I need a career change. I really enjoy math. Should I consider engineering?
Math didn’t always come easy to me.
It took a lot of practice. When we were assigned every other problem, I’d do them all.
I tend to be slower and more methodical when solving math problems- I notate every step so if I make an error, I can check my work.
I always prove my answer by plugging it into the original problem. I take pride in accuracy over speed but I have to admit- I am easily intimidated by personalities that solve the problem quickly and insist their answers are right and mine is wrong if our numbers don’t match.
Fortunately, I notate my process so it’s easy to determine who is right.
But the problem is, I am insecure about my abilities, so I am not sure if engineering would be right for me.
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While math is a big part of engineering, design and insight are a big part of it. Do you have interest in designing things?
And what kind of engineering are you thinking of? Civil, designing roads and sewers, or bridges? Construction, putting together how to build things?
What are you doing now? And how much education do you have?
Hate to keep asking questions and not giving you answers, but these are things you need to think through.
I was also going to ask if you like building things. That’s what engineering is about. The careful checking and notation would be useful to an engineer.
“But the problem is, I am insecure about my abilities, so I am not sure if engineering would be right for me.”
Is that the only problem? You wrote “career change”. What is your current undergrad major? Do you work now? Would you attend college full time? Part time while working? This may be more difficult than the curriculum. Also, are you settled in one area (location, city, state)? Are there jobs for you in that area? Are you willing to move?
Here’s the thing about engineering. It’s tougher than a double major. Many majors are 40 units + GE + Electives = 128 units or so (for semester for example). When I attended engineering undergrad, it was 99 units of engineering, math, physics, and chemistry. All the electives were physics, math, and chemistry. So, if your undergrad was history or something like that it will be as if you were starting over from your freshman year.
The confidence will come as you take classes. Try not to let insecurity be a big factor in any academic decision you make.
The confidence will come as you take classes.
The confidence might come. Those classes also might blow her away. That’s one of the reasons I asked about how prepared she was. The curriculum is so tough that holding a job or raising kids for example may overwhelm the student. I know people who worked full time and earned a BS in engineering but it took ten tough years.
I am interested in designing things. I love creative problem solving to make things more efficient. I would like to do something related to water resource. My undergrad is in sociology.
I am currently in customer service-hate it.
I am considering an engineer “tech” program and yes I am willing to relocate.
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