Help us stay free, Link back to us! General Information - Bookmark this page

How to Survive First Year Engineering

So you just got accepted in your engineering program?joy, but you are still doubtful. You ask yourself, could I actually handle the stress, the sleepless nights, the solitary life style and the Exams? Well hopefully after reading this guide you might just be able to do so and perhaps without going insane or bald.

Buy a Calendar.

Yes I know what you are thinking a calendar but I don't need a calendar. I was like that too, heck I never used my agenda through out high school, and I managed to reach here right? Wrong! This is not high school and if you miss a due date for a test or exam you can not tell your mommy to write a note. Trust me I tried. Time management skill is vital if not necessary, it helps you plan for the endless upcoming due dates of assignments and gives you a better picture of what tests to study for. A common miscomputation is that you can keep up with all your courses every week. This is impossible especially if you want any resemblance of a social life. Firstly forget the time you think you might be able to put aside during the weekday. After a long day of lectures and labs you will be too tired to do anything and its best just to get a good night sleep. So, the only real time you got to study, play and sleep is during the weekend. Hence, a Calendar will help you in deciding what course to study for, what homework or assignment to do, and if it's really ok to get wasted that night.

Join a Study Group.

I can not emphasize the importance of study groups, especially in engineering. Study groups are not only for dummies, they also help nerds. For the dummies this is the perfect opportunity to understand the problem and to get vital input from others and for the nerds it gives an opportunity to revise and really understand the course material. For, there is no better way of studying then teaching others what you know. Apart from helping you pass the course, study groups also help to socialize us engineers. I mean you could go to library and study all by your self, achieve the top marks in class and graduate with honors but how effective of an engineer would you be in the real world? In the real world you won't be given a list of problems to be completed in a 2 hour time period, but rather as an engineer you will be expected to work with others and on problems which rarely have fixed or single solutions.

Learn to Skip.

Astonishing as it may sound, but I think it is vital for first year students to learn when to skip their classes. I mean you can't skip all your classes but can and in most cases must in order to pass the course. Again the problem arises from the fact that as a first year engineer you have a finite amount of time to study and in most cases the weekend period is not enough. So for the greater good you will have to skip the liberal studies lecture or the optional tutorial. I would rather see a student skip a class to study for a test then for him/her to show up for class and worry about the upcoming test or quiz later that day.

Learn From Mistakes.

I find that it is usually the high achievers in high school who are the ones who freak out when they see their first C. Rather then understanding from their mistakes they get overwhelmed and in some cases obsessed with the mark. They are continuously trying to make up the difference by attending every class, compulsively trying to get perfect on every home work assignment and are the ones who study all day in their locked rooms. Sure the student might get an A on his/hers first semester courses but in the long term (usually by the end of second year) the student will be too burnout and in most cases must drop out from their engineering program.

Take Time to Relax and Exercise.

I think it is vital for engineers to put aside some time to relax and exercise. Personally, I find nothing more satisfying then pounding a punching bag to vent out all the built up frustration after a hard day at school. Apart from exercising, diet also plays a major role. If you can not eat your greens and fruits, on a daily basis, then you should consider taking a multivitamin everyday. Drink more water when ever possible and try to keep your daily caffeine intake to a maximum of two cups, yes I realize it is hard especially when you are doing an all nighter.

Hopefully after reading the above hints you will manage much better in being a first year engineering student. Try to embrace your days in school and always try to get a good night sleep.

StudentDump.Com: The Educational Search Engine

In The News:


CBS News

Study Looks at Mental Disorders in College-Age Adults
Voice of America - 3 hours ago
Researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University in New York City did the study. It appears this month in the Archives of ...
Young adults hit by mental health issues Baltimore Sun
Few Young Adults Seek Treatment for Psych Disorders U.S. News & World Report
1 in 5 young adults has personality disorder The Associated Press
Los Angeles Times - Science Daily (press release)all 478 news articles

Paying for college in tough financial times
9NEWS.com, CO - 5 hours ago
-Money saved through college savings plans offered by CollegeInvest can be used nationwide at any eligible public or private college, university or ...

Area college, university officials bracing for cuts
Joplin Globe, MO - Dec 1, 2008
Bruce Speck, Missouri Southern State University president, on Monday announced a campuswide moratorium on travel and hiring. “I know people don’t like the ...

Carnegie Mellon CyLab Survey Unveils Major Gap in the Way US ...
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
CyLab is located in the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. For more, see www.cylab.cmu.edu. About Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon is a ...

College at Age 16
Washington Post, United States - 13 hours ago
New Hampshire, while lauding the cost savings of the plan, points to the dozens of industrialized countries that expect students to be ready for college at ...

ABC News

College Students Also Need Flu Vaccine
ABC News - 12 hours ago
Receiving the flu vaccine at Harvard University Health Services in Cambridge, Mass. The study, in this weeks issue of the Archives of Pediatric and ...
Flu Vaccine Linked To Reduced Illness, Impairment Of Academic ... Science Daily (press release)
Influenza Vaccination Among College and University Students Impact ... Archives of Pediatrics
all 12 news articles

Afro American

Lawmaker suggests merging black, white colleges
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - Dec 1, 2008
... State University would merge with Darton College. University system Chancellor Erroll Davis told lawmakers that such move would face strong opposition. ...
Senator: Merge black, white colleges Atlanta Journal Constitution
Should Albany State University and Darton College merge? WALB-TV
Ga. senator suggests black colleges merge United Press International
Albany Herald On-line - Atlanta Journal Constitutionall 36 news articles

A&M system aims to be 'military friendly' by next fall
Houston Chronicle, United States - Dec 1, 2008
AP COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System will push to get all its schools designated as "military friendly" in time for new educational ...
A&M making strides to be ‘military friendly’ Temple Daily Telegram
Mission Military Friendly launched at A&M NewsOK.com
A&M system pushes to be 'military friendly' NewsWest9.com
Killeen Daily Herald - Houston Chronicleall 48 news articles

BCS Beats Texas In Red River Sellout
Washington Post, United States - 5 hours ago
College football must be a wonderful game to survive what so many university presidents and conference commissioners have done to it in recent years. ...

Students, that flu shot could help your grades
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 11 hours ago
If you've ever had to talk a college student into getting a flu shot, researchers at the University of Minnesota just made your case. ...
Study says college students benefit from flu shots CIDRAP
Minnesota Health / Study tallies flu shot benefits at colleges Pioneer Press
all 10 news articles
college university - Google News

Internship Opportunities at Levine Communications

ENTERTAINMENT & PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW! "As we celebrate our twentieth (20th) anniversary as one of Hollywood's most prominent entertainment PR firms, I'm convinced that our intern program continues to be one... Read More

Why Do You Want a Degree?

There are many reasons people seek degrees in today's day and age. As a grown adult, it may seem like an unrealistic goal, but it is achievable. You may be sick of your... Read More

Thinking of Dropping Out of College?

If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or "taking a break" I'd like to encourage you to reconsider.Don't Let Cost Stand in Your WayIf cost... Read More

College Is Way More Than Higher Education

The first day of college begins with hopes and dreams of a new future. You walk around the college, drinking in the newness of a world unknown, where the buildings will become a... Read More

Aurel Voiculescu Memories From High School

High School Ion Minulescu, Slatina, Graduates 1991.Clasa XII A, Baboi Cristian, Becea Marian, Bratoi Sorin Cristian, Constantinescu Marian, Constantinescu Catalin, Cojac Daniel Reghina, Dan Marius Silviu, Danescu Ana, Dinca Cecilia Violeta, Florescu Eugen... Read More

Online Nursing Degree For Busy Nurses

Many who work in the healthcare or nursing industry know without question that free time (time within which to relax and call your own) is at a premium. In this regard, they work... Read More

The Freshman 15, or 20, or 25

Now I remember being a freshman in college, and let me tell you, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind (that most people don't). One is how to manage... Read More

How Parents Can Help Allieviate The Stress of Getting Into College

Getting into college is a stressful experience for most high school students. However, there are steps that parents can take to help alleviate the stress and make the experience more positive. To begin... Read More

Academia Fraud and Brain Washing Cartels

Many have a tough time listening to the scientists debate amongst themselves and laugh at the peer reviews. With puffed up chests they publish or perish and there is lots of competition in... Read More

Online Degree Program and Online Degree Programs

Online degree program is a good choice for busy individual's seeking a degree and continuing their education. There are many institutions online that offer online degree programs. There are many reasons for pursuing... Read More

College Without A High School Diploma - Possible?

Don't give up your dream of enrolling in an online university just because you didn't get your high school diploma. Although most colleges (online and otherwise) require a high school diploma to enroll... Read More

Chiropractic Schools

Before CHIROPRACTIC SCHOOLS accept one into their educational system, it is recommended that students have earned a degree in the arts or sciences from an accredited college or university. Chiropractic schools also require... Read More

Why Students Turn To Custom Writing Services

Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts, including scholars, university board members and even commercial parties, such as TurnItIn, which sells plagiarism detection software righteously claiming that plagiarism should be... Read More

The All-Important College Application

H.G. Wells once said, "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe," which emphasized the importance of continued schooling. As the fate and future not only of any great... Read More

Why are Some Online Degree Colleges Better than Others?

Any student who is on the lookout for online degree colleges would probably have been swamped with the many options marketed to them over the internet. Therefore, it is not a wonder that... Read More

Secrets Of Successfully Sitting Exams

Many people work hard studying various subjects to sit for examinations in them. Fine. Hard work is usually a necessary condition for passing exams. Unfortunately it does not follow that it is a... Read More

Online Colleges as a Resource for Your New Career

Online Colleges require successful team buildingMost online colleges require their students to work together in teams to fulfill their coursework obligations. The University of Phoenix Online, for example, requires weekly participation and discussion... Read More

Why You Should Choose an Accredited Online Degree

An accredited online degree is a college degree that is received through Internet studies offered by an accredited college. This means that the school or university that is offering the degree has been... Read More

On-line Universities and Degrees ? Find the Right One for You

The first step to finding the right online university is to decide what degree you want. Do you want an undergraduate or graduate degree? Are you interested in a certificate program for work... Read More

What Makes A Penn State Online Degree Preferable To Other Online Degrees?

A Penn State online degree is a college degree from Penn State University that is offered through the Internet. This is equivalent to a degree received from the traditional on-site Penn State University,... Read More

Online Education Has The Power To Transform Lives And Fulfill Dreams

Online education is a dramatic development in the advancement of distance learning. A century ago, a person without access to a school or training program could sometimes get the information that they desired... Read More

Online Paralegal Degree Preparing You For Employment

In an era when professional opportunities are diminishing, one area where opportunities are certainly expanding is in the field of paralegal work. Consequently, as the practice of law expands, and the need for... Read More

Online Education and Digital Divide

Digital Education is really coming along thanks to the US Military and their expenditures in the IT Framework to make training available. The IT companies doing this training are in fact able to... Read More

The Family University Network: Unplugging Institutional Higher Education

Why not build a Christian family enterprise with the energy, funding, and infrastructure that would otherwise build the state or private educational institutions?It is common knowledge today that serious moral problems exist in... Read More

Revolt of the Scholars

http://www.realsci.com/Scindex's Instant Publishing Service is about empowerment. The price of scholarly, peer-reviewed journals has skyrocketed in the last few years, often way out of the limited means of libraries, universities, individual... Read More

College Residence Life Staff: Speak to Gain Respect

When you speak, do residents listen or ignore you? If you're having trouble commanding respect, it could be the way you're saying it. Here is a list of words that can sabotage your... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 2

Stratford Douglas enrolled at the University of North Carolina in an economics graduate program in 1982. Five years later, he graduated with his Ph.D. in Econometrics. After taking three years to work for... Read More

Reducing the Administrative Burden for Further Education Colleges

The introduction of the Government's Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in September 2004 meant that more young people from poorer backgrounds could afford to stay on in further education instead of being forced to... Read More

Who Should Earn an Online Associate Degree?

An online associate degree is a two-year general studies degree that is obtained entirely over the Internet. This type of degree is perfect for those individuals who wish to begin their college career... Read More

GOOGLE AD