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OT Engineers - school starts soon question
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:38 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:38 pm
So the boy is starting college in the fall, intends on majoring in mech engineering.
Those of you who've been there/done that, looking back is there anything you'd recommend he do so that he is ready to go when classes start? I've suggested that he get some calculus and trigonometry study guides and work through them to keep his math sharp, but I figured random strangers on a forum full of know-it-alls might have some better input.
Thanks in advance.
Those of you who've been there/done that, looking back is there anything you'd recommend he do so that he is ready to go when classes start? I've suggested that he get some calculus and trigonometry study guides and work through them to keep his math sharp, but I figured random strangers on a forum full of know-it-alls might have some better input.
Thanks in advance.
34
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:39 pm to TheCurmudgeon
quote:
I've suggested that he get some calculus and trigonometry study guides and work through them to keep his math sharp
Nerd.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:40 pm to TheCurmudgeon
I don't think he really needs to review anything before the semester starts assuming he did well in Calc in HS.
My main piece of advice is to let him know even if it seems like the material will be easy the first semester, it isn't. College is a lot more work than high school classes were. I fell into that trap and dug myself into a nice little hole in a few of the early classes.
My main piece of advice is to let him know even if it seems like the material will be easy the first semester, it isn't. College is a lot more work than high school classes were. I fell into that trap and dug myself into a nice little hole in a few of the early classes.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:41 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Make him enjoy his summer. It might be the last one without summer classes for a while. Just make sure he's ready to concentrate when school starts.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:41 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Math geometry algebra calc
All of it
All of it
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:41 pm to TheCurmudgeon
quote:
Those of you who've been there/done that, looking back is there anything you'd recommend he do so that he is ready to go when classes start?
He's going to be taking electives his 1st year so tell him not to get too comfortable with how easy college seems to be.
As soon as he hits his engineering classes he will need to stop partying.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:43 pm to TheCurmudgeon
quote:
Those of you who've been there/done that, looking back is there anything you'd recommend he do so that he is ready to go when classes start?
get him really drunk and then make him wake up the next morning like its time for a 7:30am class
This post was edited on 7/10/15 at 1:44 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:43 pm to TheCurmudgeon
I did nothing to prepare, rarely went to class, and had my highest gpa during my freshman year. It was basically a review of high school stuff with that CM drawing class added in.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:44 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Internships in the summer is the key to getting a job when you graduate.
ETA: Engineering isn't hard. Managing your time and being prepared to enter the real world after graduation is the hardest part.
ETA: Engineering isn't hard. Managing your time and being prepared to enter the real world after graduation is the hardest part.
This post was edited on 7/10/15 at 1:47 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:49 pm to TheCurmudgeon
It has been several years since I was in school but he needs to make friends in his engineering classes so he can get old homework and tests. Almost everyone I was in class with got an engineering degree with a minor in cheating. I honestly couldn't imagine going through all those classes without the help of prior people's work. There were some classes we would sign up for at the beginning of the semester just to make friends in the class. We would drop it before the deadline but have a friend in the class to get old homework and tests.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:53 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Probably more than the math skills, an emphasis on time management skills will give him the best preparation for college.
After that, the math is the place to start. Not sure what they start with now, but when I started...I had Statics and Calculus both my first quarter. So, the both a refresher on the trig and a general review on calculus might help get him ready.
After that, the math is the place to start. Not sure what they start with now, but when I started...I had Statics and Calculus both my first quarter. So, the both a refresher on the trig and a general review on calculus might help get him ready.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:53 pm to 8thyearsenior
quote:
Almost everyone I was in class with got an engineering degree with a minor in cheating.
No truer words have ever been said on this site.
That's the great thing about engineering tho, you don't necessary need to know the answer. You just need to know where to get the answer.
We had so many dropbox, chegg, and scribid accounts it was ridiculous.
This post was edited on 7/10/15 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:54 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Yeah, tell him to do his homework. Sometimes it might not be collected but it's definitely worth doing to stay on top of a class.
ETA: Like someone else said, Internships are key to a future after college.
ETA: Like someone else said, Internships are key to a future after college.
This post was edited on 7/10/15 at 1:56 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:55 pm to TheCurmudgeon
For the next week have him live off vyvanse, red bull, coffee, and dip.
If he comes out alive, he will be a fine engineer.
If he comes out alive, he will be a fine engineer.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 1:56 pm to LSU_Saints_Hornets
quote:
Internships in the summer is the key to getting a job when you graduate.
this. And graduate with a 3.0 one way or the other. If he can manage those two things he will be set, but mainly the internships part. Lots of experience with a worse GPA I'd waaaay better than a higher GPA with no experience.
School wise, just put in the time. Doing well in engineering takes time management discipline. Doesn't mean he can't have fun, just means he needs to pick his battles.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 2:00 pm to TheCurmudgeon
quote:
So the boy is starting college in the fall, intends on majoring in mech engineering.
My biggest piece of advice is to make sure he knows LSU engineering, especially the ME department doesn't care if he passes or fails. It's up to him to make it turn out favorably for him. Many very difficult classes dont have curves (look at the grade distribution for ME thermo or fluids) with the express purpose of weeding people out. He is the only one responsible for his education, and nothing is given away. It's important he knows this before starting.
ETA- echo the internship comments. Internships can definitely make up for a lacking GPA. Preferably internships that actually have a technical component, not just making coffee.
This post was edited on 7/10/15 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 7/10/15 at 2:00 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
I don't think he really needs to review anything before the semester starts assuming he did well in Calc in HS.
My main piece of advice is to let him know even if it seems like the material will be easy the first semester, it isn't. College is a lot more work than high school classes were. I fell into that trap and dug myself into a nice little hole in a few of the early classes.
That can't be emphasized enough. Good habits from the beginning are more important than specific material review.
Here's two practical tips you can give him that will seriously help him succeed (if he does them):
1. Within a week of the beginning of each semester, have a conversation with every instructor - lecturer, TA, anybody who is presenting material to a classroom. Don't be a phony, they spot that easily and hate it, but find a reason to talk to them for a minute. Maybe ask for outside reading recommendations, maybe ask them to clarify a question from lecture, anything. This will genuinely help, even if it seems silly.
2. Don't skip any classes, even when you're sure it won't help you if you're there, and don't ever sit near the back of a room.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 2:01 pm to TheCurmudgeon
I've been thru it & my son started last yr in ME. I have a few questions.
Is he in the ERC?
The teacher selection is important. Who does he have for math 1550 and Chem 1201?
He will take Phys 2110 in the spring & it is a bitch. Departmental tests make it hard. Do every extra credit problem you can. You will need it. My son got out of it but some of his friends didn't & are taking it a UNO this summer. They say it's easy at UNO after going thru LSU.
Is he in the ERC?
The teacher selection is important. Who does he have for math 1550 and Chem 1201?
He will take Phys 2110 in the spring & it is a bitch. Departmental tests make it hard. Do every extra credit problem you can. You will need it. My son got out of it but some of his friends didn't & are taking it a UNO this summer. They say it's easy at UNO after going thru LSU.
Posted on 7/10/15 at 2:04 pm to TheCurmudgeon
You serious, Clark?
You sound like a really overbearing parent... Who the frick studies before classes even start? BE here so I've been through it... Don't stress the kid out anymore than he already is
You sound like a really overbearing parent... Who the frick studies before classes even start? BE here so I've been through it... Don't stress the kid out anymore than he already is
Posted on 7/10/15 at 2:08 pm to TheCurmudgeon
Just graduated in it. My first semester was rough, but he doesn't need to prepare now.
For all of the intro classes like calculus and chemistry etc there are multiple teachers for the same subject. Check online for teacher reviews. If the reviews suck, switch into a better teacher in the first week while you still can. The main thing that matters when it comes to GPA are the teachers in those intro classes. It's the difference between a 'C' or in 'A' in a 5 hour course because you have the head of the math department or a teacher who wants everyone to do well. Check RateMyProfessors Koofers and there's another main one that I forgot.
Don't let him take 7:30 classes unless he absolutely has no other options.
Time management and doing homework problems especially if it's not graded. He'll get lax because it "isn't actually due" and then fail the tests. There are less graded opportunities that carry all the weight.
For all of the intro classes like calculus and chemistry etc there are multiple teachers for the same subject. Check online for teacher reviews. If the reviews suck, switch into a better teacher in the first week while you still can. The main thing that matters when it comes to GPA are the teachers in those intro classes. It's the difference between a 'C' or in 'A' in a 5 hour course because you have the head of the math department or a teacher who wants everyone to do well. Check RateMyProfessors Koofers and there's another main one that I forgot.
Don't let him take 7:30 classes unless he absolutely has no other options.
Time management and doing homework problems especially if it's not graded. He'll get lax because it "isn't actually due" and then fail the tests. There are less graded opportunities that carry all the weight.
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