AuxiliaryPie
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just wait till all the grades come out, there is always a nasty curve in those hard classes. O-Chem at Toledo has like a 35% class average after mid terms
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Any science/engineering types?
- Thread starter Chris
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just wait till all the grades come out, there is always a nasty curve in those hard classes. O-Chem at Toledo has like a 35% class average after mid terms
Zog
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I agree, see what the grades are before you get worried about it.
If you think you're going to have a lot of trouble, look into changing schools and going to a community college. This way you won't feel like you're throwing as much money away if it doesn't work out, and I think you'll get a lot more individual attention and probably learn more. The community college also isn't out there to make your life hell or give you the toughest problems possible on an exam.
If you think you're going to have a lot of trouble, look into changing schools and going to a community college. This way you won't feel like you're throwing as much money away if it doesn't work out, and I think you'll get a lot more individual attention and probably learn more. The community college also isn't out there to make your life hell or give you the toughest problems possible on an exam.
Chris
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If it's curved I won't know till the end of the semester so (that's when physics, at least, said they do the curve) so I may as well finish the semester out, utilizing office hours and every tool in my arsenal, and see how I finish.
That's my logic anyways. Come from too far to give up so early in the process and go back to working shit retail jobs.
That's my logic anyways. Come from too far to give up so early in the process and go back to working shit retail jobs.
Zog
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You should have some idea of if there is going to be a curve by what the average/median score is on the exams. If the average/median is low there will be a curve. If the average is like an 80%, relatively high, no curve.
Chris
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I'm hoping they provide that information. In my math classes last semester (last fall) they told us those statistics but those were basic courses so no curve. Like I said I know there will be one in physics, they flat out told us that the first day. Calculus, I don't know, I'll have to see. Either way I'm going to just go balls deep into this semester and see how my grades turn out. Worst case scenario I can't cut it in engineering, but rather than going back to shit jobs I can maybe work on another degree that is very applicable but not so ridiculously technical. Would be a huge disappointment but not the end of the world for me.
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I had a non-tech undergrad major but had to take a butlload of tech courses anyway -- two years of calc, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, etc. Most important advice I could give is to ALWAYS do all your homework problems. And don't do them just to complete them. Assuming your book has the answers, do them and make sure you got them right before showing up to class the next day. Do a couple of extra ones in the book if you get some wrong until you know how to do that type of problem correctly before class.
Kouki
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Solution manuals are out there for many textbooks. They can really help you, or really hurt you. If you only use them when you are completely stuck, then they are a godsend. If you use them to copy homework, you won't learn anything, obviously.
Also some textbook manufacturers intentionally put errors in the solutions to catch cheaters. About half our class got busted for that.
Also some textbook manufacturers intentionally put errors in the solutions to catch cheaters. About half our class got busted for that.
TwoPistols
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Chris...gotta tell you to stick with it under all circumstances. I graduated from Ohio State and I was in engineering for 3 years. I didn't know why I was in engineering - wasn't really committed to it - so I switched and got a degree in something stupid. Biggest mistake I ever made. I was in Chemical Engineering and I 100% wish I would have just sucked it up and stuck through it. Now I have to watch all these kids making bank right out of college working for oil companies while I am trying to tell myself 40k is good. Some of the core classes are highly curved. You can get a 50% and teachers will give you a C as long as you do your homework and show up. There's no shortage of options for anyone with a chemical engineering degree.
My biggest advice for the beginning calc, physics, and chem classes is to do the homework without cheating. If you're not understanding something, look through your notes, read through the book, try it again, and if you still can't do it, go ask a friend, TA, or the professor. Do not just go through the motions or try to get it done as quick as possible. Understanding the process is critical. Do the suggested practice problems, and study them before quizzes and tests. When you take the quizzes, you will be more prepared by struggling through practice problems. Then when you get the quiz back, ask questions on the quiz so you understand what you got wrong. Don't let anything go untouched. Sometimes, if a concept is heavily missed by students, the teacher will put a similar question on a midterm.
I was fortunate enough to have strong background in these classes from high school and they were pretty much review for me, but I still didn't get good grades in the classes because I went through the motions. It's not easy for most of the students and the ones that make it look easy, are most likely studying their asses off. And honestly, this is cliche, but you CAN do anything if you try. Well maybe not anything, but as long as you're not a complete dumbass, you can get a degree in anything you choose to. It's all about putting in the work.
My biggest advice for the beginning calc, physics, and chem classes is to do the homework without cheating. If you're not understanding something, look through your notes, read through the book, try it again, and if you still can't do it, go ask a friend, TA, or the professor. Do not just go through the motions or try to get it done as quick as possible. Understanding the process is critical. Do the suggested practice problems, and study them before quizzes and tests. When you take the quizzes, you will be more prepared by struggling through practice problems. Then when you get the quiz back, ask questions on the quiz so you understand what you got wrong. Don't let anything go untouched. Sometimes, if a concept is heavily missed by students, the teacher will put a similar question on a midterm.
I was fortunate enough to have strong background in these classes from high school and they were pretty much review for me, but I still didn't get good grades in the classes because I went through the motions. It's not easy for most of the students and the ones that make it look easy, are most likely studying their asses off. And honestly, this is cliche, but you CAN do anything if you try. Well maybe not anything, but as long as you're not a complete dumbass, you can get a degree in anything you choose to. It's all about putting in the work.
Chris
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Thanks. I'm meeting with my Calc TA tomorrow to discuss my exam and get straightened out on everything I was wrong on. I'll stick with it like you said and just work my ass off, and see where I come out in the end.
One thing I'm learning about the busy work is always busting out 10-15 Calc HW problems and a couple physics problems when I get home from class for the day (usually around 2pm). I spend a couple hours going over them, and I do the same thing the next day. That way I don't have like 50 Calc and 15 physics problems to do the night before its due, really makes it less stressful just doing some of it each day and spreading it out. In my previous degree I would just cram papers and writings or whatever I had to do cuz it was all bullshitable.
But yeah the Engineering Fundamentals course is a lot of work but mostly a breeze, no difficult concepts or anything just busy work. The physics is on a heavy curve so that will help, at this point I'm mainly worried about the Calc as getting fucked by the first exam is not a good way to start. Even if it seems like everyone else is in the same boat. I'll have to do all the HWs, do well on all the quizzes, and make sure I'm in top form for the next three exams (final included) if I want to actually do well in the class now.
FTR: ChemE was at the top of my list for what I wanted to study, either that or ME. I think the ME program is more competitive to get into, ie everyone and their brother wants to get in so I may just go ME by default. Gotta see the adviser first (and, you know, do well in these classes lol)
One thing I'm learning about the busy work is always busting out 10-15 Calc HW problems and a couple physics problems when I get home from class for the day (usually around 2pm). I spend a couple hours going over them, and I do the same thing the next day. That way I don't have like 50 Calc and 15 physics problems to do the night before its due, really makes it less stressful just doing some of it each day and spreading it out. In my previous degree I would just cram papers and writings or whatever I had to do cuz it was all bullshitable.
But yeah the Engineering Fundamentals course is a lot of work but mostly a breeze, no difficult concepts or anything just busy work. The physics is on a heavy curve so that will help, at this point I'm mainly worried about the Calc as getting fucked by the first exam is not a good way to start. Even if it seems like everyone else is in the same boat. I'll have to do all the HWs, do well on all the quizzes, and make sure I'm in top form for the next three exams (final included) if I want to actually do well in the class now.
FTR: ChemE was at the top of my list for what I wanted to study, either that or ME. I think the ME program is more competitive to get into, ie everyone and their brother wants to get in so I may just go ME by default. Gotta see the adviser first (and, you know, do well in these classes lol)
Kyrieville
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I was a Chemistry major at OSU. I know what you're going through right now, it's rough. I took Calc-based Physics + lab, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry + Lab, Calc, and some filler courses all during the same year. Balancing the classes, the recitations, the labs, the elective courses was a pain in the ass. Someone mentioned solutions. Get them. I discovered them during my 3rd quarter of Physics and was able to teach myself. Use them as a guide to teach yourself, not to memorize problems. UNDERSTAND what you are doing and make sense of everything. The biggest mistake you can make while studying is to assume something will not be on an exam or that a certain difficult concept/type of problem will not be heavily weighted. It's easy to skim over one thing and then that one thing ends up being 15-25% of the exam, and you end up with a C, when you knew 98% of the material. Always always always know 100% going into an exam. UNDERSTAND 100% of the material.
Don't go to office hours until you have studied all of the material and understand everything you can, that way you can utilize your time appropriately and ask the questions that you need to ask. Find a nice Physics / Calculus chat/message board. I used irc.efnet.org #physics and #math chat rooms. I don't know if they are still around, but it's worth a look. There were plenty of people there who enjoyed helping.
I know how difficult it is to balance everything, it seems like you never have enough time to study/do assignments. Do everything right away. The day it's assigned, do it. Do not slack, especially at OSU (it's more difficult there than other state schools--they require a lot more of your time and effort to complete the same course than, say, Kent or YSU). Again, know everything! Learn how to study! Learn what works for you. I was an above average student my first few years of college, ~3.2 GPA. One semester, everything clicked. I realized what mistakes I was making when I approached studying. I tried to memorize my way to an A. Memorization is for the birds. You spend way less time understanding concepts than you do memorizing a long list of crap and getting frustrated when you can't apply that shit you spent so much time memorizing to complete a difficult problem (I bet this sounds familiar?). Sometimes, memorization is necessary, but concepts should always be understood. Once I started understanding concepts and studying efficiently, I always got A's. I got a 3.9 in grad school and a 3.9 in pharmacy school.
Take Summer classes. Do it at a local school, preferably one with cheap tuition. Kent State has many regional campuses and tuition is dirt cheap... and classes are much easier, and they offer a lot of online courses. Just get transfer approval (IN WRITING) before you take anything elsewhere. Utilize ratemyprofessor.com . Do not take classes with shitty professors. I highly recommend Chemical Engineering. You will bank with a Bachelors degree. I have a Masters in Organic Chemistry and taught the recitations during grad school. If you go the ChemE route, feel free to ask me for help with O. Chem. Also, with ChemE, if you decide to further your education, you have just about all of the prereqs out of the way for Pharmacy/Medical School.
Don't go to office hours until you have studied all of the material and understand everything you can, that way you can utilize your time appropriately and ask the questions that you need to ask. Find a nice Physics / Calculus chat/message board. I used irc.efnet.org #physics and #math chat rooms. I don't know if they are still around, but it's worth a look. There were plenty of people there who enjoyed helping.
I know how difficult it is to balance everything, it seems like you never have enough time to study/do assignments. Do everything right away. The day it's assigned, do it. Do not slack, especially at OSU (it's more difficult there than other state schools--they require a lot more of your time and effort to complete the same course than, say, Kent or YSU). Again, know everything! Learn how to study! Learn what works for you. I was an above average student my first few years of college, ~3.2 GPA. One semester, everything clicked. I realized what mistakes I was making when I approached studying. I tried to memorize my way to an A. Memorization is for the birds. You spend way less time understanding concepts than you do memorizing a long list of crap and getting frustrated when you can't apply that shit you spent so much time memorizing to complete a difficult problem (I bet this sounds familiar?). Sometimes, memorization is necessary, but concepts should always be understood. Once I started understanding concepts and studying efficiently, I always got A's. I got a 3.9 in grad school and a 3.9 in pharmacy school.
Take Summer classes. Do it at a local school, preferably one with cheap tuition. Kent State has many regional campuses and tuition is dirt cheap... and classes are much easier, and they offer a lot of online courses. Just get transfer approval (IN WRITING) before you take anything elsewhere. Utilize ratemyprofessor.com . Do not take classes with shitty professors. I highly recommend Chemical Engineering. You will bank with a Bachelors degree. I have a Masters in Organic Chemistry and taught the recitations during grad school. If you go the ChemE route, feel free to ask me for help with O. Chem. Also, with ChemE, if you decide to further your education, you have just about all of the prereqs out of the way for Pharmacy/Medical School.
Pioneer10
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-Find friends who are willing to work hard. Easiest way to continue to push yourself thru is to have people who you can study with or at least measure yourself against.
-Stay in the library and try to stay off the net as much as possible. If you're going to be online make sure you use it to help you learn (i.e. actually know why and what of things and not just the facts. To help with this, I tend to like looking up the history of science - knowing what people were trying to figure out and they way they did it from both theory and experiments makes actually learning the topic a lot easier)
-Stay in the library and try to stay off the net as much as possible. If you're going to be online make sure you use it to help you learn (i.e. actually know why and what of things and not just the facts. To help with this, I tend to like looking up the history of science - knowing what people were trying to figure out and they way they did it from both theory and experiments makes actually learning the topic a lot easier)
Brandname
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Underrated point.
In classes, you tend to get a bunch of info just flung at you. Like, "well know that you know that, this is what you do next". It can be overwhelming until you realize sometimes that "next step" took 30 years of theory to figure out originally. The historical context can sometimes really shed light on how things are figured out and why they are difficult to figure out. Helps with the intuition a bit.
Chris
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@Kyrieville that was a great post. Made me feel a bit better and more determined. Im kind of interested in taking summer courses elsewhere....im just not sure how the transfer works. I spent the first two years of my BA at Kent Geauga campus which is like five minutes from my parents house in Chardon. I liked it there, very quaint low stress environment. I would be very interested in maybe going home for summer, taking a couple classes there as long as they transferred...but then i dont even know if any courses i need would be offered there. If i stayed in columbus i guess columbus state is a possibility but doesnt sound nearly as appealing. Something to look into....
Ill definitely keep you in mind if/when i get there. ME is super competitive so i think ChemE might be my option when the time comes.
Glad people are taking the time to post in here. I dont really have any friends or support network down here anymore outside of co workers so its good to talk. Ill have to try to meet some new people to study with, just hard when its a bunch of kiddies fresh out of high school in most classes.
Ill definitely keep you in mind if/when i get there. ME is super competitive so i think ChemE might be my option when the time comes.
Glad people are taking the time to post in here. I dont really have any friends or support network down here anymore outside of co workers so its good to talk. Ill have to try to meet some new people to study with, just hard when its a bunch of kiddies fresh out of high school in most classes.