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Computer programs used in college for engineering?

Throughout highschool, I have learned how to use different programs such as AutoCadd, Revit, photoshop, and Inventor. I don't know if there any other programs that I should learn how to use in college or in general. #engineering

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Oanh’s Answer

Hi Calvert,


It depends on what focus of engineering you would like to focus on.


I think it is great that you learned these software before college. Depending on what state you live, some employers don't look for interns/co-op students until they are in their junior or senior year of college. The idea is that they would like to have the students have their core studies down, and before I look into different design software, I would make sure that you know which field of engineering you would like to focus your time on.


With the programs you mentioned, I have seen engineers (civil engineers) use different software for different focuses. AutoCAD is a very popular software, and it will get you ready for other software extensions that their creators provide for in design. It is also important to know that not all states use this software for every design focus. For example, if someone was looking to get into Transportation Engineering, some states like New York do not use AutoCAD for their roadway design, but instead use a software called MicroStation. Other states like Massachusetts will use AutoCAD for transportation Engineering. AutoCAD is primarily used for civil site design, MicroStation is used for roadway design, but I think AutoCAD is more user friendly in terms of what focus in civil engineering (or non-civil engineering) that it can be applied to because it is a versatile software. I have also seen environmental engineers use AutoCAD. Structural engineers use a combination of BIM modeler, SAP2000, and AutoCAD. There is also SolidWorks which is a software that is used by Mechanical Engineers. Revit and Photoshop are great for presentation and students who are enrolled in Architecture would use these software. C++, Visual Basics, and Python are used by computer programmers to design their projects. All of these software are for you to use, it just depends on which focus you would like to develop your expertise in.


If you are a high school senior, when you tour colleges, and if you get the opportunity to meet engineering professors, ask what software is used in their industry.


I hope this helps. Good Luck! =)


-Oanh T. Le
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Ken’s Answer

As there are many areas of engineering, there are many different computer programs used in the many areas of engineering. Each area of engineering has programs that have been developed to accomplish the goals of engineers in that area of engineering. The most important thing for one to do is to determine which area engineering might be most suitable for one's own personality traits and interests and reach out for information from others who are studying or have studied that area of engineering to see which computer programs are most useful in that area of engineering. Through my many years in Human Resources, I have identified these steps to be very helpful to you in developing your answer to the question which you have posed.

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
Here are sites that will assist you in learning more about the various areas of engineering. Disregard that one appears to be aimed at girls, as it is the most comprehensive discussion of engineering that I have found: ## https://www.engineergirl.org/ ## ## http://www.futureengineers.org/ ## ## https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43zVcmTJSKM ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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