Is Electrical Engineering Hard? (Facts)
Electrical engineering is a program of engineering science that focuses on the workings & application of electronics, electricity, and electromagnetism.
Electrical engineers have a significant role in adding comfort to our lives. Many appliances of our daily use, along with our electricity infrastructures, are the products of electrical engineering.
It’s considered one of the most challenging engineering disciplines. Unlike other disciplines where one can physically see and touch the objects they work with. But in electrical engineering, you work with micro-level particles that you cannot see and feel physically.
It’s surely a math-intensive field, including advanced math concepts, calculus, trigonometry, etc. All this, coupled with intensive workloads and insane study and research hours make electrical engineering all the more challenging.
Is Electrical Engineering Hard?
Yes, being one of the most challenging engineering disciplines, it’s certainly not a piece of cake. You would be amazed to know that the attrition (dropout) rate of electrical engineering has nearly been 50% for the past 60 years. Yes, you read it right nearly 50% of students dropped out of electrical engineering during the first or second year, and this percentage is higher than in the medical field. In the following table, we’ve estimated the difficulty using the Grade Point Average.
Electrical engineering is a math and physics-intensive field. So, a keen interest in these subjects is necessary. But this subject isn’t for all, even the people who have an interest in the field couldn’t master it. In other disciplines of engineering, you see things, use your imagination, and apply your notions to objects, and the results show if it’s practical or not. However, in electrical engineering, everything is based on abstract thinking. You imagine things but cannot convert your ideas into a physical farm because you work with micro and nanoparticles.
In addition to this, the use of partial differential equations is really high in this discipline. Partial equations excessively use variables such as heat sound and thermodynamics, and working with these variables is not an easy job.
Before choosing electrical engineering, remember that a difficult thing for others might be easy for you and vice versa. So if it’s hard or easy depends on; how well you can use your abstract thinking, how motivated you are, and how much effort you’re putting in.
Which is the Hardest Subject and Year in Electrical Engineering?
Math is one of the most difficult and haunting subjects you come across while studying electrical engineering. It’s also the backbone of all engineering studies. Math is used to calculate and test electrical equipment. Throughout the degree, you have to study several courses of advanced math. So, you have to become efficient in math, otherwise, you can not survive in college.
Unlike the other engineering disciplines, the initial years are the most challenging for electrical engineers. These years are also referred to as the weeding-out years. During these years, electrical engineers study some most advanced math-intensive subjects, and because of these horrible subjects, most students leave the degree during the initial years.
How Can I Get Into an Electrical Engineering College?
To become an electrical engineer, it’s crucial to take mathematics and physics as subjects during school. Moreover, strong background knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry is necessary. Leading engineering colleges also ask for high scores in mathematics and physics. So, make sure to have a strong foundation in the basic subjects, otherwise, it will become difficult to get admission to a reliable college.
What are the Scope and Career Options for Electrical Engineers?
Electrical engineering is a vast field, and diverse career opportunities are available for candidates who pass it. Jobs are a bit demanding but highly paid. Electrical engineers don’t need to stick to any particular job or industry. You can work in different industrial sectors based on your interests and skills. As an electric engineer, you can work at;
- Electronic industry: in the electronics industry, they work with capacitors, resistors, integrated circuits, and chips for developing new electronic devices and systems.
- Defense industry: helps in the development of electronic equipment and makes equipment work in complicated environments.
- Marine industry: electrical engineer design, build, and maintain vessel
- Pharmaceutical industry: electrical engineer duty is versatile in the pharmaceutical industry. Usually, they manage the hazardous country area.
- Power generation industry: design, build, and maintain the electrical power plant. They rule out the problems and solve them in the best possible way.
- Robotic industry: electrical engineers are the backbone of the robotics industry. They manage the automation and control of the robots.
- Aeroscope industry: electrical engineers build the foundation of aeroscopes.
Electrical engineers can also work in almost every industry to manage heating, cooling, and other electronic-related controls. For those who don’t want to work in the industry, choose alternative career options.
Alternative career options for electrical engineers
There’s no obligation to work in an industry related to your educational background You can work as a college professor. Moreover, you can work in the management, finance, and logistics departments too.
Here we’ve answered some frequent queries regarding the topic.
Is Electrical Engineering hard?
Getting into the electric engineering college is easier than surviving at it. It is one of the most challenging degrees. During the degree, you have to focus on several complicated subjects of mathematics and physics. Moreover, abstract thinking is crucial for surviving the electrical engineering degree.
What is the Hardest Subject in Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineering is a math-intensive field. It has several advanced mathematics courses. Students consider advanced mathematics courses the most difficult because there is a significant gap between the concept of school mathematics and the mathematics of electrical engineering. Moreover, all the courses involving abstract thinking, are the toughest.
Is Electrical Engineering the Hardest Engineering?
Yes, electrical engineering is one of the most difficult engineering majors. In other disciplines, you get instant results from your work, so making progress is easy and instant. But in this discipline, almost all the work is at nano and micro levels. So, making progress is challenging and time-consuming. In addition to this, advanced mathematics and physics make it more challenging.
Is Electrical Engineering Harder than Computer Science?
Yes, It’s usually considered harder than computer science. During computer science, only the initial years are tough, and things become easier afterward. Moreover, you do things physically, and the control is in your hands. It’s full of challenging courses. And there’s a lot of abstract work, adding to the difficulty.
Is an Electrical Engineering Degree Worth It?
Electrical engineering is one of the most challenging yet rewarding degrees. It is versatile, electrical engineers can work in almost all industries. Additionally, unconventional jobs are also available, and all the jobs are well respected and well-paid.
Is It a Good Career?
Electrical engineering is one of the best careers, and the number of jobs for these professionals is also increasing. Moreover, the advancement in the electrical sector has increased job opportunities as well.
Is It in Demand?
Electrical engineers are always in demand. The demand for electrical engineers is increasing as our dependency on electric appliances increases. Now electrical engineers and technicians are crucial for every industry. And almost all the electric engineering positions are well-paid.
Do Electrical Engineers Use a Lot of Math?
Yes, electrical engineering is a math-intensive field. You have to study advanced mathematics courses and many courses related to mathematics like; algebra, calculus, statistics, and many more.
You have to study math courses throughout your degree. After the degree, you need to apply the mathematical principles in practical life. So, if you want to be an electrical engineer, be ready to study a lot of mathematics in electrical engineering.
Are Electrical Engineers Respected?
It’s undoubtedly one of the most respected fields in the industry. Electrical engineers have a significant role in adding comfort to our lives, which is why they are valued in all industries.
Who Should Study Electrical Engineering?
Any person with good abstract thinking and a high interest in mathematics and physics should study electrical engineering. All those who enjoy doing mathematics and solving physics problems are the best candidates for it.
What Skills Do Electrical Engineers Need?
To be an efficient electrical engineer, you need the following skills;
1. Analytical thinking and reasoning
2. Strong basic and advanced concepts of mathematics, physics, and statistics
3. A lot of motivation and persistence
4. An observant mind
5. Complete knowledge of computer operating systems, including hardware and software
6. A focused brain
7. Excellent communication skills
Electrical engineering is one of the most challenging yet rewarding disciplines. It’s an evergreen field; there are a lot of career opportunities & high demand. Without any doubt, It’s one of the highest-paid careers, but make sure to have a strong concept of mathematics and physics before choosing electrical engineering.