From 1794 until 1797 Poinsot was a student at the École Polytechnique but then he left and went to study at the École des Ponts et Chaussée with the intention of becoming an engineer.
Mula 1794 hanggang 1797 Poinsot ay isang mag-aaral sa École Polytechnique ngunit pagkatapos ay siya sa kaliwa at nagpunta sa pag-aaral sa École des Ponts et Chaussée sa balak ng pagiging isang engineer.