Engineering back up plan? What if I can't handle it?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I want to be Mechanical engineer. Thats what I want to do. I want to build stuff, find out how they work, break things, you know what I mean. But I can't handle it... I'm in high school now, a senior, and I'm taking a college level pre calc course to get an extra math credit, and I can't handle it. Its not the formulas or whatever, I'm just not that good at math as I should be. I know its just high school, but in a year it won't be. The portion of your life where "you still have time left" is over for me. Its do or die, and I'm dying. I am going to Northern Arizona University (hopefully, still waiting on my letter). and I spoke to the admissions person and she said i was all good to go to get in. So i'm not worrying about that, but statistically speaking, people like me drop out before the end of the semester before we flunk out. Don't get me wrong I'm still going to work my ass off, study, tudors, and all that crap. But that isn't enough for some people. Their "best" isn't good enough, and they get axed. </p>

<p>But what I mean to say is, what then? I get axed, and I'm left with no Major, no goal, no direction. Being an engineer is all I wanted to be, and that is slipping away. What should I do after that? I don't know much about other majors, and I have a moderate interest in Psychology, but I can't see myself sitting on a couch asking how people feel about things (I know thats not how it all is, but bear with me.). If I was to pursue business, what does that even mean? And what would i do with that? Honestly I really don't know. I just want the input of someone who has been there, probably had to switch majors, and could point me in the right direction (or any direction). Because reading description doesn't really tell you how its really like out there.</p>

<p>And about me, my personality is just an engineer, logical, persistent, dedicated, socially awkward without any friends. I am open to absolutely anything. Any idea is a good idea.</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I think you need to go to community college. Arizona has pretty decent ones, and it’ll help you prepare for engineering at a very reasonable price.
I haven’t personally gone through any such experience, but my brother has. Community college is a very nice way to pull your ***** together without potentially murdering you with costs. You can easily transfer after a semester, year, or two years after you’ve figured things out. Most people who successfully transfer do better than average.
If it doesn’t work out, you’ll be able to find a good way to deal with it all the same. I highly suggest you enroll in one.</p>

3

<p>You seem really stressed. I know this feels like it is the end of the world…but really it isn’t. You are what, 18, maybe? This is not the end of the road, or do or die, or anything…this is the beginning. You do not have to be a genius to go to engineering school. You do have to be good at math, but good does not mean you have to be amazing. You seems to think you are lacking in your math skills, its good that you are aware of them. PINPOINT the areas and remedy the situation, take a remedial course if you have to. Like NEO said, CC is good for that kind of thing. </p>

<p>Btw engineering is a lot different than what most people think it is… its really not about building/breaking/fixing and all that jazz, its higher up than that.</p>

<p>But if you see yourself in engineering, and it is what you want, have some faith in yourself, fix your deficiencies with math (maybe at a CC, maybe at the university), and do it. A lot of people these days seem to really psych themselves out, stop worrying and just do what you need to do.</p>

<p>Also, about the psychology option…I would not advise this unless you clearly understand that you will need to go the PhD route to make a descent salary. I actually have a psych degree, and came back to school to finish an Engineering degree.</p>

4

<p>If you are struggling with pre-calc, you may indeed find engineering tough. But it sounds like you really have a knack for analysis and building things. Try talking to your guidance counselor about engineering and other paths that are a potential good fit.</p>

5

<p>Have you considered skilled trades? They use a lot of those build it / break it / fix it skills. A smart person who’s good with their hands can make good money in a skilled trade (and will often pick up a business degree later - sometimes paid for by an employer).</p>

<p>Alternatively, the CC near me has a couple of Engineering Technology options, which require no more math than trig (precalc). ET tends to be more hands-on, too.</p>

<p>I have a psych degree, and went back to school to pick up enough accounting hours to become a CPA. Psych is one of the less useful 4-year degrees.</p>

6

<p>IA with a lot in this thread, and will add a bit:</p>

<p>I am in CC, and love it. I am ambitious and looking forward to making it into a big engineering school, but I really like my time here. Good mix of people sort of floating and trying to figure it out, people with no money, people who ****ed up once and are moving toward something specific, and combinations thereof. </p>

<p>It’s not do or die time. It’s never do or die time, until you die. Sounds a little reading rainbow, but there are people who thought they were completely stupid (or terrible at math or w/e) who go back to school in their 50s and do awesome things. So don’t feel any pressure. It’s always there for you.</p>

<p>As Ally suggested, you may be more interested in Engineering Tech than Engineering, and there is the added benefit of less math.</p>

<p>Also, how are you “bad” at it? Are you just not grasping the concepts? I am taking precalc right now as well, and I have spent a lot of time in the library with a lot of classmates, and something interesting I have noticed: EVERYONE gets the stuff we are working on. The problems pop up because they have holes in older stuff. Fractions, algebra, etc. </p>

<p>I’ve literally learned everything I know about math since January, though. I sat down last winter and started teaching myself how to subtract by hand. So whatever gaps are there, plugging them is really just a matter of diligence. </p>

<p>So I really don’t like it when people embrace the idea that they are just “bad at math.” No one who has ever believed they were bad at math has ever gotten high enough up in math to actually know. We are a long way away from a level of math that we can’t just out-grind. </p>

<p>Re: psychology: </p>

<p>a) I think there are tons of jobs where the degree you got just doesn’t matter. I’m sure the business world is full of classics majors, arts majors, social sciences, etc. If you have interest in it, and the idea of doing that and then going into some vague desk job jobmarket, I think that’s a common-if-uncertain path.</p>

<p>b) There are really cool-sounding jobs you can do. It’s not just psychotherapy and baristas. I have always thought it would be really, really interesting to get into psychometrics. It usually seems to require a graduate degree, but there are guys who use some psych and some math to come up with ways to test people for different things. I get the impression it’s a pretty creative and problem-solve-y thing. I took psych 1101 as a free elective, just so I can keep that option up a little longer. </p>

<p>GL, and relax. You haven’t dropped the ball yet, and so what if you do.</p>