Has anyone ever told you that an engineering degree is your path to success if you are a science student not interested in a career in the medical field? Or the fact that Information Technology is the only sector giving job opportunities to youngsters; and hence you should blindly take up engineering admission? If these are the reasons for you to seek and admit into an engineering college then read on before you finalize your decision:-
Is Engineering right for you?
You maybe are an excellent science student who is scoring extremely well academically. But this does not mean that engineering is one of the top career choices for you. Theoretically, yes you are a great candidate but are this field of knowledge you wish to attain? Do programming languages intrigue you? Or have you tried your hands at constructing a homemade robot? Or do you study heavy machinery or try to decode complex circuits in your free time? Or do you have other interests such as politics, economics, literature, etc, and would like to gain more knowledge in these fields?
Are you right for engineering?
Engineering requires reasoning and analytical skills. It requires patience and continued hard work. Even after college years, your learning can not stop. You have to keep reading and updating yourself with every new development in your field to stay viable. Engineering requires extreme attention to detail. Do you think you imbibe all these skills? Remember that at the end of the day you need to be a good engineer. College CGPA is just a parameter to judge your capabilities. But the knowledge you gain is what will make you stand apart from the crowd. Are you ready to put in the effort required?
Have you chosen a field of engineering to study?
Just shortlisting engineering as your field of study is not as crucial as deciding on which area of specialization you want to get into. Is it information technology? Or is it researching and working with energy resources? Or do you want to be an aeronautics engineer and your dream company is Boeing? Every field has its own set of fundamentals that you must be aware of for a strong and long-lasting career in that field. It is your task to research these key skills and decide which ones align with your area of interest. Do not let factors such as most number of jobs in a particular sector or more money associated with certain sectors influence your decision because it becomes very frustrating to keep learning and working in a field that cannot tap into your interests.
Have you chosen a field of engineering to study?
Just shortlisting engineering as your field of study is not as crucial as deciding on which area of specialization you want to get into. Is it information technology? Or is it researching and working with energy resources? Or do you want to be an aeronautics engineer and your dream company is Boeing? Every field has its own set of fundamentals that you must be aware of for a strong and long-lasting career in that field. It is your task to research these key skills and decide which ones align with your area of interest. Do not let factors such as most number of jobs in a particular sector or more money associated with certain sectors influence your decision because it becomes very frustrating to keep learning and working in a field that cannot tap into your interests.
Are you aware of the nature of the job post your engineering?
Some of us have dream jobs. They might include working in a team, in an air-conditioned office, and having healthy discussions with colleagues. But for some it is venturing out in the open, researching the resources at hand and coming up with innovative solutions, and not letting your environmental conditions dampen your spirit. For mechanical engineers, getting their hands dirty should not be a problem. For a computer science engineer, never stopping learning a new technology is a prerequisite. Before you chose your engineering stream, you need to understand the nature of work that you will be exposed to once you get a job opportunity post-completion of your course. Does the nature of the job align with your aspirations? It is a very important factor in your decision-making process.
Have you chosen the correct college?
The college or institution you choose to pursue engineering from plays a very crucial role. Is the college offering the stream of engineering you want to study? Have you researched the faculty members of that particular field of engineering? Does the college provide enough practical experience in your field of study? Do they have adequate infrastructure such as dedicated labs and equipment to supplement your knowledge? These are some of the many factors that you should look into before selecting your engineering college.
Have you sorted out enough advice?
Seeking mentorship is a very good idea. Speaking to as many people as you can, who have been in the same shoes as you in the recent past can help you get wonderful insights into the demands and current scenarios. This information could help you make a better decision.
Have you verified the college’s reputation?
In a country like India, we have many educational institutions set up by private individuals or trusts that are not government-regulated. In such cases, it is very important for you to verify the affiliations of the college and check if the degree being handed out by the institution is recognized nationally as well as internationally. Also, how well is the college connected to the industry is also important. The college should be recognized and valued by employers for you to make a career after your education is completed.
Is the cost of completing the course affordable for you?
The cost to be incurred by you and your family for you to pursue engineering is a very important factor. If you narrow it down to a private intuition, the cost will definitely be much higher than going to a government-regulated institution. If you choose an institution away from your home town then factors such as living costs, transportation, etc also get added on. Can your family afford it? Do think about it.
Do you have a future plan?
Do you have a set plan for your career progression? Is engineering the only means to achieve your dream or the conventional means? If all things do not fall into place, for example, you are unable to get a job right after graduation or if you are unable to get into your dream company for some reason, do you have backup plans in place that make use of your knowledge and help you set a career?
Are you mentally prepared to deal with the challenge?
As mentioned earlier, engineering requires consistent effort over a period of 4 years. It may require you to give up several old habits, develop new ones, change cities, and friends, develop certain personality traits, etc. Are you prepared to take on the huge challenge?
Are you happy to take on the challenge?
Your mentors may have helped you come up with a career plan, you may have researched every aspect of your decision and prepared yourself for the challenge, and are waiting to kick-start your career. But does the struggle and the challenges that this task presents something that you want? Does pushing your limits make you happy? You need to also take self-satisfaction into consideration while taking life and career-defining decisions.