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female
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anonymous
writes: I am studying to become an engineer , but if I have to be sincere I suck, I have always got good grades but since I started at the university I hadn’t been able to get good grades , I am failing most of my courses. I am studying engineer because of my pride(I have always think that engineer it’s the most complete career) , and I like what I will be able to do some day, even when I don’t enjoy must of my courses. My friends said that I shall change to business because its easier and I am very good at accounting, marketing. Should I change because it’s the easier way out, and swallow my pride. I enjoy both careers.
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female
reader, DrPsych  +, writes (23 May 2006):
 University courses contain people who are naturally good at their subject, and people who struggle but work really hard to keep up. I have worked in the University sector for many years including lecturing nursing, social work and medical students. I think that some degree of failure or struggling with your course is ok because the 'struggler' graduates have attractive attributes to an employer (i.e. tenacity and they apply lateral problem solving to get stuff done). However, there comes a point at which you have to take a look in the mirror and see if this course is making you miserable. Engineering is a secure subject as far as job prospects go, but equally you will be competing against people who find it naturally 'easy'. My husband is an engineer, or rather 'was' but he hated it and was brave enough to admit that and is now back at Uni. training in criminal law (and loves it). I did my first degree in social work, worked for a year, did not enjoy the work as much as the study and went back to retrain at Uni as a clinical psychologist. Life is rarely straight-forward and it is better to admit defeat now and move onto another subject that you are more naturally gifted at than to hit a brick wall later on. Perhaps this summer you could try to get some work experience as an engineers assistant with a local firm to see if you really would like the work. You might, for example, find the maths side of engineering difficult at the moment but need to transfer to another college offering a more applied/ hands on course, as opposed to Uni. courses in engineering that tend to be heavily theoretical. Perhaps you should see a career advisor as they can do all sorts of tests to find subjects, or careers, that you would be good at. Good luck!
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reader, anonymous, writes (22 May 2006): Not everyone can be an engineer, and I completely disagree with you on that engineers have more complete careers.
I have a friend who works at the National Research Centre in Ottawa. He researches microscopic cracks on rocket shells, aircraft shells, and similar things. Some of his stories on working with MASSIVE wind tunnels and an entire F16 jet being hammered by frozen chicken is quite hilarious, but though he is a Technical Officer Level 3, he tells me that it is a rather boring career. Though in the very long run, his work will have an impact on how future airplanes, space shuttles, rockets and missiles will be built, it is ultimately a very slow and somewhat tedious progress to see something with good result.
I have another friend who is studying in the Chartered Accountants School of Business, and works at CJW Chartered Accountants. He hates his job with a passion, and he hates CASB with a greater sense of negativity. These two things literally swallow him whole - he has no time for anything, constantly stressed out, unhealthy, has liver problems from the over-stress, can't drink alcohol to relax, can't do this and that, his temper is MASSIVELY boosted, my gosh. BUT he is stubborn to quit - too much pride, and well he's in his mid-twenties with a lot of vengeance in his stomach.
As an engineer, depending on what type of engineer, you may get the satisfaction of the aid in building something for the long future. As a Chartered Accountant, you have the opportunity to go private, start your own firm, or join a corporation as a CFO, etc. Both are complete careers. It simply means you just have to find yourself in that career.
As for your 'dilemma', if you suck post-sec ass, and engineering (cuz math-related courses are so damn difficult) is totally draining you, then there is no point in continuing it. Why go through 4+ years to get your bachelor's and fail?
AND if you wish to become a proper engineer, you still have to take your masters or a specific certification before you are actually designated as an engineer - of course, depending on the type.
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female
reader, Bev Conolly  +, writes (22 May 2006):
 You have to do what makes you happy, because when you're stuck in a career you don't like, it colours every aspect of every day and makes your life depressing.
If engineering is what you WANT to do (distinct from what you THINK you should want -- which is what it sounds like to me!), then go and talk to your instructors about getting some tutoring to catch you up. There are always older undergrads who can assist you, and there may also be less-demanding courses in the same general field that you can transfer to. No one at uni wants you to fail! You only have to remember to ASK for help.
However, reading between the lines suggests to me that you think you *should* be interested in Engineering because it's a "good career", even though you're not actually that taken with it, and that's why you're not succeeding.
So, self-analysis time. What do you LIKE? Do you like business? Would that explain why you're good at accounting and so forth? Can you see yourself in that sort of role in a couple of years?
Please don't change to another major because "it's easier". University is transitory phase, really it is! Before you know it, it'll be finished, and you'll be looking for a job. You want the years and effort that you've put in to count for something, right? So make sure that your education points you in a direction you'd like to go!
Go and talk to an academic counsellor. Tell them what you've written here, that you think you suck at your studies. Ask for advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.
One thing I *wouldn't* do is take advice from your friends. They're just as inexperienced as you are, and they haven't done this before either.
Good luck.
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A
female
reader, amcfoxy +, writes (22 May 2006):
 swallow your pride lifes to short,when your settled in life and the new job you like maybe in your freetime take a night school or home teaching course up for the engineering career.
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