Anyone here take Engineering in University?

Just like every other first time student, I am curious what I am getting myself into. The first semester here is the same for every type of Major (I have not yet declared mine) and consists of Calculus, Math, Physics, Chemistry and General Engineering. I like Math enough as I would rather take math than History or ELA. I have 23 hours of class each week. From what the fear-mongering authorities tell me, I should have 2 hours of homework for every hour of class. Though, I hope that is not true.

Also, what is a Lab exactly? I have lab classes for Physics and Chem. Apparently they are just smaller, more personal classrooms but I really don't know.

Most of the engineering courses arent till later. Your first year or two is basic science.

In labs you generally perform experiments that demonstrate the topics you are going over in lecture. In Chemistry, for example, if you're going over pH you may do a titration experiment.

Most of the engineering courses arent till later. Your first year or two is basic science.

sonicare

Thanks guys, but I know the layout of my future classes already. I was mostly just wondering if I will be overwhelmed with work or not.

I finished and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer.

You are going to need a strong work ethic and make sure you stay on top of your stuff. I don't know how it works in other colleges, but my private college was pretty tough. Lots of sleepless nights.

Some of the things you learn are amazing and really helps if you ever wanna build someting yourself. But the little details can be too much sometimes. Do no under-estimate the details. Always Always Always keep your units straight, Get good at it and fast, and your life will be a lot easier. I say this, and it should be obvious, but i was young, dumb and stubborn about it at the time.

First two years is mostly science based classes, physics, chemistry, mathmatics. the physics is usually aimed towards what is needed for engineers to know. You will learn theory but you will probably not delve deep into it. as a physics student would.

It's rewarding, but engineering, like doctor and lawyers. Are tough for a reason.

My advice, do extremely well in your first two years because the engineering classes are a bit harder. The first two years I was in college really saved my GPA from faling as far as it could have. Labs are no fun at all, especially later on down the line when they take days to finish...ZumaJones07

I had a professor for gears and shafts, We got 4 homework packets, that's it. Around 9-13 questions in each pack. The way my professor taught it, each question could take as short as 3 pages (of just calculations) or as long as 6. exams were not timed, open book open note, and could take as long as 6 hours to solve just 3 questions. :|

I know how to deal with gears without even referencing the computer. I got notes that pile thicker then two college books.

Oh my.. sounds like I'll be in the same boat as OP XD Doesn't sound comforting...

yup. computer engineering. graduated 10 years ago. my advice? work on your hw when the material is fresh in your head and don't procrastinate. this also give you the chance to get help if needed before it is due. professors hold office hours for a reason and appreciate people coming to them with a genuine interest in what they're teaching and are usually willing to help ( assuming you've put in the effort beforehand and are still struggling ) for group projects make sure you're with a group of people who are interested in doing well so you don't end up doing everything. you will get tired of writing up lab reports. no way around it :P

but hey, you'll graduate, get a job and get to make cool stuff for a living. so there's a plus.

I'm going into my junior year of Mechanical Engineering, and its very hard. I'm taking Calc3 and Differential Equations, I'm scared.....AdamPA1006

[QUOTE="AdamPA1006"]I'm going into my junior year of Mechanical Engineering, and its very hard. I'm taking Calc3 and Differential Equations, I'm scared.....Dark__Link

[QUOTE="AdamPA1006"]I'm going into my junior year of Mechanical Engineering, and its very hard. I'm taking Calc3 and Differential Equations, I'm scared.....Dark__Link

I thought those are sophomore level courses?

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"][QUOTE="AdamPA1006"]I'm going into my junior year of Mechanical Engineering, and its very hard. I'm taking Calc3 and Differential Equations, I'm scared.....coolbeans90

I thought those are sophomore level courses?

They are.

yup. computer engineering. graduated 10 years ago. my advice? work on your hw when the material is fresh in your head and don't procrastinate. this also give you the chance to get help if needed before it is due. professors hold office hours for a reason and appreciate people coming to them with a genuine interest in what they're teaching and are usually willing to help ( assuming you've put in the effort beforehand and are still struggling ) for group projects make sure you're with a group of people who are interested in doing well so you don't end up doing everything. you will get tired of writing up lab reports. no way around it :P

but hey, you'll graduate, get a job and get to make cool stuff for a living. so there's a plus.

comp_atkins

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"][QUOTE="AdamPA1006"]I'm going into my junior year of Mechanical Engineering, and its very hard. I'm taking Calc3 and Differential Equations, I'm scared.....SaudiFury

I might want to be an mechanical engineer. How much do they get paid? The university courses sound pretty hard

[QUOTE="coolbeans90"]

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"] Two of the easier courses you'll ever take. There are much, much scarier courses during junior year.OOOOhhhhh

I thought those are sophomore level courses?

They are.

I might want to be an mechanical engineer. How much do they get paid? The university courses sound pretty hard

Alacoque72

Ya I'm a little behind. I did well in Physics 1 and 2 so that gives me some hopeAdamPA1006

You should be fine. An extra semester never killed anyone.

[QUOTE="Alacoque72"]

I might want to be an mechanical engineer. How much do they get paid? The university courses sound pretty hard

Dark__Link

[QUOTE="Alacoque72"]

I might want to be an mechanical engineer. How much do they get paid? The university courses sound pretty hard

Dark__Link

What kind of stuff would you do as a mechanical engineer?

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"][QUOTE="Dark__Link"] Two of the easier courses you'll ever take. There are much, much scarier courses during junior year.Dark__Link

As it stands now at the university.

Calculus for Engineer's III delt with:

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Improper integrals.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.
• Parametric equations.
• Polar coordinates and graphs.
• 3-Space Vectors, lines, and planes.
• Surfaces in three dimensions.
• Functions of several variables.
• Partial derivatives.
• Extrema of functions of two variables.

Calculus for Engineer's IV deals with:

• Double integrals, area, volume, and moments.
• Triple integrals, volume, moments, cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
  
• Sequences.
  
• Infinite series and tests for convergence.
• Power series and intervals of convergence.
  
• Taylor and Maclaurin series.

I start my first year of enigineering on the 7th of September. Have a year to decide what I want to become, but I think I want to work around roller coasters :P

I took AP Math and Physics and I have to retake the classes since if you take engineering, they don't recognize your scores. I got a 5 on the Math and a 3 on the Physics so at least I'm a little prepared :P

As it stands now at the university.

Calculus for Engineer's III delt with:

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Improper integrals.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.
• Parametric equations.
• Polar coordinates and graphs.
• 3-Space Vectors, lines, and planes.
• Surfaces in three dimensions.
• Functions of several variables.
• Partial derivatives.
• Extrema of functions of two variables.

Calculus for Engineer's IV deals with:

• Double integrals, area, volume, and moments.
• Triple integrals, volume, moments, cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
  
• Sequences.
  
• Infinite series and tests for convergence.
• Power series and intervals of convergence.
  
• Taylor and Maclaurin series.

SaudiFury

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"][QUOTE="Alacoque72"]

I might want to be an mechanical engineer. How much do they get paid? The university courses sound pretty hard

AdamPA1006

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"What the... Most of both of those is Calc 2 for me. The remainder of your Calc 4 is then my Calc 3. And a bit of your Calc 3 is my Calc 3. Weird!

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]As it stands now at the university.

Calculus for Engineer's III delt with:

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Improper integrals.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.
• Parametric equations.
• Polar coordinates and graphs.
• 3-Space Vectors, lines, and planes.
• Surfaces in three dimensions.
• Functions of several variables.
• Partial derivatives.
• Extrema of functions of two variables.

Calculus for Engineer's IV deals with:

• Double integrals, area, volume, and moments.
• Triple integrals, volume, moments, cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
  
• Sequences.
  
• Infinite series and tests for convergence.
• Power series and intervals of convergence.
  
• Taylor and Maclaurin series.

Dark__Link

Same for me. Your Calc III and IV sound like my Calc II and III.

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]As it stands now at the university.

Calculus for Engineer's III delt with:

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Improper integrals.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.
• Parametric equations.
• Polar coordinates and graphs.
• 3-Space Vectors, lines, and planes.
• Surfaces in three dimensions.
• Functions of several variables.
• Partial derivatives.
• Extrema of functions of two variables.

Calculus for Engineer's IV deals with:

• Double integrals, area, volume, and moments.
• Triple integrals, volume, moments, cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
  
• Sequences.
  
• Infinite series and tests for convergence.
• Power series and intervals of convergence.
  
• Taylor and Maclaurin series.

OOOOhhhhh

Same for me. Your Calc III and IV sound like my Calc II and III.

Yup, same here.

Did you guys have internships? I have been working hard trying to get some, 2 of my friends did I know that they can be extremely helpfulAdamPA1006

What kind of stuff would you do as a mechanical engineer?Alacoque72

I start my first year of enigineering on the 7th of September. Have a year to decide what I want to become, but I think I want to work around roller coasters :P

I took AP Math and Physics and I have to retake the classes since if you take engineering, they don't recognize your scores. I got a 5 on the Math and a 3 on the Physics so at least I'm a little prepared :P

Da_lil_PimP

[QUOTE="Da_lil_PimP"]

I start my first year of enigineering on the 7th of September. Have a year to decide what I want to become, but I think I want to work around roller coasters :P

I took AP Math and Physics and I have to retake the classes since if you take engineering, they don't recognize your scores. I got a 5 on the Math and a 3 on the Physics so at least I'm a little prepared :P

Dark__Link

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.

SaudiFury

That was calc. 1 stuff for me. :P

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

• L'Hospital's Rule.
• Arc length.
• Work.
• Fluid pressure and force.

Guppy507

That was calc. 1 stuff for me. :P

Physics, chemistry, and calc in 1 semester? I don't envy you one bit...Guppy507

I finished and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer.

You are going to need a strong work ethic and make sure you stay on top of your stuff. I don't know how it works in other colleges, but my private college was pretty tough. Lots of sleepless nights.

Some of the things you learn are amazing and really helps if you ever wanna build someting yourself. But the little details can be too much sometimes. Do no under-estimate the details. Always Always Always keep your units straight, Get good at it and fast, and your life will be a lot easier. I say this, and it should be obvious, but i was young, dumb and stubborn about it at the time.

First two years is mostly science based classes, physics, chemistry, mathmatics. the physics is usually aimed towards what is needed for engineers to know. You will learn theory but you will probably not delve deep into it. as a physics student would.

It's rewarding, but engineering, like doctor and lawyers. Are tough for a reason.

SaudiFury

Also, to let you know, I am planning on taking part in the Co-op program. It is just semester long internships every other semester, starting in Sem 4.

I had a class where I had to write four 100-page technical reports.Dark__Link

I was scared when they told us we might have to write a 30 page paper. I can't imagine writing 100 pages. The longest paper I have written was like 8 pages. Thinking about it though, it is probably comparable to when I was younger. We would get our Math textbooks in like grade 7 and I would flip through to the end just to see how difficult it was going to be. I would be scared because it looked like complete gibberish, but when we finally reached that section is was a cakewalk. I guess what I am trying to say is that I will probably adapt, even though now I think it is preposterous.

I just finished my second year of Civil Engineering, and I'm thinking of switching programs. First year is primarily general science programs but you will get more and more career oriented courses as you progress. You have to have a very good work ethic and engineering in general is very details oriented. I personally didn't enjoy it very much (thus my thoughts of changing programs), but it can be a very rewarding program if you have a strong interest in the subject matter and the work ethinc to do well.

[QUOTE="Dark__Link"]I had a class where I had to write four 100-page technical reports.taylor888

I was scared when they told us we might have to write a 30 page paper. I can't imagine writing 100 pages. The longest paper I have written was like 8 pages. Thinking about it though, it is probably comparable to when I was younger. We would get our Math textbooks in like grade 7 and I would flip through to the end just to see how difficult it was going to be. I would be scared because it looked like complete gibberish, but when we finally reached that section is was a cakewalk. I guess what I am trying to say is that I will probably adapt, even though now I think it is preposterous.

Hmm, any civil/structure engineers that would like to add the the thread? I'm interested in reading.

Unfortunately no matter what people tell you, you really can't get a guage on how suited you are for Engg until you actually try it yourself. For undergraduate degrees, enginneering is the biggest shift up in difficulty vs high school. For other undergraduate degrees the amount of work can be equivalent to or only a little more compared to high school but thats definitely not the case with engineering, expect to be challenged.

The best advice I can give you is decide early on if engineering is where you want to be after you've experienced some of the course work. I know too many people from my engg classes who tried to "grind it out" and ended up on dean's vacation as a result. I don't know how it is at other universities but at my school, faculty of engg had very strict requirements and very few second chances and as a result if you did poorly it could end up screwing up your entire program at that university.

I'm not saying to switch majors at the first sign of trouble but find a good balance. If you find yourself putting in huge amount of work and only getting average or poor returns then you should think about whether engg is right for you.

I know too many people from my engg classes who tried to "grind it out" and ended up on dean's vacation as a result.Inger1

If your combined GPA for 1 year is under 2.0 you have a meeting with the dean or another high ranking person in the faculty and then are placed on probation where you have to take a year break. You are not allowed to take any courses at the university for that year period. After the year has passed you come back, have another meeting with the dean and can continue where you left off. However after you return you are still on probation and if your gpa ever goes below 2.0 again for a combined year, you are kicked out of the university permanently.

If your combined GPA for 1 year is under 2.0 you have a meeting with the dean or another high ranking person in the faculty and then are placed on probation where you have to take a year break. You are not allowed to take any courses at the university for that year period. After the year has passed you come back, have another meeting with the dean and can continue where you left off. However after you return you are still on probation and if your gpa ever goes below 2.0 again for a combined year, you are kicked out of the university permanently.

Inger1

Yeah, the GPA is something you really need to keep an eye on. At my university, (Ottawa U) if your GPA dipped below 4.5 you were on probation, and if it went below 3.5, you were withdrawn from your program. Find out what the requirements are for you program, and take them seriously. Make sure to maximize your grades on the easy courses so you have a bit of beathing room on the harder courses.

[QUOTE="Inger1"]

If your combined GPA for 1 year is under 2.0 you have a meeting with the dean or another high ranking person in the faculty and then are placed on probation where you have to take a year break. You are not allowed to take any courses at the university for that year period. After the year has passed you come back, have another meeting with the dean and can continue where you left off. However after you return you are still on probation and if your gpa ever goes below 2.0 again for a combined year, you are kicked out of the university permanently.

redstorm72

Yeah, the GPA is something you really need to keep an eye on. At my university, (Ottawa U) if your GPA dipped below 4.5 you were on probation, and if it went below 3.5, you were withdrawn from your program. Find out what the requirements are for you program, and take them seriously. Make sure to maximize your grades on the easy courses so you have a bit of beathing room on the harder courses.

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

[QUOTE="Inger1"]

If your combined GPA for 1 year is under 2.0 you have a meeting with the dean or another high ranking person in the faculty and then are placed on probation where you have to take a year break. You are not allowed to take any courses at the university for that year period. After the year has passed you come back, have another meeting with the dean and can continue where you left off. However after you return you are still on probation and if your gpa ever goes below 2.0 again for a combined year, you are kicked out of the university permanently.

MrGrimFandango

Yeah, the GPA is something you really need to keep an eye on. At my university, (Ottawa U) if your GPA dipped below 4.5 you were on probation, and if it went below 3.5, you were withdrawn from your program. Find out what the requirements are for you program, and take them seriously. Make sure to maximize your grades on the easy courses so you have a bit of beathing room on the harder courses.

Sorry, I meant CGPA (I don't remember the calculation but it goes from 10 (max) to 1 (min) with 4.5 being a C+).

WOAH... 4.5=C+ and thats already enough to put you on probation? I thought my university was strict but you won't end up on probation until you get below 2.0 and thats a C- or lower

Im not sure how to calculate GPA, but the passing grade is 60% here. I hope I can handle it.

As for the person asking about civil engineering. I think it is only a 2 year course at the tech school here and I'm sure it is mostly applied learning.

I had a friend like that, he took 23 creds his first semester. It's doable since most of those classes are easy classes or gen eds. Engineering for me didn't get hard till my third year where I was interning at a company, doing my senior design project, and taking the usual classes at the same time. Before that year, I felt that things weren't that bad but I would hit a time where there was a lot of work; however, things weren't that bad as long as you put the time into it. It also depends heavily on where you go to school. I'm sure I would have a more difficult time in a top 10 university.