Engineering Question?

<p>I am in high school and I am currently running into a problem with choosing a career. I would like to work in designing things. Engineers do this and make high income (100,000 +) salaries. However, I do not enjoy math. I am good in math (95+), but I do not enjoy it. My question is, do math skills dictate how good of an engineer you are? Or is it a deep understanding of your particular field that makes you a better engineer. In other words, is math the most important skill used in engineering? With that said, are there any other six-figure jobs that involve designing things like engineering, but require less math and more of something else? Similar to an architect or something? Computer science also appeals to me because it is more theoretical and less math intensive than engineering, from what I have heard. So going back to the original question are the best engineers the best in math or are there other skills that factor in or that may be of greater importance?</p>

<p>In computer science, you have to think logically, which involves similar thinking processes as thinking about math, but it may be different enough that you may enjoy it more.</p>

<p>When you are doing your undergrad degree in engineering, you will do a bit of math, though surely not the most abstract math at all. You don’t have to like it, I suppose, but you need to be good at math to get through the courses with solid grades. However, I hear the actual job requires pretty basic math unless you are doing really advanced research oriented work. Leave it to a working engineer on here to give you the full details though!</p>

<p>Computer science requires a lot of math. Many comp sci majors are math double majors or minors.
The statement of using “a bit of math” in engineering is quite an understatement.</p>

<p>You will be in trouble doing Engineering if you do not enjoy math as most of the Eng. classes always have math or some kind of Math.</p>

<p>Don’t listen to the “experts” here. When I went to the university for my first degree( Economics), I struggled with Calculus I- so much that I had to drop it twice before I got a passing grade-a B. Do I hate Calculus? No, but it sucks.</p>

<p>My capstone class was Regression Analysis(Econometrics), one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken in college- Calculus I was a prerequisite and I don’t remember ever using anything I learned in Calculus in that class.</p>

<p>Right now I am an Industrial Engineering major and I am struggling with Calculus again- Do I hate Calculus, NO, it sucks but because I have been through this before, I know it is just a matter of perseverance. </p>

<p>Most of the higher level IE classes like Optimization, Stochastic Modeling etc are probably going to be based on 10% of what I learned in Calculus- in this case, derivatives</p>

<p>Trust me, I know some very successful engineers who disliked Math, some even hated it and are doing just fine- Good luck!</p>

<p>It’s important that you understand what engineering generally is. </p>

<p>Most designs are done with mathematical models of what you’re actually designing. Most engineering courses teach your how to develop these models and analyze them using mathematical tools. </p>

<p>Now if you love design and can treat math the way a sculptor treats his chisel, then you might be ok, but it’s important to understand that math is an essential part if not the essential part of engineering. You will do more than just do math, but you will certainly use math as a tool. </p>

<p>Will this appeal to you?</p>

<p>What are some other high paying jobs that involve design, but are not as math intensive as engineering?</p>

<p>You don’t have to like math, but you better be good at it. </p>

<p>Maybe landscape designing?</p>

<p>How could one hate math? :-)</p>