How to Choose Your Engineering Discipline

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Selecting an engineering discipline can be a decision that feels extremely daunting to many incoming students. The design of Purdue’s First-Year Engineering Program enables students the opportunity to hold-off on making this important decision until their second semester of college. While it is helpful to have more time to make this decision, it does not make it any less difficult.

For help on this topic, we interviewed Assistant Director of Student Success at Purdue, Darshini Render and she shared insight on how to make an engineering discipline decision that is right for you.

Here are a couple of the key messages she shared:

1.  There is more than one path to “success”:  whatever that word means to you

  • Your discipline choice is just one component of what will influence your future career, future life, and future self.
  • Many disciplines can lead to multiple careers, AND many career fields are filled with individuals of a variety of discipline background
    .

2.  It’s not THAT big of a deal in the grand scheme: College is about MORE than just your majors


  • Consider campus activities, leadership, athletics, internships, and more!
  • Your discipline choice likely won’t be the only thing you look back on in many years.

Hopefully the above points put you at ease, but if you are still in search of some additional concrete tips to make this decision process easier, consider trying some of the following tactics:


Familiarize yourself with what is out there! (So you know what you can choose from)

  • Purdue has 15+ engineering disciplines and you can find out more about them here!
  • Figure out what you can do with each discipline by visiting the Explore Majors and Careers page. Check out Purdue’s Career Research Portal for even more information to help you get started.

Seek Help from a Career Counselor
  • It can be beneficial to first identify your interests. Check out this tool for some help!
  • A Career Counselor can further assist you in understanding your interests and strengths, and help guide you in the right direction. This resource can be found through the Purdue CCO!
  • Each engineering school also has professional staff members who can assist with career planning support. Here is a list of professionals who can help with career planning in each engineering discipline.

Talk to Professors, Advisors, and Current Students in the Discipline
  • Professors and students can provide good insight into the experience in that discipline.
  • Academic advisors for each engineering discipline can help you understand coursework and plan of study information. Here is a list of academic advisors in each discipline. Specific course descriptions and plan of study information can be found on the website for each engineering discipline.

Talk to Friends, Alumni, and your Parents – but remember that it is ultimately YOUR journey
  • People who know you well can provide valuable feedback and advice that will aid you in this decision process, but it is important to also look outside your inner circle! 

- LilyAnn
WE Link Leadership Team

Stay Connected With WIEP!
Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering
Twitter: @purduewiep 
Instagram: @purduewiep
Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com
Email: welink@purdue.edu


Use the hashtag #PurdueWIEP on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Purdue Women in Engineering

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