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As a high school senior how do I know if architecture or engineering is the right major for me I am an introvert with a current 4.0 GPA and cumulative 3.5. I play football, love to draw and create things and love math as well as most of my subjects in school, but don't know what I'd be good at. ?
As a high school senior how do I know if architecture or engineering is the right major for me?
I am an introvert with a current 4.0 GPA and cumulative 3.5. I play football, love to draw and create things and love math as well as most of my subjects in school, but don't know what I'd be good at.
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Darin’s Answer
Hi Paxton,
Adding to the already great answers.
Find your passion. You are already good at many things. Maybe you thrive at specific work cultures, or you enjoy the process more than the content (designing or failure analysis), or you thrive at teaching or helping people as a doctor.
Explore.
Find what drives you inside. What you like and don't like. I don't know a better way than to expose yourself to different situations. Try a different summer job each year. Find jobs within or adjacent to fields of your current interest. Even those far away from your likely career build context and empathy. Use school to take introductory classes in different fields. Find professionals and interview them about their career.
Don't wait until you get a job to discover if you like the field or not.
My dad went to school to be a school teacher. I remember him saying his education process was upside down. The last six months of his four year degree was student teaching assignment. Finding out at the end of college that working directly with kids is not what you thought it was going to be like is a tough lesson to learn. Some exposure to classroom teaching at the start would help many. (He loved teaching, but saw many student teachers that were rudely awakened).
I loved physics in high school, and I thought for sure I was going to become a physicist. But in college, I didn't like that many aspects of physics became too abstract for me. Luckily, I took an introduction class to Materials Science and I realized that this was the aspect of physical science that I really enjoyed. I am glad I explored adjacent science fields while going to school.
I noticed you called out you are an introvert. I can relate. Social anxiety was a very big hurdle for me in high school and beyond. I never wanted to have any attention drawn to me. I would go without than to stand out. Even at work, if there was a raffle, I would not look at my ticket, because if I won, I would have to appear in front of everyone. I knew the social and communication requirements to succeed, so I worked on those even though it was not comfortable. Over the years my anxiety faded partly because of my likely brain change, but also because I taught myself how and when to step out from the introvert as needed.
Use this platform to ask others about your projected field.
Find people in your projected field. Interview them and ask if you can job shadow for a bit.
Take as many different classes as you can in college. Discovering what you don't like is just as important
Adding to the already great answers.
Find your passion. You are already good at many things. Maybe you thrive at specific work cultures, or you enjoy the process more than the content (designing or failure analysis), or you thrive at teaching or helping people as a doctor.
Explore.
Find what drives you inside. What you like and don't like. I don't know a better way than to expose yourself to different situations. Try a different summer job each year. Find jobs within or adjacent to fields of your current interest. Even those far away from your likely career build context and empathy. Use school to take introductory classes in different fields. Find professionals and interview them about their career.
Don't wait until you get a job to discover if you like the field or not.
My dad went to school to be a school teacher. I remember him saying his education process was upside down. The last six months of his four year degree was student teaching assignment. Finding out at the end of college that working directly with kids is not what you thought it was going to be like is a tough lesson to learn. Some exposure to classroom teaching at the start would help many. (He loved teaching, but saw many student teachers that were rudely awakened).
I loved physics in high school, and I thought for sure I was going to become a physicist. But in college, I didn't like that many aspects of physics became too abstract for me. Luckily, I took an introduction class to Materials Science and I realized that this was the aspect of physical science that I really enjoyed. I am glad I explored adjacent science fields while going to school.
I noticed you called out you are an introvert. I can relate. Social anxiety was a very big hurdle for me in high school and beyond. I never wanted to have any attention drawn to me. I would go without than to stand out. Even at work, if there was a raffle, I would not look at my ticket, because if I won, I would have to appear in front of everyone. I knew the social and communication requirements to succeed, so I worked on those even though it was not comfortable. Over the years my anxiety faded partly because of my likely brain change, but also because I taught myself how and when to step out from the introvert as needed.
Darin recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Aric’s Answer
Hi Paxton,
It's wonderful that you have so many interests! There are many kinds of engineering, and some are closely linked to architecture. You might want to consider a school with strong programs in both fields. While balancing both can be challenging, you could start by taking an introductory engineering course as an elective in your first year. I remember a classmate who managed to do both, so it's definitely possible! Civil or structural engineering might be a great fit for you. If architecture isn't your passion, switching to engineering could be easier than the other way around. Best of luck on your exciting journey of discovery!
It's wonderful that you have so many interests! There are many kinds of engineering, and some are closely linked to architecture. You might want to consider a school with strong programs in both fields. While balancing both can be challenging, you could start by taking an introductory engineering course as an elective in your first year. I remember a classmate who managed to do both, so it's definitely possible! Civil or structural engineering might be a great fit for you. If architecture isn't your passion, switching to engineering could be easier than the other way around. Best of luck on your exciting journey of discovery!
Updated
Henry’s Answer
Hello Paxton.
The best thing to do is take courses at your community college, one for architecture and another for engineering. It’s the lowest cost of entry, and you’ll know in a week (which is when you can request a refund for the course you don’t like). If you do like it, you’ll have something to put on your college application (and work samples to show)!
The best thing to do is take courses at your community college, one for architecture and another for engineering. It’s the lowest cost of entry, and you’ll know in a week (which is when you can request a refund for the course you don’t like). If you do like it, you’ll have something to put on your college application (and work samples to show)!