<p>everyone keeps saying that engineering is one of the hardest major, at any school, but why? is it because of the long labs? but don't bio and chem majors have these long labs too?</p>
<p>Not necessarily the long labs, but you have to learn two things for engineering - the basic underlying science AND the application of the science to solve problems. Learning the application in addition to the basic science makes engineering more difficult, IMO.</p>
<p>Engineering labs are based on design and/or programming, while biology and chemistry labs are based on carrying out and measuring experiments which are often the "cookbook" variety. They're very different, and engineering labs take far more time to complete.</p>
<p>It also depends on the way your mind works. I found it really hard to put together a coherent humanities paper, or to memorize lots of facts, or to retain lots of reading material. I found that with engineering, it was more about "getting" it, a bit of math, a bit of chemistry, a bit of physics, mechanics, electronics, etc., and that came easier to me, having mostly a practical way of thinking. I never considered engineering very intellectual, they way most other subjects are. Yay for lots of different majors, so we can all find something to do.</p>
<p>yea i think i agree with vossron--i have subject where you have to memorize facts MUCH more difficult than my science classes, but i guess that's not the normal way of thinking so hard sciences are normally considered harder than humanities</p>
<p>Engineering is difficult because it's rigorous, and it's based upon abstract scientific principles. If you don't have the understanding-theoretical-science part of your brain working in addition to the applying-theoretical-knowledge-to-practical-situations part of your brain, then engineering's difficult. Those are cognitive functions that a lot of people have a lot of difficulty with. Getting your brain in that gear just takes practice, and some talent in math and science.</p>
<p>The other reason why engineering might be perceived as difficult is because often, it requires more credit hours for degree completion than most other degree programs (thanks, ABET...!) just because there's so much to learn in order to become an engineer... Other professionals get to follow up their undergraduate educations with professional schools... business school, law school, med school... In many cases, engineering undergrad is all you're going to be drawing from (though in a lot of cases, I'd highly recommend getting a masters degree). So, it's chock full o' classes, and they're not easy ones.</p>