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20 Important Tips For Engineering Students by Agbo19(m): 5:17pm On Dec 30, 2015 |
20 Tips for Engineering
Students
Getting your engineering degree is a ticket to
rewarding careers, and sometimes a handsome
paycheck. But before you enter the field as a
professional engineer, some serious studying, a
few late nights, and a few tips to get you through
your first year are in order.
Tip #1: Take good notes, and keep them all
after your classes are over.
Engineering textbooks can be dense, but endure
through the tedium. Do your reading – all of it –
and keep a highlighter and page markers handy.
After the class is over, keep your most useful and
well-written textbooks as reference. Your notes,
annotations, and highlighting will be invaluable
later on. You may even want to keep a “Rules of
Thumb” notebook, allowing you quick access to
your most-used formulas.
Tip #2: Get to know your professors.
Develop a relationship with your professors so
you feel comfortable approaching them and
asking for help. Get to know one or two key
professors particularly well, and turn to them for
help with your homework, insight into the
industry, and even job or program references.
Tip #3: Ask questions, both in class and
out.
Your professors want you to learn. But if the only
thing you ever ask is, “Will this be on the test?”
then you are not taking advantage of their
knowledge or willingness to help. Ask for
additional examples to clarify difficult equations
and concepts. More often than not, your fellow
students will thank you for speaking up, and your
professor will appreciate your active investment
in the material.
Tip #4: Try to solve a problem before
asking for help.
No one wants to do your homework for you.
You’ll be more likely to get help if you’ve already
begun the effort. Even if you’re totally lost, make
a legitimate, prolonged effort to solve a problem
before asking for help. When you do seek help, be
prepared to discuss what you tried already, and
bring your scratch paper showing your attempts.
Tip #5: Form a study group.
Working alone can get exasperating if you find
yourself stuck on a problem. Working with others
will not only introduce other viewpoints to
approaching a problem, it will also provide
encouragement and camaraderie in the face of
frustration.
Tip #6: Teach someone else.
One of the most effective ways of ensuring you
understand something is by explaining it to
someone else. Before you move past a subject,
make sure you not only answered the question
but also can replicate and explain the process.
Each new subject and concept will build on the
last, so don’t move on until you’ve mastered each
new idea.
Tip #7: Diversify your engineering classes.
Take classes in all sorts of engineering, even if
they are not your concentration. Understanding
not only the subject matter, but also how other
types of engineers approach and solve problems,
will lend insight into your own field, from
biomedical to mechanical to chemical to
environmental engineering and beyond.
Tip #8: Take classes outside engineering,
particularly design classes.
The most successful engineers are insatiable
learners, so seek to broaden your skill set
generally. A design class can teach you how to
represent information visually and how to talk
about an idea from a big picture perspective. A
writing class can hone your skills for
communicating your ideas to others. A business
class can prepare you for organizational tasks
and leadership roles later in your career.
Tip #9: Hone your communications skills,
including conversation, writing, and
presentation.
The best and most innovative ideas in the world
have no hope of growing past the drawing board
if you are unable to communicate them
effectively. And today, most technical
communication between team members and
leadership happens over email, which is a form of
writing. Learn to present an argument simply and
without agenda, and always read your emails
through once or twice before sending.
Tip #10: Learn another language.
Engineering knows no political or cultural borders;
engineers are in demand everywhere in the world.
Increase your worth by becoming proficient in
another language, and don’t be afraid to think of
your career on a global level. Want to build
bridges in China? You should learn Mandarin.
Tip #11: Build your portfolio.
Participate in as many hands-on projects as
possible, especially those outside the classroom.
Future employers look for both coursework and
relevant experience, and a well-organized and
articulate portfolio will be invaluable during your
job search. Your practical project experience will
also reinforce the “in theory” knowledge you gain
in class.
Tip #12: Get a summer internship.
One of the best portfolio buildings blocks is the
summer internship. Internships do more than build
your resume; they demonstrate to potential
employers that you can commit to a long-term
role and work as part of a team.
Tip #13: Build your network.
Do not wait until you need a job to start building
professional relationships. In addition to getting
to know your professors and peers, attend
extracurricular lectures, workshops, and
networking events, and get to know as many
people working or studying in your field as
possible. Take a genuine interest in the work of
others, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid
to seek guidance or advice from those of
advanced experience. They were once neophyte
engineers too!
Tip #14: Scour the resources of
professional engineering associations and
companies.
Professional engineering associations, such as the
National Society of Professional Engineers, are an
invaluable resource for jobs, advice, and
networking. Identify organizations that share your
values and interests, and make as many contacts
as possible.
Tip #15: Skip the honors class.
In the engineering field, your GPA matters. If you
struggle in calculus, don’t kill yourself in Honors
Calc; take the easier class, learn the material
thoroughly, and take the higher grade.
Tip #16: Learn when to lead and when to
back down.
Engineers often work in teams, and every team
has one or more leaders. You should feel
comfortable in both leading and following the
directions of others. Hone your leadership skills
and learn how to effectively influence group
decisions, but recognize when your contribution
should be to take orders and follow direction.
Tip #17: Work on the problem before the
team meets.
The best results occur when a group discusses
ideas that have already been fleshed out by
individual members. Learn to do your own work
and self-motivate. Always arrive at the team
meeting with ideas in mind.
Tip #18: Be a perfectionist.
In the words of one engineer, “In the working
engineer world, a 99% correct product can cost
millions of dollars in damages.” Adopt the
mindset of practicing something until it is perfect,
as opposed to going as quickly as possible and
settling for a B. When your work is 100%, even if
it is slower, it is valuable.
Tip #19: Identify your inspiration.
What made you decide to study engineering? Who
do you look up to in your chosen field? Learn
about how individuals and companies have
sought and found success, and replicate their
behaviors.
Tip #20: Take heart and persevere.
Engineering is a difficult course of study for
everyone, no matter their IQ or test scores.
Frustration can lead to feeling like an imposter.
Every future engineer has struggled through
seemingly impossible problem sets, cranky
professors, and gut-wrenching exams. In the face
of inevitable small failures, recognize that you are
challenging yourself like never before, and push
on through the difficult experiences. |
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