<p>Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster.</p>
<p>I graduated this year, earning a bachelors degree in biology with honors. My intention after graduating was to go to pharmacy school. I did well on the admissions exam (PCAT), but I decided 3/4ths into my degree that I was too cynical/realistic to be working in healthcare. In retrospect, I think I was being na</p>
<p>Have you considered Material Science engineering?</p>
<p>Perhaps you may try majoring in Bio-Medical Engineering (BME)? there are six tracks in BME. Go find out about any of those 6 tracks…perhaps you may like it since BME is not pure engineering but kind of combination of Engineering and pure science.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like you’ve hit a brick wall that you didn’t expect. Biology is a pretty simple major; I know a few pretty successful bio majors personally who would attest to this. </p>
<p>So in your introductory courses, you’re stuck not with bad grades, but with poor retention of the material. You’re not getting it in the same way that you did in biology because it’s a whole new world. Cooperation and application are much more important here than in biology. It’ll translate into bad grades eventually, but for now you get off easy with only some retention problems. </p>
<p>This is in fact a mindset problem. I’ll tell you right now that Calc I and II, Ochem I/II, Chem I/II are nothing like the real killers in engineering. If you’re going to stick it through in ChemE, there’s a few major killer classes you’ll have to take: DiffEqs, Transport Phenomena (Fluid and Heat/Mass Transfer), Thermodynamics, and likely the greatest killer, PChem. You really have to learn math and physics like a second and third language to do well in these classes.</p>
<p>First thing you have to do is realize that ChemE is nothing like Bio, and if you fluke yourself through physics Mech/E&M on a Bio mindset, reality will come crashing down shortly after. Then, you have to ask yourself why you’re actually going for an engineering degree. If your reasons really aren’t good enough, you might as well just go into pharma school. I suppose I can’t really help you with that much unless I know why you chose the engineering path. I think it’s pointless to recommend a different major as the posters above did because honestly, the two best choices here are “stay the course” or “go to pharma school.”</p>
<p>You’re obviously a good student. To be honest, a lot of people will say everything is easier than engineering. It seems you did well in Pharm school as well, which is nothing to laugh at. Yes, you may be of a different mindset than the masses, but that is a GOOD thing. If everyone thought the same, we would have no diversity. It is also good for you to pick up from your peers as well. Also, check out Tip 5 on this link, it happens to a lot of engineering students.</p>
<p>[Surviving</a> Engineering School](<a href=“http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Columns/Surviving-School.html]Surviving”>Teaching and Learning STEM)</p>
<p>The classes for engineering are certainly harder than those of bio. Outside work (research or clinical) is more of a gray area in that regard.
Sure, it’s important to cultivate a good mindset. That’s why top institutions have anti-incest rules. But different does not necessarily mean good if different is just an excuse to do things wrong.</p>
<p>Who is doing things wrong? All I see is a lot of self doubt because the OP is in a new situation. Having MYSELF completed a previous liberal arts degree (Psyc) from a top school, and currently finishing an Engineering degree (from a top ten IE school) yes it is a bit harder, but its not like everyone is a rocket scientist. The main thing is getting accustomed to the new environment, being disciplined, and having great time management.</p>
<p>Anyway, OP, the link I posted is from a Professor of ChemE at my school. He has a lot of good information that you may want to look through (bottom link). And as for the wall you are hitting… I knew quite a few people who were in my statics & Calc 3 class and had a really hard time visualizing 3d. It IS something that a lot of people have a hard time with. That absolutely does NOT mean that you cannot become a competent engineer because of it. You may just have to work a bit harder for it to click.</p>
<p>^^ everything begins with a mindset, if you really want the engineering degree…you must first believe that you will attain it…your habits, discipline and work ethic will follow after.</p>
<p>GupNasty, I also have a very hard time visualizing things in 3D, which is a handicap for a structural engineer! I’ve worked hard to get better at it. When I’m trying to visualize a tricky situation, I take a deep breath and look at one small piece at a time. I’m still not great at it, but I do well enough to get by. I wouldn’t let it stop you from pursuing a career in engineering. You will have other skills that make up for that. Good luck!</p>
<p>I felt the same way when I started ChemE. I remember taking the ChemE introductory course (first engineering course ever) and the problems felt overwhelming and I had no idea where to start when it came to solving them, even though I had gotten A’s in all my math courses. But it feels like the more problems I do, the more I’ve gotten the hang of it, even as the material gets significantly harder.</p>
<p>If I could give advice, I’d say the more problems you do, the better you get it. It’s what my dad and uncle (engineering degrees from Cal-Berkeley and Washington) said would work, and I believe it really has.</p>