Am I screwed for a job/grad school?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hey guys, I've been lurking here for years now, decided to make an account. I am an electrical engineering senior at purdue university, was wondering if I would have a tough time getting a job upon graduation (after next semester). </p>

<p>By the way, the first 3 semesters I was chemical engineering, then I switched to electrical engineering.</p>

<p>Here's my academic transcript:</p>

<p>Semester 1
CHM 115 General Chemistry - B
MA 161 Calculus 1 --------- B
ENGR 126 Eng Prob/Comp -- C
PHYS 149 Mechanics ------ C
ENGR 100 Seminar --------- P
Semester GPA - 2.60</p>

<p>Semester 2
MA 162 Calculus 2 ---------- A
ENGL 108 Accel English ------ B
CHM 116 General Chemistry2 - C
PHYS 172 Mechanics -------- C
Semester GPA - 2.8</p>

<p>Semester 3
MA 261 Calculus 3 ----------- C
ECON 251 Microeconomics --- C
PHYS 241 Elec/Magnet ------ W
CHE 200 Seminar ------------ P
CHM 261 Organic Chem ------ F
CHM 263 Organic Lab -------- F
CHE 205 Mat/Enrgy Balances - F
Semester GPA - 1.3</p>

<p>Semester 4
ECE 200 Elec & Comptr Engr Sem -- P
ECE 201 Linear Circuit Anly 1 ------ B
ECE 207 Elect Measure Technique - A
PHYS 272 Elect/Magn Interactions - A
MA 266 Ordinary Differ Equatn ----- A
CHE 205 Mat/Enrgy Balances ------ A
Semester GPA - 3.7</p>

<p>Semester 5
ECE 202 Linear Circuit Anly 2 ------ B
ECE 255 Intr Electron Anly Design -- A
ECE 208 Electron Dev & Des Lab 1 - A
ECE 270 Intro Digitl Sys Desgn ----- A
MA 265 Linear Algebra ------------- A
Semester GPA - 3.8</p>

<p>Semester 6
ECE 301 Signals and Systems ------ A
ECE 311 Elec & Magnetic Fields ---- A
ECE 321 ElectMech Motion Device -- A
ECE 305 Semiconducter Devices --- A
ECE 323 ElectMech Motion Dev Lab - A
ECE 455 Integ Circuit Engineering --- A
Semester GPA - 4.0</p>

<p>Had an internship after this semester. My only work experience.</p>

<p>Semester 7
ECE 302 Probabilistic Methods ------ A
ECE 400 Elec Engr Undergrad Sem -- P
ECE 445 Modern Filter Design ------ A
CHM 261 Organic Chemistry 1 ------ A
Semester GPA - 4.0 (Pretty sure I will get a 4.0)</p>

<p>Semester 8
ECE 402D EE Design Projects ------- A
ECE 362 Microprocessor syst/interf - A
ECE 382 Feedback System/Design -- A
Random complementary electives - All A's
Semester GPA - 4.0 (Again, pretty sure about this)</p>

<p>Overall GPA - Probably 3.30 to 3.40</p>

<p>**Basically, I took freshman year lightly because I thought most of it was bs work. Then the first semester of real engineering courses, I realized I HATED chemE. I hated the smartass nerds in the major, I hated the lack of a curve since everyone was so damn smart, I hated the lack of diversity, and I hated the way the courses were taught. I got such a crappy GPA because of sleep surprisingly - I think I had an undiagnosed sleeping disorder back then, or it was because of my body's stress due to bodybuilding and studying at the same time.</p>

<p>SO I switched to ECE, and tried my best, for the first time in my life. I gave my 100% effort and this is what I ended up with.**</p>

<p>Basically I just want to know how screwed am I in terms of getting a job, or even getting into grad school? I'm asking this because of my 1.3, and my 3 F's. It's really embarrassing to look back on that. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>No, definitly not screwed.</p>

<p>What that transcript shows it that you found not only what you are good at, but what you are interested in. IMO, it's an impressive gpa. If only knew you should of been in EE from the get go.</p>

<p>I would suggest you apply for whatever you want (grad school or job) and if they ask about that then have something prepared along the lines of "it was then that I new ChemE wasn't for me, but as you can see my EE grades are outstanding" blah blah blah... Chances are they won't even ask.</p>

<p>If you have trouble getting into grad school talk to one of those profs you've been aceing the class of and see if they can't help. If I've learned one thing I've learned that 1) one mistake does not detroy your chances, 2) you never get what you don't ask for, or at least you are less likely to get it, and 3) Counting isn't my strong suit.</p>

<p>Take care, good luck, and have fun.</p>

3

<p>Predicting future GPAs FTL.</p>

4

<p>probably not...it seems like you did well in all of the classes that are specific to your major...also an upward trend...but i'm only a freshman so what do i know... maybe some of those who are in the industry now can chime in</p>

5

<p>3.0+ gpa is considered damn good in engineering....plus if you're going for a job in the EE field I doubt employers/grad school will care what you got in chemical processes :rolleyes:</p>

6

<p>An upward trend + good experience = formula for awesome.</p>

<p>Keep your chin up. One bad semester is not going to ruin you.</p>

7

<p>Thats some crazy improvement. Wow. If you have another semester or two, try to start on a research under a professor. That will increase your chances for better job/grad schools even more.</p>

8

<p>Well, you are not screwed at all. Yet you really improved your performance tremendously. The admission committee will be more interested in your overall performance and they will be most likely impressed by your excellent grades in the last five semesters. Besides, when you apply for a job or a graduate school, I am assuming you will apply to the electrical engineering programs and the admission committee or the employers will be looking at your electrical engineering courses and they will ignore the chemistry courses. So, don't worry; you are in a very good shape, just make sure you include that in your personal statement and explain to them why you received these bad grades with the chemistry courses and tell them you have rectified that by doing excellent with much harder and more rigorous courses.</p>

9

<p>A good idea would be to include your "major" gpa on your resume. That way, they will see the 4.0 in your major courses and know you understand the concepts required for the job.</p>

10

<p>Are you kidding?! You'll be fine. Congrats on your achievements.</p>

<p>BTW, I hated O Chem too. My second semester O Chem class at Berkeley was taught by a professor who wrote the textbook!</p>

11

<p>HAH! WOW! That's great! I love how you got all A's in the rest of the classes. Semiconductors is excruciating - that must've been the hardest class to stay awake in :) That's how it is for me, at least.</p>

12

<p>Aren't you interviewing now for jobs if you are graduating next semester?</p>

13

<p>Yea, i'm sure your major GPA is great so........you might want to list that...</p>

14

<p>Employers and professors look for talent. </p>

<p>You've matured and have demonstrated it beautifully. Outstanding job. I'd love to figure out a way to get your resume to my company without compromising my identity.</p>

<p>You should definitely not worry.</p>

15

<p>Honestly I wonder what would've happened had I not had 4.0's, but had atleast a 3.5+ each semester instead. </p>

<p>Do you guys think it would've made any difference?</p>

<p>I'm just curious because I could've had a lot more free time if I tried maintaining a 3.5 after my 1.3 semester. Because I got 4.0's, all I was involved in was academics/bodybuilding. I went out probably once a week if anything.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

16

<p>It would have made a lot of difference. An A leaves open the possibility that you would have gotten an A even if the course was harder. An A- doesn't leave open that possibility. All those A's indicate that you've figured out how to master a wide variety of subjects, have set the highest standard of excellence for yourself, and will accept nothing less. Your mentor at your next gig obviously will assume that your standard of excellence will carry forward, and you'll be compensated accordingly. I think you made the right choice.</p>

17

<p>I knew a girl who partied her ass off while in school and she still pulled a 3.20 GPA in undergrad chemical engineering. I think her employer is going to pay for her MBA.</p>

18

<p>Wow.. major improvement! I'm currently a sophomore in ECE at Purdue. I'm pretty much going the opposite route as you. I completely nailed freshman year but I have always had a dilemma when it came to social life vs academics. Needless to say, I've decided to go easy this semester and the repurcussions are there (probably getting a B in 201 T_T). What are your study habits and how did you go about making such a huge change? Btw, I also the bodybuilding/academics thing. That's ideal IMO.</p>

19

<p>Are you really going to graduate in four years? How's it possible after changing majors?</p>

20

<p>I took summer school after my fourth semester. I also did all my geneds online during one summer.</p>