Horrible freshman year has made me insecure...

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>and I'm just falling apart.</p>

<p>I go to a top10 engineering school. I first went for Electrical engineering but it was too hard and I switched out to mechanical engineering. I had a 1.51GPA by the time my freshmen year ended. (scary bad first semester, 2nd semester saved me from suspension).</p>

<p>I'm just losing it now. I'm so stressed this semester because I want a 3.5+ to get my GPA on track. But every time homework takes me longer than other people I feel so stupid. I know I'm smart in the grand scheme of things, but when I'm at school (i dorm, so I can't escape it) I just feel so insignificant.</p>

<p>Job/internship fair around the corner. All my friends are excited, and of course I'm going because it would look bad if I didn't. But I know I won't get any offers. I have njever worked anywhere before. I'm embarrassed by the GPA that will be plastered on my resume and I'd have to hide my resume from all my friends so they wouldn't see it. I'm so worried that I won't even get an internship the summer after this one. THEN I know I won't be recruited by any of the big names that come to my school and end up begging for a job at some low-tier company after paying a small fortune for a degree I have already screwed up taking advantage of.</p>

<p>And on top of that, I'm afraid to date. There's a girl I have had eyes on for a year now, and I believe she has feelings for me. And I have a feeling I am driving both of us crazy by the fact I refuse to just go for it. It's just that, she's great. Smart, pretty, head on her shoulders, knows what she wants, and so sweet. Bright future ahead of her. And I feel like if we got together, I'd just tie her down with my fail GPA and my bleak outlook career -wise.</p>

<p>And to top things off, it's not like I have a lot of friends. I know a lot of people, and I am well-liked of course. However, I have always had a small group of friends, and going to college where I dorm it has backfired on me. I have a small group of friends who I consistently spend time with, but there are times when they are off with other people or at clubs and I'm just sitting alone at the apartment. I have no problem being alone, I just feel like I'm wasting time doign nothing.</p>

<p>But I have no real passion in any club. (my friends are theatre/singers) The sports I would like to play are full of kids who (sorry if I offend) easy majors and party/drink 7 days of the week and I rather not bring myself to join them for the sake of being busy.</p>

<p>I don't know what I'm asking. I'm venting. I just feel like it all goes back to my fail freshmen GPA and now I'm worried I'm letting my parent's spend so much money for a name on a degree that won't matter in the end because no one will hire me with whatever 2.5ish GPA I'll have for an internship the summer after this summer, and I won't get a job at these top-tier companies that come to recruit.</p>

<p>College....never imagined I would end up like this...</p>

2

<p>Take a deep breath, does your school have counseling office you could consult. You need device from professionals, not CC. And, ask the girl out, you need some fun</p>

3

<p>You are catastrophizing, and meshing everything together like an avalanche of guilt and insecurity. I don’t know how, but you need to let this go. Stop being ashamed, Sit happens. EVERYONE FAILS, ITS WHAT WE DO AFTER WE FAIL THAT SHOWS WHAT WE REALLY ARE MADE OF.</p>

4

<p>I’ve always heard that 3.0 and up gets you in for an interview. But with a 2.5? No, I don’t think I’ll get one.</p>

<p>It’s just so frustrating. A year ago I looked at all the companies I wanted to shoot for out of college, and now I’m pretty sure my resume will hit the trash can within 5 seconds. </p>

<p>My school has a 92% or so employment rate (as the survey says) for my major. And I can’t help feeling like that 8% are people like me…</p>

5

<p>And you are still doing it. Correct your actions. Regroup. And bring up the GPA.</p>

6

<p>You are ashamed at your grades and lost opportunities. That’s how we all feel when we fail. I suggest two options:

  1. Switch majors. Is there anything that you are passionate about that you could see yourself doing other than engineering? It’s not a sign of weakness that you tried engineering, it didn’t work out, and you switch majors. You are being practical.
  2. Work very hard to raise that GPA to 3.0 or above. Do WHATEVER it takes. If you cannot get your GPA up to 3.0 or above, then there is really no point. A low gpa means no internships, and ultimately a very hard time finding a job (there are exceptions, but this has been proven by many people that went before you). </p>

<p>And last thing, I suggest that you deactivate your Facebook account. I used to check my engineering friends at what internships they work at, what job they do for hours on Facebook. But who cares? it’s not about them; it’s all about you. Now, I don’t care if some friend gets a 4.0, or if they get the next big internship. I’m not impressed by anything that I did not do myself. Good luck to you.</p>

7

<p>Engineering Technology mjors, maybe?</p>

8

<p>You need to get your mojo back. </p>

<p>1) Stop looking at other people. You were smart before, you’re smart now. What you need to work on is your methodology on how to do problem sets. It’s learned behavior and others have learned it Freshman year while you haven’t. It’s not black magic. It used to take me forever to do problem sets. If you have to work harder than others to finish the problem sets, work harder. Eventually you figure out how to do it. </p>

<p>2) Go after the girl, but realize, that starting with an paranoid and wimpy attitude is not going to be very attractive. You will not bring her down, she’ll dump you long before that. Be the person that you want to be and stop comparing yourself to everybody else. </p>

<p>3) Stop worrying about your GPA. Work on the problem sets that you have. Go to office hours, get help, be relentless in your pursuit of genuine understanding. You have the tools, you just need to work on your game. </p>

<p>The value that bring to the table is the set of capabilities that you have, not your GPA. While it’s true that GPA is often evidence of capabilities, there are other ways to provide evidence by working for a professor, doing great projects. </p>

<p>The grades will come if you work at it. </p>

<p>No matter what though, go after the girl.</p>

9

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<p>This is utter manure. Stop worrying about your GPA and worry about learning the material for the courses that you are currently in.</p>

10

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<p>That’s a great piece of advice given the 9% unemployment right now & 50% unemployment for college grads… </p>

<p>Just be practical people; don’t be idealistic.</p>

11

<p>My advice is to stop worrying about the big picture and start worrying about the specific task at hand. I’m not saying that GPA isn’t important, I’m saying that you can’t get up in the morning and say I think I’m going to improve my GPA today. There’s no recipe for doing that. What you can do is get up and focus on the problem you have at hand and tune out the bigger picture. Learn how to do problem sets. Work on studying methodology. Apply it to the current courses. That’s what I’m recommending. Figure that out, and over a few semesters, the GPA will take care of itself. Live in fear every day and it will not improve and only get worse because it gets no closer to a solution. </p>

<p>You keep harping on the bigger picture which is paralyzing the OP and making him feel hopeless. </p>

<p>People change their lives one day at a time.</p>

12

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Orbit is also harping on factually inaccurate advice.
I can name at least 4 of my friends that had summer internships but also a sub 3.0 gpa. It is by no means impossible. So saying there is “no point” is completely and totally ridiculous.</p>

13

<p>Ok fine… If you couldn’t tell already from the OPs writing, he is fearful about something, and that something is the unknown. The OP is insecure about continuing in engineering, and whether it will lead to a job. This fear is legitimate, and it’s real; Don’t hate the messenger, I’m just telling the truth. I don’t know if you know what it feels like to live in a household where unemployment is a real concern… I do. This semester, I have to wake up at 5:00 am and use public transportation to get to school all for the purpose of saving money. </p>

<p>I’m just saying this: If he wants to continue in engineering, then great. Figure out whats wrong and do whatever it takes to get good grades (and sometimes, getting good grades is not about how well you understand the material). If engineering does not work out, then get out ASAP so that more damage is not done. This is no joking matter (to spend so much on a degree and be unemployed)… no more posts from me; I hope you are elated since everything I post is either “manure” or “ridiculous”.</p>

14

<p>OP: You did say your second semester kept you from getting suspended, so that should be encouraging. Stop comparing yourself to your peers and work your ass off, and see where you end up. If you find yourself completely overwhelmed even given a clear head and monster work ethic, hell, maybe you’re a better fit for another major. No shame or failure in that; everyone’s wired differently. </p>

<p>As for the girl… c’mon, man. You have a feeling she’s into you as well, and you’re holding back because you feel insecure and don’t wanna bring her down? You think any female primate with a receptive uterus would really find that kind of behavior appealing? If anything, that chick should be added motivation for you to snap yourself out of whatever you’re going through and do better - unless you’re okay with the thought of her riding some rowing team dude.</p>

15

<p>I have no intention of switching majors. I like my major. It’s really just the fact of not getting an internship this summer and a small hope I get one next summer with a 2.5ish GPA.</p>

<p>I really appreciate the advice guys. I found it funny how the girl I mentioned was a min focal point, but I understand why.</p>

<p>I also have a question. Would it make a difference if my GPA within my major was above a 3.0 though my overall GPA was lower? I’m pretty sure coming out of this semester I’ll have a minimum 3.0 in my major-related courses if that means anything. </p>

<p>My EE and other general classes destroyed me…I’ve been doing fine in my Mech E courses.</p>

16

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<p>Absolutely. It’s how you sell yourself (As long as your not lying) AKA list Major GPA on your resume. Talk to your career services about it. They should be able to help you out.</p>

17

<p>I can understand your frustration and sense of panic. My son is a ME major in a top-10 engineering school as well, and it is rigorous. What’s done is done, so try not to look backwards. Pour yourself into your studies this year and make improving your gpa a priority because it does and will matter with certain employers. You definitely have time to bring it up! </p>

<p>As far as the career fair coming up, I suggest you dive in and do your best. You may not come away with an internship or any interviews, but who knows. At the very least you’ll gain experience at the event and will be better equipped for next year. Also, next summer try to get any sort of solid work you can, since you indicated you have not held a job. </p>

<p>Best wishes to you.</p>

18

<p>I’m an employer. </p>

<p>What I need to see is clear and convincing evidence that you can do my job well. If you have a high GPA in MechE courses, and I need you to have a solid background in those courses, I couldn’t care less what you got in your Medieval Literature class, or your EE class for that matter, if my job didn’t require you to know anything about it. </p>

<p>GPA is often, but not always, evidence of the standard of excellence to which you hold yourself to. If you continue to maintain a high GPA in MechE classes, your employer will look at that. Really, we want to hire the people with the best skills that we can. It’s that simple.</p>

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<p>It is possible to go from DWF’s to consistent 4.0’s, it just takes a lot of growing up. Hopefully it won’t you take you ten years figure things out because undergrad engineering gets harder when you also have a wife, kid, mortgage, two cars, and a job. </p>

<p>If you want an internship so badly, start treating your education like a 50 hour per week job. It will be good practice.</p>