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Can I be an engineer and still dress conservatively?

I'm passionate about maths, physics, and problem-solving and want to be an engineer (I like mechanical and electrical right now), but I worry that the way I dress will limit my opportunities. I dress conservatively, remaining covered and not showing the form. I don’t want to work at a desk all the time, but is loose, flowing clothing permitted on jobsites or around moving machinery? Are there workarounds for someone like me?

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  • Victoria

    Added Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 4:24 AM

    I still have a year and a half left of my undergrad and knowing that biomedical engineering is very broad and there are so many routes to take and possibilities makes me even more confused. I'm pretty task-focused and my CliftonStrengths are Learner, Input, Achiever, Intellection, and Strategic. I'm very creative. I think I would want to do clinical engineering or R&D, tissue engineering or product design, but I've more experience in project management, leading teams and bigger-picture projects ...
    Answers 1
    Ying-Ja Chen, Pronutria
    Answered Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7:43 AM

    Biomedical engineering is broad and it's great that you already have some idea. Here are a few possibilities to try that may help you choose.

    First, you can do an internship at a medical device or biotech company in the upcoming summer or next year to ...

  • Jas

    Added Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 2:16 AM

    Currently, I am thinking about declaring a major, but I am stuck between civil or environmental engineering. I've always had a passion for helping the environment but more so in urban planning/studies. I don't really know which engineering would be more geared towards urban planning and, thus I am stuck choosing between these two majors. I am also really interested in transportation as well, and I'm also interested in ways to reduce pollution in our atmosphere.
    Answers 1
    Answered Monday, April 14, 2025 at 12:21 AM
    The best fit depends on your emphasis: choose Civil Engineering if your primary drive is designing the core physical systems with environmental protection as a key component, or Environmental Engineering if you're more drawn to the specific pollution ...
  • Amber Brown

    Added Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 10:36 PM

    I am currently majoring in civil engineering with a 3.7 accumulative but math Is my thing and I don't get tired of it. I found that choosing the project management aspect of engineering limits me to be more in charge than doing the technical aspect of things. I want to make a difference in this world, but am starting to worry that engineering is limiting in that retrospect. I want the civil aspect of our world to grow more environmentally conscious but don't find the environmental engineering ...
    Answers 1
    Answered Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 11:41 AM
    Your love of math and environmental impact within civil engineering is a powerful combination. Consider specializing in areas like:
     * Water Resources: Heavy math, direct environmental impact.
     * Geotechnical: Sustainable materials and modeling.
     * ...
  • Maryam Soliman

    Added Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM

    I'm really interested in nuclear and chemical engineering, and NASA or CERN seem like fantastic places to work.

    I'm a freshman in an engineering program. I find that I struggle a little bit with the CAD Program we use, Fusion 360, but I can get it with practice. The main reason I chose engineering is because I'm good at math and I love doing it. There are so many different options for what discipline I could major in, and it's amazing that I can get feedback from actual engineers!

    Answers 1
    Sarah Absher, Procter & Gamble
    Answered Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
    I am a Chemical Engineer - I chose the field because I loved Chemistry and Math.  Any Engineering discipline is foundational to establish critical thinking and problem solving, regardless of the "discipline".  It is important to think about what you love ...
  • Kayla cleminshaw

    Added Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM

    I am interested in studying further to make a significant impact on the environment. Would mechanical engineering be the right fit for that? I want to help reduce carbon emissions, minimize energy waste, and improve hydraulic systems.
    Answers 1
    Linsey Marr, Virginia Tech
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
    Most types of engineering have the potential to make a significant impact on the environment. Mechanical engineering is a great choice because you can help improve efficiency of machines so that they use less energy, design machines to extract and store ...
  • Added Monday, January 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM

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    I want to study engineering in college but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed because the field is so broad and there are so many paths to take. How did you navigate this uncertainty as you finished high school and started college? What opportunities did you find most valuable? What should I do now to help find my direction?

    Answers 9
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM

    You are absolutely right that the paths in engineering are plentiful, and hopefully you’ll be able to see that as a good thing! There is no one singular straight road that will lead directly from here to your perfect dream (even once you know what that ...

    Erin Rosenthal, PMA Engineering
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM

    The field of engineering offers an overwhelming number of options. To navigate these choices, I recommend engaging in opportunities that provide mentoring and real-world experiences across various engineering disciplines. This will help you explore ...

    Patricia Mokhtarian, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM

    My experience is doubtless not for everyone, but I will share it in case it resonates. I started college as a tentative biology major -- I knew I liked science, but wasn't sure what branch of science I wanted to major in. Then someone told me, "You know, ...

  • Brooke Menne

    Added Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM

    I got rejected from only aero university in MN after previously pursing an aerospace degree elsewhere. Am I able to pursue the same dreams I had as an aerospace engineer if I do a mechanical degree?
    Answers 1
    Kim de Groh, NASA Glenn Research Center
    Answered Friday, January 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
    Hi Brooke, I can not answer your specific question, but I can let you know that I have a BS & MS in materials science and I work at NASA Glenn Research Center flying spaceflight experiments and studying the durability of spacecraft materials in the space ...
  • RANA

    Added Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 3:45 PM

    I'm interested biomedical engineering and I've been doing research on it but I keep seeing more cons than pros. Right now I'm in my first year for materials engineering. At the same time I'm not sure what to do so i was considering offering electrical engineering. Please I need advise on what to do.
    Answers 1
    Chunqing Liu, Honeywell
    Answered Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 8:35 AM

    I feel that you are at an important crossroads in your academic path during your first year in college. Based on my personal academic experience, I would suggest that you can calm down and try a step-by-step approach to help you to make your decision. I ...

  • Halima

    Added Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 2:54 PM

    I am interested in studying aerospace engineering in uni but after that i want to go into project management, so i was wondering how you got into it? and any advice on how to go about it. thank you
    Answers 1
    Answered Monday, September 16, 2024 at 2:16 PM
    There are many different ways to get into project management. Many companies that hire you will have a path and training within the company to help you on that path. Another option is to get an MBA, but I would get at least 2 years of experience before ...
  • Added Monday, August 26, 2024 at 2:30 PM

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    I am going into 8th grade and in science we don't talk about engineers and what they are or why. Are engineers the same as scientists? Why do we need engineers? And why are they important to my community?

    Answers 12
    Answered Monday, August 26, 2024 at 3:24 PM

    This is a FUN one to answer. Often we don’t think too much about engineers and their role in society – but I think that’s exactly how we engineers like it! Engineers are often in the background, doing their thing and only when it is introduced to ...

    Kim Linder, Honeywell FM&T
    Answered Monday, August 26, 2024 at 3:22 PM

    Engineers are critical to society. They are the technical problem solvers and inventors. As you are growing up and in everyday life, you tend not to see engineers, but you use the tools and technology they have invented and developed. Most of the time ...

    Nicola Asker, National Grid
    Answered Monday, August 26, 2024 at 3:21 PM

    That's a really good question and a really tough one to answer as engineers do a wide range of things. In my mind, I think of scientists as people who are always seeking to understand more about how the world works. Engineers are using what we understand ...

  • Annabel

    Added Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 5:13 PM

    Answers 1
    Tamara Floyd-Smith, West Virginia University Institute of Technology
    Answered Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 10:38 AM
    In my opinion, engineering is the right subject for someone when there is either aptitude or interest.  It goes without saying that someone with both aptitude and interest would do well in the profession.  Many of my cis-female, engineering friends were ...
  • Crystal Asiaw

    Added Monday, December 26, 2022 at 8:35 PM

    Answers 2
    Julia Lopez, Turner Construction
    Answered Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:56 AM
    I am currently working in Contruction management with my civil engineering degree, and we frequently build LEED and Envision certified buildings. These buildings become certified by making sustainable choices. If you choose to go into construction, you ...
    Margaret Byron, Penn State University
    Answered Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 11:49 AM
    Hi Crystal-- there are lots of ways!  Some civil engineers focus on infrastructure, like designing buildings, dams, roads, and bridges. They might focus on lowering energy requirements, increasing resilience to natural disasters, or improving integration ...
  • haya

    Added Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 7:56 PM

    Do electrical engineers work on space and innovation? I have always wondered what engineer branch would work with innovations (designing new devices or developing devices) as well as having to work with space and rockets? lastly, i would love any advice since i am still in high school. thank you :)

    Answers 2
    Julia Lopez, Turner Construction
    Answered Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:50 AM
    I graduated with civil engineering however three of my closest friends currently work at NASA, SpaceX, and Northrup Grumman working on space related projects (rockets, satellites, etc.). There are many different avenues you can take if you want to work ...
    Terita Norton, The Aerospace Corporation
    Answered Monday, April 8, 2024 at 11:53 AM
    Hello Haya, yes electrical engineers work in space. We provide a number for support functions including helping to develop power systems for space applications, designing digital components that become the brains of a satellite, and we help to create ...
  • Jeremiah Marcos

    Added Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 3:46 AM

    I have a general idea of what a civil engineer does. Before you majored in civil engineering, did you know a lot about what they do?
    Answers 3
    Julia Lopez, Turner Construction
    Answered Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:43 AM
    I had no idea what civil engineering was. I went to college as an engineer but hadn't declared which engineering major I wanted to do. I kind of just ended up falling into the major and I love it. There are SO many amazing career paths you can go down in ...
    Yamini Grover, Fugro
    Answered Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 3:36 PM
    Hi Jeremiah! I had no clue what civil engineering was up until secondary school. It was when I had to finally decide what majors to choose for my bachelor's degree that I googled about all options I had. I just knew that in civil engineering courses, I ...
    Kara Kockelman, University of Texas at Austin
    Answered Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 12:35 PM
    Fabulous question! Honestly, I had almost no idea what civil engineers do when I was in high school. I simply found math and physics not as ambiguous, open-ended and subjective (and thus difficult, for me) as writing essays, and not as memory-intensive ...
  • Jocelyn

    Added Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 3:30 PM

    I am currently a junior and just switched from chemical to environmental engineering, and am struggling if I made the right decision. I am really interested in chemistry and biology and ultimately want to go to grad school to study genetics or something to do with medical research. I switched because I was not interested in the industry side of chemical engineering (like refineries and food production) and it seemed like most of the higher division classes were focused on industry. I wanted a ...
    Answers 1
    Margaret Byron, Penn State University
    Answered Monday, February 12, 2024 at 9:31 AM
    Hi Jocelyn,
    Yes, there are lots of opportunities in environmental engineering to impact health!  The one that comes to mind for me immediately is water quality. Plenty of environmental engineers spend their time picking through problems of managing (for ...
  • Bryan

    Added Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 3:30 PM

    Answers 2
    Arielle Miller, Dr Arielle Miller Coaching & Consulting
    Answered Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 3:09 PM
    Choosing nuclear engineering was a natural fit for me. My love for science and understanding how things work drew me to this field. Being the advocate for nuclear energy that I am, I believe it can play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions and ...
    Answered Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 11:51 PM
    A minority is lucky to know what they want early on in their career or during their studies. I must admit with humility, I did not fall into that category. I took Mathematics (I love) and Software engineering (evolving branch, 20 years back). And I am ...
  • Vera

    Added Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 8:59 AM

    I used to be one of the best in my math class but then I switched schools and my average grade the last two years before graduating was a C (in exams) & D (participating in class). Since the sudden drop in grades took away my passion for mathematics, I am not interested in the subject as much as I used to as a kid. Now, I'm mostly interested in chemical / mechanical engineering.
    Answers 1
    Answered Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 11:04 AM
    Let me start by acknowledging that changing schools is tough. It seems simple on the outside, but it takes time to resettle yourself and find your groove.
    Mathematics is an underlying component to nearly all of engineering. There are many types of math ...
  • Ayesha asked Kim de Groh, NASA Glenn Research Center

    Added Monday, August 14, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    Hi! I hope you're doing great. I wanna ask you a question. Should I take material engineering for my bachelor's degree if I don't have any interest in chemistry?
    Answers 1
    Kim de Groh, NASA Glenn Research Center
    Answered Friday, October 6, 2023 at 10:48 AM
    Hi!  Materials science and engineering is inherently interdisciplinary, with strong connections to physics, chemistry, math and the engineering fields.  When I was in high school, I did well in math but did not like chemistry or physics very much.  But, ...
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