Is Electrical Engineering for you?

You might ask: is electrical engineering for me? What personality traits are needed in electrical engineering? Is an electrical engineering degree is right for you?

Electrical engineering is a great degree to pursue and can lead to a rewarding career in the engineering field, but from my experience as an electrical engineering students, there are some traits that you need to posses to truly excel in the major.

#electricalengineering

[Vegaswill]

I am a retired Electrical Engineer, I have watched and enjoyed this series of videos. I graduated a long time ago, I have always felt that the biggest difference between those who succeed and fail as Engineering students (all Engineering disciplines) is the willingness to put in the time and NOT quit when it gets tough. Many of us in our student careers have at some moment felt "I can't do this". If you follow through, ask for help when needed and bury your self doubt, you will likely succeed. Most people admitted to an Engineering program have the ability. Ali's best advice is to find a study group, or friends to work with and to not be afraid to go to office hours for help. I learned that the hard way, did not do so until relatively late in my student career. Big mistake on my part.

[mrguy]

you're so right about signals and systems being a "weeder class". I never in my life thought i was smart enough to become an engineer, the first time I took signals and systems I just failed because I wasn't very good at time managment. Second time around I passed and I'm so grateful that I did. That class was so hard but near the end it became interesting.

Also, saying you don't need to be a math expert! SO TRUE. I thought I was one of those "English and Wriring" guys who sucked at math. But just like any skill in the world the more you practice the better you get and also the more you love it... now I enjoy math! I'm still not the greatest but I at least understand calculus now. This from a guy who failed algebra before attending college.

[pimpompoom]

3 Degrees in Electrical Engineering and 47 years as a researcher in high tech industry. You really need to enjoy problem solving and especially ABSTRACT problem solving. You have to be comfortable working with mathematics, because as you noted you are not dealing with SOLID commodities such as a Mechanical Engineer would. You need persistence and refusal to accept failure-and you will experience failure in your schooling and career. The key is to keep on getting back on the horse every time you get thrown off. You need to accept that the struggle and the problem solving are just as important as eventual success-getting there is half the fun. As for EE students, it is a VERY difficult career path, but the reward at the end of it is absolutely delightful. And every class you take trains your mind to think more analytically, step by step. Just don't quit when you encounter disappointment! Refuse to quit, refuse to accept failure as your final outcome! As Winston Churchill said, 'Never give in, never, never, never!'

[alexanderokak]

I am going into my masters year doing electrical + mechanical engineering and I couldn't word this better myself. Absolutely everything in this video, even the smallest details, I completely agree with. Brilliant advice. I especially resonated with the part where you emphasise that you don't need to LOVE electronics as you start the degree, just have an interest. I am at that stage where I am starting to love it, however it took years of gruelling confusion and straight up hate at times before it started to make sense. Now it's like playing with legos!

[alithedazzling]

Do you guys find these type of videos helpful? Please share with me what you think! :)

[cavemanooga]

Physics PhD here. I've engineered some moderately sized (~100kA) pulsed power devices. I agree completely. As an addendum, I would say that knowing your career path and how much education you'll need is important. I know that if I could have the job I have now without getting my PhD, I would have done that. It's not worth it just to be called Dr.

[belallahham]

I was so unsure about what major to get into in college but thanks to your videos I would have say that EE might be the best major for me, I basically love every field of engineering to the point where I cant really decide which one to get into, but I remember how I really enjoyed Electricity classes in high school, so Im here to say ur vids are so cool and the way u enjoy what ur studying really inspires me.. keep it up bro!!

[Sanfu]

I realize I'm having difficulty deciding between this and mechanical engineering. Initially I listened to a lot of both and was drawn to electrical because of my job in signals intel and also all the coolness of the abstractness and "magic of it" signals, electricity, computers etc. Nicola tesla you know. However when thinking about engineering more generally I realize I'm probably more unconsciously drawn to mechanical engineering because I want to know how to really make and build things. You know like cars, engines, boats, skyscrapers, bridges, airplanes, and basically any kind of real machine isn't made out of imagination. But also just because you can behold it doesn't mean a tremendous amount of creativity doesn't or can't go into the design process. Like even with EE my inclination isnt just the EE part but more so to make the whole thing doing the EE magic robot, computer, or radar if I had the know how. What do you all think.

[ARouser]

I was the kid who tore apart things to understand them. in high school we had this course, career planning, and I was lead to believe that getting into electronics would lead me to a career path that earned on average, $27k. However, being a crane operator would lead me to a career that made $170k. Well, the way it turned out is I ran crane for less than $40k for most my life. 20 years and im up to 94k, (CAD). I never went to university. I have no retirement. I dont own a home, and I doubt I ever will. And the kids who went into engineering are buying their third houses.
I was that kid who tore it up. And I was mislead by my schools to avoid the path of higher education, and I missed my calling. Now I sit in a shipping container alone, for hours on end end, just tinkering with electronics, and I lack the detailed knowledge to get beyond just tinkering.

[elijahsalinas]

I got a job as a transmission planner out of college. If you’re not interested in circuits or all the wires and stuff. This job or something similar might be something to look into. It’s more model and power flow analysis based and it’s cool to see how projects and stuff end up coming together over time.

[connors]

Is this degree something that could be done part time while working full time? (Is online a decent option?)

[bfrank]

Appreciate the point you made about not having to be really skilled in mathematics. Too many people think that they are inherently "bad" at mathematics, when really it's just that their prior education has let them down. Certainly a high level of intelligence speeds up the learning process, but you don't have to be a genius. Most people have more potential than they realise.

[Ak-jvkg]

First yr elec eng here, always find these vids useful + motivating. thx

[chandashahadv]

Bro.. Plz provide your fullvideo link. It could be very helpful if you do so🙂

[lkvlogs]

all the traits are there for me but i still love electronics engegineering

[makkoma]

Im starting my EE journey this fall, and I was so worried I wouldn't be cut out for it. I feel like I can do it so long as I don't give up. I'm just unsure of how little free time I'm going to have once I start college...

[iiSnely]

1:07 I totally agree with you, I'm studying signals and system this term and as first sight it was scary, many students suffering from this class because the don't take the full advantage of YT they don't watch different vids explaining Fourier series for example.

I love you vids Ali ❤️

[ykwoke]

Just started college 6 months in and im a pre electrical engineering I haven't learned much about my major but one thing about me for a while is ive always been curious on how the electronics work and taking them apart and putting them together I like using my hands for things like this and was wondering if i chose the correct major. I'd love some advice from you

[opufy]

This is very fair and realistic advice. I was worried it would be harsh but totally he’s right.

[harshcallisto]

I'm about to choose my major this yr and these type of your videos help me a lot. Thanks👍 I've decided to go towards EE