Ask an Engineer

 Hi Arlyn,
I experienced the same type of negative comments not once, but several times during my career. There will always be others who tell you that you can't do something.
When I was in high school some of my teachers told me that engineering was not ...

It really depends on the type of engineering role you get, and the industry. There are a lot of different job types for engineers - design, stress, test, manufacturing, research, specialty analysis (aero, thermal), quality, project. 

For example, a ...

Hello there!
Engineering is very broad, and there are all types of jobs! I spent my first 5 years in design, every day. As you progress in your career, you may choose to get more into project management than design all day! 
I found that I was losing my ...

Depending on the type of engineering, math is often the most important tool we have for making sure buildings, machines, and products are safe to use. Think about it—so much of what’s around us has to work without breaking or hurting anyone!

Take a car, ...

I am a civil engineering professor, studying the transportation-related choices that people make (for example, the choice to telework or not, the choice of how to get to work or school, where to live, etc.). To do that, I design surveys, collect data on ...

Like so many things in life and learning, fundamentals build to the next level of learning and application. You first learn letters to write, then you learn words, then sentences, then paragraphs, essays, etc. Perhaps you decide to be an author of a ...

Hi Rowyn, so sorry for the late reply, I didn't see the notification that you had asked a question.  
My favorite thing in my career is that everyday is different, there's always a challenge, and there's always something fun to look forward to.  I ...

All college programs are going to require self-discipline and dedication in order to succeed. I wouldn't say Engineering is any different. It is a matter of passion and commitment. Most universities offer an introductory course in Engineering within the ...

Engineering school is hard. But you learn tips and tricks to help you improve your study habits. Many of the engineering classes are challenging but they are also interesting. Studying interesting things makes them feel less hard.

My advice is to find a ...

Engineering classes do tend to have a bigger workload than other majors. However, just like you are learning time management and studying skills as a freshman in high school, you will take these high school skills and build on them as a freshman in ...

Hey! It's awesome that you're interested in engineering and that you're strong in math and science – that's a fantastic foundation! Seriously, those skills are super important for becoming an engineer, so you're already on a great track.

Your sister does ...

I won't lie to you: the better you are with words (reading and writing), the stronger your impact as an engineer will be! I cannot imagine an engineering job in which you won't need to communicate your ideas, plans, and accomplishments to other people. ...

You do not have to be good at every subject. I would encourage you to look for STEM in subjects that you aren’t great at. You’d be surprised how much STEM plays a role in history, and you can find books related to your interests or find STEM in the books ...

Response provided by the ABET Senior Director of Communications

Thank you for your thoughtful question.

ABET plays a critical role in providing quality assurance for programs in engineering, as well as in applied and natural science, computing, and ...

This is a tough question for those of us who have spent our entire career in engineering related fields. Naturally, there are some areas which I loved more than others. In school, I struggled with thermodynamics but excelled at heat transfer which ...

Engineering is a very broad field so if you study engineering you can choose from a huge variety of jobs which all have pros and cons. I have had some engineering jobs that I didn't enjoy so much and others that I have found very fulfilling! I will never ...

Hello! What a great question. First and foremost, I applaud you for understanding your likes and contemplating career choices while in high school. It will be important in college and class selections.

Secondly, I wanted to answer your question, “have ...

Engineers are problem solvers. This is a very good problem for you to solve on your way to becoming an engineer.

First, how are you doing with other courses such as physics or chemistry? A-levels, or their equivalent, in these subjects and some others ...

Hey there! Absolutely, you can pursue an engineering major even if you've only taken pre-calculus in high school. It's totally possible, and honestly, it's something I experienced myself!

I actually started my undergraduate studies in a different field ...

Of course you can still be an engineer if you haven’t had the opportunity to take calculus in high school. It sounds like you’ve got a solid plan to take pre-calculus your senior year and this will give you a great foundation. When I was a senior in high ...

Yes, absolutely! I actually think it's better to take calculus right before starting college as it will be more fresh in your mind. I highly recommend taking it at a community college in the summer so you can take your time and really understand it. I ...