How difficult is it to take five classes a semester in engineering?

mhjames
Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:40:54 +0000

It’s pretty hard to take that kind of work load and hold a job, ESPECIALLY if you’re working full time. A lot of schools more or less tell you to not bother working if you have any prospect at all in pursuing an engineering degree. I more or less agree. While this may be impossible for some people, if it’s not for you, I recommend “surviving” while you’re in college.

My degree (Chemical Engineering w/ a Biochemical emphasis) is intense as hell. I am able to survive because I saved up money and most, if not all, of my schooling is paid for through grants and loans. I take about 17 hours a semester. This includes Chemistry almost identical to that of a regular Chemist (I had to take both Organics and Physical Chemistry), Biology including Molecular/Cell Biology, Differential Equations, programming, Physics, etc. There is almost never an “easy” semester. It’s like one barrage to your brain after another. It gets slightly easier senior year, but even then you have a huge capstone project that has to be quality.