How is my (Engineer) fall semester looking? Advice will help!

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>So I will be a sophomore in this upcoming fall semester. So I attend a community college, Olive Harvey to be exact! My focus area: Sciences to a pathway of engineering. I really couldn't decide what major I wanted to go into until I took some of my general courses which included math. I always liked math and science so I put it together and came up with engineering, Mechanical engineering to be exact. Since I was so unsure of my major my first and second semester was easy and has benefited me as well as set me back a lot. I'm glad I took these courses my first and second semester to let myself know that I want to stay in the STEM major. My first and second semester at Olive Harvey included...</p>

<p>First semester I took College Algebra, Spanish 1 and College success.
Second semester I took Pre calculus, English 101 and Spanish 102. </p>

<p>From my two semesters you can see I have completed 2 years of a foreign language in order to transfer to a 4 year university. Now in the summer time I will take General chemistry 1 Chemistry 201. This Fall im taking: </p>

<p>Calculus 1
English 102
History 247 African. History to Colonial Period
Bio 115 human biology </p>

<p>I don't really think I need biology or history for a mechanical major... If anyone can tell me what classes they took to earn their m.e associates degree/bachelors degree please tell me. </p>

<p>Then my spring semester on my cc College Education plan I have to take </p>

<p>Speech 1
Lit 121 Contemporary African American Literature
Psych 201 General Psychology
Phil 106 introduction to physiology
Cal ll </p>

<p>My spring semester looks hard to be honest I don't even know why I have to take psych, lit or Phil does m.e really require this? </p>

<p>In the summer, of course I'm taking General Chem 203 general chemistry ll </p>

<p>Then in the spring course the classes i will have to take is </p>

<p>Soc sci 102
hum 201
Cal lll
Physics engineering physics I: mechanics & wave motion </p>

<p>Some of the courses I have to take at Olive Harvey I find irrelevant to get my m.e associates degree to pursue my degree at a 4 year university. The 4 year university my education plan is based off of is (University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne), however I have to stay humble and opened to many more universities with a engineering degree such as Southern Illinois University at Carbondale or Western Illinois University and many others including out of states engineering universities. . </p>

<p>Your advice will help me a lot. Please feel free to tell me where I went wrong and constructive criticism has helped me along the way so it will also help me on my journey to complete my A.S degree in engineering, so I can pursue my degree at my future 4 year university.</p>

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<p>Firstly, I extend congratulations to you for embarking upon and preparing for a STEM career.</p>

<p>I recommend that you identify a set of engineering universities that you would like to transfer to. Don’t but all your eggs in to the U of Illinois basket. UI is notoriously a hard admissions nut to crack. Lots of students with excellent grades don’t get into UI engineering. That being said, make sure that you know the admission requirements/qualifications for UI engineering. For example,does UI have a ‘guaranteed admission’ agreement with Illinois community colleges like Olive Harvey?</p>

<p>Generally speaking, this is what engineering schools will want to see on a transfer applicant’s transcript (after two years at community college)"
Calc 1 and Calc 2
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 2
General Education or Social Science Core
Freshman Composition 1 and Freshman Composition 2</p>

<p>Depending on your target school, this list will vary. Some engineering departments do not require a second semester of General Chemistry. Best to take it anyway.</p>

<p>You haven’t really gone wrong thus far, but you need to realize that every university will require a set of core requirements that may not seem relevant to you. The good news is that typically STEM students have less social science requirements than liberal arts majors, because your engineering program is loaded with required courses, leaving limited opportunity for more than a handful of social science or other electives. You should be fine-tuning your list of target schools.</p>

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<p>I know you think those geneds are irrelevant now, but two things:

  1. The more you take now the fewer you have to take at the 4-year school.
  2. Some of them can be enjoyable and may hone your reading and writing skills.</p>
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<p>@LakeWashington Thank you for the quick response! I am happy to know I am not going down the wrong path because I will need many of the General Education/Social Science/Human Diversity/Life science/ Physical science/Fine Art and Communication Core classes along with my engineering general education course. My fall semester does not seem that hard but once I get to my spring and next fall classes I feel they will be challenging. </p>

<p>But because of the fact I do nothing with my spare time accept work a 12 hour part time job I can definitely get the work done. I have been told I have really good study habits and from the many teachers I’ve had in the past has made me a person that is able to get the work done with no procrastination. However I am aware of the many challenges and hard classes that are ahead of me and I am somewhat afraid. I currently have a 4.0 GPA but again that’s because I took easy classes my first two semesters. I never even touched on the basics of physics or even had a class on Calculus. My schedule seems so hectic… </p>

<p>Its funny how in the beginning my plan was to take hard classes but now it seems I am taking hard classes in the end. About the universities I have been researching about many universities but from my education plan after I graduate I will have 84 credit hours. And a university in particular like University of California engineering school will only accept 70 credit hours from a transfer student. I am so lost and I just feel that I have a heavy work load ahead of me and I will perhaps have to quit my 12 hour part time job. If only I didn’t have to take General Education or Social Science Core classes I would be doing so fine right now… But I am always ready for a challenge but I will definitely need career advice along the way. Thanks for the advice :slight_smile: I really appreciate it. </p>

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<p>@da6onet thankyou for your quick response! I must say that is true but its just I feel its going to challenge me because I have to take them with Calculus. Then if you see my last semester my counselor put Physics with Calculus lll, that’s like having two math classes at the same time. In the beginning I was very weak in math until I took College algebra to be prepared for Pre Calculus. In both classes I received an A. My hope is that Pre Calculus/ Trig has prepared me for Calculus l. I recently asked my counselor was there an easy way to just take Cal by itself and he told me no unless you don’t want to graduate from Olive Harvey in 2 years and Calculus will go to fast in the summer time so then he suggested I take Chemistry over the summer. Which it is good I am taking Chemistry over the summer so it want tie up with Calculus, Physics and Chemistry. I just know these semesters will be completely hard and I don’t mean the classes are irrelevant, I just hope I am taking the General Education/Social Science/Human Diversity/Life science/ Physical science/Fine Art and Communication Core classes for a reason and they are not a waste of time you know? </p>

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<p>I am going to disagree with your counselor on one very fine point; you’re not required to have an A.A. degree to gain admission to an engineering university. Articulation agreements excepted. Yes, if you can easily and conveniently satisfy all the requirements for a pre-engineering or “Science” A.A. in two years, then sure it’s an accomplishment to earn the degree. But it’s not necessary.</p>

<p>I know CC students who transferred to engineering universities without benefit of the A.A., which of course is a non-issue once your are admitted to a university. Remember, all that most engineering universities want to see are the foundation science courses and the general education courses. For a prospective engineering major, it’s important to satisfy as much engineering-specific coursework at CC as possible. Also, more than likely your chosen major (MEngr) will necessitate that you spend a total of five years at least, in undergraduate studies, because it’s unlikely you will be able to satisfy all the foundation MEngr requirements at CC.</p>

<p>Check the General Education Distribution requirements at your target schools. One student I know satisfied her GE coursework with AP classes and one year of cc. All of her transfer credits were accepted by a very reputable engineering university. She had no A.A. degree.</p>

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<p>What you can do is go to the web site of a four year school with your major and look up the frosh/soph requirements. For example, for UIC, here are the requirements:
<a href=“2023–2024 Undergraduate Catalog < University of Illinois Chicago”>2023–2024 Undergraduate Catalog < University of Illinois Chicago;
and here is the suggested course plan:
<a href=“2023–2024 Undergraduate Catalog < University of Illinois Chicago”>2023–2024 Undergraduate Catalog < University of Illinois Chicago;

<p>Looking at the courses listed in the frosh/soph years of the course plan, then check to see what transfer credit has been preapproved. For example, UIC uses <a href=“http://www.transfer.org”>http://www.transfer.org</a> to hold these listings. Then you can know which courses you have to take at Olive Harvey CC and/or other nearby CCs to cover as many of the requirements that you can.</p>

<p>Do this check for other four year schools that you are interested in transferring to.</p>

<p>In general, the basic frosh/soph courses start with:</p>

<p>Math: calculus 1, calculus 2, calculus 3 (multivariable calculus), differential equations, linear algebra
Physics: two or three semesters of calculus-based physics for engineering and/or physics majors (not the biology major version); normally, this physics sequence is started in the same semester you take calculus 2
English composition: typically two semesters
Computing for engineering: usually a course using MATLAB
Chemistry: may require one or two semesters of general chemistry
Various engineering courses: statics or solid mechanics, materials, thermodynamics, engineering graphics, etc.
Humanities and social studies breadth requirements</p>

<p>However, different schools do vary.</p>

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<p>Given that summer classes are condensed (6 or 8 weeks instead of 16 weeks) and based on your goals, I would recommend the following schedule for you:
SUMMER 2014
MATH207 Calc 1
ENGL102 Composition 2
BIOL121 BIOLOGY 1</p>

<p>FALL2014
MATH208 Calc 2
HIST247 AA History
CHEM201 General Chemistry 1
PHIL106 Into to Philosophy</p>

<p>SPRING2015
CHEM203 General Chemisrty 2
MATH209 Calc 3
PSYCH201 General Psychology
LIT121 Afr-American Literature</p>

<p>As you can see, I’ve left Physics for your target 4-year school. Getting Calc 1 under your belt prior to Chemistry 1 will be advantageous, as will completing all your Chemistry and Calc 2 prior to Physics. Such a schedule may not be enough for the A.A.degree, but with good grades it would get you admitted to engineering school nevertheless.</p>

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<p>I should have mentioned this before but I am getting an associate in general studies not A.A. At my cc they don’t have A.A for engineering. So my pathway will be Engineering/Physics transfer (AGS). @LakeWawhington the summer courses at Olive Harvey are only 8weeks that would be a very hectic schedule. But judging from my education plan I will be graduating in the fall of 2015. I suppose to graduate from a cc in 2years which is suppose to be Spring of 2015. I will also again almost 81 credits. Isn’t that bad? I will be a halfway junior. I don’t think any colleges will accept over 66credits. I feel like I messed up so super hard but that is only because I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in. I also feel like I took Spanish 1 and ll for no reason because my counselor told me that is only for a A.A. It feels lik I have dug myself in a really deep hole. Not to mention my semesters after fall of 2014 will be so super hard. I wish it was a way I could just make my schedule easier but I don’t think that’s even possible. Do you guys know what I’m saying or coming from? </p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>This is not a good idea for an engineering major. Physics is a key part of the prerequisite sequence for mechanical engineering, so it will probably take at least six semesters to graduate starting from the semester of the first physics course.</p>

<p>I would suggest the following schedule:</p>

<p>Summer 2014:
MATH 207 Calculus & Analytic Geometry I
ENGLISH 102 Composition 2</p>

<p>Fall 2014:
MATH 208 Calculus & Analytic Geometry II
PHYSICS 235 Engineering Physics I: Mechanics & Wave Motion
two other courses (humanities or social studies, AA/AS requirements*, or CHEM 201 if needed)</p>

<p>Spring 2015:
MATH 209 Calculus & Analytic Geometry III
MATH 210 Differential Equations
PHYSICS 236 Engineering Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism
one other course (humanities or social studies, AA/AS requirements*, or CHEM 201 or 203 if needed)</p>

<p>Because it appears that there are no frosh/soph engineering courses (computing for engineers, statics or solid mechanics, etc.), it may be best to try to transfer to a four year school at this point*. It may require five semesters to finish after transfer, due to the need to “catch up” on these courses, but there is not a lot more that you can take at the Chicago city colleges to work toward a mechanical engineering major.</p>

<p>*Looks like some four year schools want an AA/AS, while others just want specific course work in preparation for the major. <a href=“http://www.ccc.edu/menu/Pages/Articulation-Transfer.aspx”>http://www.ccc.edu/menu/Pages/Articulation-Transfer.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>The OP will need to determine what plan of action will match his/her goals. I know a STEM cc transfer student who took Physics 1 at CC and finished Physics 2 at her target university. Yes, she will spend a total of 5 years getting the B.S. in Ch-E, but given that a full compliment of engineering foundation courses were not available at her CC, she would be toiling for 5 total years at most any engineering school anyway, even though she entered the target university with 59 credits. Fortunately, she satisfied all of her General Education (university core) requirements at CC. By the way, she fell just short of the requirements for a formal Associates of Science degree. With an admission to engineering school in hand there was no need to stay an extra semester at CC to get an A.S.</p>

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<p>Want to mention that certainly, Physics would be a prior requirement for Fluid Mechanics (or at least a co-requirement) at most Mechanical Engineering departments, OP needs to confirm the sequence and availability of the “course flow” at his/her possible target universities. Many school direct that Physics 1 be taken the second semester of the freshman year, after Calc 1. As far as I can tell about Olive Harvey Cpllege, Physics 1 and Physics 2 are not offered out of sequence (1-Fall, 2-Spring).</p>

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<p>And yes, substituting the Chemistry sequence for the full-year of Physics at Olive Harvey College is advantageous, particularly if the target engineering university does not require General Chemistry 2, which many don’t. Of course, taking the full year of Chemistry gives one options should one’s interest expand beyond ME.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.ccc.edu/Documents/2014_SuFaSchedules/OH_FA_2014.pdf”>http://www.ccc.edu/Documents/2014_SuFaSchedules/OH_FA_2014.pdf&lt;/a&gt; indicates that PHYSICS 235 (but not PHYSICS 236) is offered in Fall 2014. This implies that it is best for the OP to take MATH 207 in Summer 2014 in order to be ready for PHYSICS 235 in Fall 2014, because it may not be possible to take PHYSICS 235 in Spring 2015 (<a href=“http://www.ccc.edu/Documents/2014_SuFaSchedules/OH_SU_2014.pdf”>http://www.ccc.edu/Documents/2014_SuFaSchedules/OH_SU_2014.pdf&lt;/a&gt; indicates that MATH 207 is available in Summer 2014).</p>

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<p>It is clear from the OHC website that the OP won’t have much flexibility in her/his course schedule. Given that situation, I would again recommend not clinging to the idea of obtaining the Associate’s degree, unless the OP insists on getting it. In the long run, it’s unnecessary.</p>

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<p>Hey @LakeWashington and @ucbalumnus guys I’m back again! Thank you so much for the amazing feedback! So as you may or may not know I completed Chemistry 201(General chemistry) in the summer and now I will be done with my Calculus 1 course in December 13, 2014. After talking with my coach and adviser at OHC I think my plan is to complete my Associates degree in science but I will still also complete my Calculus 2 with my gen ed courses such as biology and speech 101 next semester. Then in the fall of 2015 I will complete my Calculus 3 with social science, English 102, humanities 201 and African american studies 101. So then I will be graduating in the fall of 2015 then continue my engineering major courses at a university. What do you guys think of this? My coach tells me I do not need biology for MEchanical engineering degree however I need it to complete my associates degree in science. She also informed me about that I should take more physics courses and my engineering major courses. But my adviser at OHC tells me that its best to take my major courses and the rest of my calculus at a university. I’m kind of in the middle about my coach advice and my OHC advisers advice which advice you think I should take? Or whats a better plan for me? </p>

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<p>Just to also mention I will also have a total of 67 credits from OHC when I complete my associates in science degree I hope to maintain my 3.8 GPA because I have already applied to UIC at Champagne and UC Berkeley. </p>

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<p>Be aware that some universities only admit transfer students to start in the fall, or may have fewer slots available for those starting in the spring.</p>

<p>It is best to take as much math and physics as you can before transfer, so that you won’t have to spend extra semesters at the university due to having to take them as “catch up” courses. Note that most engineering courses list math and physics and prerequisites, so you won’t be able to start them until you have your math and physics done.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your quick response! :slight_smile: Since I will be completing my associate in sciences degree I will be taking physics 235, calculus ll and speech 101 in the spring of 2015. After completing my spring semester of 2015 I will have Calculus lll, English 102, Speech 101, Biology 114, Afro American studies and Sociology left. In the fall of of 2015 I plan to take calculus lll English 102 and biology. After the fall of 2015 is the summer and two summer classes are free for city colleges xD! So In the summer of 2015 I can take Afro American studies and sociology. Then I will be done with my associates in science degree. How does this sound? That way when applying to universities they know I can complete something and I want be playing catch up right? </p>

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<p>So after completing my courses it seems I will be done with my associates in science degree in the summer of 2015 . That way I can graduate from Olive Harvey in the fall of 2016. </p>