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Studying in College
Hi I am a junior in high school and I am wondering what studying in college is like. I do well in school now but I want to know what I need to do to do well in college, I am leaning towards an engineering major at the moment. Any first hand experience or study techniques would be helpful, thanks.
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Maybe give some free advice about: School?
It all depends on how well you want to do and what kind of course load you can take on.
Engineering is an excellent major. There is still a concern as to whether or not U.S. universities are graduating enough engineers. You would do well to go to grad school and get at least an MS and maybe even a Phd. Btw, even if you just get a BS, you can get a teaching credential and lecture on science or math in junior high or high school.
However, that is a very competitive major, too, so your primary orientation is focusing as much of your time and effort as possible on studying and writing papers.
I recommend that if your high school has an advanced composition class you take it. That is because it will help polish your writing so that your college papers will have more of a chance of standing out. A lot of student writing in college is so bad that I had one professor tell me he saved my papers for last because it made him feel better after wading through so many horrendously rendered essays. I was shocked to hear that, but I was stoked to get the props to say the least.
You will need to learn a foreign language. With America going into eclipse, learning Chinese would be a good idea. Unfortunately, even if you minor or double major in it a university will only teach you so much so you will have to do a lot of self study to make your knowledge of that tongue more complete.
I worked fulltime while going to college and while I liked school a lot, the fatigue I experienced on a daily basis from the lack of sleep made it something of a real slog. I had to do that, though, in order to get the grades I wanted. The day I finished my last final for my degree, I thought to myself, "now I can get some sleep."
Colleges have the image of places where there is a lot of partying. However, a great deal of that is done by jocks, communications and business majors, all three of which tend to be the lowest academic performers at any university.
So for a real major, you will have to be dead serious about excelling. If you can't handle that thought, then take a couple years off of school, work, and then when you've grown up, enter college.
My final piece of advice is this: do not go into debt to get an education. Unless you are going to become a doctor, it will NOT be worth it. Go to a cheaper state college if you have to. When you are in any debt you are basically a slave. So avoid debt anytime you can.
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It really depends on the course
Science: i learn very well with powerpoints (if my teacher doesnt go off of powerpoints ill make them myself) or filling out outlines if they have them
Math: DO THE HOMEWORK! Its as simple as that. If your like me and are "ok" at math you have to do the homework to pass. Some teachers wont give you an end of the semester grade on it but you still need to do it.
I took a math course last semester did very little homework and ended up having to drop the class. This semester im taking the same course and im ranked 1 in my class and have a 97.5 to a 100 in it because i do ALL of the homework.
English: Taking notes during class is a good idea and do not procrastinate on essays
Everything else: Is just what you learn with the best. If you like reading printed powerpoints then put the info in one. The last piece of advice i can give is to make sure to study atleast one thing everyday. And when tests are coming up to schedule when you will study each chapter and a review day.
Engineering majors should look into joining a program. In one of my classes we had a presentation about a company called "proctor and gamble" who offers paid internships over the summer (you should look into that). To find out about other programs there should be someone that is incharge of engineering programs for that college. Ask your teachers, somebody should know who he or she is.
Good luck
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