How time consuming is mechanical engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hello </p>

<p>I am a senior in highschool </p>

<p>I was just about set on majoring in engineering, but then I started hearing about how hard the enginnering major is, and how I won't really have time for anything else except studying. I like math and do all right in it, but don't excel at it. I am like a B+ AP Calc student. (Don't get me wrong, I like challenging problems. and I like math and science.)</p>

<p>The dillema is:
I would really like to do a lot of music in college. I don't plan on majoring in it or even minoring in it, but I would like to take voice lessons and join acapella groups or glee clubs(I know, I know..) and travel to competitions with them. (like the ICCA national competition)</p>

<p>My SAT scores
Math 660 writing 630 reading 570</p>

<p>act scores
Math 31 Reading 32 English 27 SCI 23 and yes I am retaking both.</p>

<p>AP scores
5 AP Chem
4 AP History</p>

<p>GPA 3.884
class rank 17/114</p>

<p>I am a state level piano player/guitarist/ singer (all-state competitions)</p>

<p>It's NOT AT ALL that I want my college life to be laid back and relaxed. I do want a difficult and challenging college life that'll greatly enhance my academic and personal skills. It's just that even with all the time and efforts that I would put into my major(whether it be engineering or whatever else), I want some time set aside for music.</p>

<p>I've been talking to my AP Calc teacher, who majored in electrical engineering. She is recommending that I major in engineering, but she's the one who told me that I won't have any time set aside for extracurricular activities. She told me that all my time would be devoted into studying, if I want good grades. Then I also heard people saying that engineering majors DO get time aside for extracuricular activities.</p>

<p>Would it just all depend on how naturally smart you are? Like I posted, i'm no math genius. I'm barely above average in my AP calc class. And I know that in college math both the pace AND the difficulty will pick up.</p>

<p>Any thoughts? thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Certainly, a lot of things are made easier by being naturally smart. There’s not a single person who can get by without putting in a tremendous effort though.
You should be able to find time to do what you like if you are good at balancing your priorities. I can’t say that I expect you to be a star student with those qualifications, but you can certainly graduate respectably, which is all that really matters (the relative success of your peers actually does not matter).</p>

3

<p>The intensity of an engineering program can vary greatly from one school to another.
When choosing schools, study their catalogs carefully, especially the degree plans.
Some will have more math classes than others - we found huge differences in requirements for the same degree.
Also, some schools are known for trying to “weed out” first and second year students, while others will attempt to help everyone succeed.</p>