3 answers
Jared
Student
Mendon, Massachusetts
5
Questions
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Which type of engineering would benefit me the most: civil or mechanical engineering?
I am a junior in high school and I am looking into becoming either a mechanical or civil engineer. However, I don’t know which one would fit me the best as a person and which one would benefit me the most. #mechanical-engineering #engineering #civil-engineering
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3 answers
Timothy R
Mechanical System Architect
8
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Timothy’s Answer
Much good advice has already been offered. First and foremost pick something you have interest in and are passionate about. I faced this same question when I entered engineering school. One bit of advice I received from my adviser at the time was that Civil Engineering was a very specific field of study and application, whereas Mechanical Engineering was broader and could reach into a variety of industries and applications. What this meant to me was that as a Mechanical Engineer, it may be easier for me to get involved in the industries that are focused on Civil Engineering than it would be for me as a Civil Engineer to break into all the industries that depend on Mechanical Engineering. In essence, I would have more options/flexibility. Since I am a Mechanical Engineer and don't have first hand experience in Civil Engineering, I can only share the advice I received. Hopefully others will respond and add further clarity to this point. In the grand scheme of things there is no wrong answer which is why I opened with the advice I did.
Douglas Lemmo, P.E.
Consultant, Owner at Power Generation Consulting Services
132
Answers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Updated
Douglas’s Answer
Hi,
Daniel's answer above is excellent. Do you like to work on things that move or things that don't. After graduating from High School, I was enrolled in a college for Civil Engineering but during the summer I began to have second thoughts about my choice of engineering types so I called the college and had a meeting with the dean of engineering. As a result of that meeting, I switched my major to Mechanical Engineering. But, if you really can't decide, Google Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical Engineering and read about the types of work they do and the companies they work for. that my help you decide.
But, don't stress too much about your decision because the classes that all of the engineering types take during the first 2 years of engineering school are all either the same or at least, very similar, During those first 2 years, you can talk to professors and others about the different engineering fields and if you decide that your initial choice wasn't the best one for you, switch over to the one you find most interesting. The key is to do well in high school so that you can get into an engineering school and then do well in your college classes so that if you want to change majors, the transfer of class credits won't be a problem.
Good luck.
Doug
Daniel's answer above is excellent. Do you like to work on things that move or things that don't. After graduating from High School, I was enrolled in a college for Civil Engineering but during the summer I began to have second thoughts about my choice of engineering types so I called the college and had a meeting with the dean of engineering. As a result of that meeting, I switched my major to Mechanical Engineering. But, if you really can't decide, Google Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical Engineering and read about the types of work they do and the companies they work for. that my help you decide.
But, don't stress too much about your decision because the classes that all of the engineering types take during the first 2 years of engineering school are all either the same or at least, very similar, During those first 2 years, you can talk to professors and others about the different engineering fields and if you decide that your initial choice wasn't the best one for you, switch over to the one you find most interesting. The key is to do well in high school so that you can get into an engineering school and then do well in your college classes so that if you want to change majors, the transfer of class credits won't be a problem.
Good luck.
Doug
Daniel H.
Mechanical Engineer
4
Answers
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Hi Jared,
See if there are any local colleges that offer "Engineer-for-a-day" programs that provide you with an opportunity to shadow a local engineering firm to see how a day in the "working world" is. If not, contact any local civil or mechanical engineering firms during the spring/summer time, this may sound intimidating, but they would be happy to have you shadow them for a short period of time...and you may make some connections that might pay off during or even after college.
In general, however, Civil Engineering deals with roads, sewers, bridges, and other infrastructure while Mechanical Engineering deals with moving components such as gears, engines, robots, etc.
The earlier you get exposed to these fields the better off you will be in the long run.
See if there are any local colleges that offer "Engineer-for-a-day" programs that provide you with an opportunity to shadow a local engineering firm to see how a day in the "working world" is. If not, contact any local civil or mechanical engineering firms during the spring/summer time, this may sound intimidating, but they would be happy to have you shadow them for a short period of time...and you may make some connections that might pay off during or even after college.
In general, however, Civil Engineering deals with roads, sewers, bridges, and other infrastructure while Mechanical Engineering deals with moving components such as gears, engines, robots, etc.
The earlier you get exposed to these fields the better off you will be in the long run.