Hello all, I have been thinking about returning to school for engineering. This is something I really want to do but I’m worried about failing out. Going in I would be willing to make any sacrifices necessary but am worried I may not be smart enough. I was able to get an A in college Algebra and general Physics 1 but that is as high as I went in math and science. What I’m getting at is would someone who is average intelligence be able to make it through an engineering degree with a lot of hard work? I’m wanting to do either Mech, Chemical or environmental.
I would love to get some peoples opinions
Many people with “average” intelligence make it thru engineering school. What you need is good visualization skills, an aptitude for math and an ability to solve problems.
You state that your highest math class was algebra. That would be of some concern for me. Most entering freshmen will have had a least a pre-calculus class as well as trig. Many will also have had some calculus; which is useful but not absolutely necessary. Getting thru engineering school requires a fair number of classes that are in a sequence, the first of which will require a certain level of math.
So, your math level could become a hinderance to starting those sequences. I would suggest you take a pre-calculus class at your local CC. That would give you an idea about how your math skills are as well as enabling you to make it thru an engineering program in a timely fashion. You can also use that class to brush up on your study skills and time management skills; both of which are also needed to be successful in an engineering program.
Only you can answer that question OP. Math builds on itself, and most of engineering is applied math and physics . I would think you would need to take at least precalc and possibly calc before being able to even apply to an engineering program. Taking some more advanced math courses might give you a better sense if you can tackle the more advanced work. Good luck.
The primary ingredients for success in any field is commitment and desire. Engineering is no different. It just requires a lot of attention to math. On average, older returning students to colleges perform better than younger students…perhaps because they know why they are there.
Key to basic calculus is a very sound understanding of simultaneous systems as typically taught in Algebra II and should have been in you college algebra course. Hard work is OK. You can actually get smarter as time passes.
I would take a calculus course in a CC and see how it goes. My guess is you will do fine!
Good engineers are not geniuses, they just work hard. because they enjoy what they are doing.
There are two major approaches to engineering. Four year degrees are awarded in Engineering and in Engineering Technology. They are related, but they are not the same. The Engineering Technology does not require the same depth in math studies as does the regular BS degree. The technology degree does not give the foundation needed for graduate engineering studies. Both pay well, but the BS in engineering, on average, pays better. If the math is too heavy, the technology programs may be your option.
I finished college on the GI Bill and found younger students did not have the same focus.
I hope this is helpful!!
Thank you all for the replies! I did not take school seriously in highschool and I liked math but think due to issues with self confidence from struggling with ADHD through my early days caused me to feel I couldn’t do it. I had to start with algebra 1 at community college, I worked hard made it through college algebra and physics 1 with an A. I am feeling more confident to take this chance now. I am going to purchase a pre calculus book and use the Math Tutor Lecture Mobile app to start learning on my own and apply in the Spring semester.
Also please note that intelligence is not an immutable quantity (and can’t really be objectively measured anyway).
I have ADHD and I have a masters degree. I also do programming for a living. School has absolutely nothing to do with smarts. It’s about hard work and tenacity. In fact, “smart” is a gross overgeneralization of a small subset of people who are good at spitting out information on tests. Don’t compare yourself to them. They’re not "smarter, they’re just different, like everyone else.
Can you do it? ABSOLUTELY you can! You need to see a doctor on a regular basis and make sure you you always have medicine. The medicine tends to wear off at the end of a typical work day, but doctors can prescribe small dose meds to study in the evenings. For me, if I put as much study time as my peers, I could get Bs. If I doubled that, I could get As. Everyone is different.
Keep an open mind. If you have the drive for engineering and you want to do the math, then GREAT! There are a lot of other majors too, like computers…and yes I’m a little bias 
There’s a big misconception that computer programming requires a lot of math. For most jobs, it doesn’t require any math at all. All you need is a IT degree with an entry-level proficiency in one mainstream language like Java, C#, or SQL. Everything else is learned on the job. People with ADHD tend to excel at developing code, because the whole thing is trial and error. Being a mistake-prone person with ADHD is actually an asset in a developer environment, because you catch mistakes by testing your code over and over.
The advantage with people with Adhd is that they tend to hyper focus when at the correct dose of medicine and sometimes without it. This is a huge advantage when studying or learning math etc. Learn study techniques also like study for 30 minutes or an hour then take a short break and repeat. Find what works for you. Try to use organizers, reminders /notifications on your cell phone etc to remind you what to do next. Create a system that works for you. Many top Fortune 500 CEO’s have ADHD. Usually makes you creative in a different way and think out of the box. Use this to your advantage. Good Luck. As @coolguy40 implied… You can do this!!! Having Adhd is not a detriment. It can actually be an advantage… If you have accommodations for testing also… use them.