Indulge me, why don't you?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hmm. So basically, I want to become a Bioengineer, with an emphasis on materials science. I understand that any engineering program is difficult, and I also understand that Bioengineering (or BioMed, whatever) is among one of the most difficult out of all the engineering divisions, period.</p>

<p>The question is, how hard do you lot think I'll have to work to..well...succeed? I'll be entering my first year of college this fall. Not quite sure where I'm going yet, as I'm still deciding between Penn State and Seattle Pacific University.</p>

<p>Now my high school record is less than impressive. In fact, my high school cumulative GPA was only a 2.4; I've taken multiple AP classes and passed none of the AP Tests; I only reached Algebra 3&4 (Trigonometry, Advanced Alg.) my senior...but THAT can easily be explained. Haha, oh the story behind THAT one...</p>

<p>Anywho, what to do? My stats seem as though I shouldn't be a Bioengineer, but I know this is right for me. What to do ya'll, what to do?</p>

2

<p>Well, I wouldn’t let your stats keep you from going into a career you want to do. Just because you didn’t do as well in high school doesn’t mean you can’t do well in bioengineering. You are just going to need to work your butt off to make up for it. Pick a school and make the most out of it. Learn all you can and inquire about stuff that you don’t even need to know. The school might make a difference in the quality of education, but how much you learn is totally up to you. I think you could still do it, you just need to definitely work at it. So my opinion, go for it, it seems that is what you really want to do so why do anything else…? Good Luck!</p>

3

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<p>Every engineering major says this about his area of study.</p>

<p>It won’t be impossible for you to do well in engineering, but you’ll have to work pretty hard. If you want it enough, you’ll put in the work and do pretty well.</p>

4

<p>HS classes (including AP) are a joke compared to engineering classes. Fix what you did wrong in the past, plus improve your study skills.</p>

5

<p>Ah, thank ya’ll! This really does make all the difference!</p>

6

<p>i recommend going to a cc for 2 years, working on getting great grades, then transferring to a superb school!!! YEAH!!!</p>

7

<p>Why would I do that? I’ve already gotten into a good christian four-year, so a two-year would be pointless.</p>

<p>I’m gonna transfer anyway.</p>

8

<p>thats what i meant
transfer to a 2 year school from your christian school
then transfer back</p>

<p>employers like to see mobility</p>

9

<p>Whaaa? No!</p>

<p>I’ll just transfer from my 4 year to a better 4 year.</p>

10

<p>I don’t want to rain on your parade, but I think that good study skills are only a part of success in any college major (especially math/science/engineering). You really do need at least a little aptitude for the subject you want to study. You should honestly assess why you were not very successful in high school and decide whether the problem had to do only with work ethic <em>OR</em> if had something to do with innate ability in some subjects. I am a little perplexed as to why you took multiple AP subjects, passed zero AP tests and only got a 2.4 gpa (was that weighted or u/w?) This would suggest to me that you are either overestimating your abilities or are seriously slacking.</p>

11

<p>Finally, someone who asked about this. I’ll give you the short version.</p>

<p>First of all, the GPA. I’ve gone to three different high schools. My first high school was in WA state, I was a freshman gangster wannabe, so I didn’t care about school, especially at the time when I never had a particular math teacher—I had korean and vietnamese substitutes the entire year who couldn’t speak english. Freshman year, that GPA was a 1.6. Sophomore year, my family just randomly decided to move to Texas, just as I was beginning sophomore year. Talk about culture shock! There was much racism in my school, and teachrs honestly didn’t care. In fact, the whole school system didn’t even care. They didn’t even put me in the right math class. At my first school, Algebra 1 was considered Integrated Math, but in Texas, they didn’t have integrated math. So, as a sophomore, I was in algebra 1 again. My GPA improved somewhat (I got a 2.9), but again I only have substitutes the second half of the year because my school “forced” the math teacher to quit because he was gay. Anyways moving on…I hated being there, so my family decided to move me yet again back to WA. At that school, they placed me in GEOMETRY as a JUNIOR because the other school screwed me over and put me in ALGEBRA as a SOPHOMORE. My GPA fell down again, to a 2.8. Senior year, I was just ready to go, so I ended up failing 2 classes and nearly not graduating, finishing off my year with a 2.2 and totaling a 2.4 cumulative. My school doesn’t do the weighted/unweighted thing.</p>

<p>The classes. Oh, I was capable of doing them, but my entire high school experience was prety much ruined for me, so I honestly didn’t care about them. I didn’t study for the AP tests, I hardly paid attention in class. In fact, the only reason why I took them is so I wouldn’t be in classes with people that just…bored me. Now I’m <em>not</em> overestimating my abilities; all I’m saying is that, with some actual study time, I could’ve passed those tests.</p>

<p>I probably don’t have any innate ability for an engineering career whatsoever. Who cares? Innate ability is only a part of the overall thing, anyway.</p>

<p>Now I’ve always struggled with math, but that’s nothing a good work ethic can’t fix. Haha, that is if when I actually develop one.</p>

<p>I jsut gave you the short form of the story. There are far more personal reasons as to why my GPA is that low, but I don’t like to just rely on that for an excuse about my GPA.</p>

12

<p>so that’s that.</p>

13

<p>

Work ethic is important, but I don’t think that I agree with you here. When you get into more abstract math and engineering problems, I don’t think effort can always make up for deficiencies in aptitude (I know, I also struggled with math). Sometimes, you might try to understand a new concept for hours, while your roommate gets it in ten minutes. It can catch up with you. Now maybe your spotty background is to blame and you are really better at math than you think…</p>

<p>It is tough to move in high school, and it is difficult to have a lack of consistancy in math. All I can say is to try it. Look for a school that has plenty of academic support in case you need it. If engineering is not right for you, you will find out soon enough.</p>

14

<p>I see. Well here’s hoping that what I find out is EXACTLY what I want it to be. =]</p>

15

<p>I hope so too!</p>