I need a down-to earth talk about life as an engineering student.

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I'm going to be a freshman next year for chemE. I've heard all of these horror stories about how hard it is and how much time it takes...I've heard so much that it has almost glorified the experience into something I can't even comprehend. Now I know that engineering is the biggest major at my school (nearly 25%), so there must be all sorts of different people experiencing these things. </p>

<p>I was hoping that you CCers could just give me a little glimpse into your feelings about school. Do you constantly think about how you're an engineering major and have so much work, or do you allow yourself to hang out and associate with other majors?</p>

2

<p>For me it all comes down to time management. Yes engineering can be a very difficult major and it good that you realize that ahead of time as many students think the opposite. That doesn’t mean however that you can have fun at the same time. Make sure to stay organized and basically treat engineering like a job. Dedicate yourself to the week to study hard and get ahead and there is no reason why you can take a break during the weekend or even at night during the week. Reward yourself for all the hard work during the week getting that tough homework assignment done early, or acing an exam by taking a break and go out and live the college experience. </p>

<p>In the end engineering has been very gratifying for me as I only have one year left. As I look on my other friends that have different (aka easier) majors and take pride in the hard work that I put forth. In the end all of the dedication I put forth will be worth it</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply, it was very comforting. That is an interesting concept, treating it like a job.</p>

<p>For the first semester, I am just taking intro classes (even if I do get the ap credit to place out of them). In high school I didn’t really spend too much time studying, but I am going to make myself study for these classes even if I don’t really need to. Good/bad plan? I want to start out college right so that I won’t have to do any catching up when the going gets tough.</p>

4

<p>Yes. Every minute of my academic life, I fret over how I’ll be spending at least 40 hours a week studying for my engineering classes. </p>

<p>lol jk. The truth is, it really depends on you. If you let it consume you, then you’ll just drive yourself crazy. If you can manage your time well, and know your strengths/weaknesses, you’ll be fine. For example, if you know you wanna go out Friday and Saturday nights (or any nights, really), then you just have to spend more time during the week studying or working on assignments. If you’re struggling with a subject, don’t join a million clubs or get heavily involved. It’s really about discipline and how much you’re willing to put in. Personally, I’m really driven so I don’t let myself stray too far from As in my classes. School is my priority, but I also make time to just have fun and relax. You also have to figure out when you’re most productive. I’ve noticed that with engineering, a lot of students tend to be night owls. They study best at night and into the early hours of the morning. I’m the opposite, so I make sure to study and work on hw during the day so I can just chill at night and not worry. </p>

<p>As a side note, I do have a lot of friends in other majors, but most of my friends are engineering majors (haven’t yet decided if this is sad or not…hahah). But it’s easier to make friends with engineering majors since they’re in most of your classes and since you’ll see them a lot during the next 4 years. So make sure to join clubs that aren’t engineering related (but do join at least one engineering club!) </p>

<p>Just don’t worry too much about how hard engineering is. Everyone already knows that. Trust me, by the end of the year you’ll just wonder why you even spent so much time worrying.</p>

5

<p>I am not a Engineer student, but most of my peeps are. And let me tell you:</p>

<p>You are most likely not going to complete Engineering. Out of the six Engineering students that I know the most, one has been kicked out, four have been put on academic probation. Out of the five that haven’t been kicked out, three are switching out. I know of tons of students who came in Engineering that have switched out. Why? </p>

<p>Because it is ridiculously hard. Out of all the majors, with the exception of perhaps Actuarial Science and Physics, Engineering is the most rigorous of all the majors. Be prepared to study for hours at a time. Don’t expect straight As or “free” weekends that many Liberal Arts students enjoy. Expect long, dreary labs, and a ton of homework piled up.</p>

<p>But also expect that beautiful starting salary in the future. :)</p>

6

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<p>Hmmm…</p>

7

<p>Well, Andrewsky, statistically speaking, she is right. However, that isn’t something you really should go telling people, especially without firsthand experience.</p>

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<p>Those that flunk engineering are probably not that much interested in science, math, and problem solving.</p>

<p>I am sure that for most people if you have a passion for physics/math then you will get through engineering.</p>

<p>Those that are in it for just the money and do not have a passion are likely not going to be able to finish it.</p>

9

<p>There’s too much hype about engineering being difficult. It’s not that bad. I think it makes these people feel better about their crap grades or perhaps proud of their good grades (grades won’t matter anyway for the vast majority of jobs; just finish the degree and get some internship experience on the way).</p>

<p>Moreover, there are typically minimum GPA requirements in early math and physics courses. These will remove the students at the bottom of the totem pole so it’s rare to flunk out after finishing sophomore year. So even if you find that you’re not cut out for engineering, you’ll probably be able to finish another degree on time because it happens so early.</p>

10

<p>As a freshman, you really need to do keep your head awake. Don’t get into parties too often. Don’t fool around. You still have to get a life outside of your dorm, your home, and away from your books.</p>

<p>But seriously, freshman year is the best year to explore your choice. Many people found themselves incapable of doing their majors by junior or even senior years. They didn’t bother to join any engineering club / initiative / program / internship / research until they realize that they are about to graduate, and it’s hard to get a job without some of these experiences.</p>

<p>Is it hard to be an engineering student? Yes. All engineering fields are hard. They require strong minds. You have to be focus all the time. Don’t think that you will never use basic continuity (in calculus one) again. You will come back to them all the time throughout your engineering education, and future working.</p>

<p>It’s okay to forget things. However, it is wrong to think you can just do well in class for now, and then forget everything later.
You have to constantly approach and get involve with your college community, your professors, and your peers. </p>

<p>Time management is sometime very important. It sounds stupid and boring, and baby-level. But when you start playing games, partying like crazy, and then realize you just turn all-night for the remaining semester, you probably may begin to think about your existence as a human being (you get the meaning, an implication of su…)</p>

<p>I am 19, and I have been an all-night consistently throughout my high school and freshman years. I can tell you that I suffer a lot - my health. I could hardly stay up all night now. :frowning:
Many colleges offer you a sample curriculum sheet. Look over. Explore the differences. </p>

<p>Talk to your upperclassmen, and come to CC, and we can help you with most of your questions :)</p>

<p>And please, start exploring what ChemE does over the summer. Explore any potential research that you might be interested in your school. Contact the professor once the school begins. </p>

<p>This I will discuss later. I have an exam tomorrow, wish me luck.</p>

<p>:)</p>

11

<p>I always thought the sheer number of hard courses per term is what is hard about engineering and the hard sciences. Sometimes I think that either doing 5 years for a B.S. or taking 2 courses a summer (summer session 1, summer session 2) is the way to go. Allow your Fall & Spring semesters to be only 12-13 credits.</p>

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<p>@Global
It really depends on the person. But also varies from school to school.
In our school, higher level of physics are semester-base. So for example, Mechanic I and Mechanic II are offer only in fall, and spring, respectively.</p>

<p>For our computer engineering, by sophmore #2 semester (click on the pdf below, the #4 row)
<a href=“http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/gsoe/computer_engr/upload/CpEOv6-Fall09-Spring10-010810.pdf[/url]”>http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/gsoe/computer_engr/upload/CpEOv6-Fall09-Spring10-010810.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Because Engineering 103 (in #2) row is taught by one professor, and it’s always full, and he’s really difficult. Upperclassmen only recommend to take this course after finishing Math 391 and 392. Then I have move around the math courses around in #3 and #4 rows.</p>

<p>This summer I am taking calculus 3 , and hoping to take math 392 and math 391 (move from #4 to #3 row). Even if I didn’t get to take 391, I can still manage to put engineering 103 in the #4 row.</p>

<p>And because as you move on to higher level classes, only one or two classes are available for a course, you can’t really risk your chance of not taking more classes.</p>

<p>Most colleges are probably 18-credits as max, but you can ask for more…</p>

13

<p>My son will major in engineering. I am worried about it being too hard. Actually, as he was taking his senior year in HS, Calc AB AP, Bio AP, Honors Physics, he decided to not pursue the Tier II or III engineering colleges he was initially planning to apply to, but instead, apply to less selective larger state schools. We are happy he did this, as he landed full scholarships and was able to choose his best fit, but we are also worried that he will be too cocky and think that because he’s attending an “easy” school, that he will not hav to study as much. My husband started out as an electrical engineering major and knows all too well how difficult the major can be. I think the OP is wise to “retake” his AP classes. Our son struggled with math in high school and we are pretty insecure with him going right into Calc II, no matter his AP score. Better to start off fresh and see how things are done in college. Son is also foregoing some core classes like Chemistry and English so he can take an intro to mechanical engineering course. That way, he can find out early on if that indeed is what he wants to major in.</p>

14

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<p>I have seen enough Engineering students flunk out to know that Engineering is NOT something you should take lightly. Most people are going to transfer on out (well over half). You don’t have to be in Engineering or a Med school to know that both paths are difficult.</p>

<p>I just don’t want the OP to delusionally think that Engineering is going to be a piece of cake. I know two people who thought it was going to be “so-so” and didn’t even bother studying. One didn’t even last a second quarter and the other is on the verge of being kicked out of the university and losing a full-ride. Neither of them made it passed the prerequisites. Even my mathematically and scientifically gifted bf, who still managed to keep a 2.9 cumulative, dropped out of Engineering after being put on academic probation.</p>

<p>Heck, I know some Asians dropping out of Engineering…if that doesn’t say something, then I don’t know what!</p>

15

<p>Glad y’all also mention summer sessions. We are looking at son probably having to at least take chemistry over the summer. But we would also like him to start right away on an internship. How do other engineering majors solve this problem, the need for summer classes and the need to do internships to acquire employment after graduating?</p>

16

<p>@jwxie,</p>

<p>I should have clarified my earlier post. I meant to refer to some of the social science and humanities courses to be taken during the summer.</p>

<p>You are right. Once you start taking Math/Physics/CS/EE/ME/CE 3XX or 4XX, the courses are offered just Fall and/or Spring.</p>

17

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<p>And what exactly does that prove? At this point, you should probably just quit while you are behind. Yeah, engineering is hard, and it doesn’t really take an engineer to know that. But this guy likely has already heard the horror stories (considering he said so in the original post) so you telling him half of the people drop out doesn’t accomplish anything with regards to his request. Throwing racial stereotypes on top of it just makes it more foolish.</p>

<p>Why do I think you don’t offer much without first hand experience? Probably because of the fact that this guy is asking for first hand experience. He is pretty much asking for insight and advice from people who have actually made it through, not horror stories from someone whose boyfriend didn’t, so I honestly don’t really see how you are helping this guy.</p>

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<p>Yeah, it says you’re racist</p>

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<p>Implying Asians are smarter is racist? Against who? Asians or everybody else?</p>

20

<p>^Firstly, against Asians. </p>

<p>To the OP:</p>

<p>You have a better chance of becoming an engineer than becoming President of the United States (44), walk on the moon (12), or reaching the deepest ocean depths (2). ;)</p>