Engineering is the branch of science and technology that is interested in the design and building of machines, structures, engines, bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. Engineers place particular emphasis on applied mathematics and applied science.
In this article, we will go over the frequently asked questions that engineers have regarding their degree and career. Furthermore, we will discuss the difficulty of an engineering degree and what are the potential challenges you may face.
Is Engineering Hard?
Engineering is hard. An engineering degree is renowned for its notorious difficulty, immense workload, challenging concepts, and complex problems. Engineering is hard because you will be expected to apply your knowledge and skills to familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
Engineering heavily relies on the principles of math and science. Advanced math and science are abstract subjects that are difficult to comprehend.
In engineering school, it is common to encounter concepts that you may not understand at the first attempt. You will have to repeatedly study in order to have a chance at mastering the subject content.
Furthermore, the slightest of errors as an engineer can have catastrophic effects. In other fields such as journalism, marketing, and editing being good enough is sufficient. In engineering, perfection is absolutely necessary.
Engineers require specific technical knowledge and skills that take a lot of time to acquire. For instance, learning how to code or working with lab apparatus is not something you can learn overnight. You will have to spend hundreds of hours mastering your craft.
Engineering has one of the highest dropout rates not due to a lack of talent or ability but rather the unwillingness of students to put in 40-60 hours a week preparing for the endless stream of assignments, projects, tests, and assignments.
The heavy workload of an engineering degree is enough to make students reconsider their major. Students come into engineering school with unrealistic expectations and end up dropping it because they lack the discipline and passion to study highly complex and intricate material.
Some of the smartest students sign up for engineering because they are fascinated by machines, cars, fancy structures, airplanes, and drones. A few weeks later, they realize that engineering is hard work and they must learn advanced mathematics and science before they can do anything meaningful in the industry.
Weed out courses such as calculus I-III, physics I, chemistry I, linear algebra, differential equations, discrete math, statics, and dynamics are useful benchmarks for first-year students to determine whether they are cut for engineering or not.
Is Being An Engineer Hard?
Being an engineer is quite hard. You will have to work your way around tight deadlines, immense workloads, pressure to update your skills and technical knowledge to stay relevant to the industry, and pressure to get things right since the slightest of mistakes can be very costly.
As an engineer, you must be prepared to work extremely hard and constantly better yourself. In return, you will be rewarded with fantastic benefits in the form of high salaries, company stock, flexible work, paid vacations, gym memberships, and health and dental insurance.
Why is Engineering So Hard?
Engineering is so hard because you will have to study a number of difficult courses, apply complex formulae, come up with efficient solutions to problems in the industry, and deal with advanced mathematical models and equations. These factors together make engineering hard.
Engineering is difficult because you will be pressed to come up with complex solutions to challenging problems. Thinking outside the box is second nature to engineers.
As an engineer, you will have to study a plethora of complicated courses. Thermodynamics is one such course that is incredibly tedious and demanding. Fluid mechanics is another cause of worry and concern for engineering students. Electrodynamics is in the same league due to its notorious difficulty.
As an engineer, you will have to work with advanced mathematical equations. You will be expected to solve the problems on paper and using CAD systems. The real challenge is taking account of and replicating external factors in your models.
Engineering is all about applying your knowledge and skills to find pragmatic solutions. Coming up with an efficient solution adds to the challenge for engineers. Solutions must be practical, safe, reliable, and cost-effective, all at the same time.
Is Engineering a Stressful Career?
Engineering is certainly a stressful career. As an engineer, you will be under immense stress to carry out projects perfectly since there will be very little margin for error. Moreover, you will also have to enhance your skillset to stay relevant in the industry.
Can I Study Engineering If I’m Bad at Math?
You can study engineering if you are bad at math but you will not get far in it. Engineering is essentially applied math and science. You do not have to be very good at math but moderate proficiency at high school math and a willingness to improve your math skills are a must.
Math plays a crucial role in engineering. Engineers do not need to understand math at the same level as mathematicians and physicists but they must know how to use and apply the mathematical formulae and models in their projects.
You should have moderate competency in high school mathematics at the very least before enrolling in engineering school. The math courses in engineering include some of the most advanced forms of math that the majority of individuals will encounter in any field of study.
What Engineering Requires the Most Math?
Electrical engineering requires the most math. Electrical engineering is the most math-oriented branch of engineering as you will need to use advanced forms of math when dealing with circuit analysis, stochastic signals, and electromagnetism.
Is Calculus for Engineers Hard?
Calculus for engineers is hard. Most colleges will expect you to take 2-4 courses of calculus, namely calculus I-III and differential equations. Higher-ranked colleges often amplify the difficulty of their calculus courses by making them proof-based and conceptual in nature.
Is engineering math hard?
Engineering math is hard. Most students do not find engineering math easy is because they have to study a large number of challenging math courses including linear algebra, calculus 1-3, discrete math, statistics, and differential equations.
Is Engineering Harder Than Physics?
Engineering is not harder than physics. Physics is harder than engineering because it is more theoretical, abstract, and mathematically complex. Engineering on the other hand is more practical and grounded and has fewer obscure and complicated concepts.
Do Engineers Need Physics?
Engineers definitely need physics. Engineering is essentially the practical application of science and math. Engineers typically take two courses of pure physics and several more courses which are closely linked to physics and math.
Can I be an Engineer if I am Bad at Physics?
You can be an engineer if you are bad at physics at the time of enrolling in engineering school. You must be willing to improve your technical knowledge and develop a strong understanding of the core physics concepts since physics plays a crucial role in engineering.
Is Engineering Harder Than Computer Science?
Engineering is slightly harder than computer science since it has a larger number of advanced math courses, has more lab sessions, takes on a more interdisciplinary approach, and is more practical and applied in nature.
Engineering and computer science degrees are quite similar in a number of ways. Both disciplines take a number of the same classes in the first two years.
Linear algebra, discrete math, statistics, physics I, introduction to programming, and calculus I/II are some of the courses that students from both disciplines will study.
However, engineers will also study additional math and science courses such as calculus III, differential equations, physics II, chemistry I, and chemistry II, which emphasizes the interdisciplinary approach of engineering schools.
Furthermore, engineering focuses more on the practical side of things. Engineers will spend a lot of their time in the lab. Moreover, junior and senior year courses will include a lot of projects that will force engineers to come up with unique and efficient solutions.
Is Engineering Harder Than Medicine?
Engineering is not harder than medicine. Medicine is more difficult than engineering since it is a more involved and detailed subject, the margin for error in medicine is lower than in engineering, and you typically need to study more years in medicine to find meaningful employment.
It is debatable whether medicine is more complex or advanced than engineering. However, it can be said with certainty that medicine is a much more involved subject. It requires more devotion, time, and dedication than any other major.
Furthermore, mistakes made by engineers can be very costly but those made by doctors and surgeons can be life-threatening.
Moreover, students of medicine are expected to spend nearly a decade in their field before they can find meaningful employment. Medicine is a cumulative subject that becomes increasingly intricate and detailed as you progress in the field.
Which is Harder Architecture or Engineering?
Architecture is equally as hard as engineering. Architecture is hard because it requires you to be creative, detail-oriented, and artistic. Engineering is difficult because it is complex, scientific, and mathematical in nature.
Architecture and engineering are difficult fields of study but for entirely different reasons. There is an overlap between what engineers especially civil engineers and architects do.
One of the most common conundrums students face is choosing between architecture and civil engineering. Architecture puts greater emphasis on the design and planning of structures such as houses, skyscrapers, factories, and museums. Aesthetics are prioritized among architects.
Civil engineers focus more on the construction of buildings, roads, dams, bridges, and water systems. Durability and longevity are given more importance than aesthetics among civil engineers.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly engineering is hard. As an engineer, you must be prepared for heavy workloads, lots of challenging concepts, and complex mathematical calculations. However, you can easily overcome the difficulty through consistent practice and hard work.
