5 answers
Aden
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
6
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How hard would engineering school be in college for an above average learner.?
I am still trying to figure out if aerospace engineering would be the best fit for me. I still want to have fun so I would like to know how hard it would be to get through the classes.
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5 answers
Brian Walsh
Characterization Engineer
8
Answers
Poughkeepsie, New York
Updated
Brian’s Answer
I am not going to lie, Engineering, or any of the hard sciences ( Physics, Chem, Math ), are difficult time consuming degrees. Classes are difficult, and there will be lots of work outside of the classroom. Having said that, you will have the opportunity to play with lots fun stuff in class and in labs, and it sets you up to play with even more fun stuff after you graduate. Keep in mind there is much more to the post secondary education experience than what is learned in the classroom. It absolutely possible to pursue a technical degree and still have a life outside of the classroom, and really a good idea to try to do so. The trick is to find a place where you can strike the right balance of the academics that support your goals as well as having life outside of the classroom to grow as a person. There is no one path that fits everybody. I work with some of the best engineers in the world who have gone to hardcore engineering schools ( Purdue, RPI, U Illinois, etc... ) and more general ed based schools, it is really up to the person to find their path and make the most of it.
I recommend vising as many schools as possible to get a feel for the academic possibilities and the campus vibe.
I recommend vising as many schools as possible to get a feel for the academic possibilities and the campus vibe.
Thanks for the advice.
Aden
Tony Riccobono
Technical Program Manager
18
Answers
Huntington Beach, California
Updated
Tony’s Answer
The first thing to ask is - why aerospace engineering? What is motivating you to consider that as a career? If aerospace engineering is really interesting to you, please don't let "being hard" be a barrier to considering that as a major or a career! And remember to keep the end goal in mind - majoring in aerospace engineering (or any major) is a means to an end. If working on the Mars mission, hypersonic missiles, the next SR71 spyplane, autonomous drones or a plane that can reduce fuel consumption by 50% sounds cool to you, or if you want to be the person who figures out why a plane crash occurred so that it doesn't happen again, do what it takes to get yourself into that space.
As others have indicated in their answers, majoring in engineering requires a lot of hard work in addition to the ability to be able to learn complex concepts and perform detailed analyses. You will have some late nights working on classwork and lab projects where things don't work the first time. The key to having fun with a major like engineering (or any challenging major) is to manage your time. You can always find time for fun, the key is to make sure that that work takes priority and that you allocate sufficient time to not just get things done but to get them done well.
I went to an engineering school, and I can tell you from "extensive" experience that many engineers like to have fun and will find time for fun, whether it be sports or clubs or other organized activities or hanging out with friends or attending parties. It can be done, just don't allow fun to consume the majority of your waking hours.
Let me ask you this - how do you manage your time now? What sorts of hobbies do you have, what sorts of activities do you participate in, do you have a job, do you volunteer? Participating in activities or work during high school, particularly activities that have time commitments, and finding ways to balance those activities with school is good practice for what will await you in college.
Add an activity to whatever you are already doing (preferably something that interests you), or perhaps increase your participation in an existing activity (for example, take a leadership position). Use this as an opportunity to "stretch" yourself and to experience dealing with the additional time and level of commitment. Time management takes practice just like any other skill.
As others have indicated in their answers, majoring in engineering requires a lot of hard work in addition to the ability to be able to learn complex concepts and perform detailed analyses. You will have some late nights working on classwork and lab projects where things don't work the first time. The key to having fun with a major like engineering (or any challenging major) is to manage your time. You can always find time for fun, the key is to make sure that that work takes priority and that you allocate sufficient time to not just get things done but to get them done well.
I went to an engineering school, and I can tell you from "extensive" experience that many engineers like to have fun and will find time for fun, whether it be sports or clubs or other organized activities or hanging out with friends or attending parties. It can be done, just don't allow fun to consume the majority of your waking hours.
Let me ask you this - how do you manage your time now? What sorts of hobbies do you have, what sorts of activities do you participate in, do you have a job, do you volunteer? Participating in activities or work during high school, particularly activities that have time commitments, and finding ways to balance those activities with school is good practice for what will await you in college.
Tony recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much, Tony!
Aden
Dan Wolf
Retired Electrical/Software Engineer and part-time College Professor (BSEET and MS Engineering Management)
129
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Dan’s Answer
I didn't think my engineering classes were hard. Why? Because I enjoyed both being exposed to and learning about new technical topics. Yes, I had to work harder in a few of my classes but that just meant I had to spend more time studying (which I could do because I avoided other time-consuming hobbies). On the other hand, I taught part-time engineering classes for 40 years and found that some students found those same classes hard. Why were their beliefs different from mine? For three reasons, 1) they weren't excited by the course material, 2) they had a weak understanding of the topics from prerequisite classes, or 3) they had other interests and hobbies which they prioritized higher than the school work.
I will make a couple suggestions:
1) Pick an engineering program that you are interested in.
2) If you are weak in a subject such as math, do not rush into the college-level classes and consider taking a remedial class or retaking a class to act as a refresher to your high school classes.
3) If you are having trouble in a class, seek out tutors (universities all have learning assistance offices) and simply spend more time studying.
4) Make sure you truly learn and understand the class material because each class builds upon the previous classes. Truly "mastering" the material is not the same as "getting an A or B grade". Grades are an indicator of how much you learned but they are not proof. BTW - a C grade in an engineering class is not good enough!
5) If you are experiencing trouble in your classes and your grades are suffering but you still enjoy engineering then perhaps you should consider transferring to a different engineering school. I believe you should always attend the best school that your finances and acceptance criteria will allow however some universities are better suited to supporting students than others. I don't say this lightly because transferring to a different university will cost you time, dollars and transfer credits so it will result in a financial impact.
I will make a couple suggestions:
1) Pick an engineering program that you are interested in.
2) If you are weak in a subject such as math, do not rush into the college-level classes and consider taking a remedial class or retaking a class to act as a refresher to your high school classes.
3) If you are having trouble in a class, seek out tutors (universities all have learning assistance offices) and simply spend more time studying.
4) Make sure you truly learn and understand the class material because each class builds upon the previous classes. Truly "mastering" the material is not the same as "getting an A or B grade". Grades are an indicator of how much you learned but they are not proof. BTW - a C grade in an engineering class is not good enough!
5) If you are experiencing trouble in your classes and your grades are suffering but you still enjoy engineering then perhaps you should consider transferring to a different engineering school. I believe you should always attend the best school that your finances and acceptance criteria will allow however some universities are better suited to supporting students than others. I don't say this lightly because transferring to a different university will cost you time, dollars and transfer credits so it will result in a financial impact.
Dennis Taylor
Self-employed
83
Answers
Columbus, Indiana
Updated
Dennis’s Answer
Hello Aden!
“Half the people in the world are below average. That's the definition of average and explains the behaviour of a lot of people.” Variations on this qoute are heard and seen often. Being an "above-average" learner might mean something. Most likely, we are all better than average at a few things and perhaps below average in many more. I can play many instruments, but I can't get a sound out of a flute. Which reminds me of another old saw: A man walking down the street in New York City, carrying a violin. He walks up to a street vendor and says "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The vendor looks at him and his violin and says "Practice man, practice!" So, there you are. You can be a better than average violinist and never get to play in Carnegie Hall. Guess what? it won't be easy to become an engineer even if you are an above-average learner....but it will help.
If you are looking for easy, don't try engineering. But, I don't know anything worth doing that IS easy. I think your choices will be limited.
So... if: you like to solve problems. .....you have a creative mind....you want to make things better in this world ...then go for it! Good luck Aden!
IS
“Half the people in the world are below average. That's the definition of average and explains the behaviour of a lot of people.” Variations on this qoute are heard and seen often. Being an "above-average" learner might mean something. Most likely, we are all better than average at a few things and perhaps below average in many more. I can play many instruments, but I can't get a sound out of a flute. Which reminds me of another old saw: A man walking down the street in New York City, carrying a violin. He walks up to a street vendor and says "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The vendor looks at him and his violin and says "Practice man, practice!" So, there you are. You can be a better than average violinist and never get to play in Carnegie Hall. Guess what? it won't be easy to become an engineer even if you are an above-average learner....but it will help.
If you are looking for easy, don't try engineering. But, I don't know anything worth doing that IS easy. I think your choices will be limited.
So... if: you like to solve problems. .....you have a creative mind....you want to make things better in this world ...then go for it! Good luck Aden!
Dennis recommends the following next steps:
I appreciate your support, Dennis
Aden
Bryan Kalkhoff
Engineer
18
Answers
Rochester, Minnesota
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
Hi!
From my perspective, engineer classes involved a lot of work and are generally difficult if you don't like the subject (which can happen for required classes). Some of the math/science gen-eds can also be difficult, but this is generally because they aren't classes you want to take but have to. Engineering classes ,however, are extremely rewarding. I had a lot of fun while working on the labs with my friends or the clubs I was involved in. Also, a lot of schools offer a lot of classes that allow you to dig deeper into a specific subject.
All together, I wouldn't say entering is "easy". But it's extremely rewarding and offers many paths for you in the future.
From my perspective, engineer classes involved a lot of work and are generally difficult if you don't like the subject (which can happen for required classes). Some of the math/science gen-eds can also be difficult, but this is generally because they aren't classes you want to take but have to. Engineering classes ,however, are extremely rewarding. I had a lot of fun while working on the labs with my friends or the clubs I was involved in. Also, a lot of schools offer a lot of classes that allow you to dig deeper into a specific subject.
All together, I wouldn't say entering is "easy". But it's extremely rewarding and offers many paths for you in the future.