Best College Tips for Engineering Students

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>Newbie on board. I'm a sophomore who has just declared engineering as my major, so I have to fit 9 pre-requisites into my schedule. I decided to take 18-20 credits each term. My university also runs on the quarter system, so I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed (even with the pass-fail for one of my courses). I do not expect to get a 4.0 GPA, or even a 3.7 GPA due to the program's rigor. I currently have a tutor and study group for each term, and I meet with my professors consistently. But I would like to know, exactly how did you guys balance your engineering classes with extracurricular, work, and social life? Moreover, what academic hacks worked best for you as an engineering student?</p>

<p>P.S. I am a huge fan of Cal Newport's study hacks, but even those geared towards technical students do not always help...sometimes, no matter how early I start problem sets and collaborate, I still feel behind.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Nikayla</p>

2

<p>Go to class.</p>

3

<p>Wow thanks for alerting me to Cal Newport’s guide. It was quite fascinating and I learned a lot of useful things, mostly that I shouldn’t be doing useless extracurricular activities in college that don’t interest me!</p>

4

<p>Don’t take 18 to 20 hours per term when possible. Yor life will thank you.</p>

5

<p>Cut back to 15 units, admit that you have to take summer classes to get caught up, and get enough sleep.</p>

6

<p>Yes, take 15 credits without summers (based on 120 credits for the B.S. degree).</p>

<p>I am even more inclined to say take 13 a semester and take some general education courses during the summer.</p>

<p>Only the high-finance/investment banking areas (who hire engineering majors) frown on you using some summer terms to catch up.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone.</p>

<p>@IndianPwnerDude yeah…Cal Newport’s awesome!</p>

8

<p>My son, a bright kid, started out with 17 units. He lasted about a month and was so miserable we told him to drop a class! To graduate in four years, he would need to take 16 units each and every semester from here on out. Now he figures he’ll take at least one summer class the next three summers.</p>