What does it mean to be an Engineer?

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It's the middle of college application season, and you have probably decided on engineering as your first or second choice of major. You may have also chosen a specific discipline like electrical, chemical, or mechanical engineering, but I have to ask the question: what does being an engineer actually mean?
This was me in General Chemistry Lab (CHM 116) last year, and I was excited that my titration matched my t-shirt. First Year courses are meant to build your foundation for other courses in your following years of schooling.

It's easy to do a quick google search and see what the highest paid majors after graduation are. Engineering almost always soars to the top, usually followed by another STEM favorite: computer science. You also know you love math and science, so of course, choosing to study engineering in college may have been a no brainer.
I, maybe like you, love math and science. I enjoyed taking the challenging STEM courses in high school and sought every opportunity I could to apply what I learned in my everyday life. Being an engineer seemed like the obvious option when it came to choosing a major for college. However, the question I was asked many times when I was visiting and applying to schools was "do you know what engineering and being an engineer means?". To be perfectly honest, what I know about engineering now is not what I knew two years ago when applying to school. So, I want to share a few things about what being an engineer actually means.

Being an engineer means using all of the knowledge you have to solve problems.

Yes, math and science are important when it comes to engineering. However, project organization and management, philosophy and ethics, artistry, business and communication skills are also just as important. Being an engineer means you are a problem-solver, even problems you may think are beyond your scope. This also gives you an opportunity to use other skills and pursue your passions even if they are outside the realm of math and science. Engineering is a multidisciplinary field, and any special skill or unique interest finds a place here. Ultimately, being an engineer means working with all the knowledge you have and collaborating with others to solve the world's greatest problems.
Here at Purdue, you will have so many opportunities to develop real engineering skills, especially in the FYE program. There are also so many clubs and organizations that will support your development of these technical skills and help you to pursue your passions. Engineers take part in all different extracurriculars from varsity athletics to student government to our very own Women in Engineering Program.

Being an engineer means working hard to find answers to questions that have no answers.

In my first year engineering class last year, we studied the 14 engineering global challenges which are 14 of the greatest challenges engineers are facing right now. Examples include "engineering better medicine", "develop carbon sequestration methods", and "make solar energy economical" just to name a few. These challenges have thousands of researchers working on them, which just shows the grand scale of the difficulty of these problems. However, you may be the one to solve these problems with your excitement and knowledge that you bring to the table. Being an engineer means being excited to be on the frontier of problem-solving where the answers are unknown. This is why engineering is often labeled as "difficult" and "challenging". But rather than being turned off by these statements, engineers take this as an opportunity to face the problem head on, armed with their well-rounded knowledge and skill sets.
Depending on the type of impact you want to make, this may affect what major you end up choosing or what minor you pursue. This may also take you a step further with specialization in your major. Purdue offers over 12 different engineering majors and also a major called "multidisciplinary engineering" that offers another 9 programs. You are bound to find something that will help you reach your goals in the impact you are trying to make.

Being an engineer means making a positive impact on the world around you.

Our world and our futures are built by engineers. If you want to shape the future for a better world, engineering is the right discipline for you. One of my favorite movies growing up was Robots, where one of the main characters whose name is "Mr. BigWeld" had the tag-line "see a need, fill a need". When I chose engineering to be my major, this was and still is the mantra I live by. Engineers are the change-makers in our world, and engineering gives you the unique framework to be able to make a difference anywhere you are.
From day 1, you are able to make an impact in Purdue engineering. Purdue offers a unique program for your first year called EPICS which stands for Engineering Projects In Community Service. This is a class where you work on real projects that serve the greater local community. Projects have included exhibits for the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette or creating educational STEM products for young kids. You can make an impact in your first year at school before you have even chosen your specific major.
I cannot imagine doing anything but engineering, and coming to Purdue to study it was the best decision I have ever made. I aspire to make a positive impact on the world; all of the skills I learn and tools I gain through engineering are helping me do that. Not to mention that Purdue has so many resources to help me succeed and achieve my goals.  As you are choosing your major and applying to schools right now, be confident in choosing engineering. Engineering is the coolest, most flexible, and most impactful area of study you can choose. So what is an engineer? We are the difference-makers in the world. We work together with others and use everything we have ever learned to solve the world’s greatest challenges. We break into the unknown and create new knowledge to make the world a better place.

Becca Jennings, MSE'24

Recruitment Project Committee


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