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I've just been so depressed about school lately..this semester hasn't been going so well for me. Sometimes I feel like I'm just not cut out for this major. It's sad when even though I do study, I can still mess everything up on an exam cuz I accidentally misread "linear dependence" as "linear independence" and it's a 5 question exam and it's a multiple choice question so it's either you get it right or you get it wrong and since I got it wrong, I'm already starting off with an 80(assuming all my other answers are perfect)
I don't come from a very good high school. To give you an idea of the level of awfulness, almost everyone out of my 500 graduating class of seniors made 1's on their Calculus AB AP exams(not even BC) or most didn't even take calculus and took the bare minimum math requirements to get their high school diploma. I read all the time on here of how high school was easy and they all made 7's on their AP exams and had a 4.0 GPA and are disappointed becuz they didnt get accepted into harvard even tho they got accepted into princeton. My HS is just sooooo opposite from this and I don't think it's going to change anytime soon.
When you come from a lazy, unmotivated high school like this and start your transition into college and do a difficult major such as engineering, IMO it takes a while to adjust compared to the other kids who came from those "good" high schools. Those kids are already motivated, have incredible work ethic that makes them prepared for college level work and on top of that they come in with 30 credits from getting 5's or better on their AP exams and are classified as a sophomore(my freshman roommate came in with 46 creds or something ridiculous cuz he came from a good high school and was classified as a second semester sophomore lol). The comparison isn't even close.
So naturally I did very poor my first semester of college and had a 1.5 GPA midway through my first semester of college and had to drop college chem just to barely scrape by with a 2.1 GPA and avoid academic probation. There were many things I learned that semester, the biggest one being DO NOT TAKE 6 CLASSES IN UR FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE. The next semester I took it easy and took only 4 classes(12 hours)with some basic math course and easy(but required)electives which helped boost my GPA from 2.1 to a 2.5. The rest would take too long for me to write but basically is just me fighting to keep it that way every semester. It took alot of discipline and me getting my act together and pure work ethic and a change of lifestyle to where I was more focused on school than other things.
Even though I still don't make the best grades I'm very happy to have made it this far with all the knowledge I've gained while trying to get through engineering. Like I said before, I was struggling with basic calculus 1 pre-college and now, I've already done calculus 1/2/3/differential equations and many of other hard courses you have to take as an engineer which are 100x harder than calculus 1.
But lately something else has been on my mind and can't seem to get off it. At my school there is this rule called the "excess credit hour rule" where basically if you exceed 30 hours from however many hours that are required to complete your degree, you have to pay out-of-state tuition. So if it takes 130 hours to complete your degree, if you exceed 160 hours you gotta pay double your tuition. It used to be 60 and now it's 30 in an attempt to make us graduate as fast as possible. But truthfully, this "magic" number that they decided to be 30 just seems unfair to me and I think our school is one of the few schools that actually has this rule :/
The reason why I feel this is unfair is because when I first came into university, I was an undecided major and was doing a different major at that time so I took some classes that weren't required for engineering which counts towards these excess hours I think. Also, I had to retake some courses along the way too. Any classes that you retake counts towards these hours too and also your upper level division engineering courses requires that you make a C or better or you have to retake them.
So I have this added pressure every semester of having to not get below a C. And everytime I make like a 61 on one exam I get super stressed because I have to make at least an 80 to bring that up to a C. Like I feel like I literally have to have my nose in the books every second of my life, every breath..I dunno lately I been having mixed feelings about continuing to be an engineer even though I know it's too late to switch. I mean don't misunderstand me, I WANT to be an engineer, I just don't want to be hit with the out-of-state tuition..there's no way I can pay that.
Sometimes I wish I just did a less challenging major, make good grades and keep my Korean mom happy, keep all my financial aid, and get my degree.
edit: I'm a junior
 
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haha funny Im posting here first  .
I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that....
NVM I won't get fucked by this silly rule, http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=1452945&forum_id=17
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Good luck bro, engineering is hard stuff. I did 2 years of engg, then switched out because i realized i picked the wrong discipline (and at my school switching disciplines is super duper hard and frowned upon) so i went into business instead. I went into Comput Engg Nano.. before i realized i should've done civil or mechanical instead.
My advice to you is this: work hard, you're still in first year, and while it may feel like your "behind", it doesnt mean your not as smart, you're just learning to adjust your study habits. Stay cool and do what you need to do. Also think realllly hard about your discipline so you dont end up like me 
Take full advantage of your profs and tutorial seminars! They're there for a reason and dont try to "I'll learn it later when the exam comes" or else you'll get screwed. Engineering is all about concepts building upon concepts and a lot of courses are even interrelated. Make sure you get help asap when you dont understand something.
You'll get used to the workload, the first 2 years are always the toughest, hang in there man!
Here's some engg jokes to cheer you up:
+ Show Spoiler +To the optimist, the glass is half full, to the pessimist, the glass is half empty, to the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be
+ Show Spoiler +Three engineers were looking at the human body and discussing the type of mind that would design something like that. The first engineer said, "it must've been a mechanical engineer that designed the human body, look at all those joints!" The second engineer said, "no way, it must've been someone with an electrical engineering mind who designed the human body, the nervous system has millions of electrical connections!" The last engineer spoke up and said, "While those are valid points, it must've been a civil engineer who designed the human body. I mean, who else would put a toxic waste line through a recreational area?!"
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On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that....
i doubt that math is easier.
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On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier.
Engg math = still applicable
Math math = O_o
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On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier.
No but I enjoy it more, engineering gives me way more options though.
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If you really wanted to save money and you went in undecided then why didn't you go to a community college first?
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Math can or can't be easier, depending on your situation.
I was in a track for physics+math into engineering masters specially designed between two universities. Math has come to me easier, which is strange to me. In particular, my Calc 3 and Physics 1 were essentially the same class with maybe 25% original content to each. However I found that the physics course was much more difficult because of how the information is "hidden" by various chains of relationships between traits. However I've found the ideas of calculus are more clear in their practice than how you are tested in Physics, where the process and its exceptions are tested rather than the knowledge on how to manipulate relationships.
Now I am a fulltime Math and CS student and it makes more sense for me to be in these fields. I am about the process and not the outcome, making sure it is correct. It's still a bitch when you cannot logically grasp what is happening, but it is still much more fulfilling.
Anyway, back to the OP. It really sucks, but in all honesty they are running the school like a business. Education is more valuable than any cash amount when compounded and used effectively, and it isn't cheap to be a competitive university at any tier of quality. I'm not sure why you require so many credit hours to graduate (I need 110 to grad, but almost all of my classes are 3 hours, my 4 hour courses are the equiv of 5 hour courses elsewhere). It blows, but you have to understand the situation that you are in if you're taking 2 semesters+ extra courses than standard graduation needs. Thats only rough if you switch to an unrelated major after 3 years since your gen eds should be covered.
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They are pushing you to do better, you have to do it or die, sink or swim dude. Though where do you go? Also if that is true, why not choose a major that follows into many job lines, and use that as a chance to keep yourself open to jobs later on down the line ^^
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I WANT to be an engineer, I just don't want to be hit with the out-of-state tuition..there's no way I can pay that.
who cares how much school costs? if you want to do something, find a way man. i had the same experience as you starting school:
I dropped out of high school, got into college and ended my first semester with a 0.67 gpa. ya.... college was obviously very different from my college experience. eventually i pulled up my GPA and got some scholarships and financial aid, and ended up graduating in 5 years.
as for the policy in your school, how does it apply to double majors? how far over your requirements will you be when you graduate? not that i'm an expert on it, but I bet there are some scholarships (or student loans) you can take out to finish out school if you can't find yourself affording it in the last semester.
also i recommend, if you can find a way to do this, to work for some department in your school that helps you in your own learning, for example all through college, after my 1st year i was a grader for the math department, specifically ODE's. this actually really, really helped me learn everything about ODE's that i didn't fully understand when i first took the class. anyway, good luck
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stay strong buddy, your getting there I know you can do it!
Why you think I picked IT as major instead of engineering/comp sci? ezmode major + ezmode money! the difference in starting salary isn't even that big I found out comp sci buddies starting with similar salaries that I did, maybe I just got lucky... *shrug*
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On March 28 2012 13:16 willy001 wrote:
If you really wanted to save money and you went in undecided then why didn't you go to a community college first?
Two reasons:
1) The school that I go to is a pretty decent university in Texas and for me to transfer to the engineering department, I would need to perform really well in community college to get in and I had already been accepted to the university so why would I purposely go to a community college first and work extra hard to make it into the engineering department? My financial aid already pays everything for me becuz I'm really poor
2) I was never trying to save money. In the OP I mentioned that I'm just scared of paying for the out-of-state tuition. If I do get hit by that then I might have to drop out, get a job and save money but right now my financial aid pays for everything in full so I don't really have to save anything.
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On March 28 2012 13:46 Mr.F. wrote:Show nested quote + I WANT to be an engineer, I just don't want to be hit with the out-of-state tuition..there's no way I can pay that. who cares how much school costs? if you want to do something, find a way man. i had the same experience as you starting school:
Well if tuition costs 10k then it suddenly jumps to 20k....how ami supposed to come up with 10k without a degree? I mean I would be one semester left from getting my degree and be able to repay my loans and all that but then they hit me with this extra tuition + I have loans I have to pay back too once the grace period is over and I have no degree and have to somehow come up with all this money working at restaurants or something. Not to mention finding a job is hard right now and even worse if I don't got any degree..They are literally fuking me over.
edit: I mean I know what your talking about and I plan to do just that. This summer I'm gonna try and get a job and save up as much money as I can just in case I do go over the 30 hours so I'll have enough money and can continue the last semester without having to drop out.
Also thanks everyone for the support! =)
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Which university do you go to, just out of curiosity?
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On March 28 2012 13:04 Megaliskuu wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier. No but I enjoy it more, engineering gives me way more options though.
Like the option of getting paid.
On March 28 2012 14:01 LuckyFool wrote:stay strong buddy, your getting there I know you can do it! Why you think I picked IT as major instead of engineering/comp sci? ezmode major + ezmode money! the difference in starting salary isn't even that big I found out comp sci buddies starting with similar salaries that I did, maybe I just got lucky... *shrug*
If you don't mind sharing I'd be curious to hear what starting was.
I'm graduating this semester with a degree in EE from VT and I'm going to be making some pretty sizable dough, so there's certainly merit in staying in engineering if you're willing to do the work.
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On March 28 2012 18:15 EternaLLegacy wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 13:04 Megaliskuu wrote:On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier. No but I enjoy it more, engineering gives me way more options though. Like the option of getting paid.
Even more importantly is that I doubt OP has seen REAL math courses before. Engineering math is for kiddies (no offense intended).
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On March 28 2012 18:16 Sufficiency wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 18:15 EternaLLegacy wrote:On March 28 2012 13:04 Megaliskuu wrote:On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier. No but I enjoy it more, engineering gives me way more options though. Like the option of getting paid. Even more importantly is that I doubt OP has seen REAL math courses before. Engineering math is for kiddies (no offense intended).
My best friend is a math major, so yes, I know. I still do some real math every now and then, but it's to be avoided at all costs.
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On March 28 2012 18:16 Sufficiency wrote:Show nested quote +On March 28 2012 18:15 EternaLLegacy wrote:On March 28 2012 13:04 Megaliskuu wrote:On March 28 2012 13:02 beg wrote:On March 28 2012 12:51 Megaliskuu wrote:haha funny Im posting here first . I had a similar experience, coming from a ghetto as fuck high school, and getting into an engineering program, I was fucking shocked at how different it was, and did awful my first semester. Even now I sometimes consider just switching to math major and giving up on engineering (as of now I'm doing double major). I'm not even in upper level engi either :/. Also that excess credit hour thing blows (I go to same school as OP), I'm gonna have to look into that.... i doubt that math is easier. No but I enjoy it more, engineering gives me way more options though. Like the option of getting paid. Even more importantly is that I doubt OP has seen REAL math courses before. Engineering math is for kiddies (no offense intended).
Math major maths is also for kiddies, don't kid yourself.
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Same with me. I really hate those little mistakes you make in exams. They add up so fast and it really hurts your final grade
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switch to business - finance or accounting; so easy compared to engineering, pay is not QUITE as good but is still a lot better than most other undergraduate majors, and there's still job growth in the industry despite the bad economy
not good if you are not good at working with people, though. expect easy tests but also tons of presentations and writing.
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focus on learning to study better.
productivity = time + energy? no
everybody has same time. not everybody has same energy, but in your context this is negligible. to increase productivity, you have to increase where you focus application of energy and make sure you spend it on the small amount of things which really matter and not the formless, nameless mass of little tasks which can soak it all up
figuring out those tasks is a skill you'll develop
so is learning how to best utilize your energy (hint: take breaks, record everything, and look at data & not feelings)
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I'm going to say this as an infrastructure engineer (finished my degree in 2011). If your marks aren't where they should be within the maximum extents of the current set of circumstances, then whatever you're studying is not for you. Not everyone can be what they want to be. I've watched about 150 (out of 300) of my first-year classmates eventually drop out or switch majors in the first two years of the program. Large number of them didn't switch out due to poor marks, they simply found something else more appealing and suitable to their personal level.
So really, ask yourself: are you using your time efficiently and productively? Are you able to balance studying and playing? Do you have the motivation and the skills to plow through seemingly unreasonable amount of work just because you know which profession you'd like to start your working career with?
High school education may have helped some of your classmates, but that excuse only goes as far as 2nd year. Those that had the advantage of learning certain subjects beforehand will soon discover that they too have to learn new subjects. Those that didn't, simply have to make it up with extra effort. I've seen cocky first year AP/IB/shenanigans kids fail out in second year because they didn't have "what it takes" to learn in a fast-pace, intensive environment. I've seen few people who barely made the cut line in the first year (88 avg for a 92+ program, I seriously don't know how they got accepted) go on to graduate with 3.5+. Personally, I never took grade 11 or grade 12 biology, but I had to endure systems biology / genetic engineering in the first year.
Also, commenting on the small math difficulty debate: from what I've seen, in the undergraduate level, physics major math > math major math > engineering math > other sciences math > business math.
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Marine23, I am doing a small social study so I wanted to ask you this question - did you ever take an IQ test and if you did, what was your score?
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EPT
