Help an aspiring engineer!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
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<p>I was accepted to GT for Chemical Engineering, but have a few concerns...</p>

<p>I'm worried about being successful in engineering. As a child, I didn't have that natural born tendency to tinker with things. Truth is, I have a mild form of ADD, and I like to switch projects very quickly... I was successful in high school, and scored well on my math and science ACT (34 and 31 respectively). My concern is that I am not sure if I have the "tinkering" mindset. I've been trying to develop one by working on appliances around my house. Our ice maker was broken, and although I couldn't fix it, I found out that the problem was that the solenoid motor needed to be replaced. </p>

<p>I am very good at architecture. I can draw floor plans and can think well visually. I am also successful in the physical sciences. However, I simply worry that I'm not hands-on enough to be an engineer. Can anyone offer some tips on what I need to do to be a successful chemical engineer? Is there anyway to become more hands-on, or am I doomed to not being able to be? I want to pursue engineering because the aspect of being able to create things excites me... I'm just worried that I may not be good at it... </p>

<p>I will appreciate any response. Thank you.</p>

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<p>Chemical engineering isn’t really a “hands on” form of engineering. You won’t probably ever need to sketch a fancy design, just some basic flow charts or maybe some CAD. For chemical engineering, you will simply need to learn how to solve problems and make things as efficient and cost effective as possible. </p>

<p>Sure you may have to put together some type of apparatus or something sometime, but you will not be constructing any sort of vessel or welding any parts together or any sort of physical labor. You will make the design and specifications for someone else to construct.</p>

<p>IMO, if you want to do some sort of hands on activity, take up a hobby or work on your personal vehicle.</p>

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<p>thanks, I really appreciate your response. Yeah, I’ve been working on appliances on I’ve been working on my car, too. I just want to get the technical mindset that all engineers seem to have.</p>