When high school students are considering their career options, many of them question whether it is worth pursuing an engineering degree. Students who are currently enrolled in engineering programs also sometimes wonder whether they chose the right major or whether they should switch to something else. The section below outlines some of the top reasons to study engineering also read this article from TRS Staffing. After reading through these reasons, you should have a better idea of whether or not it is the path you want to take in school.
#1. Engineering Is A Prestigious Field
Engineering is a difficult field that requires talent, intelligence, and perseverance. Not everyone is qualified to become an engineer. Because of that, most people will be quite impressed when you tell them about your engineering degree. Since so much time and effort goes into obtaining a degree in this field, you will enjoy a certain amount of prestige after graduating.
#2. You Gain Professional Skills That Can Be Used In Any Field
Studying engineering forces you to change the way that you approach problems or arrive at solutions. Your thought process naturally shifts to a place of logic, allowing you to carefully analyze decisions from every angle. Instead of making emotional choices, the decisions that you make are based on facts. Skills like these can benefit you in any profession, even if you decide not to work as an engineer after graduation. Most engineers have excellent managerial skills, as well, making them ideal for supervisory roles. If you evaluate the undergraduate degrees of the CEOs of some of the leading Fortune 500 companies, you will see that many of them went to school for engineering.
#3. You Develop Great Problem-Solving Skills
Obtaining a degree in engineering doesn’t automatically mean that you will never have problems again. Naturally, you will find yourself facing difficult situations, both in your personal life and at work. The difference is that you will have the problem-solving skills necessary to tackle the challenges that you face. Instead of being overwhelmed by your problems, you will approach them from a place of logic, finding ways to solve or overcome them. Rather than being hurdles, problems become opportunities for growth.
#4. Engineering Is A Financially Rewarding Field
If you are looking for a high-paying career, engineering is a great choice. Whether you want to live a luxurious lifestyle or simply want a more secure future, engineers are some of the highest-paid graduates right out of school. To give you a better idea of just how good engineering is from a financial perspective, nearly 40% of the top-paying degrees fall into the category of engineering. The highest paying engineering specialties include electrical, chemical, nuclear, petroleum, and computer engineering. Salaries start at about the $60,000 range, with your earning potential climbing as high as $180,000 as you move forward in your career.
#5. You Have A Chance To Do Meaningful Work
Engineers make positive contributions to the world. Nothing feels better than seeing your work making a difference for other people. For instance, if you design a bridge, there is an extreme amount of satisfaction that comes along with being able to step back and see the finished project. If you interview engineers, one of the first things that you will notice is that all of them are proud of the work that they do.