[sulfuric_ACID]

Most of the people I know are telling me studying engineering is a bad idea because I'm female and finding a job would be extremely difficult because employers would choose males over females. Is this true?

Then would it be a better idea if I studied something like science/arts or science/commerce? (Though I'm not too sure if I CAN get in because I am 0.05 off last years cut off.)

I am sooooo confused and I have to change my preferences soon.. well by the 5th which is very soon...any advice?

[Julee]

I'm a female in engineering and what I've experienced is the opposite; it's act ually easier to be a girl in such a male dominated field. Many companies NEED females to balance out their teams and staff (to make sure, I suppose, that they're not discriminating). Many colleges and employers need to diversify their students/workers and one way by doing that is hiring females into a place filled with males. And also, I've found I actually have gotten more opportunities because of that fact. Plus being surrounded by guys all the time isn't too bad either... but even though the odds are good.. the goods are odd

You know what, do what you're interested in and you'll have no problems later on

This post has been edited by Julee: 03 January 2006 - 08:52 AM

[Trungy]

I know someone who found a job at IBM right after graduating.. but then again, she graduated from Cornell's graduate engineering program with honors.

I think that as long as you're qualified for the job, gender biased will not be a factor. Sure, you'll run into some gender biased employers who you wish you could dump their head in the toilet, but there are also those genuinely honest employers who you'd have no problems with. A female in engineering is no different than a black in engineering. Both groups have to overcome unwelcome biased. The point is that you shouldn't allow those obstacles to affect your decision on what career you want to specialize in.

[iceberri]

I can't speak about how female engineers are treated in the job field since I'm still a freshman, but I absolutely agree with Julee about women engineers still in school (college/graduate school). Female engineers are a rarer commodity perhaps, but how is that a bad thing? Many schools are actively encouraging females to pursue engineering and there are NO valid reasons that should discourage women from pursuing engineering (like biological makeup or something silly like that). The only thing that stands in the way of more females pursuing engineering is really those stupid age-old stereotypes that should be burned to the ground anyway.

If engineering is what you want to do, go for it!!

This post has been edited by iceberri: 03 January 2006 - 10:31 AM

[chibifry]

I'm a female in engineering and what I've experienced is the opposite; it's act ually easier to be a girl in such a male dominated field. Many companies NEED females to balance out their teams and staff (to make sure, I suppose, that they're not discriminating). Many colleges and employers need to diversify their students/workers and one way by doing that is hiring females into a place filled with males. And also, I've found I actually have gotten more opportunities because of that fact. Plus being surrounded by guys all the time isn't too bad either... but even though the odds are good.. the goods are odd

You know what, do what you're interested in and you'll have no problems later on

She speaks the truth. All the guys always end up helping the girl.

[MONICA]

i'm a female and i'm going to go into engineering. i never worried about what i might lose if i go into this field, but then again, i'm going to med school. i actually like being in engineering since there are more guys muahahaha :]

[starrysmile]

I'm a female in engineering and what I've experienced is the opposite; it's act ually easier to be a girl in such a male dominated field. Many companies NEED females to balance out their teams and staff (to make sure, I suppose, that they're not discriminating). Many colleges and employers need to diversify their students/workers and one way by doing that is hiring females into a place filled with males. And also, I've found I actually have gotten more opportunities because of that fact. Plus being surrounded by guys all the time isn't too bad either... but even though the odds are good.. the goods are odd

You know what, do what you're interested in and you'll have no problems later on

^i think so too! a girl studying engineering is awesome. rock on!

[knickstorm]

haha some peopel said it already, but you're gonna he crazy popular among the engineer guys. DOnt know if that's a good or bad thing though. My roommate is engineer and keeps complaining there's no girls in his classes, not like he got game anyway.