<p>So I know people in message boards don't always like reading about other people's problems but here it goes. I'm a third year EE. I currently have an internship that will continue through the summer, take a full load of classes, and have some of the worst time management skills of my life going on right now. Before this year, I was a very good student that loved my engineering, math, and physics classes. </p>
<p>So for this year I decided to take nothing but upper division EE classes. I am now realizing that decision was a bad idea. I have had enough of rising to the challenge to take on studying for an impossible exam and starting a lab project. Right now, all I can think about is going on summer break, drinking some beers with the guys, and just relaxing. This year has been an overload of work and has made me lose all motivation going into the final stretch, which is sad because I really loved EE and I'm taking all the interesting classes that I dreamed of taking when I was a sophomore. </p>
<p>TLDR: Completely unmotivated from classes not sure why.</p>
<p>So to cut to the chase, is my lack of interest a byproduct of being overworked by heavy loads of EE classes, the impending summer break (haven't had a break from classes since 2009), or am I just not cut out to be an engineer? And also, how do you get motivated while you keep getting constatly drained from school?</p>
<p>I really need some advice to help get me through this academic slump right now.</p>
<p>As a mom of an engineer , I think you took too many courses and didn’t balance your school and down time . Hopefully you will learn from this and give EE another chance . Talk to your RA or adviser for what to do now .</p>
<p>You could switch to psychology, and get out of college with absolutely no job opportunities. Then you could file for bankruptcy and start getting food stamps. And probably live with your grandma the rest of your life spending most of your time cutting out coupons, and petting cats. </p>
<p>The good news is that being an EE is still pretty cool. Engineering school is a drag, especially sophomore and junior years. Senior year classes can be hard but are usually kind of fun. Enjoy your summer - by August you will feel better and be ready for the final push.</p>
<p>Some general guidelines for someone on the edge of burnout: if you have room in your schedule for extra classes, don’t do it. If you have a free choice elective, make sure it is something completely non-technical. Take Abnormal Psychology instead of Particle Physics.
Get enough fluids and enough sleep. Nothing saps motivation quite as fast as being tired.</p>
<p>Sounds like burnout to me, not the lack of ability or the “not being cut out”. Everyone needs a break, let their minds rest, and readdress the problems with a fresh outlook and new approach and vigor.</p>
<p>I would suggest you first get a grip on the time management skills. I would suggest you treat your schooling like a full time job; i.e. 8-5, 5 days a week you are on campus and are studying. Do not take the work home with you. If you have an exam, and for some reason have to study outside of these 40 hours a week, do so at school, a library, or on the quad. If 8-5 isn’t cutting add time during the week, but be consistent and don’t deter. If you find you have nothing to do, do extra work, take a lecture series, or a fun elective.</p>
<p>Second, learn to relax. By leaving work at work (or school at school) you open yourself up to letting go when you step off campus. Have those beers and hang out. BUT also get some exercise. A brisk walk, sport, or go to the gym really does wonders for your mental health as well as your physical health and stamina.</p>
<p>Finally, read a Tony Robbins book this summer. He’s a great motivator and gives good tips to help you keep motivated and keep your eyes on the prize.</p>
<p>As another poster put it, the engineering work is much better than the engineering schooling. Bite the bullet, feel the burn, and get through it. In the end you will be doing those things you dreamed of as a sophmore.</p>
<p>Just imagine the money you will be getting and the fact that ee jobs are much easier than the school work. Office job with good pay/benefits/bonus!!!</p>
<p>The secret to college (especially as an engineering major) is balance. I know you probably hear this far too often, but it is SO true! Half of college, afterall, is about the “college experience”, and if done right, that experience will give you some great memories to look back on for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>You really need to reduce your course load to around 14-16 credits. Find a hobbie and friends who might also enjoy that hobbie. Forget about school work friday night and saturday (barring no major projects need to be completed). Completely detach from it. You need to mentally remove yourself from school-related stress during that time and start enjoying college. Trust me, if you do this, come Sunday, you’ll be far more refreshed and able to conquer your work with little distraction. You’ll be able to focus better and work more efficiently as well.</p>
<p>Also, if the need to get perfect grades is stressing you out, lower your expectations. The ideal engineering GPA to ensure your chances of finding a job, and get accepted into grad school, WHILE having time to enjoy college, are anywhere from 3.0 to 3.5. If you can set your goals on that range, you will find you will enjoy college a lot more, still be smart, AND find things out about yourself that you may have never known.</p>
<p>Lastly, stick with EE. Any engineering degree is highly respectable after college. You’ll be SO glad you suffered through it all in the end… believe me.</p>
<p>I think it’s because you’re taking only upper-level EE classes. This sounds a lot like what many grad students go through their first year as the only thing you’re studying is within a single field and everything you look at is highly technical.</p>
<p>No clue if you work in your apartment/dorm room or not, but I really found my stress got reduced a lot when I started only doing homework in my office. That way, once I left I couldn’t work on it anymore, and I could focus on just enjoying whatever was left of the evening before I went to sleep.</p>
<p>This summer: intership, beers and maybe a road trip, a concert or two and a new hobby? NO CLASSES until Fall! And make sure you get some exercise. There is a reason some people backpack through Europe after graduation.</p>
<p>Similar situation, took overload of math theory courses and now I HATE my math major. Just make sure to take it light next semester and see where it goes. I haven’t gotten to that part yet, so I’m unaware if this actually makes you like your field again. Hopefully it does!</p>
<p>You burned out. Happening to me these past two quarters. I’ve been going to college now for 2.5 years, taking a full-time schedule and math/science every quarter without ever taking a summer off. I’m burnt out. Plus I’m having medical/medication/insomnia/anxiety-related issues that have affected my attendance, I’m currently headed towards a C in a class I could easily be acing.</p>