Good Advice

So, how do you prepare for engineering school? We asked current college engineering students for their advice to high school students thinking about pursuing engineering. Here's what they said:

By Karen, US Air Force Academy, CO

February 1st, 2012

If you want to be an engineer, don't let anyone tell you can't. My freshman year at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, I didn't do very well in my Calc I class and the mechanical engineering department told me I couldn't join the major because my grades were too low. I kept pushing though and in the fall of my sophomore semester, I declared mech. Best decision I made. Also, it's not easy. Don't let anyone tell you it is. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. As long as you're working hard, your teachers will recognize that and will work with you to help you get the grades you need. I literally met with my thermodynamics teacher every other day because I was understanding the material and ended up getting a B in the class. Keep pushing, keep kicking butt and you can do it. :) Finally, there are some really smart engineering majors and some not so smart ones. I'm one of the not so smart ones. Just because you aren't getting straight As doesn't mean you can't be an engineer. When you graduate the person at the top of your class is an engineer and the person at the bottom of the class is an engineer. It doesn't matter - just work hard and you can do it.
By Ernesto Lopez, Artesia, NM

October 13th, 2011

JUST GO FOR IT!!!!!
By Troy Walker, Raleigh, NC

July 28th, 2011

If you want to become an engineer but struggled in high school in math and science please don’t give up. You can always go to a community college and transfer to a four-year college to finish up. If you don’t have enough money financial aid and the military is there for help. I know I graduated high school with a 1.3 GPA and I was heading nowhere fast. So I decided to join the Navy and I became a nuclear power plant technician. Now I am transferring to Missouri University of Science and Technology for nuclear engineering. I had a slow start and made it and you can too.
By JC K., McLean, VA

June 6th, 2011

Go to a local community college and sit in on some engineering classes – it will let you know whether or not you really want to do it. Also, it is important to have strong verbal communication skills even though a lot of engineering focuses on doing equations, so consider taking a public speaking class if you have the opportunity.
By Taylor, Savage, MN

March 10th, 2011

Always trust yourself and do what you believe you can reach. Never compare yourself to somebody else because everybody is different and try your best.
By logan phelps, st.louis, texas

February 24th, 2011

visit as many collages as u can
By Emmeline W., San Francisco, CA

November 14th, 2010

Stay Organized and keep up with your work in school. Doesn't matter if you have a 'life' or fit into what others believe you should be doing. Because what you are doing now is building a future for yourself, paving the way so that you can have a better life and a better future. So stick with your goals and keep up the good work.
By Alexandria A., North Richland Hills, TX

October 1st, 2010

If you want to be an engineer, don't let other people get in the way--do what you want to. You will NEVER regret it in the long run.
By isaac, savage, mn

September 22nd, 2010

if you put your mind to your work and study as hard as possible there's unlimited ideas to what you can do.
By Becca W., Fort Gibson, OK

September 7th, 2010

Engineering is something that you will have fun with for the rest of your life!
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