Why I Chose Civil Structural Engineering As My Career (It's Not What You Think)

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  • Опубліковано 10 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 124

  • @MatPicardal
    @MatPicardal  5 років тому +22

    Why did you choose structural engineering or why do you want to go into structural engineering?

    • @codpwnss
      @codpwnss 5 років тому +6

      Mat Picardal great videos. As a 3rd year undergrad I wanted to study structural bc it allows you to design and build never being stuck in a office.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +3

      That's awesome Leon!

    • @khaoula4057
      @khaoula4057 5 років тому +6

      i choose structural engineering because it is a thing that i want to do , build awesome bridge , skyscraper and make desing real .... i love my work ... thank you for this
      inspirational video .

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +3

      I feel ya! Thanks for the support Chi.

    • @Jtabssssss
      @Jtabssssss 5 років тому +1

      Passion and challenge 😁

  • @murtaza6542
    @murtaza6542 5 років тому +86

    You are the first person who actually helping students to undrestand what is really like to be a structural engineer. Great works man. It helps a lot. Keep it up

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +2

      So glad I can help and thank you for the kind words.

  • @lisakaminski2335
    @lisakaminski2335 5 років тому +41

    Great story! I've been a structural engineer at a natural gas company for 13 years...and I feel like I didn't learn squat at school. It's so different in the real world. My take is that school only gives you the ticket (degree) to get the job. Most professors, in my humble opinion, are totally out of touch with the real world and my experience is that they don't usually even teach codes like ACI, ASCE 7 or IBC. I had one professor that taught the AISC steel code and that was my favorite class. My structural engineering professor didn't even mention ASCE 7 or IBC or anything. I didn't even know there were load cases, wind loads, seismic loads. This was not even mentioned in my class. I look back now and I am super frustrated that it wasn't even mentioned. It's even harder in the pipeline industry because you have to interpret the structural codes to fit pipelines and associated facilities....they aren't buildings or roads.
    I went back to school years later to start a masters and it was so much more fun and different. I swore I'd never go back to school...but I was sick of not having some "dots connected" with regards to my field and I was hoping to learn more. I challenged the teachers over and over and they didn't care for that. But so what? That's the difference...when you are a student the first go around, the teachers seem totally intimidating...but after working in the real world for 10+ years an going back...I'm like "come at me bro" to the teachers. I don't care. I figure I'm paying them to teach me. I often think the teachers try to push you to figure out how to do difficult problems on your own....but I'm sorry, most humans cannot just automatically understand things like a derivative or an integral, etc....without being shown a few times first. I have seriously questioned whether my "expert" professors actually knows how to do these things. I really think if they did, they'd show me...rather than trying to get me to show them.
    Needless to say I went back to school for a couple years and decided it wasn't worth my time. I have actually learned more from courses offered by software companies such as RISA. So that would be my recommendation. I am not a software rep...but that's the way of the world now. You need software to do these things efficiently. Time and Money is everything in the real world.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +9

      I agree for most schools. I went to Cal Poly, so it was required that the professors have their PE to be a professor, so they taught us the code and how to design. I went to grad school at UCSD, and yes, it was a lot more theoretical, but I found it important to get a better understanding of material behavior and more of the "why" the codes are the way they are. So, for me, doing both schools was great.
      I've gotten professors that you've mentioned that give you just difficult problems. It takes a really good professor to simplify a complicated concept, always appreciated my professors that did that. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

    • @meyou8830
      @meyou8830 4 роки тому +1

      I am a Civil Enginnering student currently. I failed 2 courses in my first year. They are hand-drawing courses where we how to do sections and how to draw 3-D from the views. As engineer, do you think these courses are really important for civil engineers?
      I really hate drawing by hands instead of software😭

    • @liekdarmawan2977
      @liekdarmawan2977 3 роки тому

      Thank you for the stories. This gives a different sight 👏

    • @c.j.5751
      @c.j.5751 3 роки тому +2

      @@liekdarmawan2977 yourwelcome

    • @mamatapandey6073
      @mamatapandey6073 3 роки тому +1

      @@meyou8830 nah they aren't much important...

  • @jovieann9677
    @jovieann9677 5 років тому +42

    Im losing faith in myself bc i have fails and C's too. Im also struggling in my review rn, im losing hope. This video motivated me. thank you for being an inspiration.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +18

      So glad I could help! And don't just rely on professors to teach you, ask for help, office hours, study groups, get a study buddy to check each others work, look for online tutorials, find Schaum Outline type books that simplify subjects. I had to stop being a lone wolf and ask for help, that's how I made it out of grad school.

    • @NetSkillNavigator
      @NetSkillNavigator 5 років тому +1

      Hi classmate! Laban lang! Ma-engineer lagi 'ta one day. 🤩 Keep learning.

    • @heather8197
      @heather8197 5 років тому +2

      Most of the time i've found that its the teachers fault because they don't know how to teach. My experience has been that good teachers are rare. For example someone could spend their entire life learning from bad teachers and still not understand, or a few minutes from a truly good one and go aha!:) I get it!:) in a few minutes:) Teachers need to get better (the one Mat mentioned in the video seemed immoral and the teacher should have felt bad not Mat) and programs need to make more sense in conjunction with the real world. I was fortunate that my building construction program was very real world oriented, it was so very worth it and then some however i do know that some programs or courses in school can be a waste of peoples money and time and are not properly geared toward reality. I recently became interested in structural engineering because i learned about it through building classes and through real on site work experience, so i started looking up programs and realized that they might end up being absolutely non-applicable to a real life job, or at least mostly. I realized this right away thanks to my real world building experience which exposed us to real world engineering scenerios, the actual formulas and equations used specific to the actual problems people come across etc.... and it didn't require a ton of math classes. It really requires the specific knowledge specific to the particular field your studyng, memorize and apply that, not 10 mostly unrelated math classes for 5 years. So i'm kind of bummed because i don't want to put money and time into inadequate programs but yet i want to get into it more. (i think it was also another one of Mats vids, i apologzie if I'm wrong that said something like if you think you know how to be an engineer at an actual job in the real world when you get out of school you don't know shit!) so.... yah, i think many of the programs need to improve. Good luck, i hope you find good teachers and perhaps might be one yourself someday:)

    • @falcon5860
      @falcon5860 3 роки тому +3

      @jovie ann. Don't think about marks too much. I'm studying civil in İndia and my gpa is B+. Despite working hard, i couldn't improve my gpa from B+ to A. Then i understood that if you try to learn the subject for the sake of your career, learning will be fun and you will remember what you studied. And in future you are gonna be a good engineer. Keep it up 💪

    • @thundermouth2504
      @thundermouth2504 3 роки тому

      Laban lang! Kaya natin to. 3rd yr civil engg student here.

  • @jacobD63
    @jacobD63 5 років тому +13

    You really are an inspiration to me! I just started my sophomore year in Civil Engineering. I am planning on doing a concentration in Structural Engineering. I have always been fascinated with buildings and construction and all the technical details that goes into creating and building reliable infrastructure! I used to be really bad about comparing myself to people who are smarter then me and who are just naturally really smart. Thanks for inspiring me to continue to work hard!

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +4

      So glad I could help Vince! And don't just rely on professors to teach you, ask for help, office hours, study groups, get a study buddy to check each others work, look for online tutorials, find Schaum Outline type books that simplify subjects.

  • @-andyzaz-
    @-andyzaz- 5 років тому +11

    Great video man! I’m currently studying structural engineering at the undergraduate level and I appreciate you taking the time to make this kind of content. Keep it up!

  • @vaughnmanagan2740
    @vaughnmanagan2740 4 роки тому +4

    Good talk. Thanks for bringing up the bridge looks like the moment diagram. We tend to make things level, plumb and square to best use store-bought building blocks. However, the most efficient and beautiful designs follow those simple diagrams we learn in statics.

  • @muhammadazeem2684
    @muhammadazeem2684 5 років тому +6

    Amazing... so true about the developing nations... In Pakistan we are still using UBC-1997 based Pakistan Building code for seismic design which needs to be updated now...

  • @bunbun-pu5rf
    @bunbun-pu5rf 2 роки тому +2

    Hello Mat! You are so humble and genious.

  • @engineerferns2050
    @engineerferns2050 5 років тому +3

    Hi Mat! Great to see a youtuber with the same profession as me. I specialize in Project Planning and Management but I think more opportunities would be present in the structural engineering field for me. I am at the crossroads in my career as to what field of Civil Engineering I should specialize. Great to see you here!

  • @aldo7962
    @aldo7962 5 років тому +6

    I can relate! Thanks for this

  • @edwardzabala9053
    @edwardzabala9053 5 років тому +16

    Loved the video, Mat! I had a similar path as you. But, like you, I have managed to make a living doing structural engineering. Like I tell all would be structural engineers, it's not about how smart you are, it's really about how tough you are.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +2

      Thanks Edward! Very true.

    • @meyou8830
      @meyou8830 4 роки тому

      It is hard to be tough. I am studying civil engineering. I failed my second year at university and I am repeating it this year. I wonder if studying civil engineering will enhance my personality. What do you think? Does studying Engineering make any improvements in its student or it is only knowledge for career?

  • @johakazumary5297
    @johakazumary5297 2 роки тому

    Thanks a lot Mat! I am graduating my first degree in civil engineering, was looking for this kind of inspiration on what to take at masters, i real like structures !!! love from Tanzania

  • @sammythesalmon745
    @sammythesalmon745 3 роки тому +1

    Im a CE student and I am worried about fluid mechanics and statistics for engineers and this video really motivated me to keep my head up thank you

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  3 роки тому

      Plenty of learning resources online!

  • @faisalalz17
    @faisalalz17 Рік тому

    So glad I found this channel! Thank you!!

  • @dysonspreybar4903
    @dysonspreybar4903 4 роки тому +3

    I got a c on a math test and almost cried... You sir are made of tough stuff.

  • @damomani6905
    @damomani6905 2 роки тому

    I loved Structural Engineering because I like to visually think how things work.....I also liked calculations and physics being applied. The best book is Engineering Mechanics of solids by Egor Popov....The field of Structural Engineering is also so vast....you have Concrete structural design, Structural steel design, timber structures etc....Tall buildings, Dams, Water tanks, Industrial structures, Machine foundations, Cold formed steel frames etc. The only thing I do not like in Structural Engineering is that it is not that much challenging...because we normally design a building for extreme load events like severe earth quake or severe winds that could occur once in 100 years....So even if someone does a mistake in load calculations, the structure will be safe because mostly it will have just the Dead and Live loads....Thats why after more than 12 years in structural Engineering, I m trying to move to more applied mechanics like in Aerospace industry.

  • @liekdarmawan2977
    @liekdarmawan2977 3 роки тому

    Thank you so much for the kind motivation and stories sir! This really builds again my motivation to be better, and better 👏 i wish you the best of success in future.

  • @shyvaeebo141
    @shyvaeebo141 5 років тому +1

    thank u sir Mat. ur videos really help me to continue my study. btw Im from Philippines.

  • @agnesk2943
    @agnesk2943 4 роки тому

    This video gave me hope, thank you for your content.🙏🏽

  • @thanaamarabeh525
    @thanaamarabeh525 4 роки тому +1

    This helped me a lot, I had a similer struggle..thank you!

  • @thups9552
    @thups9552 4 роки тому

    Keep doing what you do brother👍🏻 It's helping a lot of people

  • @crizjohnmartinez2180
    @crizjohnmartinez2180 5 років тому +1

    Thank you for this video. Im an civil eng'g student here in the phil and like you im not doing well in the basic like statics but im trying my best tho.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +2

      Tough for me at first also, but immersion helps. When you're doing it for every class after your first statics class, it becomes easier.

  • @mysteriousfooding
    @mysteriousfooding 5 років тому +2

    Sir it's being pleasure to watch u..I am from India and I have just completed graduated from civil engineering and I have knowledge of etab, RCDC,safe please guide it's always difficult for freshers

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому

      Thanks for your support Vikas, what specific guidance do you need?

  • @reshabpugalia1350
    @reshabpugalia1350 3 роки тому +1

    I to dream to be a structural engineer but because of the ongoing pandemic no one is hiring a fresher/ Graduate every one wants experience. I m just losing hopes day by day.

  • @sriteja3020
    @sriteja3020 4 роки тому

    This is amazing!

  • @Bhomasolini
    @Bhomasolini 4 роки тому +1

    Nice, static was one of my best subjects and I really liked it. I guess I should give structural eng a try.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  3 роки тому +1

      Awesome, maybe even bridge structural engineering since you're enjoying traffic!

  • @javieragonzalez348
    @javieragonzalez348 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you for this.

  • @samuelroman2642
    @samuelroman2642 3 роки тому

    thank you for this. it is very motivational.

  • @janlowelllucena3704
    @janlowelllucena3704 4 роки тому +1

    I'm a Civil Engineer here in the Philippines. 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭 I passed the Board Exam last November 2019. I really want to change my career path, currently I'm working as a QA/QC Engineer and I want to become a Structural Engineer. 😟 Here in the Philippines, it's difficult to find a Junior SE job where you will be trained by your Seniors. I hope I would find one. 🙏

  • @wyong6198
    @wyong6198 4 роки тому

    This video really motivate me to become structural eng after graduate... Tq

  • @shazebmirza9336
    @shazebmirza9336 5 років тому +1

    Hi mat. I am a fresh civil engg graduate (15-19). During my studies i have failed mechanics of structures , theory of structures , concrete design (almoat every structural subject). I want to grow my career as a structural engineering specialist . My home town lies on the "C zone" (sesmic zone) . But the problem is i am not good at studying structural subjects . I dont know what the problem really is i want to be a structural engineer but somehow i fail the structure subjects 😭

    • @meyou8830
      @meyou8830 4 роки тому

      I am also a civil engineering student . The only advice I can tell you: find a good resourse/book/videos/professors who teach well and the practice solving the problems and practice and practice.

  • @danishirfan786tiger7
    @danishirfan786tiger7 5 років тому

    Mat, you doing a great job. I am same professional as you are, but we mostly do steel design, kindly do video on steel design, and also tell us which software & books are helpful, specifically in india

  • @francescos7361
    @francescos7361 2 роки тому

    I have a master s degree in engineer and os very interesting model bridge and buildings BUT extremely difficult for Irons and aluminium use.

  • @Blaise1-
    @Blaise1- Місяць тому

    Definitly want to study civil engineering but not sure what field to study it's either structural or water

  • @bunbun-pu5rf
    @bunbun-pu5rf 2 роки тому

    Hi Mat!

  • @jamichealh4606
    @jamichealh4606 5 років тому +2

    I follow in your foots steps‼

  • @panky424
    @panky424 3 роки тому

    Thank you so much

  • @rebeccabriske981
    @rebeccabriske981 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you for your videos! I just graduated from a community college with an Associates in Architectural Commercial Design in Wisconsin. I have been toying with the idea of furthering my education and going for Structural Engineering. I'm not sure how many of my credits will transfer. I also got a C in my Trig class but ended with a 3.1 GPA. In your professional opinion, do you think I will be able to get into an engineering school?

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  4 роки тому +2

      3.1 GPA for engineering is still pretty good, especially if you can back it up with extracurriculars. You got this! Building relationships/helping professors with their projects/teachers assistant etc. will give you an edge to everyone else that just goes to school and go home. It will make you stand out if your GPA isn't the highest.

  • @RiazAhmad-uk9cc
    @RiazAhmad-uk9cc 3 роки тому +1

    Matt how’d you catch up after doing poorly in some of your core classes? That must’ve been a nightmare.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  3 роки тому +1

      Lots of extra studying and studying other resources.

  • @mangayinour29
    @mangayinour29 5 років тому +1

    i really love your page

  • @sarathyarumugasamy2971
    @sarathyarumugasamy2971 5 років тому +2

    Hi sir I'm from India, as a steel detailer

  • @sami786samandari
    @sami786samandari 2 роки тому

    Dear sir, I am really studying many things even though I am graduating soon from structural engineering in masters but the sad point is, there are allot of things to know and study … I really lost my confidence beside I love structural engineering so much ~ could you please guide me from where shall I start and how to have a good knowledge of things
    I will really appreciate your comments here
    Thank you

  • @sarathyarumugasamy2971
    @sarathyarumugasamy2971 5 років тому +3

    Please give me some tips how to develop in this structural field

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +1

      Sarathy, what exactly do you want to develop to? If you're a steel detailer, you want to learn how to get into the structural engineering industry?

    • @sarathyarumugasamy2971
      @sarathyarumugasamy2971 5 років тому

      Yes sir i want to enter in structural engineering field

  • @julianpulido8827
    @julianpulido8827 5 років тому +1

    Hi Mat, I am a senior in high school who is interested in structural engineering, do you have any advice for me in that would help pursuing this career. Secondly, do you think taking construction classes or working/volunteering in construction would help in any way? Thank you for the video.

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +6

      Hi Julian. Get internships as soon as possible and get involved (actually help out, take a board position, don't just attend the meetings) as soon as possible in your student civil engineering chapters/organizations/competitions. It will help you stand out from everyone else when it comes to getting an internship. Also, if you ever run into professors that don't teach well, don't blame it on the professor and say the subject is too hard. There's plenty of resources online (and books that simplify engineering concepts) that you can learn on your own.
      If you want to work in buildings/bridges, yes, absolutely construction classes/internships would be AWESOME. That's one of the top weaknesses of structural engineers just getting into the industry, they have no construction experience, so it's difficult to design something if you don't even have an idea on how to construct it. If you put construction classes/experience/internships on your resume to a structural engineering firm, that's a definite plus.

  • @SunilYadav-er9xe
    @SunilYadav-er9xe 5 років тому +1

    hello sir.good morning
    I am sunil kumar from India,I am an undergraduate civil engineer.

  • @prajaktasawant1469
    @prajaktasawant1469 5 років тому +2

    Hello sir
    This is prajakta graduate fresher I want to do structural engineering, l got internship in structural firm. my question is that should I do it or do my master's first ?

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому

      Internship, at least that's what I would say in the U.S. Best is doing the internship while doing the master's.

  • @Blaise1-
    @Blaise1- Місяць тому

    Thought about land suryers but I am going civil

  • @kristinesdad9676
    @kristinesdad9676 3 роки тому

    Whether in peacetime or War, democracy or communism or otherwise, a Civil Engineer is always needed. They are indispensable

  • @harisali2229
    @harisali2229 4 роки тому

    ... and I regret that I wasted my precious five years by choosing Civil Engineering 😌
    There is a huge gap between what we study at universities and the skills that market requires....so I must say "CHOOSE LIFE NOT ENGINEERING".

    • @mariamabdu5069
      @mariamabdu5069 2 роки тому

      Why do you mean by this? Can you elaborate?

  • @Allaboutscience652
    @Allaboutscience652 5 років тому

    hi sir i am under graduate student i love structure engineering . i wish i wanna be good structure engineer thats my big dream plz sir how i wana be good structure engineer

  • @kenlua6064
    @kenlua6064 5 років тому +1

    Hi Mat! What country are you from?

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому

      Hi Ken, I'm from U.S., California.

  • @muhammadazeem2684
    @muhammadazeem2684 5 років тому +2

    Sir I'm a structural engineer professional from Pakistan. We are a developing nation. I want to connect my research institute with the industry. There are so many problems and obsolete methods still carrying out in our industry... but our research institutes are just busy in solving first world countries problems to get publications... This is the biggest issue. Please recommend me some solution. Thanks

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  5 років тому +1

      Muhammad, I think you're more qualified than me to answer since you experience it first hand, I would love to hear your thoughts/ideas on this.

    • @muhammadazeem2684
      @muhammadazeem2684 5 років тому +1

      Sir your lectures are very inspiring and motivating. Thank you Sir for giving me opportunity to share my thought. Like I mentioned our Building code is based on Uniform Building Code 1997 which categorize the whole country into different seismic zones. Whereas in International Building codes they have given the spectral acceleration values Ss S1 for almost every corner of USA. But in Pakistan Building code, an area designated as zone-4 has a high possibility that many cities in that zone-4 could have low spectral acceleration values Ss S1 and still we are over designing it according to zone-4. This zoning method is questionable and that's why ubc97 is obsolete in USA for seismic design. I want that spectral acceleration studies should be conducted in Pakistan, so alot of money could be saved in Building/Infrastructure construction by taking the exact spectral acceleration values instead of just declaring it zone-4 and overdesigning it. We are poor country and can't afford overdesigning cost. In my capacity I’ve approached to my university and inquired about this issue to conduct research projects to justify this problem and raise it on national level. So we can upgrade Pakistan Building Code and set its basis on International Building Code for efficient structural design. Sir please let me know what are your recommendations.. what I can do more… Sir kindly suggest me some good books too…

  • @relaxwithme6426
    @relaxwithme6426 4 роки тому

    What is the difference of Civil engineering and structural engineering?

    • @hadrianaugustus5712
      @hadrianaugustus5712 3 роки тому

      Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering. Civil engineering could be structural, traffic, geotechnical, water resources and environmental, and construction

    • @jr243-r6w
      @jr243-r6w 3 роки тому

      @@hadrianaugustus5712 Is civil engineering a undergraduate degree or graduate degree? The reason I ask is because where I'm from the University I want to go to only offers civil engineering for undergraduates and structural engineering for graduates.

  • @mr.pickles8285
    @mr.pickles8285 4 роки тому

    To keep my celibacy intact until after COVID-19

  • @khachoangpham726
    @khachoangpham726 5 років тому +1

    thought you re not popular as much as that

    • @MatPicardal
      @MatPicardal  4 роки тому +2

      It's embarrassing at times :)

  • @avy948
    @avy948 3 роки тому

    T

  • @balaportejean7015
    @balaportejean7015 5 років тому +4

    Thk you
    Jesus loves you. Believe in Him and repent.

    • @meyou8830
      @meyou8830 4 роки тому

      The Lord created everything and He alone is worthy of worship. He did not leave the people he created in vain, but rather sent prophets to them, such as Noah, Ibrahim, Moses and Jesus, the last of whom was Muhammad who brought Islam whose pillars are five: To bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and to establish prayer, to pay zakat (a certain amount that is paid annually), to fast one month in the year (by refraining from eating, drinking, and intercourse from the rising of the sun to its sunset ) and Hajj (specific actions and sayings in Mecca once in a lifetime). These five pillars have a structure above which there are many good works, and its basis and rule if Faith which have 6 pillars: belief in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine Decree, both good and bad.