<p>Most of you know my story (since ive posted it about a jillion times on here). here's the quick run down. Freshman year didnt do so well as an chemical engineering major, even switched to psych and hated it. Took various other classes and hated those except for spanish and econ. Took summer engineering classes and got myself back on track credit wise. Sophomore year, I guess i didnt learn too well from mistakes as far as overdoing it with science and engineering classes which reduced my gpa to 2.9. Middle of the 2nd semester Im on break from school until next year (another story) and Im taking some classes at community college. Just got my grades and they're actually pretty good accounting for the fact that my P2 teacher was a bit of a jerk but whatever. Now im at a crossroads since I have to decide whether or not I want to go back to my home school or switch my major or do both. </p>
<p>While I dont particularly enjoy engineering classes like thermo (partially because of the lack of resources available to help me learn and going over the information too fast), I enjoy them more so than any Liberal arts/Humanities class since I see them as more useful. Im really good in math once I understand it (which happens often), chem is iffy to me since I discovered freshmen year that my hs didnt really prepare me for chem or college at all, physics im good at when I understand it and I know what im supposed to learn (again that doesnt take very long). The only thing I just dont have a knack for is computer programming. I just cant seem to understand it at all or do well in it. I barely passed it the last time I took it. But other than that, I can see myself being an engineer since ultimately I want to either go into pharmacy or weapons making (crazy isnt it).</p>
<p>What do you guys think? (Someone over the age of 21 or who has been through college preferred please)</p>
<p>P.S. My school does NOT have Engineering Technology so please dont suggest that</p>
<p>That doesn’t tell us much. Have you learned any new knowledge that you would like to apply in the practical world or would like to research in an R&D environment? I enjoy Mathematics but that does not mean I want to become an economist.</p>
<p>Think about what you have learned and how you would like to utilize that knowledge.</p>
<p>Thats just the easy way out. Besides I would make a very good mechanic :)</p>
<p>@ Enginox</p>
<p>Im a little confused as to what you’re asking. But you bring up another thing (you guys are going to chew me out over this i can tell). I just dont feel like ive learned anything. Learning as far as certain things go. For instance, I had a Chem of Materials class and at first sight, it sounded really interesting and I was genuinely excited to take the class; however as the class actually started, it just wasnt what I thought it would be. but thats beside the point im trying to make. I mean that I dont feel like I learned anything in that class, but rather formulas to do a problem. Im the type of person that when I learn something, I can appreciate it more (the thing ive learned) and think of ways to twist a simple aspect of it around and wonder what the result would be (part of the reason I enjoy chem/physics labs). I know im not stupid and I do go to all of my classes and see my profs outside of class, but I just dont get an appreciation for anything. I just end up seeing this as “Everyone else just got through this class with little understanding and they’re doing fine so just get by and move on” and I hate that so much when I get that feeling</p>
<p>Senior in M.E. here and it seems to me that you have the same problem as a majority of people. From my experience the first few years of engineering suck. They are so boring and bland that it makes it tough to put in that “extra” effort and apply yourself. It becomes very tough to motivates one’s self. I feel like if you stick with it your luck should change. For me once I got into the upper engineering courses everything “clicked” and when I thought like I didn’t learn anything it all came together now that you actually put what you were supposed to learn during the freshman and sophomore years to use solving problems. Plus when you get into the upper engineering classes you can kind of chose which direction you want to go. You aren’t necessarily required to take certain classes, and you can pick ones more towards your liking.</p>
<p>And what’s wrong with “the easy way out”? If you would make a good mechanic, why not pursue it? Because it’s generally not as profitable as an engineering job? College is about finding your interests and pursuing them, not necessarily about pursuing something that will get you paid a lot. If you don’t have passion for what you’re doing, the next 50 years of your life are going to be miserable. </p>
<p>To put things in perspective, if you do the math of working a 40 hour week for the next 50 years you will spend almost 12 years of doing nothing but work. That’s probably more than half of your current lifetime. Find something you enjoy and pursue that. If you think engineering could be it, pursue related things outside of the classroom. Over my college career my most interesting endeavors have been my research and internships, not necessarily what I’ve learned in the classroom (although I’ve generally enjoyed that too).</p>
<p>sorry thats definitely a typo. I actually wouldnt make a good mechanic since Im a cluts when it comes to cars. lol
but anywho, I am trying to get pharmacy internships or any kind of an internship. But Ive taken classes that have taken me places outside school and other school activities as well, so much that I will continue them when i go back.</p>
<p>Only 20 but a senior in EE and I would say stick it out and try a few more classes in your major and maybe one or two in other similar areas. Have you tried Materials Science. It is similar to ChemE and a little easier from what I have heard. Also one of my friends is ChemE and hates the Chem classes he takes but enjoys the ChemE ones. </p>
<p>I say look at the classes where you enjoy the material rather than the grade you get in the class. Some of my hardest classes and most enjoyable ones have been the ones where I did not do so well in. Engineering is a hard major and everyone feels like they are not cut out for it at times.</p>
<p>See I feel like it would be easier for me to feel more comfortable about staying if i could actually get to my chem e classes. I still have to get through the pre reqs and some general engineering classes which are typically boring since they’re generally filled with people who pretty much have had experience in engineering and end up engaging the professor in pretty much a private class for themselves (also them being large lecture classes furthers my dislike for them). But I have taken a Chem of Materials class which I feel would have been enjoyable if it were more about actually learning the information rather than just learning a formula then regurgitating it. Thats where Ive feel I havent really been cut out for engineeirng since so far its just been “learn a formula, write it down on a cheat sheet, then spill it out” and its just confused me so much.</p>
<p>One question I have been running through my head is if my cumulative gpa is significantly higher than my major gpa, how would that affect me?</p>
<p>Thanks for telling me that (non sarcastic). I think I just need to push myself to get through the grunt work. Im also looking at doubling up in Econ too since I enjoy that</p>
<p>Well, you are going to be a junior when you get back. I think that is plenty of time to get out of engineering (if you really don’t want to pursue it anymore) and go into another field that may intersect with engineering, but not necessarily force you to take those classes. </p>
<p>Perhaps considering majoring in math. Applied mathematics can give you an excellent tool set that you can further pursue in economics. You can go on to do incredibly amazing things in wall street making economic models and such. This is based on the little information that you liked and understood math and enjoy econ as well. </p>
<p>Because of your engineering courses I assume you would have already completed Calc. I-III, Diff. Eq., Linear Algebra, and perhaps some other mathematics course like Number Theory or advanced calculus (depending on the rigor of the curricula), which is a good amount into a math degree. (you probably have to take a bunch of core humanities/social science courses too, but as a junior now, I am sure that you have done this.)</p>
<p>Just to give engineering one last chance, I think you need to get an internship at an engineering firm. You need an idea of what you are fighting for. Why did you enter engineering in the first place? Perhaps you are in the wrong engineering profession - ChemE is a notoriously difficult major that pays extremely well in industry, but has a difficult environment to deal with at times. Perhaps try Electrical Engineering? Or Mechanical Engineering? Even Industrial Engineering - which would go well with your economics degree.</p>
<p>Have faith in yourself and don’t rush through it because, in this job market, who really wants to graduate and have to look for a job =P. I think you really have a good skill set that your grades do not show due to personal factors - hey we have all been there. Right now, try your best and find something you enjoy doing. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for that. btw im still a sophomore (I took my break in the middle of my sophomore year). I actually thought about switching to a math major beginning of this year but decided against it when I saw the courseload I would have had to have done to graduate on time and also reading that math majors arent really happy. Plus I dont think I could handle all of that theory and whatever else is so far up there that I can barely comprehend. For some reason, just being an engineering major feels right to me even though my grades dont show it. </p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest reason im doubting myself and my academic abilities is because of my horrible freshman year (not just my academics being horrible but everything went wrong). I went to my Chem E advisor and was just basically talked down to because of my grades essentially saying that Im too stupid to do engineering because I barely passed a programming course. so idk. I have thought about switching into a different engineering since it turns out that I dont actually suck at physics but idk…</p>
<p>Haha, again Magneto, please have more faith in yourself. Seems like this string of unfortunate events has led you to doubt your own abilities. Screw it. You are smart and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. </p>
<p>I don’t know who your advisor is, but he/she sucks - no good advisor would ever talk down to a student, they would tell you that maybe there might be better possibilities and set forth great options, thus pushing you in a better direction, but to simple put another person down is pointless…</p>
<p>Maybe consider math a little more - its a very good field to be in because of all the things you can combine a math degree with. Some math majors are not happy because they feel under appreciated for their efforts, which is soo true. But if you are passionate about something, just go do it. There are positions in academia for almost every major. With an interest in physics - try EE or ME, both very very marketable engineering majors and very rigorous in physics (though at different perspectives of physics).</p>
<p>Just please change something though, its obvious that you aren’t happy!</p>
<p>Ugh. What a horrible advisor. Is it possible to approach another advisor, preferably one with a more professional attitude? If you are certain you do not enjoy your current program do not be afraid to switch into a more enjoyable program. Do not waste your precious time trying to complete something you do not enjoy and are not required to complete.</p>
<p>Thanks for that (non sarcastic). You’re right. I am smart and I have the ability to be an engineer if I want (which is what I believe my calling is). I’ll have to weigh my options in math a tad more too since it seems up my alley also even though im uncomfortable with the mention of number theory, something ive never even heard of. should be fun. </p>
<p>@ Enginox</p>
<p>Yea everyone’s been telling me that I need a new advisor. The problem is that since I declared Chem E (only did so to get someone to talk to) they assign advisors by last name and I happened to get the one who used to be the Dean of the school of engineering. For some reason he’s nice to everyone else since they have the grades but he just downplays me because of my grades. Its not that I dont necessarily want to do Chem E since it could be up my alley, but just having him as an advisor just makes it incredibly difficult to want to do so.</p>
<p>You know, this isnt the first time I thought about EE. What does that entail and how much computer knowledge should I have prior to starting the major (hypothetically) since Im not that good in Java (working on it at CC, trying to build up my weakness)?</p>
<p>On a good note, Calc 3, a class that I failed twice at my home school, I ended up passing at CC with a B and understanding it so much better. and I actually passed P2 and thoroughly enjoyed it!</p>
<p>I’m an economics major. If you liked your econ class and you already have a strong math background, why don’t you go for an econ degree? The great thing about an economics degree is that it’s the perfect “foundational” degree. It likely won’t prepare you for a specific job unless you want to work for the government, but it will give you a very strong and broad background that you can use to enter almost any industry you wish. </p>
<p>And I don’t know about other colleges but where I plan to go, UTexas, the economics major only requires 6 or 7 classes beyond the two intro economics courses for a total of 25-28 credits (it depends on what catalogue year you will be using). It is the absolute perfect major to pair with a more scientific major like math or statistics.</p>