4 answers
Nicole
Student
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
1
Question
Asked
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Why mechanical engineering? Applying for college right now, and not having a specific reason for the interview.
High school student right now. I'm not actually understanding my passion in this field. Just a kind of feeling. If I answer the question by giving my own perspective on the expectation of the robotic system design, like the hope that robots and AI are and will change our lives, and that we will be able to receive more time to stabilize our affections and connections between people, is that a good response?
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4 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
727
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Nicole,
Wanting to work in robotics and AI is a specific reason and very cutting edge. I would recommend to read up on those fields a bit and you have your motivation.
Next, I would recommend to get involved and get some hands-on experience in robotics. Have you got a robotics club at school or anywhere else? There are robotics kits. Maybe your library has some.
Are there any companies in that field near you where you could get an internship? Or maybe an internship at a university? It would give you an inside view of the field and help consolidate your decision to go for Mechanical Engineering.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Wanting to work in robotics and AI is a specific reason and very cutting edge. I would recommend to read up on those fields a bit and you have your motivation.
Next, I would recommend to get involved and get some hands-on experience in robotics. Have you got a robotics club at school or anywhere else? There are robotics kits. Maybe your library has some.
Are there any companies in that field near you where you could get an internship? Or maybe an internship at a university? It would give you an inside view of the field and help consolidate your decision to go for Mechanical Engineering.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Kathie Mark
ERP Consultant
1
Answer
Summerville, South Carolina
Updated
Kathie’s Answer
Hi Nicole,
I am not sure that there is ever a "right" response to a question. My advice would be to be truthful and not focus on formulating the "right" answer. What is that "feeling" that drew you to mechanical engineering? Do you have an experience that has led you to the area of study? Have you engaged/met somebody who described their career? The best advice is to be yourself.
When I went to school, engineering was my focus. I always loved puzzles, problem-solving and making/building things. Coming from a family of medical-related professionals, I thought that bioengineering was the right track for me. This career path was a very "new" technology back then. I eventually shifted gears and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. Even within mechanical engineering, there are so many diverse paths.
Some advice I've given my own son when he was applying for college - find a college that feels right, find a college that has options because many young students will change majors (this is fine!!!) and remember to participate in opportunities that show themselves to you. He will soon be graduating with a Materials Science Engineering degree.
Best of luck!
KM
I am not sure that there is ever a "right" response to a question. My advice would be to be truthful and not focus on formulating the "right" answer. What is that "feeling" that drew you to mechanical engineering? Do you have an experience that has led you to the area of study? Have you engaged/met somebody who described their career? The best advice is to be yourself.
When I went to school, engineering was my focus. I always loved puzzles, problem-solving and making/building things. Coming from a family of medical-related professionals, I thought that bioengineering was the right track for me. This career path was a very "new" technology back then. I eventually shifted gears and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. Even within mechanical engineering, there are so many diverse paths.
Some advice I've given my own son when he was applying for college - find a college that feels right, find a college that has options because many young students will change majors (this is fine!!!) and remember to participate in opportunities that show themselves to you. He will soon be graduating with a Materials Science Engineering degree.
Best of luck!
KM
Antonio Barretto
Manufacturing Process Engineer
3
Answers
Angola, Indiana
Updated
Antonio’s Answer
Mechanical engineering stands out because it's a broad field, offering a chance to explore many topics without having to focus on just one. This flexibility makes it a popular choice, especially for students who are still figuring out their career path. Back in middle school, I loved building, designing, working with machines, and solving problems. That's when I knew I wanted to be an engineer. Since I wasn't sure which specific area to pursue, people suggested mechanical engineering. When asked "why mechanical engineering?", I would honestly say, "I'm not sure what I want to do yet." Even after two years in the field, I'm still exploring my options. But thanks to the wide range of skills and knowledge I gained in college, I have many exciting paths to choose from.
Lawrence Apfel
Aircraft Mechanic
8
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Lawrence’s Answer
Karen,
I have always found mechanical engineering to be the most balanced of all the engineering disciplines. It touches upon all the foundational subjects such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, and electrical in a way that has practical uses. Mechanical engineering is like a tree trunk; you can branch out of it in many different directions. Some of those branches are aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, architectural engineering, metallurgical engineering as well as electrical engineering and chemical Engineering,
The courses you will take for the mechanical engineering degree will expose you to some subjects with scary names such as Vibrations, Thermodynamics, Differential Equations, Fluid Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Electrical Theory. As you take these courses you may find that you are really good at (or extremely interested in) a particular subject/branch that you might want to concentrate taking. Even if you don't specialize in an offshoot of mechanical engineering and you graduate with your BSME (bachelor's of science mechanical engineering) your chances of being hired are better because industry knows that BSME's have a broad base of knowledge and can be molded to fit the other branches I mentioned earlier.
I wish you the best of luck Karen. It's a scary time right now for you picking a major and beginning a new path but choosing M.E. will not be a mistake, it's as pliable a career choice as you can make.
Best wishes,
Larry A.
I have always found mechanical engineering to be the most balanced of all the engineering disciplines. It touches upon all the foundational subjects such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, and electrical in a way that has practical uses. Mechanical engineering is like a tree trunk; you can branch out of it in many different directions. Some of those branches are aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, architectural engineering, metallurgical engineering as well as electrical engineering and chemical Engineering,
The courses you will take for the mechanical engineering degree will expose you to some subjects with scary names such as Vibrations, Thermodynamics, Differential Equations, Fluid Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Electrical Theory. As you take these courses you may find that you are really good at (or extremely interested in) a particular subject/branch that you might want to concentrate taking. Even if you don't specialize in an offshoot of mechanical engineering and you graduate with your BSME (bachelor's of science mechanical engineering) your chances of being hired are better because industry knows that BSME's have a broad base of knowledge and can be molded to fit the other branches I mentioned earlier.
I wish you the best of luck Karen. It's a scary time right now for you picking a major and beginning a new path but choosing M.E. will not be a mistake, it's as pliable a career choice as you can make.
Best wishes,
Larry A.