Mech. Engineering degree

[alphalanos]

Im thinking about going for a Mech. Engineering degree at U of South Florida. The problem is that I am weak at math. But I really like working with machinery/mechanics and computers etc. So I think this field would be good for me if I can get past the math. Right now im finishing up an AS in AutoCAD so I only have a few basic classes that would already be finished towards the ME degree. Think I should go for it or should I try to find something that is more inline with what I already am doing?

[WickedNYCowboy]

You could do it and should. But just work extra hard on the math parts etc.

[stone_mound_camaro]

Cal 2 is gonna kick you up and down the college campus....you just have to work hard at the math tho...anyone can be an engineer, and anyone can be taught math. after cal 2, smooth sailing...and after graduation, you're pretty much just typing number in a computer; the computer does the math for you

[stieh2000]

I'm 2 years into a Mechanical Engineering Degree from RPI, and the difficulty of math in courses like dynamics, thermal and fluids I , and elements of mechanical design nevery really gets much harder than Calc 1.

Although Calc 2 is a little tough, you could get through it, even if you don't do well.

Another course to worry about is Differential Equations. Its a course you will either do well in or fail miserbaly, there seems to be little ground in between.

But yeah, you should go for Mechanical Engineering.

[alphalanos]

I wish I could stop working while I went to school. Then I could just focus only on school. Id like to also get into 3d modeling at the commnity college im attending. They have some solidworks classes I want to take.

[stieh2000]

Ah, Solidworlks is fun. And by fun I mean the most tediuous, fustrating, time consuming 1 credit course I've ever taken. But once you spend a shit-ton of time on it, it gets pretty easy to use.

[DarkFox142]

i think that if you set your mind to it you can get through it. im going to civil engineering, but at FAU or FSU. so gimme a shout sometime maybe we can meet up and study and such

[Sanchi]

I got my MECH. Engineering Degree, and I have to agree with everyone else just do it!! It's a great field and you will get pass the math part of it. Just tell your self math is fun!!

[beef_bourito]

i just finished my first year of engineering. if you aren't good at math you'll probabgly have a tough two years, i hear that you don't really learn any new math after second year, all you do is apply what you learned. get your math down, it doesn't matter if it takes you 10hrs/week, just do it. i didn't have much difficulty in math but i know people who did, one of the dumbest girls i know got a 90 something in math because she spent almost every waking hour doing school work. just remind yourself that it's not impossible, it just might take you more time than others.

i'd say if you think it's what you want to do, go for it, just make sure you do what you have to do in high school, don't slack off and get in the course you want. i slacked off in high school, didn't do much work at all, and now i'm stuck in electrical engineering. in order to switch over to mech i'll need to get an 80% or higher, and that's alot harder in university than in high school.

so just git 'er dun, work hard for whatever time you have left in high school, then get where you want to go.

[stepho]

Originally Posted by alphalanos

Im thinking about going for a Mech. Engineering degree at U of South Florida. The problem is that I am weak at math. But I really like working with machinery/mechanics and computers etc. So I think this field would be good for me if I can get past the math. Right now im finishing up an AS in AutoCAD so I only have a few basic classes that would already be finished towards the ME degree. Think I should go for it or should I try to find something that is more inline with what I already am doing?

There is going to be a lot of really hard math involved. My brother got a ME degree from Florida Tech

[TommyTec]

If you had Trig., Algebra, and Calc. in high school, then the math should be ok if you have a good grip on manipulating fractions which is extremely necessary solid basics on the various formulas. I have 2 yr. EE and TET degrees and have that weakness. I started to get buried after differentiation and got an honest C.

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by alphalanos

Im thinking about going for a Mech. Engineering degree at U of South Florida. The problem is that I am weak at math. But I really like working with machinery/mechanics and computers etc. So I think this field would be good for me if I can get past the math. Right now im finishing up an AS in AutoCAD so I only have a few basic classes that would already be finished towards the ME degree. Think I should go for it or should I try to find something that is more inline with what I already am doing?

I agree, Just go for it !
Its just math, and they are just numbers.

Once you get your degree, you will be SO happy with the payoffs

Good Luck!

[Steel]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

I agree, Just go for it !
Its just math, and they are just numbers.

Once you get your degree, you will be SO happy with the payoffs

Good Luck!

AHAHA! that's the trick! After precalc, they don't use numbers anymore! They're like "Here... go fuck with letters in a mathematical way."

It wont be so bad if you work at it. Only reason i'm not doing so well in my calc 3 class right now is because im the laziest procrastinator you will ever meet.

[beef_bourito]

Originally Posted by Steel

im the laziest procrastinator you will ever meet.

I'd like to challenge that. although i think most engineering students have comparable laziness

[ShadowWulf2K]

To the OP:
You sound just like me before I went to college. I really thought mechanical engineering would be in line with what I enjoy doing, but I wasn't to good in math. In fact, I was terrible.

However, in college I liked the engineering material and I was happy with my choice. What got me past the math was the fact that I was willing to do the work to make the grades. I just recently completed my Mechanical Engineering degree, and I am so glad I did.

Also, one of the best professors I ever had started off the first class we had with him by saying that he sucked at math in high school. Now he's a PE.

Offtopic: How many engineers in here have really bad handwriting? I do, engineers I work with do, all my professors did...