Good Study Habits for
Professional Engineers
of Tomorrow
Instructor(s)
Date
Email(s)
Learning Objectives
Goal: To develop good study habits to
prepare for the engineering profession
 For students to become conscientious lifelong
learners capable of coping with real world
challenges in engineering academia and
careers;
 To acquaint students with the different
approaches to learning; and the theories and
practices associated with engineering
knowledge and learning; and
 To go above and beyond - prepare students
for the future.
Good Study Habits?
 What are good study habits for
engineering students?
…etc.?
To attend every lecture
and always sit in the
front row?
To complete all
laboratory works
carefully?
To prepare well for
every quiz and
examinations? What
does that mean?
Questionnaire Exercise
What are your own personal study habits?
Have they changed from high school?
Do you know your strengths (If so, please list)?
Do you know your weaknesses (If so, please list)?
Going Forward: Helpful Study Tips
and Beneficial Habits
• Don’t trash your materials
• Make it personal
• There are no stupid questions
• Don’t be lazy
• The more the merrier
• The waiting game
• Don’t overdo it
• It’s a fine line
• 99% costs millions
• Don’t give up
Don’t trash your materials
Take good notes, and keep them after your classes have
finished. Engineering textbooks can be dense, but do all
your reading. Keep different color highlighters and page
markers handy. After the class is over, keep the most useful
textbooks as reference. You will realize that your notes,
annotations, and highlighting will be invaluable. You may
even want to keep a “Quick Reference” notebook, allowing
you rapid access to your most-used formulas.
Make it Personal
Develop a relationship with your professors
so you feel comfortable approaching them
and asking for help. Get to know one or two
key professors particularly well, and turn to
them for help with your homework, insight
into the industry, and even job or program
references.
There are no stupid questions
Ask questions, both in class and outside of
it. Your professors want you to learn. But if
the only thing you ever ask is, “Will this be
on the test?” then you are not taking
advantage of their knowledge or
willingness to help.
Ask for additional examples to clarify
difficult equations and concepts. More
often than not, your fellow students will
thank you for speaking up, and your
professor will appreciate your active
investment in the material.
Don’t be lazy
Try to solve a problem before requesting
help. Even if you’re totally lost, make a
legitimate, prolonged effort to solve a
problem before asking for help. When you
do seek help, be prepared to discuss what
you tried already, and bring your notebook
showing your attempts.
The More the Merrier
Form or join a study group. Working alone
can get exasperating if you find yourself
stuck on a problem. Working with others
will not only introduce other viewpoints to
approaching a problem, it will also provide
encouragement and camaraderie in the
face of frustration. In a group, you may
have the opportunity to teach someone
else, and one of the most effective ways of
ensuring you understand something is by
explaining it to someone else. Before you
move past a subject, make sure you not
only answered the question but also can
replicate and explain the process. Each
new subject and concept will build on the
last, so don’t move on until you’ve
mastered each new idea.
The Waiting Game…
Procrastination is an epidemic.
At least 80% of students suffer from
procrastination.
Don’t overdo it!
Skip the honors class. In the
engineering field, your GPA
matters. If you struggle in
calculus, don’t kill yourself in
Honors Calculus; take the
easier class, learn the material
thoroughly, and obtain the
higher grade. This type of class
also allows you more freedom
to expand into extracurricular
activities and enhance your
networking options.
It’s a fine line…
Learn when to lead and when to step back. Engineers often
work in teams, and every team has one or more leaders. You
should feel comfortable in both leading and following the
directions of others. Hone your leadership skills and learn how
to effectively influence group decisions, but recognize when
your contribution should be to take orders and when to follow
direction.
99% costs Millions
Be a perfectionist. It has been said that “In the working
engineer world, a 99% correct product can cost millions
of dollars in damages.” Adopt the mindset of practicing
something until it is perfect, as opposed to going as
quickly as possible and settling for a B. When your work
is 100%, even if it is slower, it is more valuable.
Don’t Give Up!
Take heart and persevere. Engineering is a
difficult course of study for everyone, no
exceptions! Frustration can lead to feeling
like a loser. Every future engineer has
struggled through seemingly impossible
problem sets, cranky professors, and
sickening exams. In the midst of all of this,
recognize that you are challenging yourself
like never before, and push onward, it will
be worth your efforts.
What else can I do?
Sometimes it isn’t about the classes, lectures, labs and study habits,
sometimes, it comes down to how you spend your free time – do you go
above and beyond?
Going Above and Beyond
(summary)
• Start building a portfolio NOW
• Work on constantly improving.
• Don’t be afraid to identify your flaws, and fix them.
• When you are part of a team, try to create a way to get
feedback from team members, group leaders, and
professors. You’ll be learning how to accept—and give—
constructive criticism.
• Learn another language, take a business class, an extra
humanities, art or philosophy class.
• Think about a summer internship
• Research those resources!
Going Above and Beyond
Develop a portfolio of projects
Participate in every hands-on opportunity that a balanced
schedule allows, especially those outside the classroom.
You’ll be far more likely to retain the knowledge you've gained in
classes because you'll be applying it and, in the process,
boosting your communication and interpersonal skills.
Future employers look for both coursework and relevant
experience, and a well-organized and articulate portfolio will be
invaluable during your job search. Your practical project
experience will also reinforce the “in theory” knowledge you gain
in class.
Going Above and Beyond
Learn another language
Engineering knows no political or cultural
borders; engineers are in demand
everywhere in the world. Increase your
worth by becoming proficient in another
language, and don’t be afraid to think of
your career on a global level. Want to build
bridges in China? You should learn
Mandarin.
Going Above and Beyond
Make your summers productive
Employers place tremendous value on
practical experience. Get a summer
internship. One of the best portfolio
buildings blocks is the summer internship.
Internships do more than build your
resume; they demonstrate to potential
employers that you can commit to a longterm role and work as part of a team
Going Above and Beyond
Research Your Resources
Professional engineering associations, such as the National
Society of Professional Engineers, are an invaluable
resource for jobs, advice, and networking. Identify
organizations that share your values and interests, and
make as many contacts as possible. Learn the value of
networking. When it comes to being a leader, WHO you
know is almost as important as WHAT you know. Attend
lectures on your campus and introduce yourself to the
speakers. Check with your school's alumni association to
get a list of alumni from your program who want to connect
with undergraduates. Take the time to Get Involved!
Conclusion
While everyone is an individual and each person
will find more value in one approach than another,
these basic skills and suggestions should help you
as you navigate your way through engineering
courses.
Most importantly, don’t forget to ask for help from
your professors if you need it, and don’t give up,
you will be glad you didn’t in the end.