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listen to these guys
I totally agree with Ken W.'s comments about what goes on in your first couple years of engineering school. You are learning the foundation, the theories behind the applications. Those concepts are very important because there will be many times in an engineering career where you go back to those fundamentals.
It is difficult, and competitive. But why would you expect anything less? Hopefully FIRST is giving the students an idea of what things are possible AFTER you get your engineering degree (not so much WHILE you are getting it).
Ken W. described the impact he has had on some truly impressive engineering programs. I would guess that most of the engineers involved in FIRST are proud of their accomplishments and their positive impact on society. So from where we are sitting (enjoying the rewards of an engineering education) its very easy to conclude that going to engineering school is worth the effort.
The great thing about FIRST is that students get to experience some of this while they are in high school and they can easily change the educational path they are on. I often tell people that I don't care if students involved in FIRST become engineers - we are just giving them the opportunity to decide for themselves (and I think enough of them will see the bright light at the end of the tunnel and go for it).
Good luck, Aaron - I think your careful thought about what you really want to do will serve you well, regardless of what career path you choose.
Ken
Mechanical Engineer since 1985
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