Ironic change of mind?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I suppose I'll try to get straight to the point.</p>

<p>In high school (I'm a freshman into my second semester right now), I thought that I would enjoy math and physics even more than I did in high school because it was at an upper level. I really thought that the upper level would bring fun and interesting challenges, but so far I have found that this isn't really working for me.</p>

<p>Obviously, as a high school student, I wasn't exactly sure what the college-level education was like, but it's not even the fact that the upper level education isn't interesting - it is. It's rather the fact that I'm losing the interest in it. I don't know, I think I'm starting to pull away from the math and sciences and starting to lean towards the more liberal areas (maybe because right now I'm in a liberal school, although I planned to transfer to Columbia through a 3-2 year pre-engineering program).</p>

<p>I just feel like I'm really giving up. Right now, I'm taking Calculus 2, and I would've taken the calculus-based physics if it weren't for the professor's bad English (yes, I know it's a bad excuse). The math is becoming a drag, and I'm sure that college-level physics isn't easy at all. And don't even mention Chemistry because I failed that in high school.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if engineering is right for me anymore, although it still sparks a small interest. As I said before, I feel as though I'm pulling away from the math and sciences, but if I stick with it, I feel like maybe I would have to have more hands on experience to really understand math, physics, and engineering because honestly, anything abstract is really difficult for some reason. </p>

<p>For example, in math, the abstract theories are relatively simple once shown, but for me, it becomes so much more complicated. Today, I just learned finding the area under the curve both above and below the x-axis. We went through the whole thing of dividing [a,b] into equal parts and then doing the rectangles so that the smaller you make delta x, the better estimate it is. Then you do the whole sigma thing and end up having it the same notation as integral from a to b of the function (I think it's a pretty bad summary but those of you who did this hopefully know what I'm talking about). I just feel like none of that abstract stuff really appeals nor makes a lot of sense to me. I'm just more interested in finding the answer the "concrete" way. I know that the abstract stuff is sort of required to know in order to find the answer, but I just don't think it works out for me that well overall.</p>

<p>I've said too much but the thing is that I'm really thinking about changing my mind about this field. I just don't know if I should just yet because I would prefer spending 8 hours doing some math problems than writing a paper or reading a Shakespeare piece.</p>

2

<p>Integrals have many applications in physics, I’m sure you’ll find more applications as you take more advanced classes</p>

3

<p>First of all, if you plan on majoring in engineering then you had better get used to professors that do not speak english well. Sorry to break this to you. Second, I’m not trying to pick on you but if you think that the basics of integration are abstract then you are really in for it I’m afraid. An engineering degree will involve a lot of abstract thinking and coursework. If you plan on going to grad school or if you take any higher level mathematics courses you will really learn the meaning of abstract.</p>

<p>That being said, don’t feel discouraged if you feel that some of your classes are not interesting. There are many classes that you won’t particularly enjoy but just try to tolerate them and get through it. An engineering degree is not going to be easy. Keep in mind it is a marathon not a sprint. Take it one course, even one day at a time and do your best to keep in your courses. If you stay focused and get in a routine of studying/doing homework, you will be amazed at how fast your college years will go.</p>

4

<p>You are a freshman in high school. No one said you have to make up your mind yet, and there’s nothing wrong with changing your mind away from science/engineering. Especially as a high school freshman, you haven’t really seen a whole lot of “real” math and science courses yet- so if you when you see them you don’t like them, then maybe another field would be better for you.</p>

<p>I’ll be honest, if you think ap calc is “abstract”, you’re gonna be in for it when you take more advanced math courses and other science and engineering courses.</p>

5

<p>jdhutchin, I’m pretty sure he’s a college freshman, and was just explaining his perspective when he was a high school froshie.</p>

6

<p>he’s a freshman at college.</p>

7

<p>… if you don’t like your math and physics classes, change majors. Nobody says that you have to major in STEM to be successful in life. Do what you like… and if what you like changes, I mean, you’re only human.</p>

8

<p>The first two years of an engineering degree suck because all you do is math and physics and maybe an intro course into our actual specialization. Near the end of your second year it does get better, as you start getting into your major’s own classes.</p>

<p>If you feel like you aren’t getting enough applications for what you’re learning in class, try looking into engineering projects at your school, ones outside of the classroom.</p>

9

<p>First of all, yes, I am a freshman in COLLEGE. So that settles that, lol.</p>

<p>Anyways, yeah I guess that the beginning will be dry but I mean isn’t the beginning the roots of the rest of what I learn? I’m sure what I find boring and abstract now is pretty essential to what I’ll be learning the next semester, and the ones following that.</p>

<p>

Yeah I suppose but I guess the real problem I had was that I wasn’t all that familiar with the math he used. I honestly don’t feel like my math is up to par even though that physics class only required calc 1 when I’m currently taking calc 2.</p>

<p>As for the problem with the abstract questions, I was only giving an example. I’m somewhere in the middle of understanding the concepts abstractly. However (because my definition of abstract isn’t exactly sure >< small vocab), I can’t really see the idea unless it’s with a nice huge picture and I’m being spoon fed through it. I don’t know where the applications for things like integrals exist, but I’m sure that’s what the upper level classes are there for.</p>

<p>

I wish I had that opportunity but my school is a liberal arts school. Just to clarify, I attend CUNY Queens College and it doesn’t have an engineering school. Like I said in my first post, I’m doing a 3-2 year program with Columbia so all I’ll be taking for my first three years will be Queens College’s graduation requirements, and calc-based Physics 1 and 2, general chemistry 1 and 2, calculus 1, 2, and 3, and a CS course ( Introduction to Algorithmic Problem Solving). Also, economics 101 but I believe they do this so that we “pre-engineering” students get a more broader education. I’m not sure whether all engineering majors are required to take both chemistry and physics, but I think that explains it for the economics and CS course.</p>

<p>Anyways, yeah and then most of all the branches of engineering require other classes that relate to the engineering field, such as mechanics for mechanical and civil engineering, linear algebra for quite a few, and things like organic chemistry for biomedical and chemical engineering.</p>

<p>I feel like I’m going off topic but the idea is that I don’t know if I’ll really get much of an opportunity till I transfer after my first 3 years. I’d have to go to another school in order to find some kind of project to get experience, and I’m not really sure if a professor would let some random kid do that.</p>

10

<p>I think I may see your problem. You say you haven’t taken calculus based physics… and you also don’t see applications of calculus in engineering. Well there’s your problem. As soon as you see how calculus helps explain some of the phenomenon that happen in crazy things like gravity, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, things like that, I’m sure you’ll find better direction and perspective. Once you do see the applications of higher level math in physics, to me it was an amazing thing, and I’m sure it will be for you too, since you know that you atleast used to have a passion for engineering and sciences.</p>

11

<p>hadsed, I think you misread or I just worded myself poorly. I have only completed calculus 1 and I am currently taking calculus 2. However, I’m not “amazed” by it, and maybe it has to do with the reason that I don’t think of it abstractly. Rather I think of just the numbers and the fact that (for example, acceleration) the derivative of the position gives you the velocity, and the derivative of that gives you acceleration, and the 9.81 m/s/s (obviously gravity) comes from this.</p>

12

<p>9.81 m/s/s doesn’t come from calculus, really. It comes from Newton’s Law of Gravitation.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think you are misinterpreting hadsed’s post. He isn’t saying you should be “amazed” by calculus 1 or 2, he is saying that once you take (and finish) calculus based physics you will be shown how calculus is the mathematical basis for the physical world. Basically any physical phenomenon around you can be mathematically described by calculus, or more correctly, differential equations. However, in order to be able to connect the calculus to the real world, you first have to take all the basic calculus classes that are somewhat boring and, as you describe them, “abstract”.</p>

<p>What it comes down to is this: don’t give up because you think it is not concrete enough, because once you get into the physics part of things and even more so the engineering part of things, it is all applications of the math. If you want to give up because you simply can’t handle the math, then that is another thing, and to really understand engineering, you do need to have a fairly strong understanding of AT LEAST basic calculus. Still, calc 2 is, to most people, the hardest of the calculus sequence, so it may just be that you need to get over this hump.</p>

13

<p>@boneh3ad</p>

<p>I guess you’re right. I never really learned how it was derived because high school physics sucks compared to college level. Anyways, I guess what I was trying to say was that calculus was involved in gravitation and the whole package.</p>

<p>I suppose that what you said is true about the rest though. I mean obviously you know a lot more than I do of what I have coming, but I guess my real fear with the math part is that if I don’t understand the concepts abstractly, then I won’t be able to apply the math and understand the physics that well. And I’m assuming that that is essential in engineering.</p>

<p>Also, it’s not the fact that I can’t handle the math. It just feels like it’s a bit dry and kind of pushes me towards slacking instead of spending more time with it.</p>

14

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<p>Welcome to the dilemma of nearly every engineering student.</p>

<p>Technically, I should be working on some homework right now, but instead I am on here.</p>

15

<p>haha that was funny :)</p>

<p>I’m sure it’s worth it for those who are really into this field but I honestly don’t know where my “passion” lies in. That’s why I brought all of this up. I guess back on topic, basically I should just endure the next year or two?</p>

16

<p>if your struggling you need to think about ways to make it easier…ways I have found to do this</p>

<p>-follow your syllabus and read the text before each class of every class (the difficulty of the material decreases exponentially)
-Go to the math/physics help room, I don’t know what I’d of done without them
-if your a social person, join engineering learning communities
-go to your prof office hours and vent your frustration, often time they can be motivating and help lite a fire under your feet
-if you have an exam, and you’ve studied enough so you know how to do the types of problems, great, now redo each of those HW problems at least twice, calculating out everything just like you would on the exam, it’s boring but it helps if you supplement this step by listening to death cab for cutie. This is practice and again it makes exams easier
-Sleep early, and at the same time every day, eat breakfast, keep a overly neat work space and organize your life. </p>

<p>I’m not just blowing wind your way…your a freshman, if you ‘make dramatic changes in your life/study habits to make engineering easier’ than you will be happier with your studies. oh, and don’t make excuses, if your honest with your self that your not working hard enough than the resolution becomes more obvious.</p>

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<p>ijamjl, I think you need to apply for internships and work in some tech industry to keep yourself motivated. As an EE, my major is very boring at times. Endless signals/graphs with complicated mathematical solutions suck the life out of you. But when I see how versatile my degree is, I hang on. You need to find hope. Join some engineering club or become a member of a professional association like IEEE. You will meet people and also learn about the advancements in your field.</p>

18

<p>It’s better to look ahead at what type of industry/profession you’d like to work in after graduation and pick your major based on that- most (not all) jobs are not like the course material you will study in school.</p>

19

<p>^ I’m sorry but I really have to disagree with winbacker here. Rather than hijacking the thread, I’ll just say that some people - at least one, me - think that majoring in something because you think it will lead to a certain job you think you might like is a bad idea. Study what you like, or what you think you like, and figure out along the way whether you like it or not… who’s to say you’ll enjoy being an engineer any more than you will enjoy majoring in engineering? I’d caution one against suffering through a major hoping the job will be different, as well. Perhaps this is true, but what other major will be more like the job? And if there are such majors, why not major in them instead? If not, why suffer now just to suffer later?</p>

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<p>Engineering is a good degree to get if you don’t know what you want to do with your life but still have the smarts and work ethic to make it through. Better to be an bored engineer making $60k than a bored office worker making $35k.</p>

<p>You very well may make it though college and never find out where your “passion” is. It’s also possible you will die before you discover it. However, if you do discover it you need to consider acting upon it ASAP. As you become older it will become harder to do what you love instead of what is most practical. When you’re young and single it will be easy to take a big pay cut to explore a new field. This won’t be the case when you’re married and have kids (assuming you go down that path).</p>