<p>I love math. I like physics (though it's one of my tougher subjects). I love technology. Electrical engineering seems a good choice for me. But I have some concerns that I was wondering if people can clarify or tell me about some of their own experiences.</p>
<p>1) Free time: Can I expect a good social life and also get a high GPA? I am taking a fairly heavy courseload in my senior year (by high school standards), but how does this compare to college? What kind of time commitment is required?</p>
<p>2) Competitiveness: After years of doing well in high school, I've grown competitive. I can hold my own against the smartest people in my school. Now I am entering a top-ranked engineering school (UT Austin Cockrell). I know I can't expect to be in the top 1% like I am in my high school, but is wanting to be in, say, the top 20% a stretch? I don't want to set myself up for disappointment.</p>
<p>3) Being a girl: I'm a social girl who (intially) comes across as fairly girly. I know electrical engineering has a stereotype for awkward, nerdy guys. I am scared I will be uncomfortable/out-of-place in that environment and I am terrified I won't be taken seriously as the guys.</p>
<p>I’m also in Cockrell and I can tell you that if you can manage your time well there is no reason for you not to have a social life. In all of my classes the girls are always the smartest ones so as a girl you will definitely be taken seriously. I have a few friends who are EE’s and they aren’t too awkward or nerdy. As for competitiveness, there are going to be people just as smart as you and probably many even more gifted than you. However if you try hard and give it your best theres no reason that you wont be in the top 20%!!</p>
<p>My mom graduated as in Electrical Engineer back in the 1980’s. In those days there were a total of 3 girls in the Electrical Engineering program at her school. She said she enjoyed it and never had a problem being one of only three girls. She said she had her pick of guys and she met my dad in the program and they married a year or so after graduation.</p>
<p>It’ll be easy to be in the top 20% if you use your time wisely. UT is a great school, but it’s a state school, so you’re going to have your fair share of dumb people.</p>
<p>I disagree - there won’t be many “dumb people” in the engineering school. It’s much harder to get admitted into engineering than into the university as a whole.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. I guess with UT being so big, one of the benefits is that I won’t be the only girl, so that’s good. :)</p>
<p>And yes, although UT probably does have those people who barely made it in, only because of the 9% rule, I know Cockrell has selective admissions. There aren’t many dumb people there.</p>
<p>I was an architectural (emphasis on structural) engineering major in the early 80s. I liked UT so much that I stayed for my master’s degree. The profs and students were great. I never felt treated differently being a woman. Like engineerisme’s mom, I met my husband there, in grad school.</p>
<p>Admission wasn’t as selective then, and there were still PLENTY of smart people there!</p>
<p>I guess dumb wasn’t the best phrase to use. You have kids who won’t study the right amount. Smart, but won’t study. If you spend your time wisely and study, you will be golden.</p>
<p>As a female EE student, welcome to Cockrell! You’ll love it </p>
<p>First, sorry about any grammatical errors. I’m typing this at 4 in the morning so it’s to be expected. Second, there are a lot of 'I’s in this response but I just wanted to share my personal experience with you rather than try to give you a generalized answer because that’s what I would have wanted if I were in your shoes: </p>
<p>1) EE isn’t a joke, obviously, and you’ll see tons of people drop EE after the first round of midterms. It takes hard work and during the semester you’ll tend to think that you have no free time at all but thinking back on it, I went out and hung out with my friends almost every day for an hour or so first semester. It’s just that you have to remember to do all your work first. </p>
<p>1a) It depends on what professors you get but generally, your first two years are always the hardest because they’re full of weed out classes. If it says anything, the average GPA for freshmen, female engineers (around a 2.7) is much lower than the average GPA for upperclassmen (around a 3.2). Just don’t put so much pressure on yourself. If you take EE319K your second semester of freshman year you won’t remember what free time is lol. That class seriously tests your dedication so if you can get past that point difficult classes thereafter seem much easier. </p>
<p>2) You actually sound a lot like me. I was the same way in HS and all I can tell you is that it’s sort of a difficult transition for people like us because you’ll find that everyone else in EE is incredibly smart as well. I’m pretty sure that you have to be in the top 2% to get into EE in the first place. With that being said, girls usually do better in EE. Top 20% really isn’t that hard at all. The hardest thing for me still is that professors seriously expect you to fail your exams and they curve the final grades accordingly so that those who performed decently get a C and so that a few get A’s and B’s. Idk, it’s mentally frustrating in my opinion to see a failing grade on an exam, even if with the curve you got an A. </p>
<p>3) Some of them are fit that stereotype while others don’t. It depends on how “hot” you are tbh. I don’t look like your stereotypical nerdy girl so a lot of guys ignored me and wouldn’t even take my help for a while (i.e. whenever I answered a question they would check the book to see if I was correct) no matter how well I knew the material. It’s really vital that you make friends quickly and show them what you’re capable of - whether through participation in study groups, helping each other with homework, etc. - because more often than not, they’re the ones who will respect your talents throughout the rest of your college career. I definitely feel accepted now but the first year was a little difficult because I came from a HS where everyone acknowledged me as the top student and then I had to start all over again at UT and build up my credibility one step at a time. Just be warned that guys are inevitably going to notice, stare, and flirt with you, seeing as you’ll be one of the few girls in EE…even your TA’s are going to do so. If nothing else, PLEASE take my advice and join a FIG if you’re going to be in EE and also join IEEE and take part in all Women in Engineering activities. It’ll make you feel more like you belong. </p>
<p>Feel free to message me if you have anything else you want to discuss :]</p>
<p>You will have free time and a social life, although not as much as kids in other majors. I would definitely say top 20% is a good goal, I would NOT beat myself up about being in the top 5% because engineering at the colllege level is tough!</p>
<p>As for being a girl, I can tell you from direct experience that it really won’t be an issue at all. I go to a community college right now, and I am literally the ONLY girl in the engineering classes. Because the classes are small, I ended up having classes with most of the same guys, and they are so far from awkward or nerdy. We study for all of our classes togethr and just joke around between - being a girl will not hold you back at all. Engineers are seriously the most awesome people, imho :)</p>
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