We look at why engineering offers you the opportunity to bechallenged, creative, socially-conscious – and let’s not forget thefinancial rewards!

Local students currently on engineering courses give you thehonest low-down on university life in a series of blogs from thefront-line. Also, put your own burning questions to them.

We also debunk some of the old stereotypes about engineers –no, they are not all beardy boffins!

It can be tough going it alone sometimes. You are interested in engineering but don’t know if you can facethe hassle of being the only one of your mates or family to study it at university. You’ve heard it’s boring, tooacademic, too much like hard work and you don’t know if it’s worth three or four years of your life when, let’sface it, there are other things to do.

The REACT Foundation has heard these concerns before and is keen to banish any myths, stereotypes or falseaccusations that engineers don’t know how to enjoy themselves! It also knows that at 18 the last person youwant to ask about your future is someone who thinks The Arctic Monkeys are a rare species of primate or thatMy Chemical Romance is a sort of weird love potion. So, to help convince you that engineering will open upyour world to all sorts of experiences, the Foundation has pulled in local engineering students currently studying or just finished studyingat university who have given answers to FAQs to help put your mind at rest.

The FAQs will give you the important stuff such as what the coursework entails, how to survive financiallyand how it feels to be away from home for the first time, alongside the nearly, but not quite as important info,such as where to hide the expensive toilet roll in students digs and how long you can live healthily on tunapasta and Red Bull!

Richard McCormack, who won the REACT Foundation Bursary prize in 2009, said: "I think these FAQs are a greatidea. It would have been useful to have access to this information from students already studying or just finished university. Engineering is definitely the career for me, but I know how daunting starting university can be. Hopefully these FAQs will encourage and persuade others into engineering."

The Foundation is passionate in its conviction that engineering offers unlimited opportunity and they care verydeeply that future talented engineers are not lost to the area simply through a lack of support and advice.If you think you have what it takes to thrive in engineering but are unsure about the commitment and skills needed, log onto the REACT Foundation Facebook page and talk through your concerns with those who understand.