<p>I am currently a sophmore at a community college, and looking to transfer out after getting an associates. I am thinking about mechanical engineering, but I am way behind in my math classes (currently in pre-cal)! Math is an odd subject for me, I am either really good at some parts, and bad in other areas. It's fair to say I am not a math genius.
Is it worth it to follow for engineering? I hear that engineering is quite a hard subject, and I will be spending countless hours studying once I really get into it. I'm doing well now, As in physics II and materials science, but those classes are just equations anyways.</p>
<p>I know the reward for engineers is very good ($$), but I'm afraid of having difficulty and not finishing (given my rocky history in school). I could choose an easier major such as environmental studies, and not worry about driving myself nuts the next few years. </p>
<p>So my question is, how much harder are the calculus classes? And is it generally possible to start as a junior in mechanical engineering while still taking calc III and diff. equa.?</p>
<p>How can you be doing well in Physics II (Electricity & Magnetism) without calculus? Are you taking the calculus-based version for engineering majors?</p>
<p>Many junior level classes require differential equations and Calc III as a pre-requisite. </p>
<p>Mechanical engineering is very math intensive. If you aren't good at math, you would find yourself struggling very often. </p>
<p>I too am confused about how you have taken physics I and II without any calculus. However, I am aware that there are physics classes taught without the calculus based development. These classes would not transfer over to a mechanical engineering degree at any accredited engineering program.</p>
<p>I am a mechanical engineer at Berkeley, and we use a lot of math in the upper division ME courses. Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer in particular. Especially in my Fluids class, the professor likes to make us derive the equations of motion which involve a lot of advance calculus techniques, such as gradients, curls, divergence theorem, partial derivatives, etc. Differential Equations are also used a lot, such as in beam theory in a Strength of Materials Course. So yea, if you want to do ME, get use to doing a lot of math.</p>
<p>Whether to try engineering is mostly up to you. But what you need to be aware of is that many engineering colleges require you to have completed 2 to 3 calculus courses, calculus based Physics I and II, chemistry, and certain other courses to even be considered as a transfer student. So if you are considering such a trasnsfer, you need to look at schools you might transfer to and see if you can even meet their requirements.</p>
<p>I have taken general physics I and II (they are not suppose to use calculus in this level). From what I have seen, looking at transfer requirements, it is possible to transfer over general physics to a BSME. For example, at San Jose SU, the 50 series physics classes are accepted in place of the 70 series. I will have to have taken a total of 4 physics class in the 50 series though. And they are ABET accredited.</p>
<p>They most definitely are supposed to use calculus for General Physics I and II for engineering transfers. Physics 50 and 70 at SJSU are both calculus-based series. Even if somehow they make a mistake and give you transfer credit for those physics classes, you'd have no hope of doing well in ME without that background.</p>
<p>Well, good thing I found out about this. At my school, in general physics, they are not suppose to use calculus (that's what my teacher said). Obviously gen. physics at my school is not the same as at 4 year colleges. It makes sense, now that I think about. I guess I am really far behind in requirements for ME, I might be better off choosing another major.</p>