Top 10 CRUCIAL tips for every freshman engineering student

I spent some time putting together the top 10 tips and pieces of advice that I wish someone had drilled into me when I was a freshman engineering student. If I knew this stuff earlier, life would have been so much easier!

1) Do not treat this like high school
2) Maintain proper perspective
3) This is about pace, not about speed
4) Use your professors
5) Develop your study process ASAP
6) Exams are everything!
7) Don't ignore your health
8) Make friends and form a study group
9) You will get smarter and more capable over time
10) Start working on your career as early as you can

[rainy_bear.]

1. *Do not treat it like high school*
2. *Maintain proper perspective* : don't set unreasonable expectations
3. *Pace not speed*
4. *Use professors* : ask questions in mind
5. *Develop study process as soon as possible*
6. *Exams are everything*
7. *Don't ignore health*
8. *Make friends for a study group*
9. *You will get smarter and more capable overtime*
10. *Start working on the career as early as possible*

[jostafro]

On the PACE part: I would take 1 or 2 courses that I thought would be difficult durning the summer semester. Then I could really give the difficult courses the attention they deserved and when I was full time in fall and spring I wouldn’t have to take the difficult courses with everything else. This helped a lot

[ETuss]

The rule and not the exception seemed to be the majority of students took upper level classes like Dynamics, Thermo, and fluids 2-3 times before passing. Additionally, the students who tried to follow the schools course guide failed miserably. 14-18 hours a semester of these courses is beyond brutal. Realistically, I believe this to be a 6 year degree.

[raulraul]

Just stumbled to your channel and like it immediately. I am a ME from the Philippines and already 70 year old. I teacher ME subjects 40 years ago in one of the famous University in Manila. I am now retired, but your channel wake me up to appreciate again my chosen career. I worked in a power plant generation company before. Thank you.

[thomasmorrison]

I think your list is correct. I went to engineering school a long time ago (30 years ago), but the list would have applied then also. My coop experience and internships got me my first job and kept me from burning out continuously going to school. It took me 6 years, but I got more than one year of work experience and easily got 3 job offers prior to graduation.

[Madmun]

I went into the USMC after high school, so I didn't start college until I was 23. I was SO unprepared plus I was 5 years removed from high school. Even though I'm a pretty smart guy it was still a swift kick in the ass. I wish I had heard even tip #1.
Great video!

[Ninebreak]

Extremely underrated channel. Im very surprised your videos aren't viral. I think its only a matter of time though. The content is too high quality.

[LWRC]

Excellent video for anyone in high school thinking about going down the path of Engineering !
The sketch @2:08 illustrates the challenge perfectly!
If you are the top 1% of your classmates in high school, just realize that when you get into Engineering, your fellow classmates in Freshman class are all top 1% students!!
Pace yourself is key.
Keep an exercise schedule to keep your body fit as this is an endurance endeavor that you will not be able to finish if your body or mind gives out before you graduate!!!

[jimwhipple]

I graduated in 1974 and did a simultaneous 4 year Journey machinist/tool maker/Moldmaker
Went on to own a CNC machine shop for 40 years
Good times...

[secondmouse]

Great video. 62 year old ME here and thought all your points were helpful, could of used them when I went to engineering school back in the day. One thing that you didn't mention and maybe most are already aware of but I wasn't is the fact that everything is graded on a curve in college, so when I thought I was failing after getting 40s and 50s on exams I was actually doing OK because I learned that everyone was getting the same test scores or worse and my final grade was OK. My high school didn't grade on a curve and I had no idea such a thing existed so that is one of the things I pass along to those that need that information, you might not be doing as bad as you think if a curve is used. Just something to be aware

[arleyramos]

Just got your audio book on audible. Almost 50 soon and starting mechatronics engineering, and found you. Very nice content. You got me on the "the world need more engineers"!!

[papo]

This is actually full motivation, exactly what I needed. I am currently a freshman in college second semester and next week I have 4 exams back to back. Currently struggling with physics but I’ll be on my study grind and finding that study plan that will boost me. I will also be purchasing your book to get a better understanding. Thanks for the great tips and the motivation!

[carolinalopez]

This is a great Chanel. My son is going to high school in September. He wants to be an engineer and we are watching all your videos and we bought your book on Amazon. Thank you so much for what you are doing. His father and I did not go to college and my son is first generation American 🇺🇸 so this videos have been so helpful. Keep up the good work.

[treyvandietrich]

Great video. I will be a ME freshman this spring. I have been active duty navy for 10 years and havent done any hard math in that time. Im anxious for sure but I know as long as I swollow my pride and ask for help I will succeed. Many of these tips I have learned in the Navy and try to apply them for a ton of situations. I cannot wait to start even though its a little scary!!!

[ChrisinOSMS]

Solid advice. My graduating high school senior is going to see this. Probably picking up the paperback and audiobook soon.

[davidkirby]

Don't know why, but for some reason I ran across your channel and have seen a couple of your videos. Many years ago, I started out as an engineering student during what was the most active political era of my lifetime until, possibly, the past six or so years. I dropped out of a good engineering program because I didn't think I could work with the nonpolitical students I encountered for the rest of my life. I've been happy with my choice. So I suggest that all students consider the "real world" situations they'll be working in for the next few decades ahead of them.

[LWRC]

I'd also add that as a graduate Engineer, take the EIT exam as soon as possible and then take the PE exam as early as possible after gaining the necessary years of experience to qualify for the state you are in. Believe me, having a PE after your name will set you off from the rest of the crowd! Only 1 in 10 Engineers in the US are licensed PEs!!! Don't pass up this opportunity immediately after graduation as all the materials you've studied are still fresh in your mind. You don't want to try the PE exam 10 years after graduation!!!

[manueldelfin]

A proud Mechanical Engineer here. The most sexiest and virile engineering profession on earth💪💪💪. I worked in several cement industry in the Philippines for 25 years in various positions from mechanical maintenance supervisor to plant maintenance manager. I also worked overseas for six years as Pyro-processing commissioning engineer in Thailand, Iran, India and in Russia. I just turned 60 and retired. I was just poked by your channel reminiscing my active years as an engineer.
Salute to all retired Mechanical Engineers out there for their contributions in various forms to make this profession undeniably the GREATEST.

[ronaldbrower]

I would add: know and embrace the relevant math. For example in EE maybe your first really challenging course will be electrostatics followed by electrodynamics. Better be real comfortable with making vector/vector calculus work for you rather than being an "on job" training exercise.

[hoainam]

another tip : try to connect what you learn with real problem. Practice more what you learn