Frequently Asked Questions
I am having heavy doubts that I can actually prepare enough to pass the FE Exam, is this normal?
As engineers, we want to continue to grow in our expertise and move up the corporate ladder, getting opportunities to work on more exciting projects and earn the respect of our peers.
However, there comes a time when we realize that a degree isn’t enough to break though the corporate bureaucracy and that the need for the PE license is something that must be addressed.
The first thing we do as we set off on this journey is get informed about what the FE Exam is all about. We visit the NCEES website and click on the specifications, give them a glance and then…
Oh boy, yup, the emotions hit you like a freight train – Maybe this is where many of you are today.
There are many directions our mind can go at this point, but generally one of those directions is summarized well by a recent question that came in to the Prepineer Headquarters, which read like this:
Is that something other students have dealt with?
I am telling you, 99% of what it takes to pass the FE Exam happens between those ears, and it’s not even a close second.
We have been going hard for over a decade helping engineers just like you prepare for and pass the FE Exam, and without a doubt, the greatest obstacle has always been doubt and second-guessing our own abilities.
It’s such a valid question that stems from an ever increasing sense of pressure and anxiety as each day goes by, taking us one step closer to go time.
So the question we need to address is this:
I am doubting that I can even pass the FE Exam, is this normal?
Most all of our students have some level of doubt, and with that, I am going to let past student, Professional Engineer and Prepineer success Brad Cartier take this one and speak directly to those things you might be feeling today.
I graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a failed attempt at the FE exam. I hit the job hunt and wasn’t able to find an engineering position so I took a job at a power plant as technician as I waited for one to open up.
It wasn’t the ideal situation, I had to relocate to Texas and the transition was really hard, including an experience of some corporate discipline that destroyed my feeling of job security.
Being an engineer was the furthest thing from my reach at that point, I was in survival mode and doubted whether I was even capable of landing a spot because of the bureaucratic red tape that was all over the place.
The blue collar environment wore me down because to them I was just a “stupid engineer” – it was rough, but I couldn’t let that define my path forward.
I jumped on the Prepineer train because of the multifaceted approach and it looked way better than the standard big yellow prep book.
I immediately was pumped up by having a mentor in my corner. Working with Justin, Daniel and William (Prepineer Mentors/Coaches) really motivated me to keep working and keep making progress.
I eliminated my self-doubt with the help of some motivational techniques and ultimately realized that whatever I put in I would get out – but I had to put in.
It was at this point that I decided that my future wouldn’t depend on a boss who wouldn’t give me a shot or a careless HR rep that could care less about my future.
I was the only one standing in my way.
I cut out my hobbies and my wastes of time because I could pick those back up later. I committed to myself that I would study every day/night (depending when I worked at the plant which was both day shift and night shifts), and I did. Of course I missed days and of course some days were slow and others were triumphant.
I hit obstacles just like everyone will as they pursue the FE Exam. I went on vacation, and sadly took my wife to the hospital for some health issues. I was forced to pay for a rescheduled exam date, but I knew I had the momentum to keep going.
When the day of the exam finally came, I went in nervous, but with the guidance of my coaches, I knew that this would be expected – no one walks in fully confident. I fought through every problem on the exam, and 5 days later I found out it was all worth it.
I PASSED!
The doubt was thick throughout the entire journey, but I knew it was just something that was out there to derail me. I had to, along with the help of my coaches, constantly reinforce myself mentally that I had what it took and when I opened up my passing results that was the proof that I was capable.
I wanted to take a moment and write this to let everyone else know that in this world of exam prep, that if you put in the work, you will find that you are capable too.
I hope everyone here will make use of every resource they have – use the course, call the mentors, make the sacrifices, and above all else, have Faith in yourself.
Thanks to the team at Prepineer for changing my life for the better.
Brad Cartier, PE
And this my friends, is a happy ending, you’ve got this!
As always, with Love, Prepineer
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