How many classes is enough?

hye345 · 08-01-2007, 03:08 AM

Would taking 3 EE classes a quarter (not including labs) be overkill? My alternatives are either to take some of those classes during summer to lighten the load (this might take away opportunities for internships and stuff) or take longer than 4 years to graduate (I'm assuming this wouldn't look too good to employers).

drusba · 08-01-2007, 08:09 AM

Majority of engineering students take longer than 4 years to complete engineering degree and one of the reasons is to avoid overload in any semester or quarter. Employers generally do not care whether you finish in 4, 4 1/2, or 5 years. How many courses you take each quarter or semester depends on what you think you personally can handle.

sean22190 · 08-02-2007, 10:54 PM

Is a majority really true?

I'm not challenging you, but is that really true that >50% take longer than 4 years?

Loverboyfan420 · 08-02-2007, 11:13 PM

i dont think most take more than four, and if so its usually just an extra semester. Any main problem would be caused by switching majors or poor class selection, which advisers try to prevent

GatorEng23 · 08-02-2007, 11:14 PM

I would say, at state schools, the majority take longer than 4 years to complete the degree. At privates, pretty much most people finish in 4 years. In my experience, employers could care less about taking longer to graduate.

hye345, are the 3 EE courses your full schedule? Or do you have 3 EE course and one other course for some other requirement? Taking only 3 courses may be okay, but to me, that's too little. Engineering who take longer than 4 years usually take 4 courses a semester.

hye345 · 08-02-2007, 11:21 PM

I'm talking per quarter.

asbereth · 08-03-2007, 01:52 AM

By not including labs, do you mean that you have extra lab classes on the top of those three classes (or by labs, do you mean research projects or something)? A normal workload for an engineering major (at least, based on my experience) would be about 3 lecture classes and a lab [mandatory, not research] class per quarter. That would be 'normal'. Well, you won't have social live and enough sleep (especially if you're also doing research outside classes or have a part time job), but you'll still be alive, and I don't think it's overkill.

SportsMama · 08-03-2007, 09:26 AM

When we visited Virginia Tech, a parent asked the question about the number of years it takes for engineering students to graduate. The answer was that most do not graduate in 4 years because the amount of hours required for engineering was more than other majors. In addition, participating in internships and co-ops is crucial and it can add time, too.

We recently went to my daughter's orientation at Ohio State, and that question was asked. They gave a similar answer, although they didn't mention anything about engineering majors having to take more hours than other majors.

chuy · 08-03-2007, 09:54 AM

Interesting. I go to VT and I'm on schedule to finish in 4 years. Of course a co-op during school would push me back a full year but if I keep in school I'll get through in 4. I know in my major (Materials Science Engineering) there were only four out of 20 who didn't make it in four years. You'll have to take 18 credits for some semester, and 17 for others, but it's very doable.

SportsMama · 08-03-2007, 10:04 AM

The VT session we went to was for Industrial and Systems engineering majors, but I would think it would be the same for all engineering majors. I remember being impressed that they were upfront about it.

I'm happy for you that you be able to graduate in 4 years. (Maybe you work harder than they expect.) I know I was mentally calculating another year of OOS tuition (AAGGHHH) when they mentioned it, but didn't say anything to my daughter because I didn't want it to influence her decision.

NJ113 · 08-03-2007, 10:07 AM

I went to engineering school decades ago and everyone I knew graduated in 4 years. Everybody I've met who went to engineering school has graduated in 4 years as well.

chuy · 08-03-2007, 10:15 AM

Sportsmama, if she were to do a co-op and that was what pushed her back, she'd be making money then AND you wouldn't be paying for tuition etc. Now, if it just takes her an extra year then yeah, you will. ISE apparently has 6 more required credits than MSE (130 vs. 136)... The course outline they give you for all majors is set up for 4 years though. It's definately possible.

SportsMama · 08-03-2007, 11:14 AM

What about internships?

chuy · 08-03-2007, 11:28 AM

Terminology differs, but I usually refer to internships as something that you do over the summer. That's not the full definition though. Even though I'm participating in one right now I honestly don't know the complexities of the co-op and internship programs, and they are different at different schools.

After doing some reading the difference appears to be that an internship will be for one term (one semester or over the summer) while a co-op would be more likely to be multi-term, and you would most likely alternate terms (work spring, go to school fall, work spring, go to school fall.) The school your daughter is attending should have more info on how they handle things.

peck191 · 08-03-2007, 04:47 PM

There's no reason why you can't complete three summer internships and still graduate in 4 fours. That sounds like a pretty good plan to me.