need advice from engineers/students
Discussion
I'm taking classes like Chem and Calculus and others at college, preparing to transfer to a university for petroleum engineering, but I'm worried that I'm not doing good enough.
Last semester, I made a B in Cal, and barely made a B in Chem. Looks like a might make an A in both classes this semester, if I do good on the coming tests. My problem is I have trouble sitting down and getting my homework done, so I end up cramming for tests, and usually never finish all my work, so I'm already lacking information come test time. I feel like I'm cheating myself, like I'm not learning the material, and wasting my time if I don't make grades good enough to get accepted to uni. I have one more year here, so enough time to do better in coming classes, but I'll still have the same procrastination problem. Part of me is saying ah relax, this is what all students do, but another part is saying this is competitive and I need to do better.
I might have time to study enough to make all A's if I studied in every minuite of my free time, but that just dosen't happen. I could quit my job so I can concentrate on my studies, but that would leave a huge financial problem that I don't think I can handle.
I could use some advice, or some horror stories about how you wish you'd studied harder.
Thanks,
Trevor
Last semester, I made a B in Cal, and barely made a B in Chem. Looks like a might make an A in both classes this semester, if I do good on the coming tests. My problem is I have trouble sitting down and getting my homework done, so I end up cramming for tests, and usually never finish all my work, so I'm already lacking information come test time. I feel like I'm cheating myself, like I'm not learning the material, and wasting my time if I don't make grades good enough to get accepted to uni. I have one more year here, so enough time to do better in coming classes, but I'll still have the same procrastination problem. Part of me is saying ah relax, this is what all students do, but another part is saying this is competitive and I need to do better.
I might have time to study enough to make all A's if I studied in every minuite of my free time, but that just dosen't happen. I could quit my job so I can concentrate on my studies, but that would leave a huge financial problem that I don't think I can handle.
I could use some advice, or some horror stories about how you wish you'd studied harder.
Thanks,
Trevor
Erm, well i never do any bloody work and fluke my exams to be honest. But i did easier subjects than you!
Just make sure you can do the last 2 or 3 years past papers in both subjects and you'll be fine mate. I just got my flatmate to teach me how to do last years stats paper for my stats exam at uni and got 80% - result
Rob.
Just make sure you can do the last 2 or 3 years past papers in both subjects and you'll be fine mate. I just got my flatmate to teach me how to do last years stats paper for my stats exam at uni and got 80% - result
Rob.
I'd really like to offer you some better advice here dude but I beleive the motivation to study has to come from within.
You have to somehow visualize the rewards of working hard and putting in the effort, you can see these personally or altruistically. i.e you work hard = lots of tasty machinery for your garage. Or how mankind as a whole needs YOUR mind. YOU.
Of course it's makes a shed-load of difference wether you enjoy what you're doing or not. Which I think is hugely important.
You have to somehow visualize the rewards of working hard and putting in the effort, you can see these personally or altruistically. i.e you work hard = lots of tasty machinery for your garage. Or how mankind as a whole needs YOUR mind. YOU.
Of course it's makes a shed-load of difference wether you enjoy what you're doing or not. Which I think is hugely important.
I did bugger all in my first 2 years at Uni.
In the final year I got my head down, did all my assignments, read around the subjects and as a result actually enjoyed the course. Getting the results was enough for me. I ended up winning a university prize for best increase in grades in final year.
I had to really push myself at the start but once I found I really did understand the subject rather than only the study topics, it made a real difference.
In the final year I got my head down, did all my assignments, read around the subjects and as a result actually enjoyed the course. Getting the results was enough for me. I ended up winning a university prize for best increase in grades in final year.
I had to really push myself at the start but once I found I really did understand the subject rather than only the study topics, it made a real difference.
Same thing here.
Did not much more than going out first two years, barely got through. I felt not that good about myself then too...
Then realised I had to do it myself, that people wouldn't hire me just for my pretty face.
And yes, I got interested in it too! So interested I'm probably doing a doctorate next year...
Just make sure that what you'll do (might) interest you. If you do things right, you can have get good results and have time left.
Alex
Did not much more than going out first two years, barely got through. I felt not that good about myself then too...
Then realised I had to do it myself, that people wouldn't hire me just for my pretty face.
And yes, I got interested in it too! So interested I'm probably doing a doctorate next year...
Just make sure that what you'll do (might) interest you. If you do things right, you can have get good results and have time left.
Alex
bga said:
I did bugger all in my first 2 years at Uni.
In the final year I got my head down, did all my assignments, read around the subjects and as a result actually enjoyed the course. Getting the results was enough for me. I ended up winning a university prize for best increase in grades in final year.
I had to really push myself at the start but once I found I really did understand the subject rather than only the study topics, it made a real difference.
Ditto
Mate, know exactly where you are coming from on this one. I'm about 2 months away from finishing a 3 year course that has actually taken me 5.
Sure I've had other shit to deal with but basically I only got the hang of how much work I had to put in the last 2 years. Unfortunately, you can't blag engineering exams.
It sounds as if, like me, the problem is a time management one. I still haven't got my head round this but I do have a greater appreciation of my limitations.
I shouldn't think quitting your job would help. My personal tutor suggested to me that I should give up Formula Student (or FSAE to you guys) and just concentrate on my studies. He had missed the point badly and I went on to prove him wrong by getting very good results in my retakes. Without FS I would have got much less done. He is no longer my Personal Tutor.
Two bits of advice I would give are this. Firstly, make plans and stick to them. You should never run out of time then. Secondly, don't put things off to do later. If the job is in your hand, don't put it in a pile to do later - you will only waste time by having to hold on to it twice.
Don't worry, eveeryone leaves things to the last minute. But it is the fool who leaves it so late there is not enough time to carry out the task. A lesson I have learnt well.
Good luck in your exams.
Sure I've had other shit to deal with but basically I only got the hang of how much work I had to put in the last 2 years. Unfortunately, you can't blag engineering exams.
It sounds as if, like me, the problem is a time management one. I still haven't got my head round this but I do have a greater appreciation of my limitations.
I shouldn't think quitting your job would help. My personal tutor suggested to me that I should give up Formula Student (or FSAE to you guys) and just concentrate on my studies. He had missed the point badly and I went on to prove him wrong by getting very good results in my retakes. Without FS I would have got much less done. He is no longer my Personal Tutor.
Two bits of advice I would give are this. Firstly, make plans and stick to them. You should never run out of time then. Secondly, don't put things off to do later. If the job is in your hand, don't put it in a pile to do later - you will only waste time by having to hold on to it twice.
Don't worry, eveeryone leaves things to the last minute. But it is the fool who leaves it so late there is not enough time to carry out the task. A lesson I have learnt well.
Good luck in your exams.
Well I'm studying for a big exam now.
I struggle sitting down and just doing it as I get bored/distracted very easily!
At the moment I've found I get through it easier if I have it sat next to my PC so I can do the odd 10 mins here and there as it soon adds up.
My fave way of revising is to compress all my notes so I have the basis of each topic on one piece of paper. Suppose it depends what you're studying though.
I did AS chemistry, don't actually remember revising properly for my exams though apart from just reading over my notes, still managed a B though. If you know the basics I found it quite easy to build on that.
I struggle sitting down and just doing it as I get bored/distracted very easily!
At the moment I've found I get through it easier if I have it sat next to my PC so I can do the odd 10 mins here and there as it soon adds up.
My fave way of revising is to compress all my notes so I have the basis of each topic on one piece of paper. Suppose it depends what you're studying though.
I did AS chemistry, don't actually remember revising properly for my exams though apart from just reading over my notes, still managed a B though. If you know the basics I found it quite easy to build on that.
_VTEC_ said:
I'd really like to offer you some better advice here dude but I believe the motivation to study has to come from within.
You have to somehow visualise the rewards of working hard and putting in the effort, you can see these personally or altruistically. i.e you work hard = lots of tasty machinery for your garage. Or how mankind as a whole needs YOUR mind. YOU.
Of course it's makes a shed-load of difference whether you enjoy what you're doing or not. Which I think is hugely important.
Spot on!
This is how I'm getting straight A's at the 2 year technical college I'm attending. I feel that the harder I work now, the easier it will be for me in the future and the more successful I will be in the end.
I'm also highly interested in the subject matter and that helps immensely. Try turning your studies into a game, think of grades as money $$$.
Great post _VTEC_ you are correct it does have to come from within ones self.
Good luck to you Goo-goo-gjoob and the rest of the P.H. students
Trev, you sound a bit anxious/un-confident, 
well chill out man! That may be your problem thinking "shit , oh man, it's so complicated, I'm going to it up" I did pure chem at uni and it was so complicated and nasty until I realised that was all in my head. I only realised in my final year that chemistry and chem eng was really simple and a trained monkey could do it. Read your books, talk to your chums and tutors and all will become apparent. There is no reason to be getting less than A's, IMO confidence and effective reading should guarantee results, it worked for me. That whole mindset you sound like you have is likely to make you doubt the course and yourself (just reading a bit into it).
My nickname at university in my physical chemistry unit was "flapper" as I though I was going to die/fail/unhinge the whole future. It was a nightmare, instead of flapping get in control.
That probably sounded like total bollox.
well chill out man! That may be your problem thinking "shit , oh man, it's so complicated, I'm going to it up" I did pure chem at uni and it was so complicated and nasty until I realised that was all in my head. I only realised in my final year that chemistry and chem eng was really simple and a trained monkey could do it. Read your books, talk to your chums and tutors and all will become apparent. There is no reason to be getting less than A's, IMO confidence and effective reading should guarantee results, it worked for me. That whole mindset you sound like you have is likely to make you doubt the course and yourself (just reading a bit into it). My nickname at university in my physical chemistry unit was "flapper" as I though I was going to die/fail/unhinge the whole future. It was a nightmare, instead of flapping get in control.
That probably sounded like total bollox.
love machine said:
Trev, you sound a bit anxious/un-confident,
My nickname at university in my physical chemistry unit was "flapper" as I though I was going to die/fail/unhinge the whole future. It was a nightmare, instead of flapping get in control.
That probably sounded like total bollox.
It's not that bad. I'm just nervous about getting accepted.Do not underestimate how boring Chem Eng is. 
it was the most rigmarole ridded tedium soaked desparately uninteresting headbanging shite I have ever encountered. It makes the worst pure maths look like a lesbian video.
There were a couple of fat birds on my course. If I could do it again, I would have done geography, field trips, nice birds, interesting subject. Seriously, an engineering degree will let you bypass the muck, scandal and filthy art department birds as you will be a leper. Being a chemist was bad enough, I reckon the engineering lot must be cursed. Don't tell me I didn't tell you so.
it was the most rigmarole ridded tedium soaked desparately uninteresting headbanging shite I have ever encountered. It makes the worst pure maths look like a lesbian video. There were a couple of fat birds on my course. If I could do it again, I would have done geography, field trips, nice birds, interesting subject. Seriously, an engineering degree will let you bypass the muck, scandal and filthy art department birds as you will be a leper. Being a chemist was bad enough, I reckon the engineering lot must be cursed. Don't tell me I didn't tell you so.
I can only echo what has already been said. I struggle with motivation for revision because I find it so tedious but I know at the end of it all it will be the revision that gets me into the job I want. I'm over a year away from finishing uni but have been worrying about getting the kind of job that I want since the beginning of this year. I know that only a 2:1 or above is good enough and that I should be capable of a 1st if I put my mind to it. I'm aiming for a 1st but will be satisfied with a 2:1. I find that I put more effort in to work that I do for other people than I do for stuff I do for myself. It's just a case of forcing yourself to do the work that will make you meet your potential. Don't forget to have some fun once in a while though!
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