Am I smart enough to be an engineer?
How am I going to make it through college?
What will I be doing as an engineer?
These are some of the perplexing thoughts that might pop into your head as you are contemplating majoring in engineering. If so, Engineering Expectations is for you! I’ve been in your shoes. I have had all of those questions and then some. I tried doing the research, job shadowing engineers, taking a leap of faith and going to college for engineering (not really understanding what engineers do besides design things).
But now, I have the answers from years of engineering. As I was making my way through my engineering career, I always wished early on, that someone had told me what engineering actually involved.
In high school I was wondering what engineering even was and if being proficient at math and science was enough. Then, when I reached college, my thoughts were more about how am I going to use all of these theoretical equations I am solving on a daily basis? What is the application? Am I going to be solving theoretical math problems and summing forces as an engineer?
I am happy to relieve you and let you know, engineering as a career is so much better than the rigorous schooling you will endeavor to obtain your degree. It is much more practical and hands on.
This is why I started Engineering Expectations. I want to give aspiring engineers a better understanding of what engineers actually do and give prospective engineering students the motivation they need to pursue their dreams of becoming an engineer.
So you are thinking about majoring in engineering…
Maybe you are thinking, I like math, I like science, so I should major in engineering right?
Maybe someone has told you, you should look into engineering because engineers make good money. But what do engineers actually do?
A quick Google search will yield a generic description, “Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems.” But what does this mean? What will your job as an engineer actually involve?
Engineering is so much more than problem solving. Engineering includes managing people, building relationships, team work, creating, writing, communicating, being resourceful, adaptable, and influential. These descriptions are often left out of those vague descriptions provided online. This blog is going to give you an understanding of how engineering involves both technical and soft skills.
With this blog, I hope to provide a better understanding as to what engineers do using my seven years of experience as a Senior Research and Development (R&D) engineer for a globally recognized multi-billion dollar medical device company. I have worked both in New Product Development and Sustaining Engineering on both small and large teams. You can learn more about my background here.
Engineering has been an incredibly rewarding career path. Going into hospitals and seeing the devices I worked on used by doctors was such a rewarding experience. It made all of the challenges I had faced worth it. Seeing the impact your work has on society is immeasurable and will propel you through the obstacles you face.
Here’s what you can look forward to in Engineering Expectations
- Discovering what engineers do and your responsibilities in pursuing this career.
- Finding inspiration and guidance to help you through difficult times
- Prepare yourself for college and career with information including college selection, resumes, and interview prep.
When you are going through the process of choosing a major, a college, and a career, you will come across well intended people with a myriad of opinions. Some of these folks have had no experience as an engineer, yet believe they know what is best for you.
Since I do have industry experience, I will try to remain objective and use my experiences to help you. I will give you more insight into engineering than a job shadow or informational interview. Both of those can be intimidating and you may not even know, what you don’t know, so it is challenging to ask questions and get the most out of these situations. Here at Engineering Expectations, I can help you navigate the engineering landscape and answer questions to help alleviate your anxiety.
I want to hear from you. Please let me know what questions and concerns you have so I can help you through your engineering journey. I invite you to respond, add comments, and make suggestions. Feel free to reach out and contact me via email at meagan@engineeringexpectations.com!