<p>I'm a second year ME student and I'm considering switching to accounting or something else.</p>
<p>My main problem is the math. I'm behind in math courses and I've had to drop calc II twice now because I just couldn't understand it and get good test grades. I'm also in statics and am having some trouble in there understanding everything, but I'm still passing. What I planned on doing in the future was going into automotive stuff with engineering and design. I love automotive everything and the design aspect of engineering, but its just getting to hard for me. So does anyone have any advice whether I should drop and switch to accounting and just have a hobby or tough it out and stick with engineering? Or maybe you guys have a better major in mind?</p>
<p>Engineering is a tough major. It requires that you stay current with the classroom work. Cramming for the test just doesn’t work as it did in high school. If you are trying to go it alone, that is also a mistake. Get involved with a study group (or start your own with some of your classmates). Going over these basic classes (and the math and static are basic engineering classes) with your peers to really understand the concepts will help when you get into the upper division classes.</p>
<p>However, if you are really not getting it, why beat a dead horse? The question becomes; do you really like accounting enough to make it your life’s work? Only you can answer that.</p>
<p>Also, plugging away at an engineering major and getting a low GPA isn’t the best path to future employment. Most large engineering companies will have a minimum GPA (typically around 3.0) to even look at your resume. Most will have average new hire GPAs much higher than the minimum. Small companies without such a GPA floor would then be your best bet, but a low GPA is still very limiting as far as your employment picture would go.</p>
<p>It is interesting to note that at many colleges the engineering departments become the biggest “exporter” of students and the business area becomes the biggest “importer” of students as the students shift their majors.</p>
<p>You are letting a few math courses keep you from doing what you are passionate about?</p>
<p>You need to attack that Calc II course with all you’ve got- tutors, utilizing all the TA’s office hours, help from the prof, group study, online assistance- throw the kitchen sink at it.
Getting what you want life will be hard.
Why wouldn’t it be worth the struggle?
Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice. Tomorrow I’m going to see the head of the engineering tutoring department, she’s also an advisor, and talk to her about what I should do. I’ve been doing a lot of research and thinking about what I want to do also. It pretty much all comes down to, am I too far behind. That’s what worries me most.</p>