Courtney, Windsor AddedSaturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:42 PM Are engineers just inventors? Hello! I am going into grade twelve this year, and for the first time I'm considering taking engineering in university. I love science and math, and I tend to do very well in both subjects. However, I never considered engineering because I only pictured people inventing new items. This is not something I want to do, as I am more interested in paper work and solving logic problems such as maximizing dimensions, analyzing charts, etc. My question is, can I become an engineer without having to invent or toy with new products? If so, is there a strand of engineering you'd recommend? Moreover, what would I have to do to enter that particular field? Thank you for reading! Reset Sort By Default Deborah Suazo-Davila , US Army Corp of Engineers Answered Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:42 PM Hi Courtney! My name is Deborah and Im a Civil Engineer. First, let me congratulate you for you excellent decision on considering engineering as your future career. Its GREAT!! Also I want to explain certain things that often are misunderstood... Engineers do so much more than just inventions. Actually most of us DONT invent anything in our whole career. This concept is totally misleading students. Engineering by definition is the mechanical art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure science as physics or chemistry in the construction of real world applications. Now my definition as an engineer, Engineers are trained by formal education (college)into Problem Solving mindset. Problem Solving includes: there is nothing there to deal with a problem, let's invent the solution, there is something already created, lets optimized that or lets update it. There is a way of doing things, how can we do it better with the technology and capabilities that we have. There are several engineering fields that you can take... BUT you don't have to decide right away what are you will like. 1- Civil Engineering = you will be trained to understand how things will not move. Areas like design, understand structural design, structural capacity, mechanics of materials, construction management,ect. 2- Mechanical Engineering = you will be trained to understand how things CAN move. 3- Electrical Engineering = you will be trained to understand how energy is created. All sources of energy: water, wind, heat, nuclear, hydraulic,etc. How to generate, transmit and distribute that energy. 4- Computer Engineering = you will be trained to understand how the computerized systems work. Which means, you will learn from the hardware to the virtual aspect of the system. Learn programming, networking, etc. 5- Industrial Engineering = you will be trained to understand process. Processes of how to do things, how to produce things, how to implement things, how to obtain optimal results with less money and simpler process. 6- Chemical Engineering you be trained to understand chemical process that will optimized better results. How to create chemical procedures to optimized what its already there. So much more... I will recommend you 2 things: a- Look for a Summer camp in Pre-Engineering (in your State College) b- Look online for a good description of each engineering areas c- GO FOR IT!!! You have what it takes to be an engineer!!! If you have any more questions, please dont hesitate in contacting me. Eng. Deborah Suazo