I want to be an Engineer, but...

I’m a high school senior heading down to Auburn in the fall to (hopefully) study Mechanical Engineering. Problem is, I’ve lost confidence in my math and science skills.
I’ve always enjoyed problem solving and taking things like cars, laptops and radios apart to see how they work and fix them, and every time I take one of those career tests it always points me to engineering. I’ve also been able to teach myself relatively anything and truly enjoy learning new things- history, math, and science are my strongest subjects, but a recent change in teaching methods in our school system has thrown me off track.

Last year, I decided to take Physics and PreCal to get me started on an engineering track- it was also the year that our system had to change over to Common Core. I had some great teachers, but they were having to learn this new way of teaching while trying to teach us the basics of subjects like vectors and polar coordinates. Programs like Mastering Physics and Interact Math made understanding these concepts all the more difficult, and slowly I began to despise the subjects I loved so much. Given, I’ve always made solid A’s and B’s in all my math & science courses, but in most of them I never really felt like I learned the concepts.

I still really want to pursue engineering, but I’ve heard that many programs at colleges such as Georgia Tech and Auburn “weed out” poor performers as soon as their spring semester of freshman year. My question is, will my professors be willing to help a girl from Alabama out, or will we hit the ground running in most of the classes? Do I need to take some Physica/Calculus at a local community college to get me started?

I’m most likely overthinking this, but any advice would be appreciated.

Some of your classmates may never have taken calc or physics at all, so at least you’ve had some prior exposure. The intro classes will start at the beginning, and while they may move faster than you’d like, you’ll have time to build a solid foundation in those subjects.

Can’t tell you anything about professors’ willingness to help out, but I’d imagine they’d be happy to, if you seek them out (office hours). Other resources will likely include TAs, tutoring, the book, and the internet. Math especially has a ton of tutorials online.

I’ve heard it said that the people who feel most unqualified are probably better off than those who are actually unqualified and think they’re God’s gift to insert-discipline-here.

Source: sophomore girl in ChemE.
Good luck! You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders.

Thanks for the advice! Everyone’s been telling me to get to know my professors when classes start, so I’ll make sure to take advantage of office hours and look into some online programs.

What math/science classes are you taking this year?

I’m taking AP Statistics and Human Anatomy- that puts me 2 years removed from any type of Algebra, but we have a 1st year AP Calculus teacher and I just didn’t want to subject myself to that. My only options in science were HA and Environmental Science unless I wanted to take AP Physics, but the teacher left and all they have are substitutes teaching a college Physics class. They said Geology was only for the “special” kids and didn’t let me take it, which I find ridiculous since I find Earth Science quite interesting and somewhat useful.
So, in essence, I didn’t have any viable options.

If you really want it and like it, you’ll make it happen. Don’t go in thinking you’ll be weeded out. Go in thinking you’ll make it through and you’ll be fine. However, don’t use this as an excuse to not prepare. I would suggest you take an online course or read through a calculus textbook and ask the calculus teachers any questions you may encounter or concepts you have trouble understanding. AP Statistics is very unlike the calculus you’ll likely be taking in your first year of college. Your being 2 years removed from algebra further necessitates some extra practice before you enter in the fall.
That’s my 2 cents, at least. I can understand and empathize with everything you’re saying about common core but to me all that it’s meant is that I don’t pay attention to my teachers as much anymore and simply find out the methods of learning that make sense to me. I get a lot more from reading textbooks now than I do from class time. I would suggest you get a little bit more accustomed to finding information on your own, whether that be through reading textbooks or scouring youtube. Good Luck and I’m sure if you really want it, you’ll get it. If you don’t, I’m sure you’ll do something you enjoy even more.

They don’t “weed out” but they are exacting. The are tough classes but the goal is not to weed people out. Even at MIT, the entry courses are tough but the certainly don’t want to weed people out. There isn’t really many places for people weeded out of STEM to go at MIT so it would make no sense for them to purposely “weed” people out. Rather, they want you to learn the concepts at a high level and won’t give you a decent grade until you do.

Auburn is going to place you into your math class, based on your ACT or SAT math score.

https://www.auburn.edu/cosam/departments/math/students/ugrad/placement.htm

You may want to take Math 1150/1153 (Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry) in your first semester, even if you qualify for Calc 1. It will put you a semester behind in math, but will give you the fundamentals for Calc.

Your advisor will help you select your classes. Don’t over do it your first semester. It’s better to take a lighter load (and then get involved in campus activities/clubs), than taking on too much and struggling.

Good Luck!!

Thank y’all for all the info! @Gator88NE, I’m going for an NROTC scholarship (want to be a pilot), so they require that I have finished CALC II by the end of my sophomore year and at least 2 years of Calc-based Physics by then too in order to retain the scholarship. I’m guessing that means no “taking it easy” in math or science, but would taking those refresher courses over the summer at a local community college help?

You mean 2 semesters of calc based physics? Engineers don’t need 4 (well…I did, but that was Nuclear…).

Auburn ME curriculum

http://bulletin.auburn.edu/undergraduate/samuelginncollegeofengineering/departmentofmechanicalengineering/mechanicalengineering_major/

Freshman Year:
1st Semester: Algebra/trig (and Chem 1, computer programing class, English, etc)
2nd Semester: Calc1 (and Physics 1, you can take it concurrently with Calc 1 or delay it one semester)

(Optional Summer term: can take a class or two at your local CC back home and get caught up on the math sequence)

Sophomore Year
3rd Semester: Calc 2 (and Physics 2, you can take it concurrently with Calc 2)
4th Semseter: Calc 3 and Linear Differential Equations

Look at the curriculum, and think how it would be impacted if you take Math 1153.

Good Luck!

That makes freshman year look a lot easier to tackle! I’ll double check with the CO when I apply for the program and see what track I should be on, then discuss it with my academic advisor when I register for classes.

There has been a lot of good advice on here already so I won’t pile on too much. NROTC will be happy with with the engineering program, the only things they are going to add are Naval Science courses. Oh, and if you want to be a a pilot in the Navy, you better start pronouncing it “aviator”. And start thinking about what other things you would like to do in the Navy, because that’s a plan that ALWAYS needs a backup!

Pre-Calc and Physics are often the worst combination for your math and science confidence. It’s a huge learning curve year. Given your situation, I’d recommend getting your math mojo back. One great website for math confidence building is www.ixl.com

I am always open to talking more!