spacefem's advice column

askspacefem

advice column ask question view feedback favorite columnist advicenators

Q: I am a junior in high school and I've been really thinking about what I want to major in when I go to college. At first, I really had no clue, but now I've been sort of interested in engineering. I know you're an electrical engineer so I figured you'd be a really good person to ask. There are so many different kinds of engineers. How did you decide which one was for you? I know that there aren't a lot of female engineers, too. Does it help being a woman or is it harder? Honestly, my dream has been to work for NASA and I've been to the site and they say that they're looking for engineers, but they never say what kind. It's kinda far-fetched but I would really appreciate any kind of advice! Thanks!

Ah, engineering. Well, I went into electrical engineering because I loved the "really deep" math and physics units... the more philosophical stuff, waves, light pulses, pretty things. It was a random reason. That, and I got a department scholarship my freshman year if I "tried out" the electrical department, and when I tried it out, I loved it, so yay for that.

If you're not sure what you want to do in life, I'd recommend either electrical or mechanical engineering. Just about every company in the world needs electrical and mechanical engineers. Like drawing pictures and using all the coolest, newest 3d modeling software? Mechanical. Like playing with different stuff, seeing things light up, having endless subjects to read about? Electrical. That's the short, short, short way to decide.

You mentioned NASA; they hire mostly electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineers, but I've been there and they have every other type too, they're like a country within themselves. Chemical, biological, structural, industrial, the whole bit, it's great. That's why they aren't very specific sometimes about what kind of engineers they want.

As for being a female, I've found that it doesn't matter so much. It's a bit weird at the start, because you're the only girl in class so people aren't sure how to approach you, but after a few years the guys know you and accept you and everyone is happy. Same with the work force. Engineering is a place where you really get judged on brainpower, not gender or disability, and everyone moves around to different projects so fast that being left out of one or included in another doesn't make a huge difference in the long one. One sexist guy can't really hold you down. It's really great, I'd encourage any woman to do it. Very fun and fulfilling.

Rating: 5

Thank so much! You're answer really helped! :)

bio

I've been in the advice column over five years now so I think I've pretty much heard it all... the love, the hate, the random insanity. I don't take it too seriously, so I'm not always giving the best advice, but my column is fun to read!

I am a 23 year old electrical engineer, a feminist, a Christian. I don't know everything but I can sure pretend to.

Disclaimer: Now that I'm on advicenators I'm getting even more questions every day. It's fast and easy for me to answer them, yes, so at least I'm answering something now, but if your question contains the words "there's this guy that I like..." chances are I won't get around to it. I'm only answering interesting questions that I haven't answered before. Register at the site and ask everyone for advice if you must have an answer, because if people read my column and boring love advice was all they found, they'd never come back.