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From a 15-Year Break to FE Exam Success: How Andres Overcame the Odds

  • 0 minutes

By Genie Prep Team

Pursuing a career in engineering can be overwhelming, especially when facing challenges like the FE exam. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring stories from individuals who have overcome obstacles on their path to becoming licensed professionals. We hope these stories remind you that perseverance and the right strategies and materials can lead to success, no matter how difficult the journey.

Today’s story is from Andres, a 2008 graduate and dedicated engineer who overcame a 15-year break from academics to finally pass his FE exam and advance in his career. The following blog post has been adapted from a video interview, which you can watch here.

What’s Your Background, and Why Did You Decide To Take The FE Exam?

“I graduated in 2008. I waited this long because I graduated in Venezuela. I got to the US in 2015, and back then, I didn’t know what the FE was. Once I got into the industry, I quickly realized the industry was screaming, ‘If you want respect and credibility, you need your PE license.’ And, of course, the FE comes before the PE. That’s in a nutshell what happened.”

Andres moved to the United States in 2015 after completing his degree in Venezuela in 2008. He spent several years working in the industry without even knowing about the FE exam. It wasn’t until he began applying for jobs in the U.S. that he noticed how important the PE license was for career advancement and credibility within the engineering field. He realized that earning his PE license was essential if he wanted to gain respect and further his career, which meant he first had to pass the FE exam. This realization was the driving force behind his decision to finally pursue the FE exam after such a long gap since graduation.

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FE Exam Cheat Sheet
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What Challenges Did You Face in Preparing for the FE exam after a 15-year gap?

“I started with the Lindeburg books, and I opened them, and the first thing I see is, you know, integrals and derivatives. And I remember going through school thinking, I’m never going to use this again. So, yeah, as you can imagine, being out of school for so long, it’s like, you know, what is this? It’s like Chinese to me. I have no clue. What is this?

After being out of school for 15 years, Andres faced significant challenges when he decided to start studying for the FE exam. One of the biggest hurdles was diving back into complex subjects like integrals and derivatives, which he hadn’t touched since his school days. The material felt foreign, almost as if it were in a different language. Andres recalls opening the Lindeburg books and being overwhelmed by the content, questioning how he would ever relearn such advanced concepts after so much time had passed. This initial shock and the difficulty of reconnecting with long-forgotten material were among the toughest challenges he encountered on his journey to prepare for the FE exam.

How Did You Find Motivation to Continue Studying After Initial Setbacks?​

“I think it was the course, for sure. It gave me structure. That’s how I like to operate. I like things organized, structured. And that’s what I found with your course. I saw the courses before, and, you know, I was like, no, I don’t think it’ll work. It wasn’t clicking. And I saw the interviews, I saw your YouTube videos, and immediately I could relate to the way you teach.”

Initially, Andres struggled to stay motivated due to the overwhelming nature of the material and the difficulty in grasping concepts he hadn’t studied in years. However, his turning point came when he discovered a structured prep course that resonated with his learning style. The course provided him with the organization and structure he needed to stay on track, which was crucial for his study routine. Seeing interviews and videos of other students with similar backgrounds who had succeeded in passing the exam helped him realize that he wasn’t alone in his struggles. This connection and the structured approach of the course reignited his motivation and helped him push through the challenges he faced.

You better be on your A-game, and that means diet, exercise, good sleep. And then, at least for me, I needed the prep course. 

Andres R, Civil Engineer

How Did You Balance Studying With Your Personal Life?

“I tried working out, yeah. I did a little bit of exercise. I didn’t go, I didn’t get obsessed the first round, I did the second round, I wasn’t doing anything else besides studying. I wouldn’t recommend that to anybody, but that’s what I did. I don’t know, there were some weeks that I was just putting in more than 30 hours. But, yeah, my recommendation would be to have balance in your life. You cannot stop your life for study, you know?”

Balancing intense study sessions with personal life was a challenge for Andres, especially as the exam date approached. During his first round of preparation, he managed to maintain some balance, incorporating regular exercise into his routine. However, during the second round, as the pressure to pass the exam increased, he became fully immersed in his studies, often dedicating more than 30 hours a week. While this level of commitment ultimately helped him pass the FE exam on his first try, Andres advises against this approach. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between studying and other aspects of life, such as exercise, diet, and rest, to avoid burnout. In retrospect, he acknowledges that while his all-consuming focus on studying was effective, it wasn’t sustainable or healthy in the long run.

How Did Passing the FE Exam Impact Your Career and Personal Life?

“I think, you know, now I’m at a company where everything’s pretty structured, like all the positions, and I know that was definitely gonna hold me down if I didn’t, you know, pass my FE or get my PE. So, yeah, I guess just, you know, more credibility at work. But at the same time, I also took it for myself. Put a lot of weight on it, you know, like, you gotta be someone in life, so, yeah.”

Passing the FE exam had a significant impact on both Andres’ career and personal life. Professionally, it provided him with greater credibility and respect within his company, where passing the FE and eventually obtaining the PE license are crucial for career advancement. Andres knew that without passing the FE, his opportunities for growth within the company would be limited. However, beyond the professional benefits, passing the FE exam also had personal significance for Andres. He placed a lot of personal importance on achieving this milestone, viewing it as a necessary step toward becoming someone he could be proud of. The accomplishment brought him a sense of fulfillment and validation, reinforcing his belief in his abilities and setting the stage for future professional achievements.

How Did You Handle Setbacks or Moments of Doubt During Your Preparation?

“I think I just created a habit. You know, it’s like, okay, I gotta study every day, and I just kept on going. And of course, once you enroll in the course, it’s like, hey, you know, you made a commitment back then, you know? So try to stick to it. But yeah, I saw it wasn’t going to be enough time for me to keep on going and take the test before the end of the year.”

Throughout his preparation for the FE exam, Andres faced moments of doubt and setbacks, particularly during his initial attempts to study on his own. The material felt overwhelming, and progress was slow, leading to frustration. However, instead of giving up, Andres chose to establish a consistent study routine. He turned studying into a daily habit, something he did every day without questioning whether he should. This disciplined approach helped him push through the difficult periods when motivation was low. Additionally, enrolling in a structured course provided him with a sense of accountability—he had made a commitment, and that commitment kept him going, even when the challenges seemed daunting. Although he realized at one point that he wouldn’t be ready to take the exam by the end of the year as initially planned, he didn’t let this discourage him. Instead, he adjusted his timeline and kept moving forward, focusing on his ultimate goal of passing the exam.

What Was Your Experience Like on the Day of the FE Exam?

“That day I told myself, you already put in the effort, you’re done. There’s nothing else that you can do. So that kind of calmed me a little bit, but at the same time, there was still kind of, like, an underlying anxiety going in. But, yeah, it wasn’t a stressful situation or anything like that, which is fine.”

On the day of the FE exam, Andres approached the experience with a mix of calm and anxiety. He reminded himself that he had already put in the necessary effort, which helped ease some of his nerves. Despite this, there was still a lingering anxiety as he entered the exam, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Throughout the exam, Andres remained focused, although he admits to feeling tired by the end of it. He found himself unsure of his performance, thinking he might have failed. However, he also recognized that he might have been too hard on himself, reflecting on how his practice exams had sometimes left him with a similar feeling, only to find out later that he had done better than expected. Ultimately, the day was a mixture of relief and tension, with Andres doing his best to stay calm and push through the exam to the best of his ability.

What Advice Would You Give to Others Preparing for the FE Exam?

“You better be on your A-game, and that means diet, exercise, good sleep. And then, at least for me, I needed the prep course. And doing a lot of practice exams, I can’t stress enough how important that is because after the prep course or during the prep course, you have the temptation that, oh, you know, Kenza will solve it in the next video. But once you start taking the test, then you’re by yourself, nobody’s holding your hand, you know? So that’s how you really train for it.”

Andres emphasizes the importance of being fully prepared, both mentally and physically, when tackling the FE exam. His advice centers around maintaining a healthy lifestyle—good diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are essential components of being on your “A-game.” For Andres, enrolling in a structured prep course was crucial, as it provided the guidance and organization he needed to succeed. He also underscores the value of practice exams, which he believes are indispensable in preparing for the actual test. Practice exams help simulate the real exam environment, forcing you to rely on your own knowledge without external help. This, according to Andres, is where you truly train for the FE exam and ensure that you are ready to pass.

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