<p>I have a GPA ~3.4 after my first year of college. I have taken mechanics (B+), a chem course (B-), Calc 1 (B), econ (A-)and other gen ed courses the first year. </p>
<p>I have yet to take Calc 2,3, diff eqs., linear algebra, E&M, etc. I tend to do understand math concepts better but somehow end up with better grades in science classes. That may have something to do with the fact that all the calc class had were 3 exams and a final (not curved), whereas physics there's labs, quizzes, web homework, etc.</p>
<p>In your experience, does the GPA generally get worse after the first year or does it get easier when you get beyond the weeder courses?</p>
<p>Mine got worse. Mainly because I took courses for my minor and other general education courses during the first 2-2.5 years, and obtained higher grades in those than the engineering courses.</p>
<p>In general, I think people's GPAs stay about the same at my school in engineering. Some off semesters, some where your classes might have been easier, more interesting, etc. You might have been able to bring it up a little with knowing more how to study and what to expect, but the increased difficulty of courses levels that out.</p>
<p>By the way, a 3.4 is good, especially for the first year. Don't worry about it too much as long as it stays above 3.0. Or, look at the stats (average GPA for your major at your school) to put your mind at ease.</p>
<p>From the end of the first year to the end of the second year mine went down .04 (3.55->3.51). The first year I had more required filler courses, but I think I also slacked off a lot more in my second year and did more cramming before tests rather than studying consistently. I am not at a school that does weeder courses though.</p>
<p>Major: Engineering Physics / On the Quarter system
Freshman classes were calc 2 & 3 and DE I, Physics 1-3, engineering chem 1 and 2, programming, etc
Sophomore classes were DEII, Modern Physics, Physical Optics, Many Particle Physics, Electrical Systems, Fluid and Thermal systems, Statistics, a random engineering class, then a study abroad</p>
<p>I think the 2nd year classes sound harder, and maybe they were, but I think as long as you understand what came before, everything else just sort of builds up from there. You'll be fine, though saving some old class notes/tests doesn't hurt I've been told, just as a minor refresher.</p>
<p>freshman year: first semester people do bad, second semester is alright
sophomore year: best academic year, people have gotten used to college
junior year-senior year: downhill due to difficulty of material, some people make comebacks here</p>
<p>I thought that I read somewhere on this forum that in engineering soph and senior years were the most difficult. Freshman year (while it is an adjustment) is mainly a lot of weed-out courses that may or may not be upper level HS courses in some respects as well as the general ed requirements. Senior year presents senior projects/thesis. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Anecdotally I've heard for different majors there are different years of "greatest difficulty". At my school, everyone says the Sophomore year for ME's is their hardest. Why? I don't know. I've known Senior year to be more friendly, as we have our project and will be taking electives of interest. </p>
<p>I think it really depends on who you are, your school, your major, and your teachers. All of those can have a HUGE effect on how easy or hard one year is over another. Don't worry what it will be like. I've heard (in my own school) hype about how hard this or that class is, taken it, and have done well. Other times I'm struggling when others find it easy. Don't worry about the hype, just roll with the punches if they start coming, you'll make it through.</p>
<p>For me, freshman year was pretty awful, and then it got better and settled out around the end of sophomore year/beginning of junior year. Senior year, I was getting into design courses and things were making more sense to me... Everything seemed more applicable.</p>
<p>Sophomore year was the hardest set of engineering courses for my field at my undergrad college, though I did my worst freshman year due to me slacking quite a bit. I found junior and senior years to be pretty work heavy, but I enjoyed the work I was doing, so I tended to do well in my classes.</p>
<p>Sophomore year was my roughest. I was taking a lot of required courses which I had no interest in (recommended curriculum was 7 courses in fall semester and 6 in spring semester). Things got a lot better during my junior and senior years because I was actually putting time into my coursework because I had a genuine interest in it. My GPA for my final 2 years was about 0.8 greater than my GPA my first 2 years.</p>
<p>Freshman year (both semesters): Horrible.
Sophomore year: Average
Junior year: Average (A little better than sophomore)
Senior year: Doing really well</p>
<p>"By the way, a 3.4 is good, especially for the first year. Don't worry about it too much as long as it stays above 3.0." </p>
<p>Does that mean there isn't too much of a difference in benefit between a GPA of 3.4 and say 3.8 or higher? What are other factors then that you should focus on to increases your chances for a better job or graduate school?</p>
<p>Applying for jobs and applying for grad school are two different things.</p>
<p>Jobs/internships: Generally there seem to be cutoffs at 3.0, so above that you're fine. I had a 3.5 and was complimented on it, so higher the better, but whether it's 3.4 or 3.8, it probably won't matter that much. What does matter more is experience and showing things like leadership ability (in clubs, school associations, etc). Some schools do a lot of research (small credit "directed research" during the school year or over the summer) which you should definitely take part in if you can't manage to get internships after the first year or two. It's seemed easier to match yourself and talk to local professors then it is to try and prove yourself on paper, but by working with the professors you can build references and experience.</p>
<p>For grad school: PhD or Masters? Either way: research/lab word/internships (preference for the prior I believe) Same as above. People at my school started small research aid type things as soon as the end of their freshman year. I'm an Engineering Physics major, so I am with a bunch of physics folk, but they have similar options in the engineering department from what I have seen.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I like the idea of coming in with an average or above average GPA/GRE/Subject GRE (in my case physics, but for engineering folk I don't think it's necessary) based on the schools previous acceptances. These don't help you so much, but lacking the scores can hurt you. This becomes increasingly important at the top schools for whatever degree you are pursuing. They have plenty of applicants with high GPA's and GRE scores, raising that bar of averages, so work related to your field starts to play a bigger role.</p>
<p>Of course there's going to be a difference between a 3.4 and a 3.8 when applying to top graduate programs, but it's much less significant that the difference between a 3.8 and a 4.0 and should be less significant than a 2.8 and a 3.2.</p>