<p>I was wondering if a person who has a weak sci/math background do good in engineering? ( jumping from high school to college)</p>
<p>not really......engineers are supposed to master these fields. that is like saying someone wants to major in english....but is not has a weak english background (figuratively speaking)</p>
<p>I took engineering in my school this year. I am currently in high school . The class was weighted and considered AP level. We were even aloud to get credit for college, if we passed a standardized test (Just like the AP test). I pulled out of the class with a 95 average, but a 80 on the standardized test. God knows that standardized test was the hardest test I have ever taken. (still have to take SAT'S) Anyways, the class was very rigorous, and since it resembled a colege level class I can give you some pointers. If you are bad at math, you will hate majoring in engineering. First of all, engineering was all math related. There are a million things you have to pay detail to, and scrutinize about and all of these things have to be associated with math. Furthermore, engineering encompasses physics and other sciences. For example, when testing a new design concept you may need to do "graphical anaylsis" which basically is a compilation of various physics tests peformed on your design concept. /// YOU NEED TO BE GOOD AT MATH AND SCIENCE. NO IF ANDS AND BUTS ABOUT IT./// Engineering is a field based solely upon math and science, the two things you dread. So if you are willing to work really hard, go for it. If not, stay clear of danger. </p>
<p>Hope that helped :), </p>
<p>CC user 2400</p>
<p>Engineering is advanced math and science - that is then used as the basis for more courses. If you can't do the math in your sleep, you'll suffer through engineering.</p>
<p>Hrm, NYC87, do you mean that you don't like/aren't good at math, or that your high school didn't give you the greatest background?</p>
<p>The second can definitely be overcome with dedication during freshman year of college. The first, as everybody else has said, is a great deal more difficult.</p>
<p>its ok if you don't cause basically the math gets pounded in your head class after class and you do the same thing every class and eventually you learn it. don't let your "weak" background discourage you.</p>
<p>that being said, if you get a degree you will be good at math</p>
<p>He said if someone has a "weak" science or math background. They may love math and science, but just never had good teachers and was never exposed to a strong program in high school. For example, I was a good math/science student at my high school, but they didn't offer any APs in science except for Biology (which has nothing to do with aerospace engineering). Thus, my background was weaker than many of my peers in college--but yes, with dedication you can still make a fine engineering student.</p>
<p>i used to suck big time with math/science. Physics was actually my most hated class coming out of high school. I got through EE just fine, even took 2 Electromagnetics classes (HEAVY HEAVY calc/physics). Just learn how to study and pound on the hw problems over and over and over and over (lucky you, most schools will give you the chance to) and eventually you'll be numb to it and know how to solve problems Weak backgrounds can play catch up and get up to speed if you're willing to put in the time and effort.</p>
<p>Hmm..you used to suck at math/sci but got through it? You must have had great study habits haha. Did you end up with over a 3.0?</p>
<p>What if you are descent...but not great? I got a 670 on the math section of SAT 1 (old version), 3 on AP Calc, and 3 on AP Physics. I could've done better on the physics but I had senioritis. I want to be able to succeed in mechanical engineering without it killing me. For example, some people are willing to work hard, but they just don't get it...and I am worried this may happen to me. I would also like to maintain some sort of social life throughout college (I have met quite a few dull engineering students).</p>
<p>alexk330: I advise you to at least try it. Sit down with an advisor before you pick your classes and see if you can arrange your schedule to keep your options open. If it's too hard, just switch majors. That's not usually a really big deal.</p>
<p>And to be perfectly honest, I think the dull engineering students were dull before they became engineering students. Choosing a tough major will definitely dip into your social time, but I don't think you need to worry about never seeing sunlight again.</p>
<p>NYC87,
I understood your question to ask if you could still pursue engineering if you had a weak/inadequate high school background in math and science. If so, I can offer this advice. I focused on humanities in high school, and had a weak math and science background. After a year of college, I decided to go to pharmacy school. I was unprepared and needed to catch up on my math and science courses. I eventually did catch up and did graduate from pharmacy school, but the early math and science classes were difficult for me. </p>
<p>I think you can do it if you are willing to work hard. Perhaps you may need a semester or two of "remedial" math and sciences before beginning an engineering curriculum. Mostly everybody will have had calculus and bio/chem/physics, so if you have not, you might consider taking those before enrolling in the engineering curriculum. It is also a way for you to show colleges that you can handle those courses and improve your chances of admission to an engineering program. Check with the engineering advisor at a few colleges you are considering.</p>
<p>I got a 480 on my old math SAT,</p>
<p>I am doing CE.</p>
<p>am I crazy/</p>
<p>Thanks LauraN, I think you are right about dull engineering students being dull despite what they study. But I am going to Cal Poly, where the majors are really impacted, so changing majors is difficult. I am hoping that I will like the material so much that I won't mind having to study a little extra (or maybe a lot extra).</p>
<p>Yeah... my school had a terrible math and science program. I am planning to study industrial engineering in college but I am worried that I might not make it.</p>
<p>my cum. gpa was low, but my eng. gpa was around 3.4.<br>
If you're willing to:</p>
<p>-Research before registration each semester to see what the reputation of the professors are and how many A/B/C/fail he hands out on average.</p>
<p>-Suck it up and form study groups to work on hw sets together as well as study for exams together</p>
<p>-Go to TA as well as office hours if you don't understand something</p>
<p>-Go to class no matter how boring or how little english the professor speaks.</p>
<p>-GET OLD EXAMS from previous semesters that the prof had taught. Chances are if he/she's taught the course before, somebody has the exams circulating around.</p>
<p>-Don't try to take on too much at once. I took 6 EE classes the semester before I graduated and almost died. I limped out with a 2.7 gpa that semester, and that was after some GENEROUS curve.</p>
<p>If you can follow through with these things I don't see why you cannot get at least a B in almost any undergrad engineering classes. If you work hard you should be able to get As in most non-engineering requirements. I've always believed that almost ANYONE with some SERIOUS DETERMINATION can get up to 3.5 cum. gpa in engineering. To get above 3.5 though, you gotta be pretty damn smart as well as a little luck along the way.</p>
<p>really reasearch your math professors. I always like to try to take classes with the dean of the math department or for any subject.</p>
<p>if ya think, they must be really good to get that position. Most of these deans and Board memebers, relaly love to teach and love 1 on 1 time with students.</p>
<p>I will definitely use that advice. I have a couple of 'nerds' from my senior class who will also be majoring in mech. eng. We've already talked about getting a study group going. Since I haven't started attending the school yet, it will be a little tough to research the professors, but once I start attending the school, I will talk to some older engineering students and find out who to get. At the summer advising program I attended the other day, we were making our schedules, and my advisor told me to get one calculus teacher because he's 'laid back'.</p>
<p>I used to think I was good at math and science (straight A's, excelled in Science Olympiad, Technology Student Association, and Math League, and several math-related awards/scholarships)...</p>
<p>but then I took AP Calc BC and AP Chem this year, and I struggled. I blame most of it on my laziness this year, and my premature case of senioritis. However, what if the problem truly lies in my inability to succeed in these courses? And what if my horrible AP scores scar me for life (as in me hating Calc for the rest of my life?!)</p>
<p>I truly see the benefits of engineering: only 4-5 yrs of college, good scholarships for women and minorities, relatively good pay, and good job opportunities.</p>
<p>However, I also really like anatomy and physiology. I really really enjoyed AP bio (got a 5 on the test too), but I don't want to do biomedical engineering. Should I be a doctor instead?</p>
<p>You could major in kinesiology maybe? Then become a doctor or physical therapist..completely different from engineering, but still tough.</p>
<p>I feel your pain. I LOVE math and science, but it seems that I am not very good at it. I am forced to study more than usual to excel in it. Perhaps you should do the same.</p>