• Question: do you have to be really smart to be an engineer

    Asked by DAt bOI to Alejandra, Ana, Daniel, Sophie, Todd, Zach on 8 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Ana Gallego

      Ana Gallego answered on 8 Mar 2017:


      I don’t think so.
      Nowadays we have books, calculations and software that helps us with stuff.
      There is no need to learn equations by heart. I have always been terrible at it.
      You just need imagination, able to think logically and be curious about things. Keep your eyes open and ask lots of questions.

    • Photo: Alejandra Aranceta

      Alejandra Aranceta answered on 8 Mar 2017:


      Hi DAt bOI,

      I think you have to be adventurous (to try new things), imaginative (to invent new things), and you have to have passion (to make you keep going)!

      We are all smart in our own particular way! Some are better at some things, others at others, and that is perfect, because it allows you to work with others and rather than competing, you use each other’s talents to create something greater!

    • Photo: Sophie Cox

      Sophie Cox answered on 8 Mar 2017:


      Hi DAt bOI,

      You need lots of different types of skills and diversity in Engineering. I think you have to be creative, hard-working, and passionate to do well in Engineering. Of course there are certain things you have to learn along the way but like Ana said there are lots of really great resources to support you to understand all the hard maths/science stuff.

      Are you interested in engineering?

    • Photo: Zach Welshman

      Zach Welshman answered on 8 Mar 2017:


      There’s no doubt you have to pass your exams. But in saying that there’s plenty of stories of people who have been very successful without being book smart. Being an engineer is about using tools to solve problems and the best of those tools is your brain.
      Be disciplined, have fun learning and appreciate your teachers! 🙂

    • Photo: Daniel Morse

      Daniel Morse answered on 8 Mar 2017:


      Nope! I certainly don’t consider myself to be very smart!

      You can very easily learn how to do things, and how to calculate things the more you do it. Sometimes actually doing things is the best way to learn things, as you can develop your own learning style and learn at your own pace…

    • Photo: Todd Burton

      Todd Burton answered on 13 Mar 2017:


      It helps to be logical in how you think. Everyone is good at different things, so smart probably isn’t the right word. If you are good with number and problem solving then I’m sure you’d make a great engineer!

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