I’d like to congratulate you for investigating this site and its content. Over the course of the first 99 blogs, I have assembled some of the most critical, insightful and practical information you will digest as a student.
You were ecstatic upon receipt of your congratulatory letter of admission; you were officially declared an engineering student. How could you have been so excited back then but so conflicted now – is engineering the right major for you?
In Post #69, I discussed three common engineering misconceptions based on my beliefs as a student. I’d like to continue that discussion here. These are important notes to make as current engineering students go about their studies and their future plans.
I do not wish to put a damper on your dreams. But, there are a few things I’d like to share with you while you are still an engineering student. Things I wish someone would have shared with me. Perhaps there are others, but for now, I want to talk about three common engineering misconceptions students believe.
Your engineering discipline is almost a perfect fit for you. Except that you don’t like calculus. In fact, you may despise it. You force yourself to do the homework and go through the motions just to get calculus over with. Read on if this applies to you. Engineers need calculus like the body needs food.
It is common to be torn between engineering disciplines that can have some overlap. Mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering? Biological or environmental engineering? Read this if you’re wondering, “How do I choose an engineering discipline?”
Congratulations on earning your way into engineering! You have worked your way into a tough major. But this is not high school. It is perfectly reasonable and normal to be worried about your freshman engineering year. Things are going to be new, different and scary. Read on to help yourself mentally prepare.
You might wonder what in the world project management has to do with engineering. Project management in engineering is a given; they go hand in hand. And, I’d like to point out some good news for you. You are currently project managing. Even better – you should be using the keywords ‘project management’ on your resume. I will tell you why.
I understand firsthand why some engineers display a bit of arrogance about them. Is engineering tough? Yep. Are engineers proud to call themselves engineers? Yep. Is it ok to be arrogant about it? Nope. People do it anyway. Please read this so you can understand and avoid the pitfalls of being an arrogant engineer.
Your engineering semester is over. What a relief! Now you can get on with summer plans. Perhaps that includes catching up on sleep, going away for an internship or eating some home cooked meals with your family. It is easy to get into a routine where you forget how fantastic you are. I want you to know that engineering students are special and I am going to tell you why.