Is engineering something anyone can study to do, or does it take a knack?

Question

Searching through youtube, I've seen things I would never have thought possible before.... Frail-looking 30 gram towers, made of thin strips of wood, supporting well over 300 pounds, model bridges doing just as well.... If, when I go to a university, I were to study engineering, would they be able to teach me to build such awesome things, or are there only a rare few who could ever reach such heights?

Answer 1

Engineering can be taught to anyone suitably studious and smart. To be succesful as an engineer however requires so much more than can be taught in a University. Math and Science aptitude is a necessary, but insufficient alone condition of success.



Real and succesful engineers require strong leadership, communication, creative and diagnostic skills. Essentially none of these skills are taught in any undergraduate or graduate Engineering curriculum. Most Engineering Professors themselves are deficient in these areas, in part that's why they choose to teach and conduct academiclly directed research.



Never trust an engineer who does not know how to maintain their own car (brake reapir, oil change....), how to weld and solder. Engieners are kids who grew up taking things apart and making them better.



Astrobuf

Answer 2

There are tests for engineering aptitude that include a number of factors and if you are interested, your school counseling service should be able to get you one. The characteristic I recall best, since I did especially well, was being able to look at a 2D drawing of a 3D object and pick out which of a group of similar drawings is a different view of the same object. As a youth, I was surprised to find that some people can't rotate the view of objects in their heads.

I would say that you have to find mechanical objects and constructions interesting and easy to understand in concept if not in details to stick with engineering training and work.

And the comment about "never trust an engineer" who does not maintain their own car, etc. is a bit silly considering that most people who are fascinated by mechanical bits are involved in stuff well before getting access to a car and it is possible to understand the details of a car without taking one apart and getting all grubby. On the other hand, my first wife was changing her own oil and taught me cheap and easy was better and I had no particular problem pulling the head to get the valves ground when one burned and putting it back properly after from written instructions - I didn't do the valves! Soldering is easy and welding is easy to learn - I did it as a graduate student - in theater!

Answer 3

As long as you are good at maths and can work a calculator, you can become an engineer. The passion for what you do is what will make you a good engineer. One of my colleagues (I work for civil & structural engineers) builds and runs scale steam engines in his spare time and builds marinas etc during the day. Another has a full size dalek in his shed, just something he made with his sons. Another made a spud 'rocket' with his kids after they fought over the spud gun - you do need to have that creative side with an inquisitive mind and a bit of imagination.

Answer 4

Studying engineering gives you the insight of advanced science and mathematics. Anyone can do it through the knowledge that you'll gain and once you begin thinking like an engineer, you never really stop. It's an extremely rewarding field for life in general. You'll study a variety problems and you'll be the master of solutions for whatever the case may be.

Answer 5

hellow my dear young dost ! first of all, i would like to congratulate u for being a engineering student, i will advice u to not interrupt your study till completion of your BE / BTech, whatever u are doing. after passing out, if u want to do business, u can start your business n that will be more better ! concentrate your mind completely on your study only n nothingelse ! ok

Answer 6

I say you'd need both...studying is a must for any engineering field...and knowing how and when to apply what you learn will take a knack or two ;)