<p>I am a high school senior and I got accepted into UT Dallas through automatic admission. I plan on doing Mechanical Engineering next year. I am worried on two fronts:</p>
<ol>
<li>I don't think I am smart enough. For the first 3 years of high school, I didn't try at all. This is representative of my motivation. I never really did my work much. I am working on that now. I have a 3.7 with two AP classes. </li>
</ol>
<p>I never tried in my math classes. Algebra 1 and 2 were a challenge for me. I'm in pre-ap Pre-Cal now and I'm doing moderately well (90 avg) but we're on this one section where you have to simplify trigonometric expressions and its difficult for me. My knowledge of some of the algebraic basics is kinda sketchy because I never paid attention. For instance, factoring is impossible. I only got a 620 on my Math SAT (1880 composite) last year and I only got automatic admission into UTD because I got a 1250 CR+M. My study habits are trash (working on that) but I've wanted to be an engineer since 7th grade. I desperately worry that I just won't be able to do it. I worry I won't be able to pass when I go to college. My PreCal teacher knows of my plans and says he likes me because I work hard but really that's only because I go to him when I don't know what I'm doing.</p>
<ol>
<li>I worry that UTD is too hard for me. The only reason I got in is because I can take a standardized test decently. My class rank is actually in the bottom 50%. This is due in part to the fact I've been to 3 different high schools (moving, divorce) and the fact that I never tried. Even UT Arlington didn't want me! Everyone else at UTD is going to be smart but here I am, just lucky. </li>
</ol>
<p>I don't know what I should do. I don't want to waste my money trying something and losing money. </p>
<p>You’re not dumb. Just not motivated to work hard. And you’re working on it. Every major requires discipline and self motivation to succeed, not just engineering. I’m sure that if you apply yourself to your full potential, you’ll do fine. My GPA in HS was a 3.6 (UW). I love my major (civil engineering), and I’m succeeding. </p>
<p>It’s great that you got into a good school. At least you didn’t disadvantage yourself due to a rocky HS start. Start applying yourself, work hard, go to class, study. Learn how to study well too. There are plenty of resources at college or maybe in your HS to help you develop good study habits, USE THEM.</p>
<p>Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help either, it’s there for you.</p>
<p>Some people are late bloomers, so it wouldn’t be a bad strategy to perhaps attend a community college for the first year or two, build up your math and science skills then transfer to a competitive four year college such as UTD for engineering, if you feel comfortable. I have a nephew with scores that were similar to yours, who went to a community college did well, then transferred to a good engineering program, where he earned 6 As and 1 B+ in his first semester there and has never looked back. </p>
<p>On the other hand I have seen kids with good scores who went to very competitive schools where they earned Cs, became disappointed and dropped out of college. </p>
<p>Hang in there. If you want to be an engineering major, you have to want it! It’s a hard program, but definitely doable. If you go to college and slack off, it’s over. Start developing your study skills now, (taking good notes, do not procrastinate, work on time management, etc) because you won’t have time to start from scratch in college. High school moves at a slower pace, so understand if you are confused by a topic in college, you must get help RIGHT AWAY. Don’t wait until you are so buried with confusing material that you want to just quit. (Also most colleges offer a lot of free academic help like tutoring, professor office hours, etc).</p>
<p>Remember that you choose what you do. If you choose to not study, it’ll reflect on your grades. If you choose to procrastinate, it’ll reflect. So choose to study early, choose to work hard. You get what you put in! :)</p>