How I Decided Engineering is for Me

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Choosing the right major can be difficult, especially when you are looking for something that matches your interests and makes you feel excited to work in the industry. I remember feeling overwhelmed as a high school senior looking at all the potential majors that I could choose from, and I wondered which one was right for me. When looking into Purdue University, I felt drawn to its engineering program and considered engineering as a potential major. After I looked through the different possibilities I could explore with an engineering degree, I determined that it was something I wanted to pursue further. Now as a senior in biological engineering I can’t imagine myself in any other major, and I am so excited for the future possibilities that I can obtain with my engineering degree. Here are some of the main reasons why I decided engineering is right for me!


Interest in Problem Solving

I’ve always been drawn to problem solving, and engineering allows me to put my knowledge to use by creating real-world solutions. Engineers are confronted with challenges, and our interest in overcoming these challenges is crucial to being a good engineer. What truly fascinates me is the combination of technology, innovation, and practicality that is involved with engineering solutions. I really enjoy biological engineering since it allows me to take a deeper look into the molecular level of biological systems. With a degree in biological engineering, I have the potential to revolutionize a wide field ranging from healthcare to biotechnology to food production and sustainability.

Diverse Specializations

One thing that really drew me into choosing engineering here at Purdue is the First-Year Engineering Program. There are so many disciplines within engineering to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to have to commit without having the proper knowledge of what each type of engineering entails. In the First-Year Engineering Program at Purdue, you have the ability to choose engineering as your major without needing to immediately commit to a specific discipline. I really liked this opportunity since I was interested in engineering, but did not know which discipline was best for me. Through the different topics we focused on in my classes and through the resources provided within the program, I was able to learn more about the background of each discipline and narrow down my decision to my top choice of engineering by the end of my freshman year. Purdue offers 17 different engineering disciplines to choose from, check out this link (https://www.purdue.edu/futureengineers/info/engineering-majors.php) to learn more!

Impact on Society

When choosing my major, I knew that I wanted to be involved within my community, and I wanted to be able to positively impact society through my solutions. Engineers play a pivotal role in shaping and improving society in various ways. Environmental engineers can develop sustainable solutions to pollution and combat climate change. Biomedical engineers create life saving medical devices and technologies. Aerospace engineers dive into space exploration and improve our knowledge of the world and beyond. Biological engineers push the boundaries of scientific discovery whether through advancing pharmaceuticals or through food production. No matter the discipline, engineers are guaranteed to contribute to society and take steps to improve our quality and knowledge of life. I like knowing that my degree will allow me to have the opportunity to directly contribute to society in meaningful ways.

Global Opportunities

I would say the sky's the limit when referring to global engineering opportunities, but some engineers have the ability to go even beyond the sky! Engineers often have the chance to work on international projects that take them to different countries and allow them to immerse themselves into new cultures and experiences. They can also collaborate with different teams and experts from around the world, fostering cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills. I would like to be able to explore more parts of the world while working, and engineering provides me with the opportunity to do so. You can also get involved with studying abroad through your engineering degree as an undergraduate student! Purdue offers many different study abroad programs for various engineering disciplines that range from being a full semester to during your spring break. Check out this link (https://engineering.purdue.edu/GEP/Study-Abroad) for more information about Purdue’s engineering study abroad opportunities!

Research Opportunities

There’s an ample amount of research opportunities that come along with an engineering degree. As a biological engineering student I was able to get involved with undergraduate research that related to my interests and really enjoyed working in a laboratory setting. Purdue offers many research opportunities during the academic school year and during the summer. Check out this link (https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Research) to learn more! Beyond your degree, you are also able to work within the research and development field with any engineering degree, and many companies are searching for the right engineer to join their team. Research opportunities allow engineers to tackle complex challenges and develop innovative solutions.


My ultimate reason for choosing engineering as my major at Purdue is for personal fulfillment. The prospect of solving real-world problems, whether through innovative solutions or creative problem-solving was really appealing to me. I am really excited that my work as an engineer can have such a positive impact on society. I also really enjoy knowing that the engineering field is always growing and adapting, so there is always something new that I can discover and develop into a passion with this career path. Additionally, I love that engineering allows me to collaborate with others and work with people from different backgrounds. Overall, engineering at Purdue provides me with the ideal platform to pursue a meaningful and fulfilling career.

Athulya Nair, ABE '24

WE Link Leadership Team


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