Chemical Engineering 18 credits?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hi I’ll be a sophomore in the fall intending to major in chemical engineering. I took 18 credits my last semester (even though the courses were a bit easier) and still finished with a 3.9 GPA…

These are the courses I’m taking during my fall semester and I am wondering if it will be too much work?

Organic Chemistry 1
Chemical Engineering- Intro to Material balances
Multivariable Calculus
Differential Equations
French Grammar and Composition (I’ve taken French in high school so i don’t think this will be a problem)
Intro Microeconomics

2

I would not. Orgo plus two maths plus what is likely your first real ChemE class = brutal. I actually took calc 3 over the summer after freshman year so that I didn’t have to take it and DiffEq at the same time.

3

If you take calculus 3 over the summer, you won’t learn anything. Fast pace and consuming if you’re not good with 2-3 variables.

4

I would not say that I “didn’t learn anything.”

I’m not suggesting it as an option for OP – it’s might be a bit last-minute to sign up for a summer class now – but just as an example of how little I wanted to take both of those math classes at the same time. As it was, I took Orgo 1, Physics 2, and DiffEq in the same 17-credit semester, and it wasn’t easy. I wouldn’t add a fourth hard class on top of three others.

5

The ChemEs at my daughter’s school had a suggested schedule that usually was 17-18 credits per semester to graduate in 8 semesters. Chem E is hard.

6

The challenge with orgo is the amount of time required to memorize so much information. Consider lightening the load and perhaps taking a summer school or online course to stay on track. It’s easy to find yourself neglecting sleep and letting stress build up as you try to push your way through the semester. If you need to spend the summer on campus, look for research opportunities in one of the universities’ labs.

7

“The challenge with orgo is the amount of time required to memorize so much information” That approach to learning and understanding Organic Chemistry is a sure pathway to failure

8

This is an outstanding idea. Because ChemE is so hard, you would do yourself a lot of good if you would take one or both maths over the summer. DiffEq and maybe Calc3 will also probably help with Material and Engery balances - i.e. you will have a competitive advantage in the course. This is a great thing to do after Freshman year because you really don’t know enough to get an internship, and really smoking the sophomore ChemE classes will put you in a great position to get a good co-op, internship or REU after sophomore year. The downfall of many ChemEs is overloading.

9

Summer classes are the way to go for ChemE majors who will not have internships or industry related summer employment. At most places, knocking out Multivariable Calc, Diff Eq or Organic Chem over the summer is an easier field to plow. Lake Jr. satisfied Organic Chem (not the engineer’s version, LOL) over the summer. Scored a good grade and didn’t look back. Not a cakewalk but definitely worth it. Avoid enrolling in Organic Chem and Thermodynamics 1 simultaneously at all costs.

10

Are you aligned with the chem eng curriculum map if you take multi var this fall and diff eq sophomore spring? If so, do that and take 5 courses this semester. The math department may have a track you need to follow sequentially based on course content even though theoretically you can take both courses at the same time. Ask.

Your Orgo class may be filled with pre med majors with intentionally light loads to get A’s. Universities plod through Orgo at different paces. Ask upperclassmen about class and study time required and their experience with exams/curve.

DD spent 22 hours a week on Orgo including 7 hours of class time. With many pre med students, it is the intentional weed out course. 5 classes that semester (diff eq, chem eng course, Orgo, Econ and history). Usually takes 5.5 or 6.