Michigan Engineering - Dilemma? Advice needed!

jellabo
Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:23:17 +0000

Hi everyone!
I am currently trying to make a college decision, and Michigan is my top choice (followed by Notre Dame and Carnegie Mellon). I need to pay a deposit soon, but I’d like to ask for some advice before I do so because I have some major concerns. I got into the engineering school and I’m looking into studying MSE.

The biggest thing holding me back is that I’m intimidated by the school.
Michigan is very highly ranked in engineering, and I’m worried that I will be at a level below everyone else.

I live in a very poor area and my high school has really limited opportunities/classes. I took regular Physics (honors or AP isn’t offered) during my freshman year, which was three years ago. To make things worse, my teacher ended up quitting and we went went through only half the intended curriculum, and I remember practically nothing.

I’m scared that I’ll be entering the engineering school where all my classmates will have already taken AP or Honors Physics, whereas I will have a very limited, practically nonexistent Physics background. Physics is so important, but I will have no foundation in it when I come into the college of engineering. I’m worried that I’ll be a student who understands nothing and can’t keep up no matter how much I try because of the sheer level of the classes themselves.

Another worry is that I received an engineering scholarship from Michigan (which I never expected, but perhaps being a woman in engineering helped?) and this requires that we maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA in college–> could I even achieve this given my weak background?

I know I am a hard worker, but I’m not any sort of “genius.” For instance, I am currently self-studying AB Calculus and I’ve been getting consistent 4’s on my practice exams. I am in the top 10 (out of 150 students in my class) and I received a 32 ACT (33 on the math, but 28 on the science). I was hoping to take a Physics class over the summer, but my parents need me to work at their store which will be from 6 am to 6/7 pm every single day. (Yes, I know it’s going to be a long and exhausting summer, but money is rather tight).

Can someone give me some advice and tell me about their personal experiences at the college of engineering, or their own opinions? Did you find your classmates to be just insanely smart and astounding? Or were many of you equally capable of doing the coursework? Was everyone able to keep up with each other? (Have you met anyone in a similar situation who was able to do well?) How were the classes? Was every week gruesome, or could you time manage and succeed? What can I do given my circumstances?

Personally, I would like a reassuring reply, but more importantly, I would like a truthful and honest reply. Thank you very much for your kind help; this means so much to me.