<p>Although, I do well in the majority of courses, some classes out there really make me feel dumb. These are the classes that I think would be most relevant to jobs, so this has me worried.</p>
<p>I feel smart in the classes that are all about solving physics&math problems (math, thermo, fluids, dynamics, solids, etc....) and I usually score really high.</p>
<p>Typically, in classes that involve projects and hands-on activities, I feel like a complete idiot. All my peers seem to be able to easily brainstorm how to do something and seem to be really good at hands-on things, while I feel like I'm a couple of tiers below them. I'm not good at figuring out how to do something unless it's something written. Sometimes I feel like I don't have common sense (maybe a little exaggerated). </p>
<p>I also have difficulty remembering "SPOKEN" instructions and information unless I'm well accustomed to the area of interest. If someone is introducing me to something new (i.e running some machine or something, not usually things like how to solve a physics&math prob), I would not be able to remember most of what they've told me. A lot of my peers seem to be able to remember most, if not all, of everything. I was born in the US, but grew up overseas and didn't really learn and speak English until I was 8 or 9, but I don't think this has anything to do with it. I do admit that sometimes I just space out, but at times where I would try really hard to pay attention to what someone is saying to me, I still end up forgetting most of it....This is really frustrating and I'm sure some people think I'm stupid because of this. My only excuse excuse is that this might have something to do with my genetics (maybe some brain disorder? idk). My mom is just like me, except worse. So..I don't think it's something I can fix. </p>
<p>I feel that acing tests and doing good in textbook material is useless when I can't do these other things (hands on abilities, figuring out how to do something, etc...). </p>
<p>Anyone have similar issues?
Am I going to be a bad engineer?
I DON'T need any comforting replies. I want brutally honest opinions.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you’re just more interested by the things that are more intellectually stimulating, and bored by the other stuff. You might do well going in the teaching direction if you don’t mind research, although even research involves some of what you’re talking about. </p>
<p>You probably won’t be a bad engineer, but not having the interest (or, ability as you say) in learning the boring technical stuff probably will hold you back to some degree as engineers are required to stay up to date with the technical stuff that isn’t so exciting. The hands on stuff probably won’t hold you back as many if not most engineering jobs won’t require you to do much with your hands, but if you are also not interested in learning the computer stuff (learning to work with new engineering software for example), you will have a hard time in pretty much any engineering role. </p>
<p>But really, you’re in a pretty good spot - I’d much rather have your issue than a brains issue!</p>
<p>I am much better and more interested in doing stuff on the computer. I’m a mech engineering though, so the areas are broad and is probably a bit more hands on than other engineering majors. I’m thinking of going into the computational field where I can just sit around a computer. If I do go to graduate school, I think I will do this as well. </p>
<p>I don’t know why, but for some areas, I don’t seem to process anything in my head. It’s as if my brain completely shuts down. But in other areas, I can remember most of everything. It definitely sounds like an issue that depends on one’s interest. As for the hands on stuff, I need to be see it a lot before I can do it well, but once I get the hang of it I can do the work pretty good. But the problem is getting to that stage takes longer and more frustration than my peers.</p>
<p>Oh and while I would be happy to go to grad school, I would not want to teach.</p>
<p>My family is full of engineers and they all do different jobs (Oil, transportation, nuclear, medical, environmental). Some are in the field and some are at their desk. Bottom line is that if you want to be an engineer, be one. It is such a broad field that you can tailor your career path ever how you want to.</p>
<p>oops, I see that I press send before finishing my sentence. What I am trying to say is whether you are a good or bad engineer is not depending on marks, labs and the ability to finish creative projects. </p>
<p>When you are at a job, you have plenty of time to learn what you need to learn. You are also not in a competition to get good marks nor to make sure there are equal portions shared among the team.</p>
<p>Unless you are at a research company or innovative firms, I can hardly see your engineering duties are not following strictly by guidelines and procedural documents that are “written”.</p>
<p>Even if you dont like being technical, there are sales and project engineers that deals with nothing technical stuff at all. What you are describing are things that occur to alot of people and I dont think that you should worry about it.</p>
<p>My old officemate had a Mech Eng degree from IIT (India), super well respected, and two additional graduate degrees in engineering from the US. I had to hang his miniblinds when he bought a house as he was not very much into power tools :)</p>
<p>Engineers come in all types. You’ll find your niche if you survived so far.</p>
<p>i really enjoy thermodynamics; my professor is a horrible teacher of it though. first time ive fallen asleep (sitting in the front) in an engineering class; everything i need to know is exactly in the book; i know that you’re supposed to read the book before the lecture-- but after determining the pacing of his explanations, i realized that I could learn more in 50 minutes, instead of attending lecture. he hardly goes over problems, (the TA doesn’t help you through it either in section, just writes it on the board; afterwards going on the computer to facebook) he also seems to wonder why the midterm grades are horribly low.</p>
<p>but thermodynamics is fun; the program included with the textbook facilitates basic programming to help solve multi-system problems. i can’t help but look at my fridge or the water im boiling, and think about Qin, Qout, control volumes, etc.</p>
<p>engineering is supposed to be interesting, why it makes things work, or why things act the way they do. its supposed to engage you in that sort of critical thinking; as a lab worker, ive finally developed a procedure that allows me to prepare samples, run tests on them, and be out and done in two hours.</p>
<p>if you think of it as a way to gain experience points and leveling up, then maybe you might find an active role in engineering</p>
<p>My cousin had almost the same problem you describe. He was able to fix it completely.</p>
<p>I’m no doctor, but it sounds like you might have a little attention deficit. </p>
<p>From what you’re describing, when faced with a written document (which you can keep refocusing on and use as a guide) you’re OK, but when you need to take in all the information in one gulp or work on a project that requires you figure something out in a contiguous thought stream, you have problems.</p>
<p>You should see a doctor to try a low dosage prescription of Ritalin or some other attention deficit drug and see if it helps. It helped my cousin remarkably.</p>
<p>I have been told by some that college isn’t job training. When a traditional college student graduates, they don’t have experience-they are educated. No matter what major you choose, you will be educated too. I started working on cars in 1994 and I kind of sucked, but I really liked it. It took about 5 years of on-the-job-training before I was up to speed. At the end of 20 years, the shop was mine to manage because I was so damned good at it. Try to keep sight of what interests/excites you, and what you want out of life (money, skills, a position in a certain industry, etc.) and go for it. NEVER GIVE UP!!! That being said, I did change my major a few times before deciding on Math.(I’m in it for the $$)</p>
<p>AMEN!!! Which means I am not the only one. People like you and Me can be very dangerous. The thing is that when we don’t get something we just don’t get it completely. But when we do, we make people who taught us hate us.</p>
<p>I thought I was the only one as well! I think when you genuinely take an interest into what’s going on and review the material before hand you will not feel left behind.</p>