Engineering: To take or not to take

[Dys]

I'm currently a high school Junior interested in Engineering. Knowing the forum-goers of the Escapist to be all-knowing, I propose a question.

What are the basics of Engineering? What pre-requisite classes would be suggested before moving onto the college-level stuff? Will I be able to find a job after college?

Pretty much just asking anyone who has knowledge in the subject to clue me in a bit.

Engineering is an incredably broad spectrum. The only real consisten aspect is the mathamatics (which if you're into software engineering is a lot less relevent, or at least a lot less conventional, than, say, the maths for mechanical engineering).

Engineering is hard. If you do choose to do it, expect to be sitting at home grinding out assignments while your high school buddies are out partying and generally having fun. Most of what you learn, on top of being hard, will have no relevence on what you do in later life, so you need to be prepared for that. You also need to be able to justify answers, it's one thing to be good at maths or physics (or whatever), but it's typically not good enough to just know it (or to just be able to pump out answers). If you decide that an impeller blade is going to be a specfiic shape, you need to back it up with assumptions (literally every assumption you make needs to be spelled out), you need to look at research (in this case you'd be looking at drag and fluid mechanics) and probably do some prototype testing. You do have a little bit of freedom with regards to how you manufacture your prototype, but outside of that there are definate right and wrong ways to do things, and if you deviate from that you won't succeed (you also need to be able to check your work, if you design something and it fails, there are usually pretty dire consequences).

Engineering is definately one of the least fun things you can study post highschool. It can be rewarding (I sure as all hell hope it is later in life) but expect to miss a lot of the "typical uni experience" because you can't easily coast through.

 

[asmidir]

I'm in my first year of an engineering and science double degree. In high school you definitely need to study maths; particularly calculus and algebra. Physics will also save you a lot of time and make it easier to settle in. Most universities require you to have studied maths and a physical science. My advice is to study as many sciences as you can. My entire year 12 consisted of maths and science. Most universities will ask you to choose what field of engineering you wish to study from the beginning. However, the university I attend introduces first years to aspects of each field and then allows them to choose their specialization in the second year.

At the moment my courses for the first year are:
Semester 1:
Engineering Statics (physics of things that don't move)
Programming and Problem solving (Java)
Calculus and Applications
Computer Aided Design

Semester 2
Engineering Dynamics (stuff that moves)
Calculus 2
Chemistry of Materials
Electronic Circuit Theory

The essentials you will need for engineering is maths, maths and more maths. Physics, chemistry and computing will give you a huge advantage but the only assumed knowledge is maths. Good luck in pursuiting your future. Jst study hard and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[mysecondlife]

Learning AutoCAD for doing drawings on computers. Im doing residential drafting and I found the ability to use CAD's to be more important then drawingboard skill.

Could give me specifics on what you're doing? I'm currently in engineering school and I might have same interest as yours.

In my course I'm learning to design residential dwellings (Houses) that comply to the national construction codes and residential codes. I would draw up site plans, floor plans, roof & ceiling plans, elevations, sections, general details, stair details, electrical plan, window schedules, building materials etc. That's just the construction component.

Im only doing drafting so unlike an architect I won't be able to sign off on the major drawings. They would need to be signed off by an engineer or architect.

Then there is the design component. Major parts of design are summer & winter sun, natural ventilation, energy rating, room relationships, living spaces, shadows, privacy and housing style & history.

Then there is all the local council stuff (paper work) like planning approval, building approval & estimation.

I have learnt to do my technical drawings on drawingboards but everyone just uses CAD programs. I mainly use AutoCAD, ArchiCAD & Revit.

The subject is very extensive. So I have most likey missed something. Im not sure how related these terms are to engineering. Researching any of those terms should give you a ton of information or you could just ask me.

I am currently studying Environmental Engineering. I haven't gotten to depth of it yet, but what I've studied so far is water quality analysis and system design. What I hope to do out of my education is make Eco-friendly buildings. That's where I thought our interests intertwined.

Thanks for answering my questions!

 

[Mutated Moose]

You guys are awesome!

I'm currently finishing up Trig and moving onto Pre-Calculus next year. I doubt I'll be be able to dabble in real Calculus, will this be a big hurdle or no?

Taking Honors Physics this year, and I plan on taking AP next year.

Glad to know there are other Engineers who know their stuff!

 

[Bloedhoest]

Awesome choice, only what do you want to engineer?
If it's mechanical, try to get a nifty SolidWorks student edition. It helps to have some 3D CAD experience.