Step One: Maintain your curiosity about the way the world works.
The best engineers are inquisitive about the world around them, and maintain a sense of wonder. Observe the things that happen around you, and investigate how things work.
Step Two: Secondary School.
Getting into an Undergraduate Engineering program at most colleges and universities requires you to take Math, Chemistry and Physics at the grade twelve (provincially examinable) level, so make your course choices wisely. It is also very helpful to take calculus and drafting classes. Other technology courses, such as shop, automotives, or electronics are also helpful. Entrance to college or university is very competitive, so you should keep your grades high.
Step Three: Apply to college or university.
Choose the top three or four schools you would like to attend, and apply! Application deadlines are usually very early in the year, so talk to your school counselor or check the post-secondary institution’s website for exact dates. If you start at a college, you can usually transfer quite easily to a university.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both transferring into a university in second year or starting fresh from high school. Starting directly at university gives you time to get used to the university environment, and to enjoy the many opportunities available to students. You can also live on campus, an option usually not available at colleges. Universities tend to have much larger lecture sizes, however, and it can be a daunting step. Transferring through a college allows you to start in a less daunting environment, with smaller class sizes and a smaller campus. At present, students in “recognized transfer programs” at college are guaranteed admission to UBC if they maintain a minimum GPA, but if you don’t meet that GPA you may not be able to transfer.
Click here for UBC Admissions Information…
Step Four: Complete your first year of engineering
Some schools start specializing into particular disciplines right in first year. UBC Vancouver starts specializing in second year – you will take a first year that is common to all disciplines. There are many colleges that offer engineering programs equivalent to the UBC first year that are fully transferable to UBC. Entrance to the Mech program at UBC is competitive, so you need to maintain a high average in first year.
Step Five: Apply to the Mech Department
(and to University, if you started at college)
At present, there are two types of admission into Mech at UBC Vancouver. Academic admission is based on your first year grades. About 75% of the seats are assigned this way. Broad-based admission considers not only your grades, but also your interests, experience and skills. About 30 seats – 25% of the available seats – are assigned this way.
Step Six: Complete your undergraduate (B.A.Sc.) degree.
At most universities, completing your degree requires a bare minimum of three additional years (four if you take the Co-op program). Many students choose to take an additional term or two of classes to complete their degree, as it allows them more time to delve into the subject matter and to get involved in student life.
Opportunities to get involved are abundant, and many students find that the most valuable and memorable experiences they have at university happen outside the classroom. At UBC, students may get involved with student government (Club Mech, the Engineering Undergraduate Society, or the Alma Mater Society), student competition teams (such as the Society of Automotive Engineer’s Formula race car competition or the Human Powered Submarine competition), clubs, or volunteer, service or advocacy groups (such as Engineers Without Borders or GEERing Up! UBC Engineering & Science for Kids).
Step Seven: Head out into the world, ready to make a difference!
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to register in BC as an Engineer in Training (EIT) with APEGBC. An EIT works under the supervision of a registered Professional Engineer while gaining the experience needed to reach the professional level. After completing a minimum of four years of work experience, you can write the Professional Practice Examination and apply for registration as a Professional Engineer, licensing you to practice engineering in the province of British Columbia.
Job opportunities for mechanical engineers abound, and you can work in almost any field you would like. Biomedical engineering, production and manufacturing, vehicle design, robotics, HVAC, costing, engineering management – these are just some of the choices available to you. Check out the “Profiles” and “Job Stats” pages for more information.
Some students choose to complete graduate studies (Masters or Doctorate level) work directly out of their undergraduate degree, either in engineering or in fields as varied as law, medicine, or business administration.