@ailinsh1 good points and thank you. I am still juggling between deciding to go into mechanical or chemical engineering so my first semester is already a good mix of classes to satisfy both majors. Like you said I should wait and see how I do.
@atomicPACMAN07 I’d say listen to your advisors, they should know your situation best. You should be able to get your bearings and acclimated to college life the first semester, then be ready for a challenging 2nd semester.
Just know going in that as an engineering student you will need to study a lot more than many of the students living around you. That can be a little frustrating, so just keep your eye on the end goal.
With how I am setting up my schedule I am getting a good 15 credit hour course plan that allows for one class to be dropped (worse case scenario) and still retain full-time status. I think that’s as good as it gets…
One other thing: If I am looking to take a “fun” or easy class that is a good break from engineering to take as an elective, what suggestions do people have?
@atomicPACMAN07 – that sounds like a fine plan. As for what other “fun” class to take … that depends on your interests and your specific school. In general, if you can, stay away from the introductory classes and go for something 200 level or above … they’re generally smaller and more interesting. Inquire with other students about what good classes at your school are; at DS’s school, there is a “rock-star” prof who teaches a World Regions class that is well known as really interesting, engaging, not too hard, but you learn alot. If you like to read, maybe see if you can take a class in the genre you most enjoy (e.g., at DS’s school there is a fantasy class that includes LOTR; and they just started a sci fi fiction class that examines the technological “prophecy” that is often part of sci fi novels … looking back at older sci fi and how it did or didn’t pan out, and looking at newer sci fi for what it predicts as well).
Forgive me @ailinsh1 for my ignorance but aren’t freshman not allowed to take anything 200 level or above? I thought they’re only allowed to take 100 level classes with some exceptions (math placement/credit)? Or does all that matter is if you have the required pre-req or not?
That may depend on the school, but in my experience, as long as you have taken any pre-reqs, you can take any class you want to as a freshman, regardless of level. Many social science, humanities, etc., electives, don’t have any pre-reqs at all. This was 30 years ago, but I took 300 level electives my freshman year – History of Science, and Biblical History and Literature. I was terrified, thinking I’d be in over my head, but I was completely fine. And they were far easier and interesting than the 100 level World History I ended up taking my senior year because I needed one more history elective and nothing else fit with my schedule. Blargh … that was alot of reading, memorization, and multiple choice tests on who ruled during what years, etc… By contrast, the other classes were essay-based tests, which for me was much preferred.
Many schools allow students to take any level course they want to, but many upper level classes have prereqs that make that hard to do.
My daughter takes 15-18 credits. Chemical engineers (she’s civil) at her schools must take 17-18 or they will not finish in 8 semesters (and many don’t, take a summer or Maymester class or an online class) . D wanted to take an online class this summer but we really can’t afford it because her scholarships do not cover the summer. She did drop one class when she was a freshman, but it was only a 3 credit class so she still had enough to be full time (required to keep her scholarships); she could not have dropped a class with a lab.
Very good points.
Some schools seem to offer additional sections of calc geared towards students who have already taken the AP versions, that students can test into. Others simply recommend re-taking and dump students with differing amounts of preparation into the same intro classes. Or, large numbers of students choose to re-take and concentrate on adjusting to new formats of instruction instead of learning new material.
The same seems to hold true for other freshman engineering intro classes such as gen chem, comp sci, or intro to physics. Students may or may not be bringing a wide range of experience to the classes, even if SAT math scores are compressed.
I was quite surprised to learn that many schools, and not just state schools, require students in the calc sequence to pass multiple choice tests. (how is this any different from taking a MOOC if a student is not using office hours?)
I took proof based calc as a freshman, and few students would have passed our exams without partial credit, but this was at an LAC, there were fewer than 30 students per class, and the professor did the grading.The other day when I was cleaning I came across some old calc exams from the 1940’s that belonged to a relative who went on to become a distinguished engineer/inventor. He passed several of these only because he got partial credit for his answers, yet did not become an engineer whose solutions “failed.”
MC tests have the advantage of being easy (and less expensive) to grade, compared to tests that are hand-graded and offer partial credit, and thus ideal for large classes and universities with budget issues. It is also far less likely that disputes over partial credit will arise. Except for additional challenge problems graded by hand, the types of questions asked on MC tests would also seem to be more “cook book” type problems. Fewer headaches for instructors.
My state school engineering grad was able to avoid MC calc tests by taking the honors sections. There was lots of graded homework and some was challenging, but students got to see where they went awry when attempting to solve problems since both regular problem sets and tests were graded by hand. (And there was partial credit.) The higher level math classes geared towards math majors or engineers taking tech electives did not have MC tests, but these also had low enrollment.
Using resources such as Schaum’s or old exams is a lot different from the sort of thing I was advising against. Many students are resorting immediately to exact online solutions to their homework assignments and not doing any of the things that you advise. When they copy the solutions, it all seems to make sense, so they don’t bother to do anything on their own.
Either that, or the solutions make zero sense to them, but they copy it down in hopes of getting enough homework credits to pass a course while learning absolutely nothing.
@atomicPACMAN07
A language. (Portuguese, Italian, French, Japanese… whatever suits you.)
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ailinsh1 wrote: 1) Take AP chem and do well on the AP test so you can avoid first year chemistry. It was by far his worst/hardest class his first semester.Agree, unless the major requires more advanced chemistry courses. In that case, the student can try the college’s old chemistry final exams to see how ready s/he is to take the more advanced chemistry courses. Of course, realize that chemistry courses are often pre-med weeder courses as well, so skipping them if they are not crucial prerequisites for more advanced courses (and one is not pre-med) is useful to avoid that as well.
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This can work. My Chemical Engineering Premed son used his AP Bio and AP Chem credits to skip all 4 of those classes; he also skipped Calc I and all the Eng’g Core Curriculum by using AP credits. Being premed, he had to take the “higher level” courses, but for him it seemed to work. He skipped past those traditionally weeder courses, and went right into higher level courses, which were smaller. And, by skipping those weeder classes, he had room in his schedule to minor in math, chem, and bio…and almost completed a minor in Spanish.
Great advice. one additional one for upper level students. See if there’s any wAy to study abroad especially if your school like my kids requires that all study abroad be pass fail. My daughter was initially told it was" impossible" as a double engineering major to study abroad but she looked into it in herself and realized that there were programs in Austraila and New Zealand where she could get TWO of her hardest engineering classes out of the way pass fail plus one of her modestly hard science classes. . She had a wonderful time in a much less stressful academic environment and came back to her strongest semester ever.
Daughter also benefited by a generous grandmother who believed that " doing laundry is a stupid way to spend your limited free time" and has paid for her to have door to door wash fold service. Can’t recommend that sort of grandma highly ennough. Lol!
Now, if I could get my DS to read this and apply some of the techniques. But, alas, I’m afraid we may be an “I told you so” family soon. 
I’ll certainly give it a try though. Thanks for some great tips and ideas.
In hindsight, when DD didn’t score high enough on AP exam, I maybe should have had her take the CLEP test for chemistry while the material was still fresh with her. She did take freshman chemistry, got a B, but she said it was a lot of memorizing exceptions to the rules, which went on and on. So for a civil eng that doesn’t really need to use the chemistry…
DD also has completed her sophomore year in college at a large flagship school.
It is great when the student does communicate issues - some are non-academic but could interfere with academics, and nice to be a sounding board and also provide some guidance.
If your S/D realize you have their best interests at heart, and you are in their corner…but also keep them accountable. I have to sometimes tell my non-eng DD “grow some guts” when she has to face some issues head on and with adult maturity…keep the tears behind (H said “die before cry”) in the situation resolution.
@SOSConcern my biggest regret during my gap year was not taking a CLEP test to get out of chem 2 since I only scored a 4 on the AP test…I didn’t hear about CLEP until just last month and since then I just didn’t bother to try and attempt it since the material isn’t as fresh…now I am stuck taking chem 2 again so fingers crossed I can do well in it for chemE. Maybe it will be a good refresher. Maybe not. Time will tell this year.
Schaum’s outlines were recommended above. I don’t know about Schaum’s outlines for engineering courses specifically, but I will say that their outlines for a number of mathematics courses are really valuable. As a student, I tended to look down on them as the Cliffs’ Notes equivalent for college courses. They are not. I did not really discover this until I was a grad student, teaching complex variable theory to undergrads. The best aspect is the large number of problems. If a student really works them, and does not leap ahead to look at the solutions, he/she will learn a lot.
I’m going to add one more to your list. If you become an “I told you so” family, understand that your student may not have been ready to listen when you imparted the advice. His or her experience up to this point has been very different and he may have trouble imagining something new (and this much more difficult).
I just finished my freshman year in aerospace engineering with a 4.0 GPA. I concur with most of the things that have already been stated. I also say go to the teacher for help if you possibly can. As for “lighter” classes - one thing you could do is see if any Gen eds are offered as 8 week classes for the first half of the semester. I took one of them that way, and after the first 8 weeks, my load dropped down and made the last half the the semester more manageable. Also, some classes are just going to be crazy. I had my first AE class this semester, which I’d heard horror stories about. It was a very hard class, but you just had to get used to the fact that a D on those tests was a respectable score (the teacher graded on a curve.)
Being ahead in the math sequence definitely helps. If you can get credit for Calc I & II, do so.
Also, the best way to help your friends is to complete the assignments early and be ready when they ask. 
Another vote for the CLEP! DS avoided having to retake Chem 101 due to passing the CLEP. Granted there is some Chem 102 in there, but he self taught the stuff over Xmas break and only a few questions cover 102…best money ever spent!
Biggest issue I’ve seen is time management. There are MANY top students out there who in hindsight did not have to work as hard in HS and have trouble with time management, procrastination and just the newness of the new college environment. I don’t know what it takes to get this thru our kids’ heads that “college isn’t HS” but it is distinctly different and even the smartest kid could have trouble. Stay on top of any issues and get help IMMEDIATELY instead of trying to get GPA up on your own or trying to raise your grade in class. Put the date on your calendar for the last date to drop classes. With some merit scholarships you don’t need to be a full time student although federal aid may be impacted…know what the rules are for your school as some folks mistakenly assume you need to be full time. Some kids even have an easy A class as a buffer in case they do need to drop something else.
Especially if your child came from a high school that offers credit for late assignments or extra credit, this will NOT be the case in college! Some kids don’t understand that college professors/TAs can be BRUTAL. No second chances and no room for screw ups. Follow those assignment deadlines. Start the work EARLY. Use a calendar. Prioritize your time. Don’t study in the dorm. Stay organized. Use a computer you are familiar with (so don’t go PC or Mac if you’re not already totally used to one system regardless of what anyone tries to talk you into) These are the things that will keep you on top and ahead!
A slight dissent; unless the Freshman is very comfortable and very competent with Calculus and did VERY WELL in Calculus AB, enrolling in Calc 2 as the first college-level math course may not be the best path. Many on this board have said how different AP Calc/Honors Calc, etc. is from college level Calculus. Kids who did well in high school Calculus can stumble because of the speed of the course and topics in college level Calculus.