How did you know engineering was for you?

Hello!

I'm looking into things I could study at university and I'm looking at engineering because many of the subjects I studied and enjoyed at A level are involved heavily in engineering. I did Maths, FM, Chemistry, Physics and Economics.

How did you decide/know that engineering was right for you?

I wanted to go to university and, similar to yourself, I enjoyed maths and physics (well, most of the time!) so looked into something that would utilise those subjects at university. Engineering had really good career prospects, and teachers at my school generally shepherded us towards engineering for this reason. I always wanted a technical career so it felt right.

I wanted to go to university and, similar to yourself, I enjoyed maths and physics (well, most of the time!) so looked into something that would utilise those subjects at university. Engineering had really good career prospects, and teachers at my school generally shepherded us towards engineering for this reason. I always wanted a technical career so it felt right.

I'd have to say that, to me, engineering was more about the designing and making things rather than the maths and physics I'd studied. It was about problem solving and creating functional things which really attracted me into the subject.

I just like to see things being well designed and well made. Maths and mechanics are essential parts in making that happen, but it goes beyond that when making stuff work and look right.


Having hands-on experience with tools and machinery is very useful as well. I loved making things from K'Nex components to doing proper design tasks at college. Being able to evaluate my designs and knowing how best to design and plan things was what drew me in to it all.

Would it be right to go for engineering because i like maths and physics? Is there a specific reason some people go for engineering and not maths/physics?

No, I think to go for engineering you also need to envisage it as a career and not just because you like some subjects that the degree includes, although that's certainly helpful. Engineering is, as SillyEddy says, about designing and making things. The maths and physics aid this, but ultimately I think you also have to have, or be able to develop, the physical intuition to actually do this designing and making.

If you're only interested in solving equations you'd be okay for a degree in the subject although I wouldn't recommend a career in it. People choose engineering because they like designing and making things and want a career doing just that. They're also usually quite good at and at least somewhat enjoy maths and physics.

For me, there would have been little point in doing a maths or physics degree as it wouldn't take me where I want to go. However if you are genuinely interested in these subjects then you may well consider a degree in them. I was interested in them, enough to motivate myself to study, but not interested enough to read about them in my own time, about areas not covered in school.

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I know I'd like applying maths to the real world. How can I find out if I enjoy designing or making things? I haven't really had an opportunity, the only one I can think of is I enjoyed making things in resistant materials and graphics in school but they were all very basic.

I was the same in that I had had very little experience of designing and making things before university, so choosing engineering was initially a bit of a leap of faith but it worked out fine for me.

If you end up studying engineering but find out you dislike making and designing things then the good news is that an engineering degree doesn't constrict you to engineering as a career: in fact, it is one of the most versatile degrees out there!

Ok well I've looked into it a fair bit and I think if I had to choose one of the disciplines, it'd be civil atm. Could I just do a maths degree and do a masters in engineering or apply for engineering roles straight out of undergrad maths?

It's very difficult to get an engineering job after a maths degree as many positions only accept engineering graduates for various reasons. You could do a related MSc but often that's no substitute for an MEng.

Engineering as a profession is oversubscribed at the entry level and taking non-standard routes makes it exceedingly difficult to get into.

Hello!

I'm looking into things I could study at university and I'm looking at engineering because many of the subjects I studied and enjoyed at A level are involved heavily in engineering. I did Maths, FM, Chemistry, Physics and Economics.

How did you decide/know that engineering was right for you?

Difficult decisions.. have you graduated? Can you give me an example where engineers can be creative? I've heard a lot of creativity is needed but I don't understand where.

Difficult decisions.. have you graduated? Can you give me an example where engineers can be creative? I've heard a lot of creativity is needed but I don't understand where.