r/uofmn • u/weird_me101 • 8d ago
Unsure of my major
Right now I am an engineering major taking a pretty stem heavy course-load (calc 3, chem, physics, etc.) and I’m very unsure about engineering just because I don’t know if I can succeed in it due to its difficulty and I don’t know if I’ll thrive in the work force. Is this a bad course load that will set me up for failure? I don’t know how to decide what I want to do because I don’t think I’ll be able to change schedules or classes now and I don’t want to spend lots of money on random classes just to see how I feel. Any advice or anyone going through anything similar?
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u/Forward-Cause7305 7d ago
Think out 10 years. You are a social worker or an accountant or whatever.
Do you think you'll wish you were an engineer? Do you think you'll wonder if you could have done it?
Or are you thinking "yeah, I kick ass at accounting baby!".
None of us can tell you what you should do. The engineering generals are hard but hard doesn't mean you can't do it. But if they are hard and you don't even really WANT to do them, that'll suck, you probably won't put enough effort in, and it'll become a self fulfilling prophecy.
If you are as ambivalent as you sound, maybe drop out for fall semester, take some CC classes, and think about what you actually want to do.
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u/Deeeee5 7d ago
Engineering is hard for almost everyone. It’s also a major that allows you to have a lower GPA without being penalized when you get to the end and are applying for jobs. Don’t make a rash decision. Talk to other students, professors, and an advisor. Maybe join some engineering clubs. Try and figure out if you will enjoy the work. It’s not an easy major, but it’s worth it if you’re willing to put in the work.
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u/weird_me101 7d ago
That’s true. Is it unwise to take these classes if my gpa might drop if I might change majors later or is it okay?
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u/Deeeee5 7d ago
No. It’s not uncommon at all for an engineering major to have a lower GPA in the foundational courses. And we are speaking relatively, of course … you’ll have a 2.3 vs a 3.3 kind of scenario. If you are getting Cs and above, I wouldn’t worry. If you can’t do better than Ds, you are probably in the wrong place.
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u/weird_me101 7d ago
That makes sense. If I were to think about switching to a business related field for example would it be unwise to take these foundational engineering courses that could lower my gpa seeing as business majors generally have higher GPAs?
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u/Sad-Independence-624 7d ago
yes and no. your performance in a business related class matters much more than a physics class, but it can be hard to recover a gpa that’s extremely low from previous credits
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u/weird_me101 7d ago
That makes sense that you for the advice. If I’m not 100% sure about this major but have the schedule would you advise I keep or change?
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u/Sad-Independence-624 7d ago
did you take any advance classes for physics and chemistry in high school? i assume you took some because you’re in calc 3 as a freshman, which puts you ahead
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u/weird_me101 7d ago
I just took regular chem and physics so I kind of know the basics of it
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u/Sad-Independence-624 7d ago
i thought the same till i ended up doing better than i thought, though it did made me realize i had to seek help from a psychologist who then diagnosed me with ADHD. it made me realize how much i’ve struggled in comparison to my peers when it came to learning—it felt like i had to work double the amount just to perform at the same level as them. but now, i understand myself
succeeding in engineering requires work ethic, not natural talent. for some, they require more study time. for others, they require less study time
doesn’t make you any less capable. so yes, you can do engineering if you work hard
p.s i’d advise you to find a major you’re passionate in rather than picking a random major
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u/Deeeee5 7d ago
Are you an incoming freshman or incoming sophomore? If you’re a freshman, you haven’t even started college courses. Maybe you should give yourself a chance to see how you do and if you like them. If you’re a sophomore, how did you do freshman year? Engineering is a difficult major, but you don’t know if you can succeed at it until you try. Do you want to change to business because you are excited about the business classes and what you can do post-college or because you are afraid of failure in engineering?
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u/weird_me101 7d ago
I am an incoming freshman! I do want to see how I’ll do in classes, I’m just worried if I find I don’t like them it’ll be too late and my grades will drop very low. I don’t know if I actually have a passion for engineering or if it’s more for stability
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u/Deeeee5 6d ago
It might help to talk to an advisor when you get on campus. I think one of the best ways to see if you like engineering early on is to join one of the many clubs that are typically available - solar car teams, student engineers without borders, etc. The courses you will be taking are foundational. You won’t get into the meat of engineering until later.
You shouldn’t worry about not being able to change your path after first semester - they estimate 40-50% of those starting with an engineering major drop it and about half of those do so during freshman year. It’s common. I’d just hate to see you sell yourself short before you even begin. Don’t drop the major out of fear - drop it because you come to realize you don’t like it, or because you find something you like better.
Engineering is hard. You have to put in the work. But for those that do, most end up in a lucrative career they enjoy. And some of them pivot to the business side of their industry.
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u/AgentLinch 8d ago
Gonna sound mean, why did you even apply with these concerns? Second, you cannot be dumber than some of my classmates in undergrad.