<p>Ok, first year was a breeze. I did not have to study for more than a couple of hours for each course for exams. In some cases, I only had to review my notes for about 10 minutes and I'm ready to go. I expected that second year will require maybe twice the time.</p>
<p>That is not true at all. I do not understand the things in class the moment I hear them like I did in first year. I can go home and do the homework and not remember what happened in class a couple of days ago. This is making me really stressed out because I was never used to being so confused when I start doing homework. The amount of work also increased significantly. It doesn't help that I want to get involved in a couple of clubs and pick up some sports that I haven't been doing in a while.</p>
<p>I guess this is more of a rant, but any advice would really be appreciated.</p>
<p>Office hours, tutoring, spending more time by dropping some clubs/sports. There's no sneaky way around it. You can try cheating but the consequences are severe. If everything still goes downhill, consider switching majors.</p>
<p>If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Join a study group. My son is a TA in engineering, MSCS candidate at Toronto. He has BSME and another BS in something else. He is done with the thesis and really has so little to do now that he has taken a two week trip. </p>
<p>Use the TA's they get paid to help. and they have been there.</p>
<p>OP: I'm was SHORTLY in the same position as you. I didn't really study my first year in college, but once second year got around, the work slowly crept up. It wasn't at the point where I couldn't handle it, it was just that I had to go to the library more to force myself to work. I'm glad I did, because now I'm a 3rd year (junior) electrical engineering major, and boy is it hard. I actually developed a slight case of anxiety, where I can't breathe as much (I feel like I'm restricted in a way).</p>
<p>The only way to succeed is to STUDY. I am always at the library with my friends. Studying now will pay off later. You should lead an active lifestyle, as you do in club sports, (in my case, I go to the gym 4/7 days of the week, no matter what... it keeps me sane). You may have to drop a sport or two.</p>
<p>Clubs are good, stay in them. They don't really take up much time, except for a 1-2 hrs here and there. If you procrastinate a lot, go on AIM and talk, take time out of that and transfer it over for the time used for clubs/sports. AIM/Facebook is a waste of time - do not fall into it. I certainly have before, now I restrict myself to logging in when I have no time or every 2-3 days just to see what life is like outside of books :) Just kidding.</p>
<p>I'm in my second year of EE and the step up has been huge for me too (thank you, modern physics). I study a lot and do well, but really, it's a lot.</p>
<p>Just get used to it, lol. As you said, you're doing fine grade-wise, and engineering isn't supposed to be easy. Everybody struggles to grasp concepts and ideas at one point or another in this field, so you're not alone. Just keep at it.</p>
<p>Time management is definitely important though if you want a life outside of books. Try getting into a weekly routine, so you don't let any assignments/studying slip to the last minute. That'll also allow you to force yourself to have some free time to do other things.</p>
<p>red sox, I'm taking Equilibrium Stage Operations (ie. Separation Processes), Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Statistics, and Multivariable/Vector Calculus. o-chem is quite easy, and physical chemistry is somewhat challenging. Calculus is not that difficult either, but there's a lot of new stuff to remember. Statistics is fairly difficult and separation processes is really hard.</p>
<p>Oh, I also have a chemical engineering lab starting this term (and will continue up to first term of forth year) as well as an organic chemistry lab. Lab reports are quite time-consuming.</p>
<p>700am - Wake Up
730am - Officially wake up, make coffee, check e-mail
745am - Shower/Bathroom
800am - Breakfast
830am - Class
1200pm - Lunch
100pm - Class
300pm - Go to the gym
400pm - Come home/shower
500pm - Library
730pm - Dinner
750pm - Library
1000pm - Go home
1100pm - Go on computer (not for school)
100am - Sleep</p>
<p>Repeat.</p>
<p>I do this almost everyday, it's been working great so far.</p>