Hello Zainab! What great questions you have! Engineering is a great field for females. In fact, when I was at P&W my boss’s boss’s boss was a female. So there is a chance for great success in engineering! If you are interested in machines/robots/engines, I would stick with Mechanical Engineering. I don’t think it’s necessary to double major with Aerospace engineering, unless you were 100% certain you wanted to work in the aerospace industry. The wonderful thing about ME is that it will provide you a broad overview of various industries. Because the ME coursework is so expansive it can offer you many different job opportunities (including aerospace, automotive, robotics, engines, etc). My degree is in ME and I never felt limited by it. I understand your questions about the engineering job hours and day to day office environment. Unfortunately it really depends on where you decide to work someday. You could end up in a very progressive small company that allows their employees really flexible hours or even a very traditional corporation that is a little behind when it comes to work-life balance. These are great questions and you should really investigate companies you apply to for work or internships to see what the company culture is like. Try to find alumni from your university that work at the companies you’re interested in and ask them these great questions. Most universities have an alumni directory. The company culture is an important part of your decision on deciding where to work. When I was at P&W they were flexible with me when I needed maternity leave, but it’s not something they did very often. They don’t allow part-time telecommuting employees and that was a major factor when I decided to quit and become a stay at home mom (which I love!) In fact, we just found out we’re having identical twins – due to arrive mid-Mayish! Also, right now I would suggest you focus on finding an internship for this summer. Try to find a company that specializes in things that interest you. It’s great for your resume but it’s also really important for you to get out in the workforce and see if robotics/engines/machines/etc are a good fit for you. And if your university offers any engineering clubs or projects (like Formula SAE, Engineers Without Boarders, etc) you should really get involved. I know they take extra time that you feel like you don’t have but it is so important to have those kinds of experiences on your resume. Best of luck! Jenni

Well, I cannot give you specific advice on the PE exam since I haven’t taken it. But I have done the working with a baby/new mom thing. I agree with you to not plan on doing anything during the first few months. Hopefully you’ll have an easy baby and quick recovery but many things could prevent you from wanting to jump back into work at 3 months: colic, sleep problems, food allergies, PPD, etc. You won’t know how much you can do until you meet your baby and find out your new dynamics as a mother. I would suggest getting the study materials but don’t sign up for a test just yet. That way you can decide on a good pace without the pressure of a deadline. If you are able to get your baby on a good routine then it will be easier to set aside time each day for studying while they sleep. But remember, you also have to catch up on laundry, cook, clean, and take a nap during those precious hours too! If you have family close by maybe you could arrange to have them watch your baby for a few hours each week for your studying. Or if you have a spouse/significant other you could say “every Thursday from 7-9pm is PE review time” (for example).

Another thought I have for you is… if you’re seriously deciding on taking some time off work and becoming a stay-at-home-mom for awhile (which I am currently doing and I LOVE!) you might want to consider putting off the PE exam until you’re ready to go back to work. That way it will help you review basic principles you’ve forgotten over that time and it also shows a future employer that you’re still a competent engineer who hasn’t forgotten everything while being a full-time mom.

Best of luck to you and your new adventure as a mommy! And remember, they are only little for a short time so enjoy your baby and don’t put pressure on yourself to get everything done ASAP. There will always be time for the PE, but only a brief time to snuggle with your baby. I think as engineers we’re wired to be as efficient as possible and it is hard to just allow ourselves to sit and enjoy the moment. That was a hard transition for me to make and I regret not allowing myself to quit my job sooner to be with my baby. But I cherish the sweet moments we have now and hope to have many more with my two girls who are due in May. Many women can make the working mom thing work, but for my family being a stay-at-home-mom was the best option for us. :-)

Angela,

Looks like Sara DaSilva would be willing to help you with your project. Please let me know if you still have other questions for me.

Thanks!

Jenni