Being an Engineering Student

Wondering what life as an engineering student is like? Meet three young women who can tell you firsthand:

Lindsay Perry
Industrial Engineering Student
Senior, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Antonique Bradshaw
Electronics Engineering Student
Junior, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Melissa Reeves
Electrical Engineering Student
Senior, Northeastern University

What’s a Typical Program Like?
Most undergraduate engineering programs are four years. Some students, like Antonique Bradshaw, get an associate’s degree from a two-year program first, then go on to do another two years at a four-year program to earn a bachelor’s degree.

In a typical four-year program, courses in the first two years are a mix of math and science, English, social sciences, the humanities, and introductory engineering. This is a great time to explore engineering as a whole and find out what really interests you.

In your last two years, you’ll investigate the engineering specialty of your choice. (Some programs offer a more general engineering curriculum for all four years; after that you can choose a specific field to pursue in grad school or through a job.) Practical work experience through internships and co-ops is also an integral part of many engineering programs.