So how important is the FE exam?

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
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I am currently a senior in mechanical engineering. I just got an e-mail saying I should take the FE exam on October 29th. The problem is that's father's weekend here and my dad has already paid a couple hundred bucks for plane tickets and football tickets for that weekend so I can't take the test then. Am I really screwed or is it not that big of a deal?
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
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Not a big deal. But that's coming from me, a sophmore in Mechanical :)
 

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
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All the engineers I know say take it as soon as possible. "The longer you wait, the harder it is." I have no personal input as I've never taken an engineering course.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
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the only problem with the FE is that they only give it 2x a year. You dont REALLY have to get your PE unless you're going into Civil Engineering IIRC. I'm a EE and haven't taken it (don't plan to), and my buddy is a ChemE who took the FE but said he probably won't take the PE exam.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
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depends on what you want to do in life. Certain jobs require it. I'm an EE, and it has zero value in my area.
 

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: yellowfiero
depends on what you want to do in life. Certain jobs require it. I'm an EE, and it has zero value in my area.

im an ee and i dont even know wht it is
 

nitsuj3580

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2001
2,668
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FE = Fundamentals of Engineering exam...also called EIT exam in some places.

as a Computer Engineer, I took it and thought it was a waste of time. It's heavily ME/CivE stuff.

I finished it in lik 5 hours (it's an 8 hour test). Spent much of my time just guessing and barely passed.
 

gar3555

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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at KSU, its real big if your Mech/arch and such...but it serves no purpose for Comp/Elec...I would recommend it...alot of my buds took it...and at KSU, they prepare you...no one has failed it in like the last 3 years
 

akenbennu

Senior member
Jul 24, 2005
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Took the FE as a ChemE and passed. PE is probably a good idea as an ME, but I'm sure they offer the FE more than once.
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,350
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106
Fundamentals of Engineering.

I finally got an e-mail back from our engineering people, and they do offer the spring one so I'm just going to take that.
 

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
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Like they've said, it depends on what kind of job you want to do. I'm an aerospace engineering student that's interned with some big aerospace companies. I have never heard of a single aerospace engineer even mention the FE--it's worthless to us just as it as to EE/CprE. What interests you? If what you want to do is more like Civil E then you should take it. Otherwise... well why am I saying this? I don't know anything about the FE...