Laying a Solid Foundation - Searching for Scholarships - preparing for a career n engineering

Career World, Jan, 2002

Let's say your are curious about how things work and enjoy finding ways to make them work better. Your love the challenge of having a problem to solve and delight in finding a creative solution. Maybe you want to help people live their lives more comfortably and safely in a healthy environment. A career in one of the many types of engineering may be just right for you. You'll want to find out more by reading the Hot Jobs article on pages 28-30.

As with any career, a little careful planning now will pay off later. While you are still in high school, you can select courses that will help you lay the solid foundation you will need later when it is time to apply for college. Take a variety of courses in mathematics--algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and whatever advanced courses are offered. Science courses--chemistry, physics, and computer science--are excellent choices too. Round out your education with English, history, social studies, and a foreign language.

Start early to think about which college or university you would like to attend. Hundreds of schools offer engineering and technology programs. Begin by selecting one that is recognized by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which monitors and certifies programs in the United States. Visit their Web site at www.abet.org for a list of accredited programs. You can customize your search to your area of interest and the state or region of the country you live in. Use the site map's "Express Finder," and pull the menu down to select the program you are interested in. From there, follow the links.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), you can enter a civil engineering or technology program directly after completing high school, or you can transfer in from an approved junior college. Programs are available that will suit most any need. You can complete a bachelor's degree in four years at most schools. Some also offer a five-year program, in which you would earn a bachelor's degree after four years and then complete your master's degree in the fifth.

If you would like the opportunity to earn while you learn, many schools also offer a cooperative study program that allows you to study for a time and then work in a related field. If you take advantage of this option, you should be aware that it will probably take you five years or more to complete your bachelor's degree.

The ASCE offers scholarships, as do many other institutions and organizations. For more in formation on financial help from the ASCE, contact the financial aid officer of the college or university you wish to attend.