In this article (and video above), I talk to Nabeal (Newton) W. Khatib, M.S., E.I. about how you can utilize the TTTT (4T) framework to be successful in your FE exam and other career efforts as an engineer.
Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Nabeal:
- Why did you decide to take the FE exam? Is it a requirement for your job?
- When would be a good time to take the FE exam?
- When studying for the exam, how did you manage your study time, and how long did you study for the exam?
- What tips can you give our listeners out there who are in the process of studying for their FE exams, or planning on starting to study for them soon?
- What would you tell our listeners, based on your career experience as a professional engineer, about whether or not to take the time to pursue their P.E. licenses?
Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed in This Episode:
- The FE exam is a requirement for the University of Colorado for undergraduates and graduate students. When Nabeal started his journey, he wanted to be on top of these exams and was determined to pass them the first time.
- Taking the FE exam later on in your career could be challenging. The best time to take the FE exam is when you are an undergrad and still in college. If you don’t have a chance to take it while you’re finishing your undergraduate program, take it before you leave school. Most of the topics are what you learned in the undergrad stage and what you are still familiar with. It could be complicated to remember how to design or solve specific things later in your career.
- Give yourself at least two or three months to prepare because it’s not the only activity you’ll be doing daily. Study for a few hours daily, but focus on it.
- Regarding the TTTT framework, the first T stands for Terms. Familiarize yourself with the terminology, terms, and concepts. The second T is Template. Build a template that includes exercises, practices, and prompts. The third T is Time. Manage your time effectively. And the fourth T is Trust. Trust yourself and trust in the process you’ve created.
- We are humans and need certain things to fulfill our desires and attain goals. Time management is crucial to achieving all the things we want and living our lives at the same time.
- These three points are important for writing your FE Exam.
1. Familiarize yourself with the handbook.
2. Plan a good time frame so you don’t stress yourself.
3. Time management — you have approximately three minutes to answer each question on the exam. - Familiarize yourself with the available tools, which in this case is the handbook. You can find a free copy of it at https://ncees.org
- To understand how crucial a P.E. license is, there are five important points to take into consideration:
1. Prestige.
2. Career development.
3. Authority.
4. Career Flexibility.
5. Money.
About Nabeal (Newton) W. Khatib, M.S., E.I.
Nabeal (Newton) W. Khatib, M.S., E.I. graduated from the University of Colorado with degrees in Civil and Structural Engineering. He is an affiliate professor at Metropolitan State University, Colorado, and teaches courses in analytical mechanics and engineering at the University of Colorado-Denver. An experienced engineer with a strong background in math, Newton is a firm believer in inspiring students to overcome their learning challenges, and he makes the learning process fun and smooth. In his free time, Mr. Khatib enjoys hiking, playing sports, walking, and exploring wonderful places in the U.S. and outside the U.S. with his beautiful wife, Manal, and precious daughter, Tala. Nabeal holds motivational speeches for young students and engineers in local high schools, colleges, and other seminars/webinars. Mr. Khatib is the founder and CEO of a tutoring company entitled “Legendfortutoring, LLC.” He shares his expertise on how to overcome the stress associated with taking the FE and the new CBT P.E, and has created several practice exams for them.
Sources:
This Episode Is Brought to You by PPI
PPI has helped engineers achieve their licensing goals since 1975. Passing the FE and PE exams can open doors to career advancement and new opportunities. Check out PPI’s wide range of prep options, including Live Online courses, OnDemand courses, and digital study tools to help prepare you to pass your licensing exam here.
I hope you found this week’s FE Exam article helpful. In upcoming articles, I will answer more FE Exam questions and run through more practice problems. We publish videos bi-weekly on our Pass the FE Exam YouTube Channel. Be sure to visit our page here and click the subscribe button as you’ll get expert tips and tricks to ensure the best success that you can’t get anywhere else. Believe me, you won’t want to miss a single video.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of the videos or here on this page and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.
I’ll see you next week.
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
