Considering engineering school? Use these pointers and suggestions to help you decide if an engineering program is right for you.

Smart Choices

Biomedical engineering: Americans are living longer today and advances in medical technology are essential to making healthcare services more affordable to an aging population. Plus, no single occupation is expected to have more job growthemployment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow by 72 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Engineering management: You gain technical know-how plus management skills in this discipline, which is rapidly gaining popularity among business-savvy engineers who want a shot at consulting or administrative positions. Some students consider attaining a dual or joint degree to qualify for management positions in the engineering field.

[Check out the Best Engineering Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Be a people person: Professional engineers often work with colleagues in a number of different disciplines, so communication and teamwork skills are paramount, says Julia Galeazzi, associate director of the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering Office of Development and Alumni Relations. During your graduate studies, participate in a 6- or 12-month cooperative education program that puts you in a practical work environment. You'll get real-world experience and will interact with people outside of academia.

Getting In

Recommendations: Along with grades and test scores, letters from former professors and employers count. Try to work one on one with an undergraduate professor and aim to build a strong relationship with him or her.

Introduce yourself: Since admissions are often decided among faculty rather than admissions officers, try to make contact with a potential adviser in your desired department. Start off with a "snail mail" introduction that includes a brief bio, a photo, and an explanation of why you'd like to work with that professor. Then, follow up via E-mail.

Originally posted here:
Engineering School Tips for Success