6 answers
Scott
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
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Why is mechanical engineering interesting to you? Why did you select it over other engineering disciplines?
I am a senior in high school who doesn't know which engineering discipline to major in. Mechanical engineering is my top choice right now, I want to know more about it
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6 answers
Carolina DiCampo
General Engineer
7
Answers
Burlington, Vermont
Updated
Carolina’s Answer
Hello Scott,
I wanted to answer this because, I was a student who couldn’t pick an engineering discipline. Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering both drew me. I liked gears, and I liked circuits, and I liked math.
I wound up as a General Engineer with my focus area being Renewable Energy Systems!
General Engineering is the ‘build your own Sunday,’ of engineering. You chose a focus that you are passionate about and arrange your courses around that.
I took all the mechanical courses relating to power in heat, fluids, motion, etc, some machine design, all of electrical courses involving power that my college offered, all their circuits courses, and enough civil engineering courses to know how to make things that stand up.
I encourage you to think what do you want to do as an engineer? Is there a problem that you want to solve?
For Ex. I wanted to help the environment, and loved power in its many forms.
Also, know that there is a lot of overlap between engineering disciplines. Sometimes more than engineers will admit. Statics and Dynamics is where you learn how to sum your forces, regardless of if you’re mechanical or civil. You’re gonna model resistance, either as an electrical modeling a circuit, or a mechanical determining the resistance to heat transfer. Engineers use math in clever ways to solve problems, regardless of discipline.
Often you can work on those problems from many angles and will be working with engineers of other disciplines. In my case, I’m a general engineer for renewables. I could work on wind turbines as a general engineer relying on my knowledge of fluid dynamics as well as my knowledge of electrical power generation. But I could have also worked on wind turbines as a mechanical engineer, with a knowledge of fluid dynamics, and machine design, etc. Or as an electrical, with a knowledge of power generation, and circuit design.
I would also consider going to a school that is open to engineering students switching majors. Unfortunately, some colleges have the first year for engineering students set up in a way that makes it hard to change tracks. If you can get the course map for mechanical engineering and any other discipline you are interested in and see what it would be like to change from one to another a semester or a year in.
If you apply for mechanical engineering, and then when you take circuits 1 (you have to take at least one circuits course as a mechanical) discover you love it, switch majors. Or if you just manage to push through circuits 1, but love your first mechanical engineering course, stay.
I started out architecture but found I loved my engineering courses and switched majors. One thing that drew me to engineering was that every engineer I spoke to had a wide ranging and fascinating career regardless of which discipline they had chosen.
If you do consider General Engineering, know that you can get your PE license with a General Engineering degree, but General Engineering is less likely to be ABET accredited because it is a fairly new path. This just means you won’t be able to take the FE exam until after you graduate as opposed to taking it in your senior year. (If you have more questions on this or General Engineering, let me know)
Best of Luck!
-Carolina DiCampo
Consider what you want to work on / what problem you want to solve
Consider General Engineering (with a focus)
Switch disciplines if you need to
I wanted to answer this because, I was a student who couldn’t pick an engineering discipline. Mechanical engineering and electrical engineering both drew me. I liked gears, and I liked circuits, and I liked math.
I wound up as a General Engineer with my focus area being Renewable Energy Systems!
General Engineering is the ‘build your own Sunday,’ of engineering. You chose a focus that you are passionate about and arrange your courses around that.
I took all the mechanical courses relating to power in heat, fluids, motion, etc, some machine design, all of electrical courses involving power that my college offered, all their circuits courses, and enough civil engineering courses to know how to make things that stand up.
I encourage you to think what do you want to do as an engineer? Is there a problem that you want to solve?
For Ex. I wanted to help the environment, and loved power in its many forms.
Also, know that there is a lot of overlap between engineering disciplines. Sometimes more than engineers will admit. Statics and Dynamics is where you learn how to sum your forces, regardless of if you’re mechanical or civil. You’re gonna model resistance, either as an electrical modeling a circuit, or a mechanical determining the resistance to heat transfer. Engineers use math in clever ways to solve problems, regardless of discipline.
Often you can work on those problems from many angles and will be working with engineers of other disciplines. In my case, I’m a general engineer for renewables. I could work on wind turbines as a general engineer relying on my knowledge of fluid dynamics as well as my knowledge of electrical power generation. But I could have also worked on wind turbines as a mechanical engineer, with a knowledge of fluid dynamics, and machine design, etc. Or as an electrical, with a knowledge of power generation, and circuit design.
I would also consider going to a school that is open to engineering students switching majors. Unfortunately, some colleges have the first year for engineering students set up in a way that makes it hard to change tracks. If you can get the course map for mechanical engineering and any other discipline you are interested in and see what it would be like to change from one to another a semester or a year in.
If you apply for mechanical engineering, and then when you take circuits 1 (you have to take at least one circuits course as a mechanical) discover you love it, switch majors. Or if you just manage to push through circuits 1, but love your first mechanical engineering course, stay.
I started out architecture but found I loved my engineering courses and switched majors. One thing that drew me to engineering was that every engineer I spoke to had a wide ranging and fascinating career regardless of which discipline they had chosen.
If you do consider General Engineering, know that you can get your PE license with a General Engineering degree, but General Engineering is less likely to be ABET accredited because it is a fairly new path. This just means you won’t be able to take the FE exam until after you graduate as opposed to taking it in your senior year. (If you have more questions on this or General Engineering, let me know)
Best of Luck!
-Carolina DiCampo
Carolina recommends the following next steps:
Nolan Southard
1
Answer
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Updated
Nolan’s Answer
Art Allen's insights about mechanical engineering are spot on. This field offers a broad exposure to a variety of subjects and disciplines. During my college years, I found that it allowed me to delve into different areas such as electrical, civil, HVAC, thermal, and structural engineering. As I progressed, I had the opportunity to focus on specific topics or concentrations if I chose to. However, keeping a broad perspective was also an option. In essence, mechanical engineering opens a world of possibilities!
Ray Koch
Mechanical Reliability Engineer
29
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Ray’s Answer
Hi Scott!
This is a great question.
I actually started out studying civil engineering. When I was a kid, some family lived out in California and were effected by some of the earthquakes out there so I had wanted to study structural design and making building earthquake resistant. However, once I started my studies however I ran into a fairly large problem with understanding some of the basic concept that structual engineering are based on (I failed statics twice), but around the same time, I took another class, thermodynamics, where the professor openned up a whole new world for me. Following that class, and after learned more about thermodynamics and it applications and the careers associated with it, I decided to change my major to mechanical engineering.
I really like that mechanical engineering is very versitle. I have found a great career in the maintenance and reliabilty space where I have been able to work in a variety of industries and am able to continue learning and feeding my curious nature, which for me is what I love.
Personally, I think its ok to not necessarily know what discipline you want to study right away, as long as you go to a school with options for different disciplines. A lot of the first year, and even some of the second year, classes are universal and apply to any discipline and you might find that one class sparks an interst in you that you want to pursue. I would also recommend many of the thing mentioned above including talking to professors, and professionals about what they do.
This is a great question.
I actually started out studying civil engineering. When I was a kid, some family lived out in California and were effected by some of the earthquakes out there so I had wanted to study structural design and making building earthquake resistant. However, once I started my studies however I ran into a fairly large problem with understanding some of the basic concept that structual engineering are based on (I failed statics twice), but around the same time, I took another class, thermodynamics, where the professor openned up a whole new world for me. Following that class, and after learned more about thermodynamics and it applications and the careers associated with it, I decided to change my major to mechanical engineering.
I really like that mechanical engineering is very versitle. I have found a great career in the maintenance and reliabilty space where I have been able to work in a variety of industries and am able to continue learning and feeding my curious nature, which for me is what I love.
Personally, I think its ok to not necessarily know what discipline you want to study right away, as long as you go to a school with options for different disciplines. A lot of the first year, and even some of the second year, classes are universal and apply to any discipline and you might find that one class sparks an interst in you that you want to pursue. I would also recommend many of the thing mentioned above including talking to professors, and professionals about what they do.
David C Byram
Mechanical Design Engineering / Educator
39
Answers
Palm Coast, Florida
Updated
David C’s Answer
I am retired now, however I spent about 25+ years in various engineering fields and 25+ years in the field of welding fabrication. The engineering involved designing machines, fixtures, tooling, and designs for products. My welding years involved fabrication of various machine tools, cabinets, concrete moulds and some structural components.
I loved most everything I did in both. I had an interest and drive for welding first, then I was able to get into engineering later. I enjoy designing things as well as putting what I've designed together. You love to see what you had a part in coming together and seeing it work. I've had a part in designing fixtures or tooling that have never been made and so had to be invented of which I have six United States of American patents.
Find out what your interest is and then do some research to see if it is something you would like to make a career of. I always like to mention that you do not have to go to college to find a career. There are some excellent Vocational Training schools that take the place of high school and you will come out with a trade to start work right away.
Designer Dave
I loved most everything I did in both. I had an interest and drive for welding first, then I was able to get into engineering later. I enjoy designing things as well as putting what I've designed together. You love to see what you had a part in coming together and seeing it work. I've had a part in designing fixtures or tooling that have never been made and so had to be invented of which I have six United States of American patents.
Find out what your interest is and then do some research to see if it is something you would like to make a career of. I always like to mention that you do not have to go to college to find a career. There are some excellent Vocational Training schools that take the place of high school and you will come out with a trade to start work right away.
Designer Dave
Sydney Phipps
Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Student with extensive Co-Op/Internship Experience
2
Answers
Clemson, South Carolina
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
Choosing Mechanical Engineering is like opening a door to a world of diverse learning experiences. Here at Clemson University, the curriculum is rich and varied. You'll encounter fascinating subjects like fluid dynamics, material properties, thermodynamics, and even the fundamental sciences like chemistry and physics. But it's not all theory - there are also hands-on lab courses that let you apply what you've learned.
The job prospects in Mechanical Engineering are as diverse as the subjects you'll study. From residential and industrial electrical/HVAC design to product development (a field I'm particularly passionate about, especially in the defense sector), the opportunities are endless. You could find yourself in manufacturing, working on anything from cars to home appliances, technology, robotics, or even nuclear projects. Or perhaps you see yourself in research, teaching, or a host of other exciting roles.
What's more, a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering can be a stepping stone to a more specialized Master's degree. You could delve deeper into subjects like nuclear engineering, fluid dynamics, advanced material science, or robotics.
So, as a senior, I strongly recommend you to explore. Reach out to colleges, visit their engineering departments, and have conversations with the students there. It's a great way to get a feel for what your future in Mechanical Engineering could look like.
The job prospects in Mechanical Engineering are as diverse as the subjects you'll study. From residential and industrial electrical/HVAC design to product development (a field I'm particularly passionate about, especially in the defense sector), the opportunities are endless. You could find yourself in manufacturing, working on anything from cars to home appliances, technology, robotics, or even nuclear projects. Or perhaps you see yourself in research, teaching, or a host of other exciting roles.
What's more, a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering can be a stepping stone to a more specialized Master's degree. You could delve deeper into subjects like nuclear engineering, fluid dynamics, advanced material science, or robotics.
So, as a senior, I strongly recommend you to explore. Reach out to colleges, visit their engineering departments, and have conversations with the students there. It's a great way to get a feel for what your future in Mechanical Engineering could look like.
Art Allen
Retired Mechanical engineer
17
Answers
Mead, Washington
Updated
Art’s Answer
I concur with the above. I took one year of general engineering before I committed to Mechanical engineering, then upon graduation I found myself in a Civil engineering position. I think that as a mechanical engineer you are more flexible than the other types of engineers, I took more Structural/material classes than electrical engineers more chemical classes than civil engineers, electrical classes than Chemical engineers. so basically I feel that Mechanical engineering is a broad based degree than should allow you greater flexibility in you career than other types of engineers, This slight division of the types of engineer is relatively minor and may be overshadowed by your work ethic, team player personality or luck of the draw as you get hired.