Should I try to become an engineer even if I don't excel in math and science?

Before calculators, not being able to do mental arithmetic was a barrier to entry for some careers - but no longer. There are some excellent tools available now to assist with solving mathematical problems, such as Mathworks’ Matlab software. I would suggest trying out Matlab – it has excellent examples and also provides free access to students. I use this on a daily basis in my work for mathematical analysis and, if you understand math principles and structure, you may find that it allows you to be very productive in solving complex mathematical problems.

If you are keen to be an engineer in such a heavy industrial area or whatever, I want to tell you to go for it! I am similar to you and now I’m working as an engineer, though not mechanical.

As you choose your college direction, I think you should follow what you LIKE first. You’ll definitely run into times when learning things is heard. So did I. However, I found plenty of friends in similar situations and we helped each other to learn the skills and gain the experiences needed to be an engineer. Please challenge yourself!

You definitely can try it but if you don't like math to the point of skipping classes this may become a big obstacle to overcome because it's not only math, it's physics and geometry and other studies that have a lot of math in them. So perhaps a more hands on-oriented formation for a more hands on future job may make more sense. I suggest you ask a counselor for something more akin to your interests.

I’m so proud of you for considering your future and how best to approach your college career BEFORE you get there! Congratulations as well on your upcoming graduation!

As for whether or not Mechanical Engineering is for you because you don’t really excel in math and/or science…don’t count yourself short on the ability to complete the coursework! You have to decide (going in) you’re in this for the long haul. Once you decide you WANT to and PLAN to finish, you’re on your way. You don’t have to be a genius at math, you just have to have the eagerness to learn and to not be afraid to ask for help. When I struggled with a particular concept, I would seek out some tutoring, work with other classmates in study groups or spend a little extra time practicing so I was prepared for the exams.

Engineering is not easy – it takes work and it takes giving up some free time sometimes to study – but it is absolutely worth it. EVERY math class won’t be difficult – you’ll quickly learn how to study and prepare plus study groups are so very valuable. Use them. And you just might gain some lifelong friends along the way – those who “weather storms” together are often friends for life!

I’m Industrial and my niece is Mechanical – she almost changed majors in college until she learned one terrible class is not the end of the world. I had to retake one class in college – sometimes it feels like it’s impossible, but I promise you, it’s simply a little hurdle and things will get clearer and more fun as you progress through your degree program. Stay positive and know that I’m rooting for your success…we need more women engineers and you sound like a perfect fit!

Engineering is not just math, but there are indeed math classes required and math principles involved. If you don’t feel you excel in math, you may just need to ‘get through’ the math classes. At universities there are often numerous free tutoring and other help for any classes. Find those resources and take advantage of all, in order to best position yourself for success.

If you have a mental block, because you have struggled in the past, do your very best to get past this and start fresh. Don’t be afraid to go back and repeat classes you have had in the past – math is built on fundamentals, and perhaps a fundamental or two was a struggle and could be what is impacting you now. The analogy I use is with English class: you have to learn letters, then combine letters into words, then words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into essays. If you struggled with sentences, didn’t learn it well, then everything beyond that will be a struggle. It is similar with math: you have to learn numbers, then counting, then addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, and so on. If someone never mastered addition, they will really struggle with multiplication. Math involves a lot of different concepts, sometimes it is important for future classes, sometimes you do just need to get through – it depends what the future path is.

Keep in mind there are also engineering technology degrees and certifications, which are normally more hands-on and less math. You could look at this path as another way to enjoy cars, motorcycles and planes – all aspects – manufacturing, quality control, safety, etc., but not rely on as much math. Keep at it, and you will find the path for you!

Dear Future Mechanical Engineer,

Never give up on your dreams!

You did not give up or take a shortcut - you adapted, you thought outside the box, you used your intuition and found a new way to solve not only your math assignment, but a new way of viewing things! Just because things have been done a certain way does not mean it is the correct way. Find your way and blaze a new path!

The engineering field needs women like you!

There is typically plenty of assistance available in college if you’re willing to seek it out (TA and professor office hours, you can create your own study groups, etc.), so if perhaps your hesitance to keep trying in the past has been due to a lack of resources, then continuing math classes may get easier soon in college! However, it’ll remain a huge challenge if you feel you’re simply unable to remain persistent in asking for help to learn new math concepts.

That said, hope you don’t feel like you need to be a mechanical engineer to work on engines and mechanical systems! Sure, engineers are responsible for designing and testing things, and that requires a bunch of engineering calculus & science coursework in college, but there are other professions needed to make those products a reality too.

Mechanics, technicians, science communicators, supply chain specialists, marketing analysts, and industrial designers (technical and artistic profession) are all highly skilled and knowledgeable about what’s being created, without necessarily having the same math & science background as engineers. Some of those professions require a college degree while others require a technical/trade school certification at minimum.

If you want to become a mechanical engineer, work in industry, and math is not your favorite subject, that is OK! You can still become an engineer! I say that only because I have been an engineer for over 40 years and all I ever have done with math after I graduated university is to add, subtract, multiply and divide!

Yes, you will need to understand some of the key concepts of math – like the notion of a limit, and the notion of measuring objects in 3-dimensional space; however, being a math whiz is not essential for becoming a good engineer. We have computers to do those messy calculations for us! Logical thinking is important, too, and the very fact you are asking the question tells me that you can think in a logical manner!

Do not be afraid of math; it is not worth the worry! Think of math as a tool to better understand engines, gears, and forces; however, math is not the only tool in an engineer’s toolbox. A good engineer also recognizes patterns and key concepts, observes details, and can discern what is important and what is not important to the problem at hand. Defining the right problem is sometimes the most important part of beginning to solve it!

This is a tough question. The math and science is intense in engineering. If you take this route, it may take you longer to get through university because you may have to start by taking math and science that will prep you appropriately. You may need to have a tutor as well. I was a student tutor when I was in school.

One other thought is to consider alternative routes to allow you to have a career that satisfies your passions. You could go to trade or technical school. The math may still be hard in engineering tech school, but it is less of an investment financially than a 4 year school. I started this way. I have my 2 year electronics engineering degree and then went back to school to get my Computer Science BS. I did this for financial reasons. My employers paid for my bachelors and masters degrees. Good luck with your decision!

Yes, you should absolutely try! I know all the math can seem intimidating. Research shows that things like learning strategies, time management, and work ethic can be just as important to success in engineering compared to early math performance. Based on my experience, I found the math in college to be easier to learn and apply (and a lot more fun) than in high school because I was ACTUALLY using them in my science and engineering classes, and they were no longer these abstract ideas but real tools that help me solve cool engineering problems!

I started at a community college, which was incredibly helpful for me because it was a much less competitive atmosphere compared to the 4-year school I eventually went to, I had small classes, and professors that provided lots of support and encouragement.

I also recommend you take advantage of any resources your school provides (Office hours, TAs, tutoring). I know these resources can be intimidating and there can be a stigma that if you need these resources maybe you are "not good enough" but it isn't true, and no one gets a star next to their diploma if they never asked for help. Being comfortable with asking for help can be a huge asset in your career and using these resources can help you build time management skills as well. Another huge career and life skill is being willing to take some risks! Go for it!

Great question! YES, absolutely, you should become an engineer. You do not need to “excel” in math and science to be successful in becoming an engineer. I will say, I was average in math and science and STILL struggled in engineering school for electrical/computer engineering. I did not always grasp the concepts as quickly as others, but I was of the mindset that I just need to keep studying, keep practicing, get help from my classmates, just do whatever it would take to understand.

Colleges have many services available for students, like tutoring and mentoring and each professor has office hours. I made sure for everything I did not understand, I sought the help needed and even if that meant graduating in five years, instead of four, I became an engineer.

My first thought in reading the first few lines of your comment was, you should definitely major in mechanical engineering. So, I am glad you have the desire to, please don’t give up. You have to believe that it is possible, even when it may not seem like it, even when the classes seem very hard, even when you want to give up; just keep pushing because it will be well worth it in the end.

I would suggest spreading out your coursework and balance it with non-engineering classes to give yourself some room to breathe. Find an extracurricular activity so you can have fun while in college. Run at your own pace and don’t worry about trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing. You got this!

If mechanical engineering is truly what you want to do, you should absolutely try! You can always change your mind later if you find something else you enjoy (this is perfectly normal, I changed my major 3 times in college), but if you don’t try you may always wonder ‘what if’ and regret that you didn’t give it a shot.

Know that it will be a challenge - for me, physics courses were the hardest. A mindset of perseverance and determination is necessary, even if that sometimes means you must sacrifice doing something fun to study instead.

Being comfortable asking for help and using your resources is also important. Most universities have free study groups or tutors for math classes – going to these study groups to build a support network with my peers was helpful for me. Professors also have office hours, which are good resources as well. I’ve noticed that some students don’t like to use tutors or go to study groups because they don’t want people to think they are dumb, but you are there as a student literally to learn, not because you already know everything.

In my experience, the people that understood the content best in all my classes were the ones who used these resources, and they were the people who made friends and had good relationships with the professors - so don’t be afraid or intimidated by study groups – dive in and be committed to learning from them!

This question is always a difficult one to answer. It depends on what you mean by excel. If it means you don't enjoy math and science, then engineering may be difficult for you. If it means you enjoy math and science, but find it difficult, then engineering is a very potential path. Many young women find that those subjects you struggle with become some of your most favorite as the extra work you put in is rewarded with knowledge and satisfaction.

In my case, I loved math and science and believed it would be a breeze in college, but how wrong I was! I was competing with an entire new set of brilliant classmates who had pre-college courses before they started. I found that I had to learn how to study hard in addition to learning new material. It was an awakening that I'll never forget. But, the immense joy I got from learning and succeeding carried through to my perseverance in life, both personally and professionally.

As in all careers, you must love what you do, so if an engineering career is what you want and you're prepared to challenge yourself, go for it!

YES! Who says you are not good in math? Your grades? These are skills that you develop as you use them. If you learned to play an instrument or a sport, you know that those things take practice. Math is no different!
You learn to use math and the more you use it, see it in real life examples, the more you get comfortable with it. For instance, I love shopping and sales, so my first expertise in math came in figuring out how much the discounts were when signs said "40% off" or buy one get one free!  People laugh when I tell them that my best students in college have failed/nearly failed a math course their first year. This is because the first time you see things, you may not grasp it as quickly as your peers that have come from different schools that have  had practice with the topics before. Don't be psyched out! Go for it and all you need to do is pass! Don't give up if you don't get a's or b's. Keep going!!!

Absolutely! I was a lot like you when I was in high school. I was never great at math. I understood the concepts but when it came to apply it, I would always get lost. Then I was then diagnosed with dyscalculia my freshman year of college. Many students never get diagnosed at a younger age because they can kind of just muscle through it and find ways around it to pass which means they go under the radar.
Once I realized that about myself, I was able to get the help I needed to better understand the material and receive extra time on tests. With that said, not every student who's not great at math has dyscalculia but that doesn't mean that help isn't available. I went to Virginia Tech and our math classes were HARD. Work closely with your TAs and if necessary, take the math courses at a local community college during the summers (or even during the semester if it fits in your schedule). Just don't give up if you don't pass the first time. If it's something your passionate about you will find a way through. 

I was civil engineering but had to take all the same classes as my mechanical engineering counterparts. Many of them also took classes at community college if they needed to (the classes are generally easier and much smaller so you can get the help you need).

Now a days I happily commute to my job as an engineer on my motorcycle and am pursuing my pilots license at 25 so I would say it's worth it!