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form of engineering may suit you. As a note, good presentation and communication skills is critical for success in nearly every field. These jobs might include nuclear engineering, aerospace, chemical, bioengineering and materials science. A person with these degrees might consider going on to get PhD and perform research in fields like renewable energy, materials, medicine and bioengineering.

The best course of action is to brainstorm about what jobs you would like to do and then seek out someone doing that job. Interview them and ask about their daily schedule and the amount of education it took to get where they are. It helps if the person is in your immediate or extended family, but if you do not have anyone like that around, ask your relatives and teachers if they know somebody. In general, people are willing to help someone with an honest curiosity. Who knows? Maybe you will even get a letter of recommendation to a college out of the encounter.

What if I don't like math, but still like designing stuff?

Well, a degree in architecture usually requires a little less math than engineering degrees do. That does not mean it requires less work. If you ask any architect about their senior design project, they will often recount horrifying stories involving very little sleep and a massive amount of time creating their design. Another added benefit of being an architect: They are often the boss of the project. Because of their eclectic liberal arts and technical background, they will often be placed at the head of a design team over the engineers working in their individual disciplines.

However, do not expect to be the boss right away as an architect. You will need to work many years gaining the requisite skills and the professional reputation needed to be placed at the head of a large design project.

What about technical careers?

There is an engineering element to a myriad of professions from machinist to electrician to plumber. Working in these fields can be highly rewarding and very challenging. While there is some basic math required to do these jobs, it is often not a requisite skill. To do these jobs well, you must be a person who likes to work with their hands. People who enter these professions will often make less money than persons with an advanced degree in a technical field. However, there are highly paid technical occupations like specialized auto mechanic, airplane mechanic, machinist, and small business owner/operator. Think about the guys who own the "Orange County Choppers" shop on the Discovery Channel show or even a person who owns an HVAC company in your hometown. These people have enjoyed fantastic success by simply doing what they love to do.

Getting into the school of your choice

After you have decided the career path you think you might like, you need to choose a school. This is a vast subject that Kaplan and the Princeton Review have printed forests and forests of books exploring; so this will be brief.

Essentially, your high school transcripts, your test scores and your recommendations will determine what schools are on your lists of options. Check out a college guide from your local library, and talk to your guidance counselor and your parents; They are all critical players in this decision.

If you are considering science, engineering or a technical occupation, chances are there was a profession touched on in this article that interests you. There is a wide spectrum of exciting occupations represented under the umbrella of "engineering." Good luck on finding the engineering career best suited to your talents and tastes!

Learn more about this author, P. Clifford.
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