Prospective engineering student

<p>I am halfway through my last year in high school and am hoping to attend an engineering school for next year. I believe I'm very capable and will enjoy engineering very much. My worry is time management. </p>

<p>My sister had trouble with her student loan and had to work a lot during university to help her financially (She took a bachelor of arts while she was working). The problem for my sister was that our parents made enough money that student loans weren't a handout for us, yet our parents gave her little to no financial assistance towards education. If I take engineering next year will I be able to work 20 or more hours a week for financial assitance, or is engineering too demanding for that?</p>

<p>Any feedback about the demanding nature of engineering would be appreciated, as would any additional comments about engineering. Thanks.</p>

<p>You could do it as long as you have a job where it would be no problem to ask off days. I did the exact same thing last semester as an engineering major and my manager had no problem with it. Like I always ask off the day before an exam and stuff like that. It’s all about time management.</p>

<p>I think it is very possible. However I am only a second year chemical engineering student so I can only speak for the first two years but I don’t have much of a problem with free time at all. I hear the third year is hell but I don’t really know, haven’t experienced it yet :P</p>

<p>During your 1st year you take your really basic classes. (I think that is what you will take. I go to a UC, however I am pretty sure your first year will look very similar). These classes are single variable calculus, general physics, maybe a basic programming class, and general chemistry if you’re doing chem/bio engineering. MAYBE you might take an intro to ____ engineering class but that usually starts 2nd year. The rigor isn’t bad at all and the amount of classes you take are very manageable. </p>

<p>2nd year is when you get deeper into your major ie taking engineering specific courses but again the classes aren’t super advanced or anything. You should be finishing up your math/physics pre-reqs in the middle of your second year so you will have time to take GE classes or just have some free time in general.</p>

<p>I am also a tour guide and I do ugrad research and I have plenty of time to hang out with friends, and nap (naps are the best). </p>

<p>Now I know I shouldn’t say this but I will say it anyway; You can always skip lectures and work during those times you skipped. I do it all the time. Yeah you might be thinking “WUT SKIP LECTURES?? BUT MY GPA! HOW WILL I LEARN?!?” Okay maybe not but really I find skipping lectures and studying on my own to be very effective (and napping of course). Now I can understand why skipping lecture would be bad for liberal arts classes, as material from the test is often cited during lectures. However for math and sciences courses, lectures are mostly not mandatory. The same traditional material for calculus, general physics, etc really hasn’t changed at all over the past 50 years. Most of the time if you just read the textbook and do the practice problems, they are enough to get you an A in the course. (Sometimes I am cheap and I don’t buy the textbooks at all, I often use the internet to learn the material) However DO NOT just skip going to lecture after the first day. I recommend you go to lecture up until the first midterm, then decide for yourself if attending lecture is really worth it. Often times I find going to lecture does not impact my grades on tests whatsoever. However sometimes professors will give you pop quizzes and have questions on the test that are straight from lecture. Then you know you have to go. Now of course you will have very interesting professors that really engage you. I have had a few that were very interesting and insightful, so much that I attended lecture just to listen to their stories and perspectives. </p>

<p>With that being said, being able to work on the weekends, during the night, during free time during day, or even during skipped lecture times gives you more than enough flexibility to have a job. However I am only speaking for the first two years. I hear the third year gets pretty hectic but again I am sure it is possible. If you have any questions let me know!</p>