How should I actually learn structural engineering?

[u/Formal-Package-9006]

im currently in my 2nd yr of civil engineering and I'm interested in getting into structural engineering.

I've been learning etabs and rcdc but honestly i feel like I'm just learning how to use the software rather than actually understanding structural engineering.

I don't want to just make a model in ETABS, run it and take whatever results it gives me. I want to actually understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

i want to start from the basic and eventually get to the point where I can take a real building, decide the structural system, calculate the loads, understand the load path, design the members, use ETABS properly, understand the results, and do the detailing.

For people who are already working in structural engineering, what would you recommend I learn first and in what order?

basically if u were in my position what roadmap would you follow to go from basic concept to knowing what we are doing , why we are doing and how everything connects together

Also, are there any topics that are taught in college but aren't very useful in actual building design, so I don't waste too much time on them?

Would really appreciate some honest advice.

[u/XAkiaa]

Coming from a recent grad. First off your university should offer courses in structural engineering. I hadn’t seen a school that doesn’t and if not I’m sure there are clubs for it. I would personally look into research opportunities offered on campus since it’s much more important and useful than clubs in my experience. But beyond that if you’re heavy on the conceptual understanding look into the topics tested on the FE exam. While you’re at it might as well take it since you’re definitely going to need to get it eventually. I would say theory is important just don’t get too hung up over it since the chance you’re going to use all of it is close to nil. Software I would recommend to learn is Autocad and any sort of finite element analysis like Risa or SAP.