Engineering is undoubtedly one of the most difficult subjects most difficult subjects in the world. Hence, it is very difficult to make it through the degree program in one piece. So to help you out, here 5 super helpful tips from college toppers on how you can survive engineering in
college.
#1 Stay True to a Daily Routine
College students need to juggle academics, a social life, work, and other extracurricular activities. Engineering students are no different from this. Most students stay occupied with at least two of those things on a normal day. Some often have to work their way around all of those things, and a lot more. Thus comes the need to have a fixed routine that will help you manage all those things and avoid conflicts.
Prioritize your studies while setting up the routine. A student needs good grades, and the only way to manage that is by staying focused on your academics. Work comes next; be it tutoring or working part-time at a coffee shop, work fixed hours so that it is a lot easier to accommodate them in your routine.
Freelancing can cause a bit of havoc, especially if you are reluctant to set up a routine for that. However, you can still fit it into your routine as long as it does not disrupt your studies.
Finally, make some room for a bit of socialization and extracurricular activities. Be sure to give yourself breaks during the study sessions so that the routine does not feel monotonous.
#2 Study in Groups
Group study sessions are what keep engineering students going. Toppers see this idea as a way of life, especially if you have trouble keeping up with class lectures on your own. It can be that there is that one smart cookie that tutors the rest of the group. Or it is also possible that all of you chip in and share your notes and knowledge. This is especially helpful in cases where you have to solve mathematical problems or develop a program for your computer science course.
One warning that toppers have for you in the case of group studies is that you can never expect your peers to do everything for you. That means you will have to contribute something to the group or the conversation as well. Hence, it is all about putting in equal efforts from everyone in the group.
#3 Know How to Get Help Online
Sometimes, group study sessions may not be enough to help you through your homework or assignments. Your faculty members and teaching assistants (TAs) may not be that willing to help you out either. What do you do then? Why seek help online of course.
There are plenty of online tutoring and homework assistance platforms online that can cater to all your questions and confusions. Whatever engineering homework help you might need, these platforms can guide you through them all.
They usually have experts for specific fields. You will find professional tutors and field experts from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, biomedical engineering, mathematics, English, and so on. With their detailed guidelines, you can complete any assignment or homework with ease, no matter how tough or lengthy they might be.
#4 Work On Your Practical Skills
Engineering is a very technical field, and it is often seen that engineering students graduate with a lot of theoretical knowledge, but have lackings when it comes to practical skills. Hence, in an attempt to prepare yourself for the future, you must work on your practical skill development by yourself.
Start by identifying the key areas that your respective engineering field works with. Then learn about the various tools, programming languages, methods, etc. that they use to get their daily work done. Finally, make a list of some of the basics that you can learn, and gradually work your way towards building a portfolio of all your work and projects (if applicable).
#5 Write Research Papers
Not every engineering graduate wants to work in the technology sector. Some of you might want to take up teaching or research work. If that is the case, it is in your best interest to start working on various research topics as a student.
You can start small with review papers and conference papers. After that, write a research paper that you can submit to a journal. However, before stepping into this world, find yourself a supervisor. Get in touch with someone who works in the same field that you are interested in. You can then go through multiple papers, help them in their existing research work, and then start working on your papers.
Ensuring all these things will make your engineering life a lot less difficult. You might even start enjoying the degree if you can get yourself invested in these things.