would you make a capable engineer?

[WalterMitty]

as in could you, if you chose, complete the rigorous education to become an engineer?

[free my dawg]

I'm honestly more of a humanities guy.

[Torie]

No, no, no, noooo!

[politicus]

No, no, no, noooo!

[angus]

no doubt. 

Moreover, I'm actually hoping the boy pursues that course. 

"Are you an engineer, or are you a n?"
   --Tibeats, chapter 7 Twelve years a slave (I think it was chapter 7)

I sort of resent the question.  Solomon is impaled upon the horns of a dilemma.  As he reveals early on, he can't say that he's an engineer.  Still, as a former freeman, he won't concede that he's a "n."  Tibeats' intent is crystal clear:  he intends to put "Platt" in his place.

What's your point here, Walter?

[dead0man]

Yes.

[GaussLaw]

I could do the math and science, but I would screw up the hands-on/drawing stuff (I am not mechanically inclined and have never been good at art or design).   I have a physics degree, so I definitely could have done the Math/Physics requirements(as I've already done them ), but I would've struggled pretty badly with the actual design courses.

I suppose I could've become an electrical, industrial computer, or maybe chemical engineering major, as those seem to emphasize those facets less.  However, I definitely fail at the "oh engineers are good at fixing stuff in their garage" test.   However, if I were to do college over again, I'd probably do either computer science or something stats/econ-related (supply chain management, cost estimating, data science, actuarial science, econometrics, etc.).  Both seem more in tune with my skills. 

I am kind of curious Torie as to why you wouldn't want to be an engineer, as you seem quite data savvy.  Is it for the same reasons I have?  A lot of people think that being good at math = being good an engineer, but both of us seem to be counterexamples.

[TJ in Oregon]

I sure hope so, considering I have an engineering degree.

[tik 🪀✨]

Probably not.

[RI]

I've taken as much or more math than most engineers, so I'd certainly think so.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Engies are the easiest class to master. Just pick a corner and plop down your dispenser and sentry.

[checkers]

I'm more of a humanities person and I didn't do any of the requisite subjects in high school/uni, but I feel like if I had gone down that path early on I would have been competent (but not brilliant). I was okay at maths in high school.

[anvi]

No.  Anything I try to fix or make in general tends to immediately fall to pieces, so it would be best for others to forcibly prevent me from trying.  My dad was extraordinarily handy, but I inherited none of those traits. 

[muon2]

I teach more engineering students than any other type and both my children are pursuing engineering degrees. I have worked closely with engineers on many aspects of experimental research. Many times my own work on experiments has bordered closely on electrical, computer and software engineering. I suspect that I could have succeeded with a career in engineering, had my interests gone that way.

Like angus, I'm curious to see what motivated Walter to post this question.

[angus]

I teach more engineering students than any other type and both my children are pursuing engineering degrees.

Interesting.  As an undeclared freshman I spoke aloud often about considering to declare engineering as a major, but a science professor talked me out of it.  "You'll get bored with it, do basic science instead."  I ended up doing a BS in mathematics with minors in physics and chemistry, and graduate degrees in physical chemistry.  I don't know whether engineering would be "boring" for me, but I suspect that it would not be boring for my son.  He seems to have a natural interest in it, gravitating toward toys and games involving engineering prowess.  This is a good thing, because by now we have figured out that he doesn't dance like Michael Jackson, he doesn't hit like Barry Bonds, and he doesn't sing like Frank Sinatra, so he'll have to do something practical to earn his keep.

[WalterMitty]

Like angus, I'm curious to see what motivated Walter to post this question.

i admire engineers.

[GaussLaw]

Like angus, I'm curious to see what motivated Walter to post this question.

i admire engineers.

Yeah.  Engineers have a unique skill set and are really some of the "movers and shakers" in today's society.  But not all of us want to do 100-hour group projects in college and take classes where the curved average is a C-.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I graduated with a degree in engineering over ten years ago. I've never used it once.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

No. There's a reason I chose the least mathematically-inclined natural science (apart from the somewhat unappetising gender ratio which would mean I'd have to hang with guys all day)

Like angus, I'm curious to see what motivated Walter to post this question.

Clearly, building an army.

[Vega]

I graduated with a degree in engineering over ten years ago. I've never used it once.

Same here.

[angus]

I graduated with a degree in engineering over ten years ago. I've never used it once.

In the post-apocalyptic aftermath your training might come in handy, though. 

Also, according to theoretical physicist Michio Kaku of CUNY, if we're ever going to attempt interstellar travel, the ideal crew should consist of one Captain, one Mr. Spock, one Dr. McCoy, and three Scotties.  If you can only take one crewman, make sure that it's Mr. Scott.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I graduated with a degree in engineering over ten years ago. I've never used it once.

In the post-apocalyptic aftermath your training might come in handy, though. 

Also, according to theoretical physicist Michio Kaku of CUNY, if we're ever going to attempt interstellar travel, the ideal crew should consist of one Captain, one Mr. Spock, one Dr. McCoy, and three Scotties.  If you can only take one crewman, make sure that it's Mr. Scott.

If the apocalypse does happen and the last band of human survivors needs someone to help design an energy-efficient hydrocarbon cracking and refining plant with waste recycling, I'm your man.*

*given the availability of incredibly expensive engineering software

[DC Al Fine]

Yeah I think so. My dad's an engineer and my mom was too before she quit working to look after baby DC. Hopefully I picked up at least some of the knack for it.

[WalterMitty]

is civil engineering really the 'easiest' engineering field?

[GaussLaw]

is civil engineering really the 'easiest' engineering field?

In college, I think the general opinion from easiest to hardest was:  Industrial, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical/Computer, Chemical