Engineering School Isn’t What You Think
Unfiltered truths about the grind, the grit, and the glory.
People love to glamorize engineering school like it’s the elite proving ground for the “smart kids.” But let's be real: It’s less genius factory and more survival training with calculators.
| The Myth | The Reality |
|---|---|
| Einstein-level brilliance | Pure, stubborn grit |
| Sleek, high-tech labs | Duct tape & MATLAB at 2 AM |
| Linear career path | "I just need a 60% to pass" |
The Daily Grind
Engineering school isn’t just difficult; it’s relentless. Assignments pile up, labs run long, and professors assume you have 30 hours in a day. You aren’t fighting a class; you’re fighting the system.
Why It Actually Matters
🧠 Problem Solving
You don't just learn math; you learn how to break down any impossible problem into logical, executable steps.
🛠️ Scrappy Innovation
When you have 3 hours and zero budget, you find out what creativity actually looks like under pressure.
The Downsides
Burnout is the baseline
The culture often glorifies suffering. We brag about who slept the least, creating a cycle of exhaustion that starts to feel "normal."
Real-world prep gap
You’ll solve differential equations for years, but you won’t learn product design or tech leadership unless you chase those yourself.
Survival Stack
These are the books that helped me shift from "surviving" to "thriving" in high-pressure environments.
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Deep Work by Cal NewportFOCUS
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The Design of Everyday Things by Don NormanDESIGN
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Atomic Habits by James ClearSYSTEMS
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Extreme Ownership by Jocko WillinkMINDSET
Would I do it again? Yes.
Not for the diploma, but for the version of me it forged. It handed me the structure and stamina to build things from scratch. It changed my mindset more than my résumé.
That’s the real tea.