<p>How do you know if you want to be an engineer? I mean you can't exactly just 'try it out' to see how you like it.</p>
<p>I've always been fascinated with bridges for some reason, I'm good at math and science, and I loved building stuff as a kid. But that's as far as I go (that and I'm not interested in other stuff). So how am I supposed to tell if engineering is really for me?</p>
<p>**This is important because if I'm going to major in engineering I need to transfer. I know it's broad, but any advice, personal experience or input whatsoever will help a ton. And feel free to ask me any questions although I don't know how much more I can give as I'm kind of at a loss with this.</p>
<p>Oh and alternative energy has also been another long time fascination of mine. i honestly don't know if that even has anything to do with engineering or not. I don't know. I guess I can't figure myself out.</p>
<p>I started getting interested in engineering when I was in high school. I didn't have much exposure to advanced techincal courses in high school so I was going into college unsure of what to expect. One thing that was certain is that you have to like science and mathematics in order to survive a college engineering curriculum. As I worked my way through college I found out that I did not like all of the theory but I liked the idea of working in manufacturing plants and doing process engineering and projects, which is more exciting to me than all of the design work that my college courses trained me for. I used internships to gain experience in various manufacturing plants and learned that those environments were the right place for me. It also taught me what specific industry that I preferred as well. To really get a grasp on whether or not you will like engineering, I think having college experience and on-the-job experience is best. I hated college but I stuck with it because it would eventually lead to a job that I would enjoy.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation as well. I have always been fascinated with luxurious buildings, skyscrapers, and always wanted a comprehensive understanding of how to manage all the decisions involved from drawing board to finishing touches. My father owns a small contracting company and after one year working part-time, I realized that i am far more interested in MDU (multi-dwelling units) than in custom homes. I like figuring out how to adequately save space and time to get the full value of the property into full gear. </p>
<p>Through this I have realized something engineering and the business world have in common and thats operations - A business' main objective is to cut production costs and increase sales - which is basically underlined in engineer theory. Engineers jobs are to cut costs and maximize the potential of the materials and services that they are working with. Which is why any degree in engineering can be extremely versatile.</p>
<p>The one drawback is - unless you are really interested in science and math theory, as well as applying those theories to your field - an engineering program will be extremely long and painstaking. Without a natural nack for the sciences and mathematics you are likely to be drawn away from engineering as quickly as you are drawn to it.</p>
<p>Engineering is all about understanding (relatively) simple concepts about science and applying them to create (relatively) complex designs for things you need/want to discover. What's your current major?</p>
<p>I'm currently an applied math major. I like to think of it as my major by default because I'm in a liberal arts school with little to no interest in any other subject. I've always enjoyed math, solving puzzles and such, but I'm not like 'excited' about studying math for the next three years, you know?</p>
<p>I feel like I would have more fun in a major where the math isn't quite so theoretical or abstract, but is heavily used in projects that result in more than just a number with a box around it. I'm a little worried I might burn out taking math class after math class without applying it to anything. I mean I don't want to get to a point where I'm constantly saying to myself, "This is pointless. When the heck am I ever gonna use this?" Because I know myself and no good can come from that line of thinking (for me at least).</p>
<p>The way you described engineering, khoda, definitely makes it sound like a major I would have fun in. And thanks to the guys who shared how they discovered their interest in engineering. It's a big help, so anyone else who wants to share please feel free.</p>
<p>Up until the second semester of senior year, I thought that I would be some sort of humanities or social science major. I've never had any good science teachers and math class was a bore for me because I was always in the I-will-never-use-this-BS mindset so majoring in engineering was laughable despite my interest in airplanes. Sometime in Nov of my senior year, we got a new physics teacher who really knew his s**t and I fell in love with designing/building things and the principles of engineering in general. I had never done anything like it and I guess that's when I decided that majoring in aerospace engineering would be right for me. I guess that was a round-about way of saying that trying it out would be the best way to see if it's right for you.</p>
<p>I'm definitely not a theoretical math/science girl by any means; I'm good at these subjects but honestly, I see these classes as a way to the fun engineering classes. :)</p>
<p>I recently attended my son's graduation from engineering school. At the university convocation, the VIP speaker, a famous novelist, gave a speech loaded with platitudes. The last platitude was, "solve global warming". I looked out at the kids in caps and gowns: the lawyers, the political scientists, the musicians, the nurses, the astronomers, the English majors, ... and the engineers. Was there any doubt who was going to solve global warming? So which group do you want to be in? Based on your statements above, el duque, the question answers itself.</p>
<p>It's not too late to transfer. You're young; it might take some remedial coursework; you have time. But, isn't it worth it to look yourself in the mirror and say, "I built that."</p>
<p>Few people know what they want to be when they enter university. Heck, they don't even know what they want to do AFTER graduating. You can't just go around and try every job there is and see if you'll like it. Sorry, but the world is not designed to fulfill your needs and wants. </p>
<p>Many friends and relatives gave me this advice: if you're good at what you're doing right now, and you don't hate it, stick with it. If you decide to transfer and then find out you don't like it, what a hassle it would be to switch back (not to mention wasted time). However, if you feel that engineering is what you may want to do, then by all means go ahead. It's also very versatile, so career changing is much easier.</p>
<p>I definitely see where you're coming from, steevee, and maybe I am getting a little too greedy by trying to leave my current school and major--a major which I'm OK with--for an engineering school. But you see my predicament, right?</p>
<p>I've been interested in engineering, in some form or another, since I first learned about it. It isn't something, when I was applying to schools, that I thought I would pursue so I unfortunately wound up at a school with no engineering program (not even a single class to just try it out). But after spending a year in college and realizing how little interest I have in all the gen-ed classes, it really made me think about what I could do to make my college experience more enjoyable. </p>
<p>I don't want to wake up every morning and dread going to class. I feel like most people have at least some degree of excitement in their pursuit of a degree (or at least the people that end up liking college). I don't get this feeling at all. In fact, you may even say I feel the opposite; I find myself counting down the days until graduation. Right now, I look at college as an obstacle rather than an experience.</p>
<p>Obviously I would rather enjoy college, so I've been trying to think back to when I was younger and what it was that made me the happiest. And I think, when you add up the assortment of activities that made me happy, it points right at engineering. Of course the problem is that there's no feasible way to confirm this now because I already wasted this summer as far as an engineering internship, there's no engineering classes at my school, and I need to make a decision on transfering basically by 2nd semester.</p>
<p>But you're right. I am essentially debating whether or not to leave behind a content situation for a potentially exciting and rewarding college experience. I wish I didn't have to use the word 'potentially', but I've never worked in engineering nor have I studied it so there's just no way to know for sure. All I know is that when I look at what engineers do on a broad, general scale, it seems like I would actually be excited to learn about it, like I would leave class counting down the hours until my next class rather than the days til graduation.</p>
<p>El duque,
Practical application of math and science sounds like engineering to me! My son started engineering not knowing for sure if that is what he wanted, and he even did an engineering apprenticeship in hs. But he always sort of thought of himself as an engineer. Since he was little, he loved to build things. He taught himself CADD during a teacher strike. He liked rockets and robotics. He always thinks of better ways to make things. MechE is perfect for him. I know a boy who spent his every last cent at RadioShack and built electronic things. Of course, he is now happy as an EE. The freshman year was mostly basic courses, which were neither challanging nor difficult. His second year was better, but when son got a great internship this summer he knew he was in the right place.</p>
<p>You will never know unless you try. If you are an engineer, you will have made the right choice to transfer. If you don't really like it after all, it still won't be a waste of time because it will quiet any doubts you have that would otherwise stay with you and perhaps prevent you from being successful in your career area.</p>
<p>I knew I wanted to be an engineer when I was in 6th grade ... I loved pulling stuff apart figuring out how things work and make them better (both at micro and macro level). I pretty much knew how to fix anything and everything around the house and I loved it. After 2 years of engineering when I got my intern , it took me 1 week to realize , I didnt want to be an engineer . Ever since I have been trying to get the hell out of it!</p>
<p>My advice for anyone is try it , college gives you enough of a safety net to allow you transfer talk to people etc etc . Often we only get attracted to things when we are good at them , engineering requires a lot of work to be good at so keep at it and maybe you'll enjoy it , maybe you wont, but at least the consolation is engineers are considered to be one of the most adept groups at problem solving and that is a skill worth learning.</p>
<p>The introductory courses to any area will have those "boxed in" answers you talk about(even engineering). For example, if you take a course in the fundamentals of electrical engineering it is going to be a course in algebra. Sure, you see fancy circuits on the page but when you're solving the problem you're just doing some simple algebra (and it all seems so useless).</p>
<p>Applied mathematics is probably the best place for someone who thinks they want engineering, but don't know. The assistant dean of the electrical & computer engineering department at my university has his B.S. in Mathematics (and went on to grad school for ECE). </p>
<p>Just look at the research your professors are doing. Applied Math is one of the most widespread disciplines. Physics, biology, engineering, graphics, computer science, vision, robotics and many others are all in the scope of applied math. It's versatile. I think you may be approaching your courses in a less-than-best light. You shouldn't think about it as a "boxed in"-answer-major, you should think about each class as another tool to add to your belt. When you've gotten these tools fully mastered, then you will see the beauty of mathematics. </p>
<p>I hope this helps a bit. I, myself, have always been fickle with my major. Somehow I had/have this idea in my mind that what I major in will dictate what I do in life, but this simply isn't true. It is not uncommon for people to change their specialization after graduation. Try to look at things positively and stop worrying (I feel like I'm talking to myself!). :)</p>
<p>el duque, I went to engineering school many years ago. My engineering school had a relationship with a number of LAC's where they could spend 2-years at the engineering school and graduate with a BA from their LAC and a BS from the engineering school. This is a good alternative to transferring. You ought to look and see if your LAC has that.</p>