Asperger and engineering.

Aspieguy

Hello!:) , do you guys know which kind of engineering is best for a person with Asperger syndrome?(mechanical, electrical, civil etc.)
What I do know is that I do not want to be a computer engineer.
So maybe you have some tips?, I would be very grateful!:)

godtabh

Aspieguy wrote:

Hello!:) , do you guys know which kind of engineering is best for a person with Asperger syndrome?(mechanical, electrical, civil etc.)
What I do know is that I do not want to be a computer engineer.
So maybe you have some tips?, I would be very grateful!:)

Whats Asperger syndrome?

Boston

Well depending on how it affects you it would range from any of the above to none. It's very important to be able to communicate fully as an engineer, if this isn't possible for you, you'll find it very difficult to work as an engineer.

Aspieguy

I do think I can communicate good enough, but I am not the best. That is why I was wondering if there some some kind of engineering where the employers would look that much on the social skills.

Asperger syndrome: Basically we have problems with social skills, it is often called the nerd-syndrome.

Boston

Don't worry about "social" skills. Their not the issue. Your college experience will vary depending on social skills but thats not what I was getting at. I've know some people with Asperger syndrome and they actually couldn't talk to other people. Made working with them on projects very difficult. If you can have a one to one conversation with someone then thats as much as you'll need for any type of engineering.

copacetic

I wouldn't worry about any of them, as you say it can be known as nerd-syndrome. Which could define a lot of engineers. Sounds like you are no worse than most of them. Loads of people I have worked with and was in college with were pretty poor communicators and in general communication issues hold a lot of engineers back. However if you have the technical knowledge and skills you can go a long way in engineering with very poor social skills.

You may find you are more suited to doing calculations/design/coding, this could be in civil, structural, electronic/electrical or mechanical. Any of them really.

Look at what ones most interest you..

godtabh

An office based design engineer sounds like it would suit.

The only problem is as you move up the ladder the more you will have to interact with people and the more you will have to take the lead on this.

As as been said if you find that difficult it may hold you back.

godtabh

An office based design engineer sounds like it would suit.

The only problem is as you move up the ladder the more you will have to interact with people and the more you will have to take the lead on this.

As as been said if you find that difficult it may hold you back.

Aspieguy

Thanks for the input guys. But can you tell me more about the people with Asperger's that wasn't able to talk with others. What I meant about myself is that I can have conversations about subjects I know things about, like schoolwork etc., but chitchatting and stuff like that, well I just don't know what to say then.
And employers have stated in ads that they want social people.:(
But since there aren't any engineering professions especially good for people with Asperger's may I ask which kind will let you work a lot on your own? Copacetic mentioned doing calculations and I think that is good for me. I guess all engineers do calculations, and since you there wasn't any profession especially good for Asperger-people, do you know which can be very bad for us?

Boston

I suggest not selling yourself too short there, don't be thinking about jobs, as you've no idea what direction you may end up going in. There are plenty of clubs and societies to join in college which is largely what they look for when they say social skills, are you into any sports or hobbies. As long as you can work with other people you'll be ok, you don't have to be best friends with them are talk bs about the whatever with them.

You sound like you really don't know what type of engineering course you want to do, and it's impossible for someone else to tell you what best suits you. I suggest you enroll in a common entry program like trinity's two year one, where you will get a full understanding of what each type will require from you. maybe you'll spend part of the two years doing something you don't like, but from the sounds of things your fear is being stuck in a job you don't like so two years might be worth it.

Aspieguy

Okey, thank you very much!:) In my country we don't have those special programmes, we start on bachelor or engineering programmes directly. But anyway, since no particulary engineering course is exceptionally good for us nerds, I'll probably choose electronics.

But could you please tell me more about the people who couldn't talk to other people. I guess they were able to say something or elste they wouldn't have gotten the job? Was it that they were extremely shy?, and I guess they didn't make eyecontact?

Boston

I'm a student, and I was talking about my experience in college. He was assigned to my project group randomly.

copacetic

Aspieguy wrote:

Okey, thank you very much!:) In my country we don't have those special programmes, we start on bachelor or engineering programmes directly. But anyway, since no particulary engineering course is exceptionally good for us nerds, I'll probably choose electronics.

But could you please tell me more about the people who couldn't talk to other people. I guess they were able to say something or elste they wouldn't have gotten the job? Was it that they were extremely shy?, and I guess they didn't make eyecontact?

We have had a few people through my group/office who were clearly only really comfortable doing their work and didn't want to get involved in any kind of social situtation. Whether it was going for lunch/beers after work or just chatting over a cup of coffee. This is not ideal for the team but is ok and someone with good technical skills will be respected.

It is generally very difficult to find high quality technical people in electronics in particular. Ideally you want someone with everything but technical skills will always come first with social skills a distant second. (assuming a certain minimum level and that he position doesn't require them)

dave2pvd

Aspieguy wrote:

What I do know is that I do not want to be a computer engineer.

Apologies for joining this so late.

Can I ask you why you don't want to be a computer engineer? Is it because you don't like working with computers? If so, that could be a problem; I don't know of any engineers these days that don't depend heavily on computers.

Plus, perhaps you might find programming interesting?

Keep in mind there a 100 different flavours of each engineering discipline you can name. It would be hard at this point in your life to recognise that you don't actually like a particular discipline.

Good luck in making your choice.

Aspieguy

dave2pvd wrote:

Apologies for joining this so late.

Can I ask you why you don't want to be a computer engineer? Is it because you don't like working with computers? If so, that could be a problem; I don't know of any engineers these days that don't depend heavily on computers.

Plus, perhaps you might find programming interesting?

It is the programming I don't like.:)

Tim Robbins

Aspieguy wrote:

I do think I can communicate good enough, but I am not the best. That is why I was wondering if there some some kind of engineering where the employers would look that much on the social skills.

Asperger syndrome: Basically we have problems with social skills, it is often called the nerd-syndrome.

My advice would be go for IT or Computer / Software Engineering.
A lot of people in these faculities don't like talking to people or can just be a bit eccentric. You also do get a lot of team players and nice people.
Tell us why you don't like programming? I have be programming for almost 10 years, I might be able to help you out.
Do you like logic?
That's all progamming really is. I did Engineering in Trinity where at the time you did you two years common Engineering and then make up your mind which type you prefer.
Also what about Science, lab work etc have you thought about that?

dame

Aspieguy wrote:

It is the programming I don't like.:)

There will be some programming in whichever engineering discipline you choose. Matlab is a particular favourite with engineering lecturers.


A tip I picked up from another guy with aspergers' in 1st year in college was to only write on one side of the page. It was too distracting to be reading back over notes and reading words from the other side through the page at the same time.

It would also help if you could ask your lecturers for a copy of the notes before the lecture. I found that it was impossible to listen to the explanations they gave and write out notes from the overhead projector at the same time. Some older lecturers stick to their old ways with their hand-writtennotes though so if you can, borrow notes from someone in your class once a week and write in the bits you missed. Remember to give back the notes the next day though or they won't share with you for too long!

5uspect

Have you considered Academia? There's plenty of engineering opportunities there and its pretty much all nerds who talk shop all the time!