<p>Full disclosure; I am not an engineering student, just very fond of one.</p>
<p>Here is my question; it seems increasingly hard to find tutors, the higher you go in your engineering curriculum. For example, it's easier to find a differential equations tutor, than it is to find one in materials science or fluid mechanics. Office hours are much easier to come by, and perhaps the best, or even only way to go, but there ARE some "mechanical engineering tutors" out there, offering services through companies like tutor bungalow.</p>
<p>Home</a> Tutoring in Los Angeles, CA (90035) - home tutor, private tutor and online tutor | Tutor Bungalow</p>
<p>Let's say the question from the student is "I am studying more than others, I thought I was prepared; why am i not doing better?" I'm sure more details from me would be helpful, but I really don't want to get into a long discussion ( a short one would be okay!) about whether I should be on this forum asking. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience using a service like this, and what they thought.</p>
<p>I have never heard of any of my classmates paying for a tutor. If they or I can’t seem to get the concept we go to the TA/Professor- that usually clears it up. </p>
<p>I feel that I study more than others too, but I need to understand the full concept to really understand things, not just incremental steps. I have accepted that and have found my study style that leads to the best result. College, and especially engineering, are really different in that you can’t study the way you (or most) did in high school. Learning how to think and dig deep is part of the growth.</p>
<p>I have never seen anyone offering tutoring services at the upper levels of engineering education outside of the usual "ask the prof’ or “ask the TA” or “ask a classmate”. Not that I have looked that hard to find one, but I would surmise that one would be very rare.</p>
<p>I have informally tutored some upper level engineering and it is very hard. You remember the basics but many of the details escape you. The student is lost amongst the details, so you (the tutor) spend a lot of time reading and relearning the material yourself. </p>
<p>None of these tutoring experiences lasted more than a few sessions as I focused on how to learn rather than teaching the actual material. Many engineering students (and practicing engineers) are visual-spatial learners (it is the high level of visual-spatial skills that make for a good engineer) and teaching, as usually practiced, is a audio-sequential activity. Once one figures out how to learn, then the whole learning experience is easier and more enjoyable for all involved.</p>
<p>^ That makes sense. I have found my self wondering how someone might end up tutoring “mechanical engineering” for a living, at least beyond the first year or two after graduation.</p>
<p>Probably the best form of “tutoring” for upper-level engineering courses is working the problems in a group and using the strengths of each of your friends to help strengthen the whole group. If you find yourself a small- group of people for collaboration, usually one person will understand a given concept better than the others and they can help each other along. If this person about whom you are asking doesn’t already do that, I would highly suggest they start.</p>
<p>Thank you. I know he did that a lot the first two years, so if he is not doing it now, I would wonder why. I would wonder if it’s because his peers/friends seem to “get it” easier, and do better than he does. It is a pretty small program. Still; I will mention it. </p>
<p>FWIW, math classes have always been a major struggle, but the physics and engineering classes not so much. This semester is</p>
<p>Fall Semester S.H.
MATH 355 Methods of Applied Math 3
MECH 301 Measurements and Controls 3
MECH 302 Thermo, Fluids & Materials Lab 2
MECH 313 Materials Science 3
MECH 322 Fluid Mechanics 3
____ ___ University Core 3 (some sort of philosophy)</p>
<hr>
<p>17</p>
<p>Next semester</p>
<p>Spring Semester S.H.
MECH 303 Energy and Mechanics Lab 2
MECH 310 Elements of Design 3
MECH 321 Energy Systems 3
MECH 323 Heat Transfer 3
____ ___ University Core 3
____ ___ University Core 3 </p>
<hr>
<p>17</p>
<p>Ah fluid mechanics, my favorite. That’s generally considered to be a difficult class so it is entirely possible it is just tough for him. Can’t say much about the others though. I personally found controls difficult but I think that was at least partially due to the professor, and I thought materials was boring but manageable.</p>
<p>At any rate, if this school does the same kind of schedules as most other ME departments, this is probably first semester of junior year and the first time he has actually hit the core of the department’s courses, so it may just be a bit of a shock and he will recover next semester.</p>
<p>Yes, apparently fluids is a wrecking ball. This was last semester, and except for the math, he did okay. </p>
<p>Spring Semester S.H.
MATH 245 Differential Equations 3
MECH 211 Computer Aided Design 2
MECH 212 Mechanics of Materials 3
MECH 213 Dynamics 3
MECH 223 Thermodynamics 3
____ ___ University Core 3 </p>
<hr>
<p>17</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Well, I was serious when I said it’s my favorite. That wasn’t sarcasm. But a lot of my friends really struggled with it so I understand it has that reputation. It may also be that this individual of whom we speak just doesn’t have the right study habits to fully grasp the material. For example, simply memorizing the steps to solving generic problems works fine for sliding through the earlier classes but if you don’t actually understand the physical concepts and have just been pattern matching for the problems, it can burn you later. He needs to make sure he knows why you take that next step, not just that you do. I’ve witnessed a lot of people struggle that way.</p>
<p>Ok. I’ll admit it… my friends and I called it “Fluid Traumatics”. It was one of only 2 C’s I received in college. (We also had a nickname for the prof, who happened to have “F” as his middle initial - use your imagination. But that had more to do with his nonchalant attitude than the course. We were spoiled by having mostly good profs). </p>
<p>I’ve noticed that many colleges coordinate tutor sessions for the large freshman (and sometimes sophomore) engineering classes. At my school, there were many various study groups amongst the upperclassman. </p>
<p>I remember struggling with a microprocessors class. A friend and classmate who knew the material from a similar class before he transferred spent an hour or two with me one-on-one… and after that it mostly clicked.</p>