School vs Practice

Explore the differences between engineering school and real-world practice, and learn strategies to bridge the gap and thrive in your career. 

Engineering School vs. Engineering Practice — And How to Survive the Journey 

By Maxwell R. Carter, PE

August 9, 2025

At graduation ceremonies, there’s usually a commencement speaker who shares life advice. At my college graduation, the speaker was a high-ranking executive—head of Shell Oil, Dow Chemicals, or DuPont. He was near retirement after a long, successful career in global industrial leadership, and he was an alumnus of my university.

I don’t remember his name, degree, or much of what he said. I just recall something about natural gas. The rest is a blur.

So here’s the advice I wish someone had given me:

If you want to lead a Fortune 500 company, graduate from the most prestigious university you can get into, earn a 4.0 in honors engineering, and network like your life depends on it.

But for everyone else—and I suspect that’s most of us—you can still have an excellent engineering career without being the top student in your class.

My Path

Today, I’m a 30-year-old civil engineer licensed in two states. I work for a city of about 60,000 people, managing capital improvement projects. Sometimes I’m the design engineer of record. Other times, I manage external consultants. My work directly improves quality of life for our residents. It’s meaningful, rewarding, and allows for a comfortable lifestyle.

But here’s the thing—what I do now is very different from what I did in school.

School vs. Practice

As an engineering student, most of your time is spent on calculations—often by hand—in math-heavy courses like calculus and differential equations. Those classes were some of the hardest for me. And yet, since graduating, I have not once had to directly use calculus or differential equations in my job.

In professional practice:

• I use basic math far more than advanced math.
  
  

• Many calculations are handled by software.
  
  

• I spend more time on project coordination, budgeting, functionality, constructability, and communication than on solving equations.
  
  

That doesn’t mean the hard classes were a waste. They built the foundation I use today. They taught me to understand where numbers in design manuals and software come from, so I can interpret results and make decisions with confidence.

But the daily reality of engineering practice is different—it’s a different kind of difficult. It requires judgment, communication skills, and the ability to solve problems with incomplete information, not just math skills.

Why Students Quit

I’ve seen classmates leave engineering because they didn’t enjoy advanced math or calculation-heavy classes. If that’s you—don’t make your decision based solely on coursework. Struggling in calculus does not mean you won’t be a great engineer.

The truth is: School is the hardest part. Once you finish, you’ll likely find the work itself to be more manageable—and, for many, more enjoyable—than the academic grind.

If math classes are hard try taking them at a community college. If you are in high school, consider doing dual enrollment in high school or taking AP calculus to get it out of the way.

A calculator with a computer algebra system is a major benefit for an engineering student.

I have not used calculus or differential equations since I graduated. Those courses were difficult for me and I retook some of them. I would highly recommend passing them in high school or taking them at a community college. When I was a student I thought I was going to be doing this stuff the rest of my life, and thankfully the real world is more practical.

Calculus and differential equations are to engineers what organic chemistry is to doctors—tough, intimidating, and rarely used directly in practice, but still a rite of passage. 

How to Survive Engineering School

1. Don’t stop. If you fail a course, retake it. Persistence matters more than perfection.
   
   

2. Get real-world experience early. Take internships and co-ops seriously—they often lead to job offers before graduation.
   
   

3. Work with professors. Undergraduate research assistantships can lead to strong recommendation letters and valuable mentorship.
   
   

4. Join professional societies. Even if meetings aren’t thrilling, you’ll gain contacts, peer support, and friendships that last beyond graduation.
   
   

5. Balance your life. College isn’t just about academics—extracurriculars, friendships, and healthy distractions help you grow as a person. Just manage your time wisely.
   
   

6. Don’t rush. There’s no prize for finishing early if you burn yourself out in the process.
   
   

Why It’s Worth It

Even if you decide not to work as an engineer, an engineering degree commands respect. It can open doors to:

• Medical school
  
  

• Law school
  
  

• MBA programs
  
  

• Consulting
  
  

• Project management
  
  

• And many non-engineering careers
  
  

It’s a credential that signals discipline, problem-solving ability, and persistence—qualities valued in almost every profession.

Final Thought:
If you’ve been accepted into a college of engineering, you have the aptitude to become an engineer. The real challenge is finishing what you start. It takes grit, patience, and the ability to adapt. The road may be steep, but on the other side is a career that’s often easier, more flexible, and more fulfilling than the coursework that got you there.

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