<p>Class started out with vectors, dot products, nitty-gritty notation, etc... This seems so boring after taking compsci theory and analytical linear algebra (I was exploring different technical fields). So, my first class in ME so far is a huge disappointment... It really caters to people with limited math background... I'm thinking about switching to EE's signals and systems course, whose math actually looks interesting...</p>
<p>Sorry for sounding a little haughty. Does dynamics, fluids, and thermo get better? If I do go into ME eventually, I might do physics for undergrad...</p>
<p>I thought Dynamics was a lot like Statics. So if you don’t like Statics, I would imagine Dynamics would be just as unappealing. I would say fluids is the most math intense of the ME theory-based courses. I was an ME undergrad who switched to EE for graduate studies. Maybe it would be a good idea to sample a Circuits or Linear Systems course? Personally, I find EE much more enjoyable and interesting.</p>
<p>It gets a lot more complex later on. I wasn’t particularly blown away with my intro courses in statics and dynamics, but the later ones were pretty interesting, and I really enjoyed the later courses. Crunchy math, really cool insights, and suddenly I had the ability to understand and analyze all sorts of real-world situations. </p>
<p>No matter what type of engineering you decide to pursue, rest assured that it can get as complicated as you’ll ever care to deal with.</p>
<p>I have a degree and MechE and I was bored with most of the classes. Most of the number crunching and math isn’t my idea of fun. Being able to apply it to a project is the interesting part. I would have to say that I was pretty much bored with all of my engineering classes, except maybe thermo. But that was because we had a very entertaining professor. Fluid mechanics was the worst.</p>
<p>Go EE. lol seriously though I would take some lab/project classes to see what you like. I took a mechatronics class last quarter where we built a golf-playing robot almost entirely from scratch. Although I did find the mechanical aspects of it interesting, I realized that EE was definitely more for me.</p>
<p>Statics is fairly uninteresting. It’s all basic physics.</p>
<p>If you like doing things that require a bit more physical intuition, ME will probably get more like that. Fluids and control theory will be the most mathematical you get.</p>
<p>If you like abstract math, like fourier series/transforms, calculus, etc., then EE & something like signals and systems fits exactly that. It is essentially 100% applied math.</p>
<p>1230wc, you sound like me a couple years ago. get out of mechE now while you can. while fluids and controls is a bit better, most of mechE is just continual repeats of basic physics and applications in deformation (a horribly boring field for me at least) – no challenge at all and mostly dumbed down with all equations pre-derived for you. for people who need mathematical rigor with exciting applications, EE or comp sci is a much better choice. applied physics (AEP here) is also good, but then you basically become a physicist and not an engineer.</p>
<p>The first classes you take in an engineering program are usually more like science and math classes than engineering classes. You see, you first have to start out with a strong foundation in these basic areas before you can move on to “real engineering.” Specifically, thats what Statics and Dynamics is.</p>
<p>If you hang in there, upper level classes like thermo and fluids are much more interesting. Also, the classes that are offered as tech elecs are usually interesting and some have a design component. These classes are usually “fun” because you get to choose them.</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, Im kinda like 1230wc in the sense of the love rigorus math base courses but instead of EE I picked Civil. Even though, Civil has the same level of rigorus math courses as ME but liked the projects. Do I really what learn more Laplace transform, etc? Yes. But do I want to design something like processors, circuits, or radios for 40 yrs of my life? No. For me the project just a simple and dull eletronic thing that required intense hardcore math. So intead I pick civil bc the project for me is much more cooler like a bridge or a skyscaper or a tunnel, while the math was less intense. And chances of me working for projects like this are better then working the cooler eletronic projects like for apple or intel or panasonic, etc. Instead most likely I would be working on designing circuits or power generators for a living. </p>
<p>Pick what kind of projects you would like to do, not how cool the math behind the project is. And this is coming from guy who loves math.</p>
<p>In my opinion, fluids, heat and mass transfer, and controls are the most math-heavy courses. Moderate amounts of complex theory in strengths of materials as well.</p>
<p>I have to say that I resent the fact that some in here regard ME as just regurgitating simple math onto a problem and beating it until you have an answer.</p>
<p>Statics is boring, plain and simple. Dynamics (if you actually go to the trouble of truly understanding it) is pretty math heavy, and for me interesting, but not altogether difficult. Only a handful of parts were really tough for me. Controls/Signals was very math intensive, as were all of the thermal fluid sciences. I also hated materials classes. They were interesting at first, but just kept getting more and more boring for me, which is why I didn’t take any beyond those required.</p>
<p>However, thermal fluid sciences were incredible for my mind. I loved all those classes. I have taken 2 extra fluids classes and an extra heat transfer class, and let me tell you, some of the math will blow your mind. In diff eq you get taught the separation of variables technique, but in fluids and heat transfer, solving some of those differential equations involves taking that SoV and putting it on acid. It is some crazy stuff.</p>
<p>The thing with ME is, the undergrad classes are a little lighter on math than some other majors because of the fact that a lot of jobs that MEs with only undergrad degrees perform do not require complex math that can’t be done on a computer. When you get into the higher courses and especially graduate courses, however, it gets just as math intensive as any other engineering major, especially in thermofluids and controls.</p>