Engineering majors can you provide advice for a scared engineering major?

Question

I am going to enter my first year of college and I am going to take:

Physics 1.2
Calculus 1
Techniques of Electrical Technology (Here is a description of the course: "An introduction to the use of computers for analysis of electrical and electronic circuits, using electronics workbench and software such as Matlab.")
English Composition 1

Is this a fair workload for a first year? I am going to a low grade tech school. I MUST get a 3.8-4.0 GPA so I can transfer for the spring. Are those classes going to be hard? I am REALLY strong in Calculus, and I am self studying in order to ENSURE that I get an A+. I have taken AP Physics B in my high school career, I didn't find it hard, but not a walk in the park either, just lower-moderate difficulty. I know college level work is different even if it is a low grade tech school. I haven't slept in three days because I am scared that I will not get above a 3.8 GPA. :( I need some Engineers to give me some tips for getting high grades at ANY cost. (other than cheating ofcourse, what is the point of trying to learn if I am not learning anything.) I am an electrical engineering major. I know engineering majors historically have the lowest GPAs. I am scared, because I must have the GPA. :/

Answer 1

4.0 is a difficult goal. But you seem to have the skills. Me, I'd worry more about the English course.



Best you can do is always read the book one class ahead of the teacher so you can get some understanding of what he will be talking about.



But will it be the end of the world if you don't get the 3.8?



I can say that if you worry too much about it, that will guarantee you will not meet your goals.

Answer 2

Don't worry so much about your current GPA. Ultimately, later in life, it all boils down to what you are happy doing. Calculus is hard for most of us, though with software, most of us can avoid it. If you are that good with calculus, the rest should come easy. By the way you worded your question, English composition shouldn't be a problem.



Engineers usually start by by taking things apart at 9 years old and wondering how they can go back together as it was or better, be it a toaster or computer code. You'll know it if you feel it. I'm a mechanical engineer 30 years plus, although I love electronics. I do mechanical engineering for a living, and I play with electronics as a hobby. To me, electronics is too abstract, whereas mechanical comes naturally to me.



If how things work, or not excites you, then you should pursue engineering. If not, think about becoming a math teacher. Simulation software now allows us to go way beyond what hand calculus would get us, though any engineer should be able to do the basics of calculus to understand what the software is doing and producing.



Best of luck...

Answer 3

Your course load is very manageable and I think you will be in good standing to get A’s for two reasons.

1. You are already familiar with calculus. Calc I is the easiest of the three.

2. You already took AP physics. The three semesters of physics can be challenging but in hindsight they were not that bad at all. I struggled with waves and reflections but mechanics and modern physics I excelled in. Once you understand the physics then you can derive the formulas. So, try and understand instead of just memorizing formulas.



My GPA was 3.4 when I graduated and I transferred with a 3.8



If I were to give you any “sage words of advice” it would be to do the homework and do it early. Also, for any textbook you are using look around online for a solutions manual (hint bit torrent)., if not for that specific text then one like it. I found it to be immeasurably valuable to see many like problems fully solved.



My last piece of advice is to get a TI-89 and learn how to use it with units. If you do your calculations (with units) and you get an answer that’s not in the units you expect then chances are you made a mistake. So, always consider the units when setting up a problem and solving. This has saved me many times.



As for the general ED English class, should be a breeze. Just get someone else to proof read your work before turning it in. Personally, I'm terrible at proofing my own writing. I always read what I mean to say, not what I did type.



Good luck!!

Answer 4

It is mostly math, but you still have physical chemistry, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry to get thru. Chemical engineering is about the design of equipment and processes to get chemicals made, so you need to know chemistry somewhat to be able to figure out what equipment you need to make those chemicals. If I told you to go out and figure out the process to make polystyrene, it wouldn't do the client much good if you didn't know what polystyrene was and what reactions have to take place to make it