So, my sister and I talk about difficulty of math/stats vs engineering. We’re about equally far along in our majors (I’m taking an extra year to minor in French since I have time and a scholarship) - me in math/stats and her in aerospace engineering - with GPAs of 4.3/4.33 (mostly A+, but nothing below A) and 3.77/4.0, but with a downward trend (1 A, 1 B+, 2 B’s, 1 C+ this semester - the A and B+ outside her major), respectively. And I know both of these GPAs are great, and that since my sister is aiming for industry, 3.5+ is really good. (I’m possibly aiming for top grad schools, so I’d like to get a reasonably high GPA.) Our unis are of similar tier (not like Harvey Mudd versus Prairie View A&M).
Is engineering significantly tougher than math and statistics, for people of similar backgrounds attending universities of similar level? (I’m well aware that job prospects right after a bachelor’s or master’s are better in engineering.)
Depends on what subjects a given student finds more difficult. I.e. math with proofs (math major) or solving design problems using math and physics (aerospace engineering).
Engineering majors typically have more voluminous course requirements, so that the percentage of your courses dedicated to an engineering major tends to be higher than for a math major. Engineering majors also have more time consuming lab and project courses, so the workload may be higher, whether or not you find them more intellectually difficult.
@ucbalumnus I think that what may be what she’s experiencing. Although I’m applied math + stats, I still don’t have many labs, and most of my projects are just analyses, not design. She has a lot of labs (which aren’t difficult for her, I think) and group projects (which are more difficult). I’m taking extra math courses to supplement my major ('cause math is awesome). She mostly misses concept questions on exams, which is the reason her in-major grades this semester.
She actually had SOME electives, at least. But she opted for a math minor, which used 3 of them, and she only has 2 more.
Would you say that time management is more critical for engineering majors?
Probably, due to the higher amount of work, even if it is not that difficult for the given student.