Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t freak out if your kid got a 50% on a physics or calc test, chances are there will be a curve and 50 —> 80.

Why would you know your kid's test scores? Land the helicopter.

Back in the day I had the top score on an exam in quantum physics with a 34%, which got me an A. Curves are real.

Because they call you crying because it’s the first time they’ve gotten anything below and 90. Most kids don’t even know what a curve is. They also don’t know you can drop a class at a certain date and it doesn’t show up on your transcript.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t freak out if your kid got a 50% on a physics or calc test, chances are there will be a curve and 50 —> 80.

Why would you know your kid's test scores? Land the helicopter.

Back in the day I had the top score on an exam in quantum physics with a 34%, which got me an A. Curves are real.

Don’t freak out if your kid got a 50% on a physics or calc test, chances are there will be a curve and 50 —> 80.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes calc II and III, physics I, II, III. Also statics and dynamics. This was at UMD more than 10 years ago.

And these are vastly harder than AP Calc BC and AP Physics C? Do these classes prepare you at all?

Somewhat. My son has always been getting easy As in high school math, went beyond AP calc to multivariable calculus and differential equations, never been tutored, etc.

And then he took Calc II-III as a math major in one of the top schools. It was brutal. Half of the math majors switched to something else, like economics, as a result. I'd imagine the same thing is happening with Engineering majors.

That is my kid’s story. Not an engineering student anymore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've seen calc 1&2 listed as first year courses. If an engineering student does NOT/or cannot opt out of Calc 1&2, are they considered behind?

This is a good question because my DS got 5's on AP Calc AB and BC but wants to retake the courses as a freshman to pad his GPA/not have all brand new hard classes. Also at his college he needs a certain GPA to major in CS so he thinks retaking these classes will help. Will he be looked at weird for taking them? (no one has to know he could have tested out).

Nobody cares whether you child is taking them, retaking them, or whatnot. I'd recommend kid to take it just because it's a good introduction to college course without too much pressure (because you took in HS.) An easy A is not bad either to kid's overall GPA. If you kid is smart enough to opt out math courses required by engineering dept (Math 140/141 for UMD), you child is smart enough to graduate in 4 years as long as he/she stays focused. It's not a race to the finish line. It is understanding the materials and being able to apply concepts in real world situation.

Anonymous wrote:I've seen calc 1&2 listed as first year courses. If an engineering student does NOT/or cannot opt out of Calc 1&2, are they considered behind?

This is a good question because my DS got 5's on AP Calc AB and BC but wants to retake the courses as a freshman to pad his GPA/not have all brand new hard classes. Also at his college he needs a certain GPA to major in CS so he thinks retaking these classes will help. Will he be looked at weird for taking them? (no one has to know he could have tested out).

All the first and second year engineering classes are weed out classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DDs experience as a ME major was that different people struggled in different classes but that almost everyone has one class that is a struggle. For some it is Diff EQ for some physics and for some dynamics. The other wake up call is that the grading is very harsh and kids who have spent almost their whole lives being the "A" math and science kid, that will come to a screeching halt for the vast majority. Very strong students will be A/B students and many, many will be B/C at the beginning. The good news is that employers recognize this about the hard core engineering degrees and do not blanch at a C or two on a transcript as long as the overall work is good.

This is true. Engineering is difficult but not impossible. Just tell your kids not fall behind, don't miss classes, always do your homework, use office hours (get to know the professor) and study (and study some more). Even at a large state Unis, it's not difficult to get to know the professors.

+1

I struggled with the general adjustment to college so my first two semesters were tough. It wasn't the content, but poor time management and alcohol!/boys! made it tough to get the work done. But after the adjustment (aka growing up) I mostly crushed it. Some classes that others found difficult were easy me, but then I inexplicably struggled with a random manufacturing class.

If you work hard, I think most kids can do it.

If you have weak math skills, then all of the engineering classes are really hard. I'd always suggest retaking the calc sequence in college, even for those who took it in high school and who are strong in math. I did this and didn't see new-to-me math for several semesters of college, but did gain a ton more confidence and a deeper understanding of the material than the first time I took the class in high school. The theory really clicked the second time through. It's also nice to have a few "easy" classes to pad your GPA and schedule when the rest of your schedule is filled with tough classes.

Notoriously hard classes include:
Organic chemistry (for Chem Es)
Physical Chemistry II/Quantum mechanics (for Chem Es)
Circuits II (for Mech Es and Aeros)
Thermo (for most)
Biochem (for Biomed Es)

I've seen calc 1&2 listed as first year courses. If an engineering student does NOT/or cannot opt out of Calc 1&2, are they considered behind?

Anonymous wrote:My DDs experience as a ME major was that different people struggled in different classes but that almost everyone has one class that is a struggle. For some it is Diff EQ for some physics and for some dynamics. The other wake up call is that the grading is very harsh and kids who have spent almost their whole lives being the "A" math and science kid, that will come to a screeching halt for the vast majority. Very strong students will be A/B students and many, many will be B/C at the beginning. The good news is that employers recognize this about the hard core engineering degrees and do not blanch at a C or two on a transcript as long as the overall work is good.

This is true. Engineering is difficult but not impossible. Just tell your kids not fall behind, don't miss classes, always do your homework, use office hours (get to know the professor) and study (and study some more). Even at a large state Unis, it's not difficult to get to know the professors.

My DDs experience as a ME major was that different people struggled in different classes but that almost everyone has one class that is a struggle. For some it is Diff EQ for some physics and for some dynamics. The other wake up call is that the grading is very harsh and kids who have spent almost their whole lives being the "A" math and science kid, that will come to a screeching halt for the vast majority. Very strong students will be A/B students and many, many will be B/C at the beginning. The good news is that employers recognize this about the hard core engineering degrees and do not blanch at a C or two on a transcript as long as the overall work is good.

Would life be less terrifying if you got a BA in CS and is a BA in CS less marketable than a BS in CS?

Oh wow! Thanks. This is terrifying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes calc II and III, physics I, II, III. Also statics and dynamics. This was at UMD more than 10 years ago.

And these are vastly harder than AP Calc BC and AP Physics C? Do these classes prepare you at all?

Somewhat. My son has always been getting easy As in high school math, went beyond AP calc to multivariable calculus and differential equations, never been tutored, etc.

And then he took Calc II-III as a math major in one of the top schools. It was brutal. Half of the math majors switched to something else, like economics, as a result. I'd imagine the same thing is happening with Engineering majors.