Hey everyone! I am currently enrolled at NC State as a freshman in the first year engineering program. I am trying to get out of school as soon as possible (because its so expensive and I don’t want to be here longer than I have too :)) ). Therefore, I have been looking at taking classes over the summer at community college. I have found out which credits I need that will transfer, and was wondering if taking these classes would be worth it? For example, over the summer I would be taking Calculus 3, Physics 2, and maybe Differential Equations/a general education class. My concern is that these classes will not prepare me for upper level courses. I hope to major in MechE, by the way. However, I have heard that you don’t use TOO much of these classes in the upper level courses. Do you think it would be wise to take these classes over the summer?
Thanks in advance!
Taking classes over the summer is pretty common from my experience. The challenge with summer courses are that they are compressed and therefore you have to put in double time each week. I would not recommend taking more than 2 courses in the summer at the most. The ones I might advise you to choose are Physics 2 (since it is electromagnetism which is not as important for ME) and a general education course. You will need to have a really solid mathematics base and multivariate Calculus (so-called Calculus 3) is one of the more challenging courses you will have to take. Similarly differential equations is important for much of your future engineering courses so don’t cut corners.
Finally, make sure that you clear the courses you will be taking with NCSU both the Academic Affairs office and the ME Department.
Okay thanks for the advice. I also found a graphics class that will transfer (using autocad for engineering). Do you think it would be wise to take this engineering graphics class and physics 2?
Okay thanks for the advice. I also found a graphics class that will transfer (using autocad for engineering). Do you think it would be wise to take this engineering graphics class and physics 2?
Sounds like a good combination!