Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Engineering

Sharing everything you need to know before starting engineering here. This video is ambitious and there’s a lot to cover about this topic. The first 4 things will be related to your engineering career and the last 5 things will be more focused on engineering school. Timestamps are as follows:

00:00 Intro
00:33 Not Every Engineering Job is the Same
02:09 It’s Normal to have Doubts
03:02 Engineering Won’t Make you Rich
04:16 Project Expectations vs Reality
05:48 The 3 Types of Engineering Students
06:56 Problem Solving Skills in Engineering
07:14 Network & Talk to People
07:52 Review Stuff Before Class
08:49 Internships

Internship Videos Mentioned:

MY SOCIAL MEDIA:

ABOUT ME:
My name is Tamer Shaheen and I am a recent mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo, currently working as a Mechanical Design Engineer. I like to make videos about university/college, engineering, and personal development. Thank you so much for watching!!

[fariborzeshraghi]

That was such a beautiful definition that "professors aren't hired because they are good teachers, they are hired because they are good researchers. A lot of Engineering students do not know this simple fact.

[OhNoNotAgain]

BSME about 35 years ago. Planning to retire at the end of the year. Good luck to you young folks who are pursuing this. Rule number 1: Don’t cut corners that risk people’s lives. Ever. If your boss is pushing you to do so, don’t. If you get fired, so be it. Everything else is negotiable. In 40 years, remember to leave a similar comment to the young people pursuing engineering. Social media will probably be, literally, in a cloud that you just think at. Good luck.

[InvestNUFinance]

It took me 5.5 years to get my mechanical engineering job and I graduated with a low GPA. I went straight into the oilfield service industry and quickly realized I loved it way more then working in the office 9-5 setting. Working in the oilfield service industry allowed me to only work 10 years and now I’m financially independent.

[salvadorbravo]

I’m a third year studying Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley, and I can vouch for everything he’s saying. Having had an internship already and interning at Dell this summer, the career life is actually worth the stress during university. Stay strong folks and you’ll get there!

[project_platypus]

Just graduated with a BS in Aerospace. It was tough, but the biggest things I’d advise are:

Make good friends, an engineering degree is hard to do alone. Collaboration is a big boost

Find other outlets like exercise or something not engineering related

Network like crazy. Every interview I’ve gotten has been because I’ve known someone at that company

Make your professors know your name and face, this can help with leniency, grading, office hours, etc. I’ve even gone to breweries with my professors while I was still a student

[lillypineda]

I just graduated high school and am going for a mechanical engineering degree at my dream university.. I will say though, I’ve heard countless doubts from others that because I’m a woman, engineering is very masculine and I might not like it, that if you’re not the best at math it’ll be a horrible experience, etc etc. I’ve heard it all! But my passion has always been to design high performance vehicles for motion rides and rollercoasters for Disney, universal, seaworld, etc.. so even though to some, that sounded silly, it’s my passion. And even though I sucked at math my freshman year of high school I graduated taking calc honors and passing with an A in that class. So if anyone is wondering if it’s worth it.. atleast I think it is if you have a passion for it! It’s not about being the best at math or physics.. it’s about how hard you work and how passionate you are!

[JVPlayer]

Your first engineering job won't be your last, that's for sure... Honestly, I believe when landing your first engineering job, it should be whatever you can acquire, but you don't wanna be stuck forever as a (example) electrical engineer reviewing circuit design, you eventually wanna be the one designing circuits. The more experience in your field, the better. You might not need to apply all of the knowledge learned in college, but the closer you are to using that knowledge the more enjoyable it becomes. I would rather apply the mathematical and science tools than be a technician.

[sambrackett]

I’m a 2nd year mechanical engineering technologies student and reading the material before lecture is so incredibly useful! Instead of hearing everything for the first time in lecture, you use what you already recollected and hear how the professor adds on to it. Always read material before and after class, even if you don’t understand it. And i very much push the idea of making friends and going to tutors especially. I struggle so much with physics but having those resources will save you the pain ❤

I saw someone’s else’s comment about being a women in engineering. I’m in the same boat. I’m 19 and I dress really girly so being in a class as the only girl can be intimidating, but don’t give up on your passion because in the end, it’s your passion and everyone else is there for the same reason (and you’re paying for it).
good luck ❤

[MCatwar]

i have a little bit of advice. go for the more trade based engineering jobs: i.e. get a job in a machine shop or fabrication shop and do the gd&t on those parts, etc. that way, you’ll stay busy and work with your hands, work with a smaller company, and genuinely have an impact!

[datdang]

dude, this video and your other videos are really relevant and accurate. I wish I saw this video when I started my engineering program in university, because now when I've just graduated and done an internship, I find everything you say in this video accurate and I didn't know about them just a year ago.

[takbirkhan]

Thanks, Tamer, for going into more depth on how engineering can be, I am a senior this year majoring in Electrical Engineering, and I know how stressful it can be to pursue engineering.

[EngineeringwithDrKelseyJoy]

Incredible video! Love the encouragement and advice!

[gavindies]

From someone who is about to graduate: Find your niche. I thought I wanted to go to automotive for a while, but I ended up taking noise control. I loved every second of it, the math, the design, the impact. I love it. I just had my first presentation at a conference. I'm even looking at Grad school, even though I wanted to change to communications my sophomore year. Just look around and be open.

[ayyyjirachi]

I don't have a problem when it comes to learning, I'm worried about my memory. I just have to remember everything I learn in the future, if I can do that, there will be no limit on what I can do.

[juanestrella]

Incredibly helpful video! Dude, this really was well-organized and having that info about the internships there at the end was really great to as that is the clear next step and you actionable advice on how to go about getting an internship. Thanks so much for this video!

[weltonjames]

Love this guy. Always makes very informative at helpful videos

[benistern]

Thank you so much for that video. I am a third year engeneer at the Rwth myself. I’m sharing a lot of the same doubts mentioned in this video and this really helped me putting them in perspective. Feeling really good after this video. Great content

[anthonythebeard]

this is super helpful. i want to go into mechanical engineering in conjunction with mechanical work so i can start manufacturing and testing/R&D'ing my own parts for cars. good to see a first hand account of what to expect from the industry and how to go about the right approach. thanks Tamer!

[ela]

Tamer, you’re excellent. Concise and consistent content

[nathanpinnix]

Tamer, thanks for emphasizing the "doubt" element. I have been feeling the same.