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:
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By Ben H., Washington, DC
November 9th, 2009
Read heavily outside of school (popular science accounts, science fiction, news, anything). Get your hands on things, take them apart, repair them, develop your mechanical intuition and reasoning. Do not neglect your other interests, especially creative pursuits.
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By Natalie V., Richmond, VA
November 9th, 2009
Intern as soon as the first summer of your first year in college; many engineering disciplines offer this option, you just have to go get it. It makes everything that you are learning in school more interesting when you can see it applied, and it will help you in whatever area of engineering, research or applied, you chose to go into. Get involved with extracurriculars related to your engineering field, whether ASCE, SWE, NSBE, etc. ASAP. I personally know that many local SWE (Society of Women Engineers) sections offer outreach events to introduce high school students to engineering (The Purdue Society of Women Engineers hosts two similar events per year). If you have not heard of such an outreach event, approach a section and see if they are hosting something to allow one to learn more about engineering. ASCE offers such things as well, like the pasta bridge competition up at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
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By Luke T., Los Angeles, CA
November 9th, 2009
Shadow engineers or scientists, learn how to self-direct your studies, get summer jobs related to your interests, and be willing to try other fields--you never know what will interest you.
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By Geoffrey H., Portland, ME
November 9th, 2009
Good engineers are the engineers that know the needs and wants of culture and society. If all you learn in college are technical skills, you are not a complete engineer.
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By Ann J., Charlottesville, VA
November 9th, 2009
Hang in there that first year at college. Freshman engineering programs are rigorous, and universities often don't do a good job at telling you WHY you are taking all of the math and science courses. They aren't trying to weed you out; those courses turn out to be really important.
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By Robert G., Tampa, FL
November 9th, 2009
Learn to study and manage time. Get involved in other activities to learn teamwork and build personal skills. Talk to a few engineers about their daily duties and overall career experiences to find out if it sounds like a good fit with their own interests. Use quality of life and happiness with their future career as primary criteria for choosing a field, versus factors such as pay.
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By Craig G., Altanta, GA
November 9th, 2009
If you can, take a drafting class in high school or another drawing class which makes you think in 3d when designing something. It really helps.
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By Cindy L., Chicago, IL
November 9th, 2009
Just because you are not good at math and science at your age, do not give up. Keep trying - some people just find themselves later, and that does not limit your ability to contribute in the field of engineering and technologies.
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By Reginald R., New York, NY
November 9th, 2009
Never look back once you go for your dream. Engineering has many rewards for those that persevere and reach the end.
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By Dan C., College Park, MD
September 30th, 2009
Sophomore year tends to be the hardest, but if you make it through that then it actually gets easier. Try to do well in your classes, and pay attention in labs -- especially because it's the hands-on real world type experience that will be more useful than the majority of classroom knowledge you'll gain. Also, do well in writing classes. If you think engineering is all about numbers and equations you will be very surprised when you enter the work force where anything you do must be documented.