Engineering is not meant for everyone

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>my parents didn’t really agree (and still don’t) with my decision to go into engineering school. They think that it’s too much hard work and I would likely not be able to get good grades.</p>

<p>My first semester, I got 3.75 of gpa, and I FAILED 1 course the 2nd semester because I wasn’t aware of my physical limits and I pull too many all nighters before getting really sick during the final. My gpa dropped to 3.3.</p>

<p>This semester, I have 2 courses that I am struggling with. I FAILED my midterms in both of them and my grades are BELOW averages. When I talked to one of the prof today, he told me that “there are people who are smart, there are those who are average and those who are not. Engineering is not meant for everyone.”</p>

<p>That message wasn’t specifically for me, but he was referring to people who failed his class in the past. He mentioned that everyone should take personal responsibility, and that STUDENTS are the ones failing THEMSELVES. which I agree with. </p>

<p>Even though I know this person knows nothing about me and the fact that i am working my way through college because my parents are going through a tough time financially since a couple of years. and that I am one of the most responsible person that I personally aware of at my age. I still feel terribly hurt by this statement.</p>

<p>Partially because I think what he says might be true. I am surrounded by very smart people who get 3.4 and 3.5 of pga without failing any courses in engineering. For them 3.5 is a descent gpa, not extraordinary.</p>

<p>I feel so discouraged because I know that I would have a very easy time getting As in sciences or business since I took electives in those fields, and I keep wondering if my parents were right about me. I was so hurt by the thought that “I am not smart enough” that I cried like a crazy person on the way home. Must not be fun to watch.</p>

<p>I don’t plan to give up, there are still finals and projects. But I am so discouraged, I have never felt this unconfident about myself before.</p>

<p>Maybe I AM NOT smart enough for engineering because I am getting grades below average and I feel everyone surrounding me is smarter.</p>

<p>any similar situations and advices that you want to share?</p>

2

<p>If you are consistently doing poorly in the math classes - calc, phyisics - I would seriously consider switching majors. If it’s any other classes you might be able to struggle through.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. I aced my math and physics classes and I don’t have them anymore.
Some courses go together in the sense that they are prerequisites of each other, and there are these particular courses related to my field of engineering that I am struggling with. My gpa is mostly in the A and B+, but these 2 courses this semester are killing me and I am very afraid that I am going to fail them.</p>

4

<p>What courses are they? Now that we know math isn’t the issue we can only help if we know the exact courses.</p>

5

<p>A 3.5?..a 3.3?..hell, I would have done almost ANYTHING to graduate with those GPA’s. I graduated with an undergraduate GPA BELOW 3.0 and I was a friggin’ math major. I will admit, part of the issue was that I partied hard in college (probably too much for my major) and the other issue was that I am a “numbers guy” and always figured that every employer cannot hire 3.0+ students. Somebody gotta take us sub-3.0 folks because all of these surveys kept saying employers needed Math/CS/Engineering grads.</p>

<p>Well…</p>

<p>I am on year 23 (or 24) of being a software engineer and even “sneaked through the back door” of some grad school and somehow got a M.S. degree…in ENGINEERING.</p>

<p>So, I would not panic…just keep grinding.</p>

6

<p>Try to analyze whether you are doing poorly because the material is TOO HARD, or are you doing poorly because you are not TAKING RESPONSIBILITY to budget your time wisely and study, etc. Also, maybe you want to change the mental recording in your brain to start believing in yourself.</p>

<p>Your posting sounds like it’s been written by an intelligent person. Don’t let your parents’ lack of faith in you influence your behavior.</p>

<p>Reevaluate, make a plan, and push forward.</p>

7

<p>You might want to reevaluate the way you do your work. For a lot of people college is the first time they hit the wall where work is really difficult, and they haven’t developed study techniques to help them learn something that doesn’t come naturally. Try all sorts of different techniques. See what kind of tutoring options your school offers. Find out if there are study groups you can join.</p>

<p>I found for my sophomore and junior level classes I learned a lot better when I worked with friends. Different material came to each of us, so one week I’d be the person that it clicked with and could teach everyone else. The next week it was someone else. And so on.</p>

8

<p>Well assuming you’re only on your 3rd semester… with only 2 courses this semester. Honestly, you’ve got quite some time to bring your GPA up even with these 2 class… at least shoot for a D to get 1 point per credit. When you’re at around 55+ credits that’s when you’re GPA won’t change much even with 3-4 A’s.</p>

<p>Your elective should help your gpa some also, but like I said I don’t know what courses you’ve taken. But easy A from sociology, psychology, phys ed., speech, etc w/e should bring your GPA up. Keep your head up.</p>

9

<p>Thank you all for the replies. I know my gpa is still descent but I saw it dropping by 0.5 in 1 semester and I know how things can screw up fast. </p>

<p>GLABALTRAVELER: it is encouraging to know that. good luck with you future.</p>

<p>FlyMeToTheMoon: There are times like this one that I am crushed by the reality. Especially when you are always told that working hard for what you want. Apparently results are the most important things. not how you get it.</p>

<p>RacinReaver: you have a good point. College is very difficult and the problem is that often you feel very lonely. Everyone is so busy studying or living their lives from profs to students. I have friends in the program. It’s just very hard to find a time that we are all available to study. Everyone either has work or something else.</p>

10

<p>I’d think about taking a course online. I’ve probably took like 8-9 online so far… 1 B in trig and the rest A’s. I mean when you take test you can use your notes, (google), resources and whatnot. Whereas, in a class setting these stuff might not be allowed.</p>

11

<p>If you can make it through the math and physics, you can make it through the engineering. The engineering are just applied versions of all these. Definitely try to figure out any flaws in your study habits and try working in a group. </p>

<p>I remembered in high school that the times I went into study groups and had the chance to help out others with material, I gained a much greater understanding of the material. You will probably find this to be the case when you understand the material and when you are iffy about it, someone is bound to understand it enough to help you. </p>

<p>There is always hope. Never let people bring you down. There are tons of stories out there of people who proved everyone wrong when the odds were against them, and with you I don’t see any lack in ability based off your first semester. Keep pushing for the grades you want, go to office hours if you need to, work with buds and manage your time well. You got this.</p>

12

<p>Sounds like you did what I did…you might just be working too much. That was my problem my freshman year. If you have to work to support family, realize that it is very hard to graduate in 4 years and don’t rush. If you can do the physics and math you should be fine. Who knows, you might just have a crappy professor in those subjects. </p>

<p>Evaluate your financial aid and think about dropping below full time status if you have to work a lot to help out your family. Passing the classes are important, not graduating as fast as you can.</p>