Same. I called engineering when my son was a freshman to question it and they sorta laughed at me and said.. “this is a typical schedule for an engineering student”.
But it’s good if this student can adjust.
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Fair enough, my 25 is engineering and only during the first year, with some easier classes included in the 18 (orientation, intro to major, intro English, an elective etc), is 18 considered normal (and even then, many don’t do it due to APs). After that, it is 15/16… Mine dropped an elective and went to 15, and the advisor didn’t bat an eye since they had APs that covered a couple of electives anyway.
And these numbers are all made up, to an extent. My alma mater didn’t even use credit hours (and still doesn’t)…
I am sorry, but there is no way you will pass Org Chem with this trend.
I myself hate Chemistry and was forced to take it as Math major (I would take 3 Physics over 1 Chem if I could. )
However, Org Chem is impossible.
DD is premed. She is Chem Major. She happened to take Chem 1 3 times with 3As (really stupid set up : 1st due to AP during Covid, then in CC as dual enrollment and then again due to mandatory Chem 1 at her school.) As a result, she can do Chem 1 in the middle of the night in 1 second. She is tutoring Chem too :). Her only not A so far is B in Orgo 1 (had A in Orgo 2). Orgo is extremely difficult.
I would switch major.
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Congrats on getting through Chem1. I think pretty much all engineering majors require at least Chem1, but I agree with previous posters that specific engineering majors vary tremendously on what further Chemistry is required. You mention organic, I would think long and hard if there is another engineering major that is a better fit. That class is a beast. I am NOT one to discourage anyone from engineering, and I’m not discouraging you. I am saying to take a beat and really think about what type of engineering might be the best fit, particularly if you’re interested in real world problems. There are lots of options! I think only chemical engineering requires organic - at least at the schools I’m familiar with.
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Hello! Yes so this summer I plan to take classes, probably a semester at community college and a semester at my university to lessen my load throughout the regular school year. I have been accepted to join an engineering competition team to get some more hand on experience.
When I talk to my major advisors they just keep telling me to persevere if I truly want to continue in the degree. They have mentioned if I would be open to going through a 5 year path, but I personally do not want to do that due to the expenses that come along with it.
I have always attended office hours or go to the free peer tutors my school offers, but I still have problems. I will definitely check out the book you mentioned this winter break
Yes this has been a great fear of mine. My low GPA not only hurts my ego, but my opportunities in the job market. I am trying to figure out what I need to do for myself to be successful. When I had 15-16 units I had 3.00 GPA but when I had above that I had below that failing a class. I now know to limit my units and hopefully this will help me do better.
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Keep in mind summer classes can go faster. Also don’t think a CC class is easier. My son took like Calc 3 and physics 2 and in his class were kids from Michigan, UIUC, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, etc. All kids home for the summer. The classes weren’t easy and think like twice as fast.
A 5th year suggestion is a hint. Talk to the professors also. Maybe you can like study during study hours so you can ask questions right away. I had a student actually do this with their math lab. It was great since they could correct her right away and give the understanding she needed.
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Based off my trend in chemistry, I have thought about switching to environmental eng. Due to there being no need for o chem and less physics courses. In addition environmental engineering seems to have more job opportunities than bio systems engineering. I have been talking with advisors to see what I would need to do to switch over.
In freshman year my overall GPA was a 3.00 excluding chem in which I repeated this quarter.
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I wasn’t saying that out of CC prejudice, FWIW. I was going by my kids’ school..it is really common there for kids to take Calc 2 or 3 at CC, often during the regular semester. It is apparently much easier at the local CC 
Or they do it at home over the summer. Now, maybe it is all rumor, or specific to their school. That I am not sure.
I also think it can be easier over summer, even if faster (which it isn’t always), as you are taking 1 thing (presumably) at a time in the summer. Even with a job, your “school” brain is on one thing. That said, for some students, that may be harder, for sure.
All this can be course, context, and student-specific for sure. And some upper-level classes may not be available or transferable.
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This sounds like a great option.
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Yes during the summer I would only take up to 2 classes due to the courses being 8 weeks instead of the typical 10 weeks. Obviously the classes will still be difficult at CC, but from what I have heard it is better to take it at at CC as the classes sizes are smaller so connection with the professor and content is better.
I have only taken GE courses through my CC, but the professors have been more understanding and helpful in my learning journey compared to my university’s professors.
My university requires students to take series classes at one institution so the only courses I would be able to take at CC would be statics, biology, upper division writing, and circuits (I have completed all my GE courses).
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Be sure to get any classes you take at a CC pre-approved in writing by your college. FWIW my kid’s college would not accept any classes taken at a CC for enrolled students.
Also agree that environmental engineering sounds like a good pivot. I would avoid taking organic after struggling with general chemistry.
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