MILWAUKEE, WI – More than half of the engineers polled in a recent ASQ survey said the amount of studying needed to succeed and maintaining high grades in science and math were the primary challenges faced while pursuing an engineering degree.

Forty-three percent said the amount of time spent studying played the biggest role in their success as an engineer, a career with which they’re satisfied, according to the survey.

Twenty-seven percent said instruction from high school teachers and college professors played the biggest role in their success.

Forty-four percent of engineers said the amount of work and study needed to succeed was the primary challenge faced while pursuing an engineering degree, while 14% said maintaining high grades in related subjects, like math and science, was their main challenge. Other challenges provided by engineers include lack of mentorship; poor quality of teachers; selection of available engineering degrees at nearby university, and lack of prep courses in high school.

Despite the challenges faced by engineers in college, most engineers polled are satisfied with their career; only 3% said they are dissatisfied with their career choice.
Forty-nine percent are most satisfied with the challenging and interesting nature of the career, while 35% are most satisfied with their contributions to projects and products.

According to the survey results, 33% of the respondents chose to study engineering because they had a natural ability. Other reasons include the desire for a challenging career; the availability of jobs after graduation, and a lifelong interest.

The survey polled 509 ASQ member engineers.

In a different Harris Interactive survey conducted on behalf of ASQ recently, 67% of youth said they are concerned about the obstacles they would face while pursuing a science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, career. Twenty-five percent of those youth felt pursuing a STEM career involves too much work and studying compared to other career paths, and 25% are concerned their grades in math and science aren’t good enough.

Parents polled by Harris also are concerned their children’s grades aren’t adequate for a STEM career path and are concerned it takes too much time to earn a STEM-related degree.