<p>After reading around several threads, I am curious to ask how many of you decided that engineering was the thing for you. </p>
<p>I have chewed it over in my head for a long time and I am interested in either civil or chemical engineering, but the math is intimidating me. But is the math really a valid reason to disregard the possibility? I have never had a huge problem in understanding math. However, because of that, I have never really applied myself in my math classes though I enjoy understanding and working through a problem. At the moment, I am taking AP Calculus BC and none of the concepts are really too difficult, but at the same time... I know I have trouble being innovative when faced with a problem because I keeping getting stuck in the formulas and traditional ways of doing math problems. Could that kill any possibility of engineering?</p>
<p>Besides the math, engineering seems like the thing for me. I love making and putting things together. I love attention to detail and how much time it requires. I love working through problems to find a solution and making things even better. Is that enough?</p>
<p>Yes. It's definitely enough. Learning everything we need in order to be an engineer can be daunting, and there are tons of us who have difficult getting through some of the required classes, but we love engineering, so we persevere. Higher math takes practice.</p>
<p>If engineering is what you love, then pursue it. We all have to suck it up and get through requirements that we don't necessarily enjoy in order to do what we want to do. After calculus, you <em>really</em> don't have all <em>that</em> much more math to go, in terms of heavy conceptual understanding. I didn't think that Diff EQ or Lin Alg or Vector Calc was all that different or more challenging than BC Calc, which was difficult for me in precisely the way you describe it being challenging for yourself.</p>
<p>Good luck! Don't let the math get you down, if engineering's what you love. =)</p>
<p>Many people genuinly love enginnering but few would deny that starting salary isn't a factor. At Penn, Enginneers have a higher starting salary than even Wharton Students (although this comparison reverses in the long run).</p>
<p>I heartily agree with aibarr. I'm very much the same way: I can do relatively well in a math class because of practice and hard work, but not because of any sort of great innovation that I have. I can solve some new types of problems based on my knowledge, but I'm no genius.</p>
<p>I'm only in my first year at engineering school, but, as aibarr said, the higher math isn't much more challenging than BC calc. I'm making about the same grades and putting in just a little bit more time.</p>
<p>One other thing to add: many engineers will never need certain parts of the math they learn. A whole lot of it is very useful in many disciplines, but some jobs just don't require certain types of math knowledge. A whole lot of engineering education is seeing whether you can learn new and challenging ideas and apply those to a given problem. It's not completely about learning the material...it's also about learning how to learn.</p>
<p>Like aibarr said...don't let one small thing get in the way of something you love!</p>
<p>Thank you for the comments! I definitely feel much better about the mathematical aspect now. I was really intimidated about the possibility of needing to be exceedingly innovative with math, but it seems like there is no reason to be. </p>
<p>I really really really (really, really :P) like the prospect of becoming a chemical engineer. I love Chemistry and understanding the processes involved in forming substances. And I like making things (stating the obvious), applying concepts, and yes, I cannot deny that the salary is also very enticing. </p>
<p>I was looking into schools that might do well for chemical engineering (as well as civil, but after more research- I much prefer chemical) in California, but I am not sure which would do well with me. I know that I prefer small classes (which makes me hesitate to consider any of the UCs) because I would like to know the professor and be able to find help easily. I looked into Cal Tech and I am not sure that my grades are enough (even though I am in the top 3% of my school - my math and science extracurriculars are lacking among other things). It seems more like a really high reach school. I also looked into Calstates, but I don't know which have good programs in chemical engineering. Originally, I thought of cal poly SLO, but they do not offer chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Would anyone happen to know more about California schools? Small classes. A good amount of hands on approaches. Easy access to Professors.</p>
<p>And another question, in what regions of the U.S. are chemical engineers most hired?</p>
<p>:D Thank you. I will look into it a bit more. It's kind of weird that they don't have a specific chemical engineering major, but I will look at their course work for engineering.</p>
<p>Mudd doesn't actually have a specific <em>anything</em> engineering major. It's pretty innovative, and I think it's probably where the engineering education field needs to go eventually. I'm still not 100% sure about it, but Mudd's eng program has an excellent track record and they really demand a lot of their students. My brother's a sophomore there and is in their engineering program, and he loves it, though it's really an intense engineering experience.</p>
<p>Do you happen to know if their classes are small (20-30 people)? And are they highly selective? It seems like it, but the info they provide for admission and their application appear pretty friendly, which I like. And by intense, do you mean... very concentrated amounts of info per class? Or...?</p>
<p>Their classes are very small. There are only about 100-200 people at Mudd, per year, in all disciplines, so the classes are really small.</p>
<p>They are highly selective, but they really look for people who would make the <em>best</em> engineers and scientists, so while your grades and stats matter, passion for science and engineering matters even more. </p>
<p>They're quite friendly, but they expect a lot of you. Lots of info per class, complex issues covered, everybody has to know something about everything, lots of work... But wow, what an education you end up with...! </p>
<p>It's on par with CalTech and MIT and Olin, but I really recommend that you give it a try and apply anyhow. My brother's college counselor told him not to even try, but he's on the honor roll there now. Some of their students may not have had the best time getting through high school, but Mudd has an incredibly good eye for hidden potential for brilliance.</p>
<p>I'll add in my encouragement. Im a frosh at Olin right now, and math last year (AB Cal) was not by best class. As in I was praying for a B, and by praying, I ment lighting all candles and hopeing that any deity would listen to me. Yet some how, an engineer came out of it all. </p>
<p>And if you want small engineering classes, look at Olin. My largest class is the frosh Calc and Physics lecture with a HUGE 77 people. No other class at Olin will ever be that big. it is the entirety of the frosh class. </p>
<p>My friends think its weird that my whole college is smaller than their lectures, i find it quite refreshing. </p>
<p>And aibarr- your brothers a smarty pants. stop rubbing it in. =P</p>
<p>Thanks for the input and a lot of people I know actually know about Harvey Mudd (I wonder where was I? D:). I like what I have been hearing so far and I will look into Olin. :D</p>
<p>If you have questions about Olin, or even Mudd (almost went there) feel free to ask. Im around. Im one of two Oliners that seem to be around these parts. </p>
<p>and aibarr- yeah, ive heard that from somewhere...</p>
<p>I have different schools on my plate and I have been trying to weigh what is most important to me, which is a lot more difficult than I would have thought.</p>
<p>The people hands down.
When Visiting Olin, I sat in a class of 15 and had an amazing prof, Dr Moody (funny enough, we stole him from Mudd). He knew ever person in the class by name, and seemed very familliar with every one. And thats continued to this year, they are amazing. John (my calc prof) hates my looks of confusion I pass on during lecture and pleades with me to understand him. They love when you come to office hours and have been known to show up in the dorms on the weekends or even email you back around 1 am. (Like Oscar today.. I still am not really sure why he was in the lounge, I think he was watching the Forumla 1 race) The Students are just as amazing. Everyone seems to have their own passion outside of engineering. So I didnt feel like we got the mega nerds like mudd had. We just to me are so much more diversified. the depth is here, and I didnt feel it at many other places. </p>
<p>Mudd seemed to me to have two types of people (Aibarr-, do not kill me here, your brother is an oddity.. and I love him anyway. He will always be my favorite gay strait guy). Those who are HIGHLY introverted, and those who are extroverted. I know I personally fit in the middle. They also have a lot of quirks. Olin is still waiting to delvelop them, its also so cool to help a school delvelop those quarks. (note: those veiws of Mudd are purely my own, ignore them if you disagree)</p>
<p>There are so many things about olin that make me love it. Its mostly the people. Any one is willing to help you, upperclassmen, fellow students, faculty, anyone. the support network here is amazing.</p>