Engineering School Won’t Save You. Planning Will.
A four-year survival guide for engineering students who want real careers, not regret, after graduation
If I could redo engineering school, I’d do a lot differently. I made mistakes, mostly because I was lazy, careless, and immature. No excuses, I own all my mistakes.
When I look back, my mistakes seem obvious today. I should’ve been more careful, but that’s not what hurts. What hurts more is seeing classmates who did the work - while I was screwing around - surpass me. They landed better jobs, earned more, and built momentum while I stayed lost.
But I found my way back, expending a great deal of energy over my college career. Most engineering curricula last four years, but many stretch to five (like I did). The difference between surviving and thriving isn’t intelligence; it’s discipline, consistency, and wise choices.
If you want to set yourself up right from the start, here’s what I wish I’d done.
Year 1: Discipline Beats Talent Every Time
Your first year isn’t about being smart. It’s about building discipline when nobody’s looking.
Engineering school weeds people out early, not because of ability, but because of bad habits. I skipped classes and crammed, thinking I’d figure it out later. That mindset almost ended my engineering career before it began.
Show up—even when lectures are boring. Especially then. You’re learning the material and building your future work ethic.
Join at least one professional group. Pick Engineers Without Borders, ASCE, or IEEE. These offer real projects, problems, and people doing the work you want. I skipped them, thinking they were optional. They weren’t; they help you mature faster.
Be honest about your major. Don’t chase money without interest—you’ll burn out quickly. Ask: Do I like these problems? If not, change now. Pride is more costly later.
Year 2: Stop Coasting and Start Competing
Year 2 marks the shift from theory to reality in engineering.
This is where many students quietly settle into mediocrity. Don’t.
Study harder than you want. Visit office hours, not only when desperate, but when curious. Professors notice the students who show up. That matters more than you think.
Here’s the truth: Engineering isn’t a pure meritocracy. People notice. Relationships matter. Professors support students they know and trust with research spots, referrals, and insider information.
It’s true that C’s can earn degrees. But Cs aren’t given top opportunities. They don’t get the benefit of the doubt or build early momentum.
You don’t need to be perfect. Stay steady and put in the work. Aim to be above average and make it obvious.
Year 3: This Is Where Careers Are Won or Lost
Junior year is when it hits: this is real.
Coursework gets harder. Workloads grow. Many make a critical mistake: they focus only on classes and ignore the job market.
Don’t.
This year, get internships. Have a resume ready, even if it isn’t perfect. Apply everywhere. Expect rejection and silence; do it anyway.
I skipped internships because I felt overwhelmed. I told myself I’d figure it out after graduation. My smart classmates didn’t; they started senior year with experience, confidence, and leverage. I started behind.
Internships make you a lower-risk hire. They show you how engineering really works: deadlines, budgets, office politics, and tradeoffs. No class teaches this.
Repeat it until it sticks: internship, internship, internship.
Year 4: Finish Like a Professional, Not a Student
If you make it to Year 4, you’ve survived. Please don’t blow it by relaxing too soon.
Finish strong. Employers care about your trend, not just your GPA. A strong finish means discipline. A weak one shows burnout.
Take the FE exam seriously. Don’t wing it. Take it seriously.
I studied for the FE carelessly, skipped group sessions, and failed by two points. Just two lousy points. That failure followed me into my first year of working, and it cost time, money, and momentum.
Engineering punishes sloppiness. Small mistakes add up. The FE exam is one of the easiest professional hurdles if you respect it.
The Part No One Teaches You
Engineering school teaches equations, not how to build a lasting career.
That comes from:
Building optionality early
Understanding leverage (skills, credentials, networks)
Avoiding single-point career failure
Thinking beyond your first job
In the Working Without a Net section, I’ll show you how to build your career after graduation, so layoffs, market changes, or bad bosses don’t derail you. Build your future with the same focus you put on problem sets.
The biggest mistake I made wasn’t a bad test score. I thought the system would take care of me after I graduated.
It won’t.
But if you plan ahead, you won’t need it.