FEATURED TESTIMONIAL - I Passed!

The results of the October 2018 Exam are starting to come in, and we love to hear those two words – I Passed!

“I passed! This was my first attempt at the P.E. I felt that your prep course did a great job of preparing me for the October 2018 Machine Design & Materials exam. The PRNs were key. Also, the strategy you provided of making three passes was also very important. I have been recommending your course to colleagues and to my students.”
Dr. David Raymond, PE, California State University, Los Angeles, CA

“I passed the Civil Geotechnical PE exam on my first try in October 2018, and I attribute this to Dr. Tom’s Classroom for providing the best schedule, study material, and strategies and also introducing a great team of instructors. I would highly recommend his classes to anyone who is planning on taking their PE exam.”
- Dadbeh Dowlatshahi, P.E., Houston, Texas

“I am proud to report that I received a passing score on the October 2018 Thermal & Fluids exam. I must admit that am quite surprised to say the least. If someone who has not looked at undergraduate engineering for over 30 years can pass using this course, then this is positive proof that the DTC method is effective.”
- Steven, PE, Virginia Beach, VA

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NASA Needs Snow Data - You Can Help

Here in Raleigh at the DTC home base, we just got our first big snow of the season, and it was a doozy. We may have been caught by surprise, but researchers around the US have been thinking about snow for years!

Did you know that information about how much snow is on the ground at any given time allows scientists and engineers to predict trends in water supply for agriculture and hydropower and provides crucial information about where and when we might encounter snow-related hazards such as avalanches? The problem lies in gathering enough accurate data on snow depth around the country.

But now there’s a new project funded by NASA to let those who play in the snow help study the snow! It aims to have citizen scientists help to broaden and improve our understanding of snow. The project is called “Community Snow Observations” (CSO), and it’s targeting skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and more, who will measure snow depth and report the information on an app on their phones! So grab your sled and go do a little science on your snow day. - Beth Sciaudone, DTC Civil Water Resources & Environmental Instructor

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Perseverance Can Pay Off!

While there are plenty of people who pass the PE Exam on the first try, there are are quite a few who don’t. We have lots of folks who come to DTC after trying to study on their own or taking review courses from other sources, and we have helped many of them pass on their second, third, and, in one case, their eighth try! So don’t give up! With a dedicated effort on your part and our tried and true review method, you can succeed!

“With DTC’s help I finally passed the Civil PE exam after several previous attempts! The organization of the course material helped me out tremendously.”
– PE, Baton Rouge, Louisiana  (WRE)

“On my first attempt at the PE exam I gathered all the recommended materials I could find, established a system and devoted 260 hours to studying. I failed. Too much of my self directed study time was spent studying high challenge low probability material or material that wouldn't even be on my depth portion or the exam at all. Dr. Tom provided strategy, guidance and clarity on what to expect on the exam as well as well organized high quality review material and videos.”
- Brad Townsend, P.E., MAJ USA

“I had taken a different review course previously, but didn't pass. I was unsure if another review course would help. I liked Dr. Tom's course because he provided test taking tips specific to the P.E. exam. This was key for me.”
- John Kilgore, PE, Mantech, Huntsville, AL

“As a repeat exam taker, I felt like I was prepared the first time I took the exam, but very inefficient. With the Dr. Tom Method on the second, I had 75-80% of the necessary formulas, conversions, and charts/graphs right in front of me. I also understood the importance of not dwelling on any one single problem for too long, which also hurt me in the first attempt. I passed on the second attempt. Thanks to Dr. Tom and his staff for helping me achieve this career and personal goal.”
- Phillip Scrimpshire, Thompson’s Welding Services, Hamilton, MS

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Achieve the Extraordinary - Shannon Warchol’s Story

As an academic researcher, using my PE seal is rare, usually reserved for when I'm trying to recall my license number to record PDHs. Yet having that designation has still allowed me to achieve great personal fulfillment. Researchers can become so focused on specific questions that we often miss or forget the larger picture. Preparing for, and passing, the PE has provided tremendous personal confidence, reminding me that although my daily work may be highly specialized, I still have the ability to relearn, recall, and understand the general knowledge that underlies our field. Professionally, holding a PE designation is critical as a young professional. Most of my clients are practicing engineers. Having my license brings a sense of commonality and understanding when I walk into a room to present findings. The PE designation is about so much more than the seal - it is about the personal and professional respect from and for all others whom you encounter.  - Shannon Warchol, DTC Civil Structural Instructor

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Where Did All the Water Go?

"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink." A line from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It comes to no surprise that the world has a clean water supply problem. Quantifying it staggers the mind. A recent ASME article discussed a new robot that could pinpoint with a very high level of accuracy the location of links in pipes. In Saudi Arabia, where water is the most expensive in the world, 30% is lost to leaks and maintenance issues. These new robots by WatchTower Robotics are unique in that they can detect leaks within a foot of where they are in a piping system. What the designers of these robots discovered in talking to potential customers was that the robot with its GPS system would help them find the pipe that had the leak. As old as many water systems are, especially in large cities, the location of pipes has been lost in time.  Robots with these kind of capabilities could change the quality of life for literally millions of people.And we certainly don't want to say to ourselves one day, "where did all the water go?" - Dr. Tom

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FEATURED TESTIMONIAL – Targeted Review That’s Worth It

“The most valuable aspect of the course for me was that Dr. Tom provides a finite range of material to study, so that I did not have to guess about what might be on the exam. That alone was worth the price of the course. It also helped me to have the structure of the course to follow. I am a teacher myself, and I recognize that Dr. Tom is personally invested in the success of his students. He puts a lot of thought and work into providing good instruction. Dr. Tom and staff, thank you so much for all of your help.”
John Gravitt, PE    

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Engineering Toys - Our Favorites: Tegu Magnetic Blocks

My favorite engineering toys are Tegu magnetic block sets. They are a new take on the classic wooden blocks. With a magnets inside each block, that make building easier and more stable, providing a better opportunity to experiment with different types of structures and creatures. They allow kids to solve problems, build a variety of objects, and use creativity to come up with numerous designs. The Tegu YouTube channel has dozens of videos showing you how to make a wide variety of things with the blocks. I usually sit down beside my kids and build with them. I have as much fun as they do!  - Daniel Findley, DTC Civil Transportation Instructor

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Time Is Running Out to Save $100!

Today is the last day to get $100 Off any 20-Week Review with our Thanksgiving Discount. So sign up today, save $100, and begin your journey to becoming a Professional Engineer. Use discount code: THANKS20w100.

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Friday 11/23 - Monday 11/26
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Happy Thanksgiving from Everyone at Dr. Tom’s Classroom!

$100 Off Any 20-Week Review!

We are very thankful for the many wonderful folks who have put their trust in us to help them pass the Civil and Mechanical Professional Engineering Exams.

To express our gratitude, we are offering a special Thanksgiving Discount of $100 off our 20-Week Reviews from Friday, Nov. 23 through Monday, Nov. 26.

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Achieve the Extraordinary - Mike Batten’s Story

Becoming a Professional Engineer has enabled me to participate in a number of extraordinary projects throughout my career. These range from as simple as performing the foundation design for a local university parking deck to as complicated as performing foundation design and oversight on the replacement of the Bonner Bridge in North Carolina and replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. I've personally driven over these bridges multiple times, and I have friends and relatives that drive them on a regular basis and always comment on construction progress, and how magnificent these structures actually are. Without becoming a Professional Engineer, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to participate in such extraordinary engineering projects. My PE registration has given me a chance to make a positive impact on the public and has given me great stories that I can share with my children. - Mike Batten, PE, DTC Civil Geotechnical Instructor

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Engineering Toys - Our Favorites: Mini Strandbeest Wind Robot

With the holidays just around the corner, here at DTC, we’ve already started thinking about gifts, and we want to share some of our favorite engineering toys. If you’ve never seen Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests in action, you should check out the many videos online showing his colossal, mesmerizing, wind-driven, kinetic sculptures walking down beaches around the world. What’s even better is that you can have a mini version of your own that takes only 90 minutes to assemble. Just add a breeze, and it’s off and walking. - Dr. Tom

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FEATURED TESTIMONIAL - Flexible to Fit Your Schedule - Whatever It Is!

“I’m a father with two young children and a demanding job. I knew that finding a study resource was critical for me. I wasn’t going to be able to commit hours mid-day or on the weekend to studying. I found the Dr. Tom course after researching PE exam study aids. The initial testimonials grabbed my attention, and after watching your exam strategy videos I felt instantly confident that this was the right program for me. The structure and organization provided by the course and the frank commentary on what or what not to study, were critical in my success. I can’t comment on any other study programs out there, but I can say with complete certainty that the Dr. Tom program ensured my ability to pass the exam. I can’t thank them enough!”
- Aaron John Tippie, PE, Westwood Professional Services, Inc., San Antonio, Texas

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Autonomous Vehicle Crashes - Oops! We’re Hitting Them

Autonomous vehicles may revolutionize the way we travel, interact with society, and accessibility (amongst a multitude of other possible impacts). Many experts agree that an autonomous driving world will provide safety benefits. However, many also speculate about the difficulty in the transition period (and the length of the transition period between mostly human drivers and mostly autonomous driving). A recent Wired article explored the limited available data thus far to figure out how crashes are occurring with autonomous vehicles. The answer - we (the human drivers) are rear-ending them. 57% of self-driving car crashes were rear-end type crashes in 2018 in California (followed by 29% sideswipe crashes). The future remains unknown in terms of how we will interact with this new technology and how quickly the market will become saturated, but both aspects will have long-term effects on highway safety. - Daniel Findley, DTC Civil Transportation Instructor

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Start Strong. Finish Strong.

The PE Exam is not a sprint; it’s a distance race. And it requires careful preparation to be in good form on exam day. Dr. Tom developed the 20-Week Review because he found, after many years of preparing engineers for the PE Exam, that 20 weeks is the optimal time frame for learning and retaining the knowledge and skills you need to pass the exam.

Sign up and start your DTC 20-Week Review for the April 2019 Civil or Mechanical PE Exam today!



“The PE exam is a “mental marathon” and a major undertaking for anyone, especially someone like myself who had been out of school for 30 years. I passed on my first try, and I attribute this to Dr. Tom’s Classroom for reinforcing basic engineering fundamentals which were lost in my mind. His encouragement, knowledge of MERM, and basic drilling of problems was invaluable in my success. I would recommend his classes to anyone who is planning on taking their PE exam.”
- Michael Sulva, PE, GE-Hitachi, Wilmington, North Carolina

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Achieve the Extraordinary - Beth Sciaudone’s Story

When I first started working as a consulting engineer, I was nonplussed that my title was "Coastal Scientist" - after all, I had spent over 8 years studying engineering - couldn't that be my title? It turns out that I could only be called a "Coastal Engineer" once I had obtained my P.E. license.

Well, I got down to business researching when I could take the exam. With other work experience and my Ph.D. in hand, it turned out that I only had to wait about two years before I was eligible to sit for the exam. I started studying (and let me tell you - I wish Dr. Tom's method had been around back when I was sitting down every week working through the CERM!) to get ready to take the exam in April of 2004.

When exam day arrived, I was about 4 months pregnant, which made that year doubly exciting, as my first daughter was born right after I found out that I passed.

I was so proud to order my new business cards with "Engineer" as my title, and I got a raise to boot! I left those old business cards behind in the recycling bin. I'm proud to be a role model for my daughters, who know that they too can achieve whatever they set their minds to.  - Beth Sciaudone, DTC Civil Water Resources & Environmental Instructor

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