any zilvians studying engineering in college?

[iwishiwas-all*]

yea, just looking for anyone on here who is studying engineering in school, or has allready graduated. I'm waist deep in it now 2nd year, but figured id try to make a discussion of your thoughts of engineering etc... hardest classes, hardest thing to grasp, easiest even, just a good lively discussion.
for me im studying Mechanical engineering, and its fun at times but physics definately stands out as my hardest subject, shit is rough, trying to get through physics 3 and get out of it ya know,
so anyone else??

[S14monkey]

Just graduated last semester with a BS in mechanical engineering. I'm not the smartest student or hardest working, but to be honest, the whole thing wasn't all that bad, once you get the basics the rest gets a little easier. Try not to forget most of your physics and math cuz you will see it again later. I was pretty good at mechanical design, statics, dynamics, and CAD but was absolutely horrible at mechatronics and circuit analysis. I was so-so with thermodynamics.

I sucked at physics too, but after seeing it over and over in the following mechanical engineering classes, i understand it now.

[Tops*]

I'm considering majoring in electrical. I did architecture for a year, but it just didn't work out. I'm taking calc. 2 this semester, but to my understanding, engineering majors have to take engineering specific math courses, right?

[pablo180]

Graduated this past summer with a BS in Mech. Engineering. The thing about mechanical engineering is that you can do practically anything with it.....design racecars/airplanes/washing machines.

Physics is only the tip of the iceberg, and it only gets harder. There were three classes that either made you or broke you at my school. Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Fluid Mechanics. If you could get through those three, then you could probably get through the rest of the curriculum.

If you are a car guy, i'm assuming you are since you are on a car fourm, then do the Formula SAE project. Nothing else will prepare you better for the real world, or help you get into the automotive engineering industry.

[Moncef]

Originally Posted by pablo180

...
If you are a car guy, i'm assuming you are since you are on a car fourm, then do the Formula SAE project. Nothing else will prepare you better for the real world, or help you get into the automotive engineering industry...

One of the many things I'm looking forward to

[ilovecoupes]

EE major checking in. Attending a branch campus of PSU.

From what im told the classes don't get any easier. I think engeneering is a major that takes more dedication then others.

[turtl631]

Originally Posted by ilovecoupes

EE major checking in. Attending a branch campus of PSU.

From what im told the classes don't get any easier. I think engeneering is a major that takes more dedication then others.

I'd agree in a general sense. I'm in med school and have found that most admissions committees will let you get away with a significantly lower GPA if you were an engineering major versus, say, biology.

[iwishiwas-all*]

Originally Posted by turtl631

I'd agree in a general sense. I'm in med school and have found that most admissions committees will let you get away with a significantly lower GPA if you were an engineering major versus, say, biology.

lol i sure hope so.

[ilovecoupes]

Originally Posted by Tops*

to my understanding, engineering majors have to take engineering specific math courses, right?

Not that i've heard of. Engineering requres higher level maths(calc 3, differntial equations, matrices). But, nothing specificly for a certain engineering program.

[low and slow]

Originally Posted by ilovecoupes

Not that i've heard of. Engineering requres higher level maths(calc 3, differntial equations, matrices). But, nothing specificly for a certain engineering program.

At my school, once you complete the calc's (I-III), then such classes as E-Math and II (along with others), show up. I'm currently a sophomore at FSU, majoring in ME (just declared yesterday after getting all the pre-reqs done last semester, woo) and I'm doing my best to stay on top of shit. My roommate is also an ME, along with a few really good friends of mine, so I've been using them to help me through it. I'm already planning on joining SAE and ASME, and I'm taking a few intro ME classes now, only to continue the fun on into the summer and fall. I've always liked a challenge, and have always had a passion for cars, so I figured this is the way to go. So far (I realized somewhat the hard way with Calc II) the best thing to do is to keep going, don't loose your integrity, and don't loose site of what you came into the program for.

[Moncef]

I haven't started studying engineering yet, I'm a senior in high school but ME is my plan.
Right now, AP physics is alright but it's going to be a challenge later on. I'd also like to know how involved ME is actually, my father has a PhD in it and seems to be trying to scare me out of this field, since I don't really have an "excellent" work ethic with my current calc class.

S14Monkey, what school did you graduate from? And are you looking for a job as an ME, or do you already have one?

-Moncef

[jdm538]

i'm transferring to CSULB next semester for mechanical engineering.

my friend graduated from chemical engineering 2 years ago and now works for toyota's race team.

[[w]hite[r]abbit[x]]

Originally Posted by jdm538

i'm transferring to CSULB next semester for mechanical engineering.

my friend graduated from chemical engineering 2 years ago and now works for toyota's race team.

i wonder what a chemical engineer does for a race team. sounds like a pretty cool job. i switched my major from chemical engineering to industrial technologies.

[Jung918]

Originally Posted by [w]hite[r]abbit[x]

i wonder what a chemical engineer does for a race team. sounds like a pretty cool job. i switched my major from chemical engineering to industrial technologies.

changes the oil... I'm kidding.

[swiftdrift]

2ND year at calpoly as a Mechanical Engineer Major.... hollar!

[iwishiwas-all*]

yea we are in the process of starting an SAE team here at UM,
i mean physics isnt a "hangup" i did the statics and material mech and those classes were easy for me, i got dynamics this semester and i hear that class is also a good judge of how you will do in engineering.
I also got a cool project in our inhouse IC engines lab which im hoping yuo will see somewhere in print in a few months

[TurDz]

I graduated with a BS in ME last year. IMO, heat transfer, dynamics, and vehicle dynamics were probably my hardest classes. Lots of complex theory behind all of them, sometimes I just got lost. I got through em though. At the same time, I was very lazy.

Originally, I started in computer science and engineering, but programming was NOT for me. I was so happy when I switched to mechanical eng. at the end of my freshman year. My motivation for the major was to work with cars.

Now, I'm lucky to be working with cars all day and get paid for it!

[jspaeth]

2006 - B.S. in Chemical Engineering from U. of Delaware, Magna Cum Laude biatchhh

Right now at Princeton University getting my Ph.D. in Chem. Eng.


Worrrrd

[balmo]

'06 Aerospace Engineering checking in. Almost same as ME up until the 3rd yr. Thermo, Heat Transfer, Statics, Dynamics, Fluid Mech. were alright. What kicked my ass is the aero classes i took ~ Compressible Flow, Propulsion, CFD, and of course Senior Design. It can be a pleasant or miserable experience depending on your TEAM MATES. Mine was okay~somewhat. We did the SAE Aero Design comp. and we did pretty good:

[240look'n]

I'm a CE at Cal Poly Pomona. 4th year, I think I have 1.5 more to go!!!! Just stick with it and dont let an F get you down.

[chibo]

I'm on the other side - I dropped out of the ME program because I wasn't all there with dedication and I wasn't putting the effort I should have in.

I fucked up and I've been regretting it since... keep at it.

[smokins14]

I'm doing ME at a community college right now. They have it set up that you take all your core classes like math, physics, sciences, etc. there, and then transfer as a junior at UNCC. This is my first semester. Last semester, I took classes that don't transfer. Kinda sucks, but oh well.

The part that's going to get me is math. I'm not looking forward to it at all, but I know if I push myself through it, it will definitely be worth it.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

I majored in Physics...that's pretty close...

[pwhitersxs]

I am an EE. I am just about to graduate.

One thing that is important is your social skills and how well you do at an interview. That is one thing I would have to add. Having good communication skills will get you far in any walk of life, and engineering is no exception.

Also, try to get a good practical application for what you are studying. Most teachers just pass crap off and make you do problems. Understanding industry is very important and learning the practical applications of things helps big time. That is one thing I wish I would have got out of PITT.

As far as classes go, I hated signals and systems. Almost impossible. I was also a bio-E major as well. O chem owns me. Failed it twice. My final gpa will be around 2.8. PITT gpa's tend to be pretty low for EE though.

[iwishiwas-all*]

yea i mean, just starting class again, dynamics looks like it could be rough, but i think ill be fine in it,
Kouki_s14 alot of us here at UM take 5 cores a semester, its rough, but i donno miami is way more laid back than the MIT's or Michigans of the engineering world. now u want to talk about engineering suicides, those are the schools to see, shit.

do any of your schools let u into the labs as undergrads?
we have an internal combustion lab here at UM and my roomate and I have had a serious project in there for about a year now, I guess we are banking that having something extra like that will help out when it comes time to find a job and my gpa isnt a 3.5 lol.

i think we got a good discussion goin, keep this up.

[kouki_s14]

Originally Posted by iwishiwas-all*

yea i mean, just starting class again, dynamics looks like it could be rough, but i think ill be fine in it,
Kouki_s14 alot of us here at UM take 5 cores a semester, its rough, but i donno miami is way more laid back than the MIT's or Michigans of the engineering world. now u want to talk about engineering suicides, those are the schools to see, shit.

I wasnt talking about ANY ME core classes, i was talking junior/senior level core classes (ie Advanced Machine Design, Fluid Mechanics, Thermo 2, Heat Transfer, Stress Analysis). Try taking those classes in 10 weeks. How can you know what rough is if you're barely taking dynamics?

Cal Poly Pomona may not be famous, but that doesnt mean it's not an hard school. The engineers coming out of this school are highly valued among the industry.

[iwishiwas-all*]

Originally Posted by kouki_s14

I wasnt talking about ANY ME core classes, i was talking junior/senior level core classes (ie Advanced Machine Design, Fluid Mechanics, Thermo 2, Heat Transfer, Stress Analysis). Try taking those classes in 10 weeks. How can you know what rough is if you're barely taking dynamics?

Cal Poly Pomona may not be famous, but that doesnt mean it's not an hard school. The engineers coming out of this school are highly valued among the industry.

yea wasnt really trying you or your school, just addressing the suicide issue.
I'm sure your school is plenty hard, i think u misread my comment

[drftmark]

Anyone go to Texas A&M? I am graduating high school this year and will be in either ME or EE at A&M, and I can't decide which major to go with.

[pablo180]

well, if you like racing, and want a job in the racing industry...i think A&M is a good place to be. the senior engineer at my job is a A&M alum and the guy knows everything about chassis/suspension design. Not to mention that they are current back to back FSAE West champions. but only if you are going for ME.

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

Originally Posted by drftmark

Anyone go to Texas A&M? I am graduating high school this year and will be in either ME or EE at A&M, and I can't decide which major to go with.

depends on what you like more, circuitry and waveforms or thermo/fluid flow and mechanical systems. if you're not sure, i'd suggest that you just enter as a general engineering major and then get a feel for what you want freshman year while you're on general classes. then you can hop into the major specific stuff of your choice with everyone else your 2nd year. that's the usual route at my school, assuming that you'll be in a 5 year program.