<p>Hey, I'll be starting engineering at Virginia Tech this fall.</p>
<p>I'm really nervous about the high dropout rates and low grades for engineering majors.
I do have good study habits, and I'm really focused academically.
Also, my sister dropped out of engineering, so obviously I'm really nervous about the same happening to me.</p>
<p>So, does anyone have any advice that may help me?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Put school first, and do not put off any assignments at all. Do your work and stay on top of things first, and then you can use your remaining time to have fun. Do not go and party when there’s lots of work to be done.</p>
<p>My general tips,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Go to class, probably the most obvious one but not followed all the time. Even if you have a terrible professor, even if you dont want to go, just go. You may learn something that will help you tremendously when it comes test time.</p></li>
<li><p>Do your homework in advance. If its assigned monday and due next monday then work on it a little monday, a little tuesday and so forth you might even be able to get it done before the weekend. And if you have any problems along the way stop by your professors office or talk to your TA. They will help you out.</p></li>
<li><p>If you struggle at any point talk to your professor. They are there to help and most will work with you to improve your understanding and thus grades.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t get frustrated. There will be times when it seems hopeless, but just fight through them eventually the hardships will pass.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Remember…your IMMEDIATE goal is to get admitted into the last 2 years of the program. Pay attention to the course requirements and GPA needed to get admitted to the junior/senior years.</p>
<p>You do not HAVE to get 60 credits in 4 semesters with 15 credits/semester. If you have to, take 12 credits Fall/Spring and 6 during the summer for some of the Gen Ed courses…maybe at a CC. I know a few folks (younger engineers) who did that while at U-Maryland and they said it helped a lot.</p>
<p>Re: credits per semester</p>
<p>The workload may not be consistently proportional to the number of credits assigned to a course. For example, a physics course with lab can be significantly more work than a math course, since both have lecture/discussion class time, homework, and tests, but the physics course also has lab time, lab preparation, and lab homework. A 12 credit semester with three lab courses can be as much work as a 20 credit semester with five non-lab courses.</p>
<p>Heavy computer programming or large term projects (which can occur in humanities and social studies courses) can also increase a course’s workload.</p>
<p>Choose carefully to avoid combining too many high work per credit courses in the same semester.</p>