<p>Hi,
I heard that engineering is a GPA killer for most people at most schools, but I'd like to know if it's extremely hard to get above 3.7-3.8 GPA if majoring in engineering, such as chemE and BioE? Also, will there be a lot of classes to take compared to other science major? Thanks alot</p>
<p>3.7 or 3.8 GPA is not reasonable in engineering</p>
<p>I’m a junior at UMD. I’m not an engineering major, but I can tell you this: UMD is a solid school. They have great programs (which means they’re hard). I’ve known a few people whose parents have really encouraged them to do engineering. They weren’t math people at all, and they ended up failing. Maryland isn’t the type of school where you can major in anything. You have to have a lot of talent in your field to do well.</p>
<p>is 3.7-3.8 unreasonable in first 2 years?</p>
<p>I can’t really answer that question for you, but unless you’re super intelligent, I’d say a 3.7 is a bit unreasonable.</p>
<p>dam i suck at math, hopefully i can make it in engineering</p>
<p>If i’m like an 800 SAT math 5 on both calc exams and 5 on chem exam and 5 on phyics kind of person, would i get a decent GPA in chemical engineer?</p>
<p>For those of you who want engineering as your career choice, here is my two cents…</p>
<p>I got my undergraduate in Mech E. from CP many years ago (when CP was everyone’s safety school and when your parents were your age (yeah, that old)). My first son (S1) is at CP as well (senior - Chem E & English double major/Gemstone/B/K Scholar) and the second one (S2) received his acceptance email yesterday (honors/premed/bio track) like many of you guys and gals. Based on my own experience and my son’s experience, I can safely say engineering major is, well, not easy. Here is what you need to watch out for/figure out as you start your college life.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Make sure you really want to be an engineer. Engineering is not for everyone. People sometimes take this statement as “are you smart enough?” but it’s really not about how smart/not smart a person is. We are all wired differently. You just need to make sure you are wired to be an engineer. For example, my S2 who has similar stats coming out of high school as S1 would never make it as an engineer. My S1, on the other hand, will never make it thru med school. The sooner you realize yourself, the better it will be. </p></li>
<li><p>If you studied really hard and still have a lot of problems after your first year, you need to reassess your path. If you have problems with basic courses – Cals, Phys, Chem and stuff, you will have more problems as you move up. You will see significantly less engineering students by your second year and, even less, the third year. I think kids who make it to the third, usually finish it. </p></li>
<li><p>If you have done exceptionally well in high school (near perfect GPA, near perfect test scores, many AP/IBs), you will find the first year, well, not too bad. Any advantage you may have will rapidly disappear by the second year. So, don’t fool yourself thinking engineering will be easy after the first year and don’t look back how great you were in high school. It’s a new chapter, new start. Stay focused and don’t make mistakes. </p></li>
<li><p>Not for the fun stuff – getting high GPA. Well, 3.7/3.8 may be unreasonable but not impossible. When I went to school, I couldn’t do it (barely 3.2 student, if I remember correctly) but S1 was able to do it (3.85 right now) but he paid the price dearly. If you plan to be on a PhD track at the top tier engineering schools after undergraduate, you need to be on a high GPA. </p></li>
<li><p>One of the big difference between when I went to school and the engineering now days, is research. UMD has a lot of research opportunities but no one will hold your hand. Keep yourself busy and look for opportunities – on campus, outside…etc. Grad schools will expect this on your application. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>I hope you find this info useful. Best wishes for all of you future engineers!</p>
<p>Remember, to do well in engineering, you will have to pick two out of three – sleep, have fun, study. You can’t have it all!!</p>
<p>Thank you so much telling us this. I aim to major in CE. I find out your information really help me preparing for it, both mentally and academically.</p>
<p>What classes would one have to take at a cc or other uni to get into ee at cp sophmore year?</p>
<p>@ B3pi0S,
It depends, but usually physics calc-based, Intro English, Calc 1 and 2.</p>
<p>I’m a premed but also love engineering. But after hearing so many folk moaning that engineer will crush your gpa for med school, I changed to Biochem. Since med school looks at number, not how hard your major is. Life is unfair, isn’t it?</p>
<p>do u actually have to spend most of your free time studying or do u still have time to do other stuff?</p>
<p>Is there ample time to party and go out? Like is 3-4 nights a week doable? Also, I wanted to play an intramural or club sport. Is there time for this as well WHILE maintaining a 3.5 first year? the classes don’t seem too bad to me ( calc 1, chemistry, writing)</p>
<p>@drose and crazey - Just make sure you get your work done first and then have fun. Never the other way around. I think this holds true for most majors (if not all) but particularly true for engineering. Always remember there is a good reason why so many kids don’t show up in your classes the second year. You don’t want to be one of those kids missing…</p>
<p>Do not miss classes, do not miss discussion sessions, do extra problems, go see your professors during office hours and, of course, manage your time… Knowing what you need to do is not hard. Doing it day after day after day… is hard. Good luck.</p>
<p>Is it the engineering courses that are hard, or is it also the other courses such as Physics, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science (for CE)</p>
<p>@yodelo, while I can’t answer which courses are hard, I can give you a comparison of at least one course…at another very good engineering school’s program overview, the description of their engineering design course doesn’t compare, IMHO, to UMD. They do a lot of small projects - taking things apart and redesigning them when putting them back together. UMD, as you probably now know (since you stated you were going to the preview program), has a very creative engineering design course whereby you build your own hovercraft that you ultimately race against other groups’ hovercrafts.</p>
<p>Guys please chance me! Responses appreciated.
International Student
GPA 3.83
SAT 1930 (Superscore)
IB 41/45 (predicted)
IGCSE: Physics Chemistry and Math A A* A*
Intended Major: Computer Engineering.
Strong essays and recommendation letters.
Decent extra curricular activities and community service</p>
<p>I really like UMD!</p>
<p>I know the SAT screwed me over </p>
<p>@reddevil10 In the future, please do not necro (revive) old threads. </p>
<p>Also, post your “Chance Me” thread in the “What Are My Chances?” forum [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/]here.[/url”>Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums]here.[/url</a>]</p>