What You Should Know To Pursue Engineering?

Engineering remains one of the most popular career options in the world. There is no denying the impact of engineering on society. Moreover, the career options, if properly explored, are highly rewarding and intellectually stimulating. It is, therefore, unsurprising that millions of students graduate from engineering schools every year to make their debut in one of the most competitive arenas in the world.
Yes, the crowd is huge and highly competitive.

In many countries such as India, engineering is a highly regarded occupation and is associated with social status. Whatever the dynamics in your country are, the fact remains that you will have to stand out from a massive crowd. You cannot do this unless you are well-prepared for whatever may come. So, before you step into the world of engineering, here are a few pointers to remember.

1. Foundational knowledge in certain areas
   You will require foundational knowledge in a range of areas before you decide to become an engineer. Many engineering exams assess students on a few specific subjects which ultimately form the core of your engineering coursework at university. Ensure that you have studied Physics, Algebra, Calculus, Chemistry, Biology, and Trigonometry in high school. Moreover, you will need to have a practical temperament towards things in life. It is expected from aspirants of engineering sufficient analytical and problem-saving skills that can be gauged from your examination results and daily life problems.

2. The Education You Need
   You may have a skillset of a proper engineer but they need to be authenticated before the world. Formal education, therefore, is imperative to obtain such acknowledgment. Regardless of which country you want to study in, you will certainly need a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program. You will have to select a major such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Marine Engineering, and Computer Science.

   Also, and very importantly, whichever university or college you want to attend, ensure that it has been duly accredited. Every country maintains agencies that accredit educational institutions based on requisite standards. Unless the institution of interest is accredited, there is a heavy doubt as to its authenticity and standards of education. In simple words, your degree won’t be of much worth.

3. Prepare for the entrance tests or meet other requirements
   It is quite likely that you will end up writing an entrance exam for the engineering institution of your choice. Or, like in the case of India and the United States, there may be a national level entrance exam for admissions such as Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) respectively.

   Based on the scores obtained, you will be allotted an institution. The higher the score, the better the institution. It may also happen that you are applying for a university that conducts its own entrance examination. In such cases, the syllabus may differ from the national entrance exams for which you will have to prepare independently.

   Or, you can apply to an institution that selects students based on their performance in their senior high school. Whatever the case may be, you will have to gather these details to have a proper plan of action.

4. Career options
   The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 2020 conducted a study on the career choices of engineers until the year 2018. In its report, it noted that most engineering graduates took up work in the manufacturing sector followed by the scientific and technical sector. Popular career options were found in areas such as energy, utilities, design, manufacturing, and civil engineering.

   You may want to study similar surveys in your country to determine popular choices of career among engineering students. For example, in India, Information Technology remains the most popular sector among engineering graduates.

5. You will need more than textbook knowledge
   Once you make it to an engineering university or college, you must not think that qualifying semester examinations will suffice. No! Engineering is a technical field of study and mere theoretical knowledge won’t take you anywhere. In fact, there is a significant difference between engineering during education and engineering while working. Therefore, many engineering colleges and universities mandate internship or apprenticeship programs to be undertaken periodically.

   It is advised that you take up good internships where you learn about the practical usages of your education. These programs will also help you in deciding where you want to be in the future.