Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree? (1 Viewer)

[makingamark]

Hey guys,

I am currently doing my HSC and I've been exploring career options. I've recently delved into looking at Engineering degrees; particular courses that look pretty good me at the moment include Bioinformatics, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental engineering etc.

Anyway, I'm just curious as to whether engineering is pursued predominantly by men? (I've been hearing that women often don't go for engineering)

Also, those of you who do it:

-which one? (e.g. civil, biomedical etc etc) which uni? what do you like about it? any cons? how many people (approximately) are doing the same course at you, at your uni?

And to those who have completed an engineering degree, which one? what did you like about it? pros and cons? and how successful were you in getting a job with it?

 

[Squar3root]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

mechatronics
unsw
it's interesting some of the things you learn. most courses are poorly structured tbh
no idea maybe like 200 or so

 

[sida1049]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

I can't answer very many of these questions, but one of the biggest reasons why women are deterred from engineering is simply because of the proportion of men. So in a way, it's a self-perpetuating problem.

That said, please don't let this deter you from an engineering degree. You will meet other women doing your same degree.

 

[Flop21]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Hey guys,

I am currently doing my HSC and I've been exploring career options. I've recently delved into looking at Engineering degrees; particular courses that look pretty good me at the moment include Bioinformatics, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental engineering etc.

Anyway, I'm just curious as to whether engineering is pursued predominantly by men? (I've been hearing that women often don't go for engineering)

Also, those of you who do it:

-which one? (e.g. civil, biomedical etc etc) which uni? what do you like about it? any cons? how many people (approximately) are doing the same course at you, at your uni?

And to those who have completed an engineering degree, which one? what did you like about it? pros and cons? and how successful were you in getting a job with it?

Bioinformatics is basically a computer science degree and a science degree mushed together (which is what I'm doing, I do comp sci + sci). Bioinformatics isn't super popular at UNSW, I don't think that means it's a bad thing. I think it's because if you're interested in programming and computer science, you go for just computer science and get a amazingly paying tech job on grad - instead of bothering with the bioinformatics. And honestly I'll probably do that too, just do bioinfomatics for fun and get a regular tech grad job.

This degree has a LOT less maths than the other actual engineering degrees (since it's similar to computer science).

Any engineering degree with 'science' in it probably has more women in it. I think UNSW last said they had 30% females in engineering. Does that make you not want to pursue engineering? Honestly I didn't even really think about it much. But yes most your friends will be guys, but that shouldn't make you not want to do a great degree which depending on what type of engineering you pick - sets you up for a good job.

 

[makingamark]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Bioinformatics is basically a computer science degree and a science degree mushed together (which is what I'm doing, I do comp sci + sci). Bioinformatics isn't super popular at UNSW, I don't think that means it's a bad thing. I think it's because if you're interested in programming and computer science, you go for just computer science and get a amazingly paying tech job on grad - instead of bothering with the bioinformatics. And honestly I'll probably do that too, just do bioinfomatics for fun and get a regular tech grad job.

This degree has a LOT less maths than the other actual engineering degrees (since it's similar to computer science).

Any engineering degree with 'science' in it probably has more women in it. I think UNSW last said they had 30% females in engineering. Does that make you not want to pursue engineering? Honestly I didn't even really think about it much. But yes most your friends will be guys, but that shouldn't make you not want to do a great degree which depending on what type of engineering you pick - sets you up for a good job.

Thank you for your reply At the end of the day, I don't think I will be deterred by a predominance of males in engineering (or in any degree). Honestly, I've just been freaking out about leaving high school, going to uni and getting used to to the change in environment plus there's the whole 'deciding what degree i want to do'. Bioinformatics sounds really interesting.

Also, I was wondering which engineering degrees you might have been thinking of when you wrote this bit---->"which depending on what type of engineering you pick - sets you up for a good job"

 

[makingamark]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

I can't answer very many of these questions, but one of the biggest reasons why women are deterred from engineering is simply because of the proportion of men. So in a way, it's a self-perpetuating problem.

That said, please don't let this deter you from an engineering degree. You will meet other women doing your same degree.

You'll be happy to hear (well maybe not since we don't actually know each other haha) that if I choose not to pursue an engineering degree, the majority of men won't be the reason.

And thanks for your reply

 

[makingamark]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

mechatronics
unsw
it's interesting some of the things you learn. most courses are poorly structured tbh
no idea maybe like 200 or so

Poorly structured? How so? I assumed UNSW had their crap together.

(also, thanks for your reply )

 

[Squar3root]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Poorly structured? How so? I assumed UNSW had their crap together.

(also, thanks for your reply )

some courses yea they have been quite enjoyable when they knew what they were doing (mman1300, mman2400, math2019) but some courses were utter crap and not worth spending the time/effort/money doing the course (mman3000, mman2100, manf4611)

poorly structured in the sense that lecture slides were vague, you didnt know what to expect in the course, the exams/assessments were vague/not related to the course as a whole, delays with contacting lectures/tutors, not enough tutors (in the case for 4611 which I am doing now) and the list can go on.

I assume this would be a problem at every university.

 

[RenegadeMx]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

why wouldnt u want to go do engineering when you get scholarships and your own exclusing clubs, nothing more sexist than a women in engineering club

 

[Flop21]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

why wouldnt u want to go do engineering when you get scholarships and your own exclusing clubs, nothing more sexist than a women in engineering club

Do you find those culture/country specific clubs racist too? What about the religious ones? Or the male specific religious clubs?

What a joke dude. To call a club that is simply trying to support women in engineering is pretty odd. You have these clubs set up to bring underrepresented groups together. I actually do find it very hard to meet other girls doing my degree. So there's an example of why these groups exist.

Not sure if you've ever checked out WIE or another female specific tech group, like WIT, but I'm pretty sure most of their events are open for men too.

 

[boredofstudiesuser1]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Do you find those culture/country specific clubs racist too? What about the religious ones? Or the male specific religious clubs?

What a joke dude. To call a club that is simply trying to support women in engineering is pretty odd. You have these clubs set up to bring underrepresented groups together. I actually do find it very hard to meet other girls doing my degree. So there's an example of why these groups exist.

Not sure if you've ever checked out WIE or another female specific tech group, like WIT, but I'm pretty sure most of their events are open for men too.

triggered

 

[Squar3root]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Do you find those culture/country specific clubs racist too? What about the religious ones? Or the male specific religious clubs?

What a joke dude. To call a club that is simply trying to support women in engineering is pretty odd. You have these clubs set up to bring underrepresented groups together. I actually do find it very hard to meet other girls doing my degree. So there's an example of why these groups exist.

Not sure if you've ever checked out WIE or another female specific tech group, like WIT, but I'm pretty sure most of their events are open for men too.

yeah having women clubs is cool and all, but there are scholarships available based on nothing else other than the fact that you're a female studying engineering or a stem field

 

[BandSixFix]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

I can't answer very many of these questions, but one of the biggest reasons why women are deterred from engineering is simply because of the proportion of men. So in a way, it's a self-perpetuating problem.

That said, please don't let this deter you from an engineering degree. You will meet other women doing your same degree.

I don't think that's true.. The being deterred part.

 

[Flop21]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

yeah having women clubs is cool and all, but there are scholarships available based on nothing else other than the fact that you're a female studying engineering or a stem field

HMU with these scholarships, would love to get one.

I know there's scholarships for females in engineering like mech/civil etc. but not for comp sci or science (aka STEM).

Do you also get triggered at the scholarships for rural people? Or indigenous people? Or foreign people?

 

[Squar3root]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

HMU with these scholarships, would love to get one.

I know there's scholarships for females in engineering like mech/civil etc. but not for comp sci or science (aka STEM).

Do you also get triggered at the scholarships for rural people? Or indigenous people? Or foreign people?

https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au...omen-in-engineering-scholarship-opportunities < engineering

https://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/female/science-majors/ < science

http://www.scholarshipsforwomen.net/science/ < computer science / stem

for rural people no because i understand they have to move from a far location to live and study on campus
for foreign people not really, it's just like a business, you want to draw talent from everywhere
indigenous people yeah they have it so easy. just because ur indigenous you get more money in addition to centerlink and lowered standards of education (like entry into programs)

 

[Red_of_Head]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Doing Mat Sci & Eng @ UNSW. Probably about 100 kids in my class, a fair men:women ratio (70:30, 60:40 maybe?). The ratios are much more balanced for chem and civil. Unis and employers like having women in stem, and there are a few scholarships up for grabs if you pursue engineering. Also, a lot of socialising is done in clubs, so don't worry too much about your degree (though saying that, there are plenty of women doing stem degrees).

If I were you I'd go civil over environmental, and probably stick away from biomed. Australia has a pretty small industry for biomedical engineers, and chances are unless you get a PhD and lucky you won't be doing biomedical stuff.

The general advice is to stick to the Big 4 (mech, elec, chem, civil).

 

[sida1049]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

I don't think that's true.. The being deterred part.

It's not the prime reason, and everyone has different reasons for doing or not doing engineering. But I would imagine a relatively high number of women avoid engineering out of fear of not being able to relate and connect with their cohort, e.g. due to male-orientated friend groups and culture.

 

[Mathew587]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

whats the male to female ratio in cs and bioinformatics?
pls don't be like 90:10 ;-;

 

[RenegadeMx]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

Do you find those culture/country specific clubs racist too? What about the religious ones? Or the male specific religious clubs?

What a joke dude. To call a club that is simply trying to support women in engineering is pretty odd. You have these clubs set up to bring underrepresented groups together. I actually do find it very hard to meet other girls doing my degree. So there's an example of why these groups exist.

Not sure if you've ever checked out WIE or another female specific tech group, like WIT, but I'm pretty sure most of their events are open for men too.

yeah im triggered cause they dont cater to the other 69 genders

wheres my transgenders in engineering smh

 

[Flop21]

Re: Questions for people who are doing/ have recently completed an engineering degree

https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au...omen-in-engineering-scholarship-opportunities < engineering

https://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/female/science-majors/ < science

http://www.scholarshipsforwomen.net/science/ < computer science / stem

for rural people no because i understand they have to move from a far location to live and study on campus
for foreign people not really, it's just like a business, you want to draw talent from everywhere
indigenous people yeah they have it so easy. just because ur indigenous you get more money in addition to centerlink and lowered standards of education (like entry into programs)

Yeah it's almost as if society disadvantaged these groups for a very long time and are now trying to make up for that by bridging that disadvantaged gap.

And thanks for the link to articles that are filled with dead links to scholarships for women in STEM (mainly targeted at the US).

-

But yeah I'm sure you see where I'm going with this. It's not just women in engineering that get scholarships, it's almost everyone. There's a scholarship for almost any group.

I'll also add that even for these female specific scholarships, you just don't get handed them... there is a lot more than 1 person applying to every scholarships obviously and you have to be the top applicant.