn much more about engineering by doing. Internships, apprenticeships, and other student-oriented work opportunities provide many students with insights that they would not have gained otherwise. It is very important to start looking to these opportunities early — as space is often limited. Talk to the counselors at your student center or career office to know what is out there.
Engineers Have Changed The World
Engineers are a valuable asset to every community — one could easily make the argument that engineers have changed the world. If you have a passion for invention, critical thinking, and problem-solving — then a career in engineering may be the perfect fit.
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