Michael Hardy and Ben Martin: Why choose Engineering?
Michael Hardy and Ben Martin, Part IV students studying BE(Hons), specialising in Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering talk about their experience at the University of Auckland.
Programme: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Specialisation: Biomedical Engineering
Final Year Project: Testing custom 3D-printed orthotic insoles for diabetic patients.
Why did you choose to study Engineering?
Michael: For me, I've always just loved problem-solving, and engineering is problem-solving. As well as that, I feel like it teaches you skills that are applicable to pretty much any industry. So, it's sort of an all doors are open degree.
Ben: I chose to study Engineering mainly because I wanted to do a degree that had an impact on the world. In high school, I really enjoyed problem-solving, and I enjoyed mathematics, so I thought engineering would be the perfect mix of those two while still being able to make sort of a physical impact.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Auckland?
Michael: I chose to study at the University of Auckland because I think it has a really significant name. I think the name 'University of Auckland' is highly regarded, not just in New Zealand, but also in the world.
Ben: I’m originally from Tauranga, so I chose to study in Auckland because it's quite a big city. You know you want to make an impact, so you go to the biggest place possible where there are a lot of opportunities.
What was your perception of Engineering prior to studying vs. now as a student in the field?
Michael: When I was in high school, I thought that engineering was just buildings, tunnels, roads, bridges. I didn't even know that chemical engineering existed, and that software engineering existed, but I'm glad that I found out because I managed to find Software Engineering which has been really good fun for me.
Ben: In high school, I thought engineering was building bridges and roads, so going into Engineering at the University of Auckland, I had the idea of doing Civil Engineering, as I thought that was all I could really do.
But once I started, my eyes really opened. In my first year of Engineering, I was exposed to all the different specialisations to get a taster for what each of them would be like. There's so many opportunities and I found Software Engineering, which I really enjoyed.
What would you say to high school students who might be considering studying Engineering?
Michael: I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left high school. I think that Engineering specifically offers such a wide range of things that you can try, especially in the first year. You get a little taste of every piece of engineering, and that sort of allows you to make a decision on the way.
Ben: I would say to high school students, just give it a go, even if you're unsure of what you want to do. Just start. You know, you've got a whole year to decide what you want to go into; you can try out different things. See what you enjoy.
Ready to begin your journey in Engineering? Start your application for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) programme.