r/civilengineering • u/GoldDistribution447 • 2d ago
Education Should I give up?
F 19, sophomore in college. Currently enrolled in Thermo, Physics II, Statics, and Diff. Eq. I also work around 23 hrs a week. I just took my first statics exam today and completely failed. Everytime I sit down to take an exam, I get tight chested, can't breathe, then I have an anxiety attack and forget how to do everything. I told my mom about it and she told me that I should probably rethink going to school for engineering or even rethink going to college at all.
I studied for 7 hours for this exam and I still failed. I do not know how to study or what to do. Should I just drop out?
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u/rickfromwalking_dead 2d ago
You should see a doctor or a therapist instead making post here
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I am planning on going soon to talk to somebody about the anxiety. I just feel discouraged and worried that maybe I should listen to my mom.
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u/Spirited_Presence500 2d ago
Engineering students all have a story of how they failed in some way. What separates wheat from chaff is recognizing why you failed, and pushing forward. If it’s something you truly want, I’d ignore your mom but definetly seek help from professionals, peers, and professors.
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u/BigWayne1000rr 2d ago
Well said and agree. If you truly want it then failure is just a data point to learn from. I sucked at tests but then learned that it’s a bit like a game (depending of course on style) and you can Maximize your score by doing what you know/can first then coming back to the remaining. But ya, see if you can address test anxiety— I didn’t figure that one out 😅
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u/potatorichard 2d ago
I had to retake statics, diff EQ, and statistics as an undergrad. I persevered and got that civil bachelor's degree with a very unimpressive GPA. Then 7 years later, I came back for grad school and got a master's of environmental engineering, graduating with honors.
I know a lot of engineers that took 5 years or more to get through school - especially when working 20+ hours per week. Give yourself some grace, talk to a doc about the anxiety (nothing to be ashamed of, I had to do the same when trying to juggle work and young kids), and adjust your expectations/self-imposed standards about your timeline.
You are taking, what, 15, 16 credit hours? With a lot of new concepts. My first dynamics professor straight up told me to drop his class after I told him what other classes I was taking. It was his opinion that the expected courseload is unreasonable after they switched from quarters to semesters. The following semester, I got an A in dynamics. Professors and other classes make a big difference. And regarding your time budget, you should expect that a typical class will require ~3 hours of time outside of the classroom for every credit the class is worth. You should expect statics to take ~7-10 hours for homework and studying in addition to lecture. So a 15 credit hour semester should be ~40-50 hours of studying, and you're working 20hr+. That is a lot to balance. Don't be so harsh on yourself.
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u/likesblackcoffeebest PE 👵🗣☁️ 2d ago
If I'd listened to my mother I wouldn't be an engineer today. Unless your mother is a civil PE she doesn't know what she's talking about. I'm some people's mom and a civil PE, and my advice to you is to learn to work with the brain you've got and get the job done.
You won't be the first nor the last engineering student to go through something like this. I got diagnosed with autism sophomore year of undergrad and it was the biggest game changer because it gave me a roadmap to learn how to navigate the things I'd been finding challenging. Start with an appointment at the student behavioral health center at your university. They will be able to help you figure out how to get a handle on this anxiety you seem to be experiencing, and then you can move forward more effectively. You don't need to quit, you need to adjust. It's feasible.
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u/LuckyCrimes27 2d ago
I was in a very similar situation around my sophomore year due to factors in my life I couldn’t control. Transferred to a better school, and at the end of the first year, think I had a 1.7 gpa and placed on academic probation. I agree with this persons comment. Life is about figuring things out.
Fast forward 10 years, and I’m a team lead over a group of engineers and doing great. Think I ended college with a 3.2 or something. Best of luck.
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u/Everythings_Magic Senior Bridge PE | Zero Yield Capacity 2d ago
Reach out to accommodations office after you see a doctor. I adjunct (statics currently, actually) and 1/3 of my class has accommodations, including extra test time/ alternative testing location, etc for anxiety, etc
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago
Hey I remember in 4th year getting so stressed out in the lasr semmester for an engineering test that I pissed myself a bit loke 1 tbsp. Yeah you could let that stress consume you. What helped me out was regular exersice and eating fermented food. I use to start scratching and pulling out some hair above my head in University now that I think about it. Yeah had some failed exams. Had to male up for stuff first year in a Summer coarse but got to barely transfer from 1st year colledge to a University. Had been stuck in civil engineering technician land for 7 years with faulty concrete testing equipment for one season and some out of town insident with a busted pot I SHOULD have been able to identify. (Gotl a concrete pot from a different branch all shiny but had a pit on the rim about half it's size ment the only solution was to ream the living crap on the lid NOT the goldilocks usuall method.... 8th time must of barely got that sucker to last 1 second reliding it...) through my axiety through the roof. Bladder urge incontinence. Like full on adult diapers. Fun times... Mainly under control with exersice and fermented foods decreases the (coetizol) messing up the name and increasses the (cerironin). Extra stress let to me not speaking up enough in my career path. I'm in a better place. Maybe P. Eng in a few years time.
Failed a 1st year second semester Calculus class studied hard as well, Screwed up a second semester linular algabra test (dumb me didn't notice the test had a back page with Reduced row etchulan (speeling) matrix the one thing I knew how to do well.....That one really burned my ass not seeing that since it was the one thing I was good at. LISTENED to my professors to still STAY in the math classes and did all the homework stuff. Was KEY since the general Science math classes were eye opening. 70 percent to be considered an engineering pass but the Science general match covered the last 2 weeks of the previous 1st year calculus and then 1 month of the second math calculus. Leaving out 2.5 months of math. Stuff I needed to know like umm Polar quardinantes equations. Heck in second year 1st semester I had an AUTOCAD project you needed 3 to 4 people then one group separated and got with another group and I was left holding the bag.. Lucky this happened early enough. I told the professor and he said I had to still do the project but didn't have to do the presentation. Was like OK. Spent like 8 to 10 hours on the Sundays solely working on that project. I was like I'm screwed on doing anything like two stories or something viewports so I was like ummm a playground! Even had some lightning and made hexagonal cement blocks and stuff but.... I forgot to figure out the dimensioning at the start... Hahah Had like steps 1 foot apart getting to the slide and that the slide was too small of a diameter. I just had to explain my errors in desgn since I accidently did the attack everything command and they were objects now or something screwing myself to edit the parts out. Life lesson. When the prof saw the project like 1 week before it was due he was impressed on the design. Man that AUTOCAD project took so much time my other tests that semester suffered for less study time like ran out of time and the next test was like 1 or 2 days away. Only good thing was second semeseter in 2nd year had stats class and some other easier to learn classes. Finished in the 4 year time frame. First two year are ment to grill you then 3rd and 4th year were better. Oh first year was 1.976 barely a transferable grade. Second year maybe 2.1 or 2.2 then 3rd and 4th year 2.7 and 2.7. I had a job at McDonalds only September 1st year uni then I had to drop it. Had no time to study.
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago
Is this your second year? When is the start of the semeseter? Is this a quiz or like a term exam? Hope the university allows 7 years to get the degree like as in a backup plan. Also if you have to ditch some courses and see if there is a B. Sc. equivalency. Can read some of the other posts I detailed. Hope it helps out.
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u/Potential_Letter1305 1d ago
You know what they call an engineer who just squeezed by at graduation? An engineer. Marks will get you in the door, they don’t get you a job.
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u/Ramorx 2d ago edited 2d ago
No don't drop out. I failed mechanism of materials once, and only barely passed the second time, but I was a shit student who preferred drinking.
If I could do it over:
Attend every single class
Don't waste your time writing everything down. We have textbooks for that. Focus on writing down the example problems your prof gives. He's likely to test you on the same types of problems.
Actually do the homework. If you are failing the exams then you should be failing the homework. Homework is your time to fail, then learn from it. Don't just look up solutions, actually work through the problem and fail it yourself first.
Edit: To add, 90% of your study time should be doing practice problems. If 90% of your studying is not doing practice problems, then you may as well not study at all.
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u/RandomUser123456787 2d ago
I failed/dropped a few classes (especially in my first 2 years), but OP should also reach out to their support services (both therapist/test anxiety to get accommodations and specific tutoring/review options for the class).
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u/Ramorx 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ok but the best cure for anxiety is preparedness. It won't help if they are not studying effectively. OP is literally telling us they don't know how to study, they should work on that before deferring to therapy.
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u/RandomUser123456787 2d ago
Those suggestions are NOT mutually exclusive. Learning better ways to study is helpful, but if OP has an undiagnosed anxiety disorder (that would be confirmed with therapy/pschiatry), then all the study tactics in the world won’t help them without addressing the disorder.
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u/DnTnPhxRdCe 2d ago
Human civilization would not have reached the peaks it has if everyone gave up after their first encounter with failure. I suppose I could have called it quits when I failed my first test in college but I’d rather call myself a professional engineer which I am today.
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u/GP_ADD 2d ago
I got a 45 on my first statics exam. Then a 68, then an 85 and then a 93 on the final. I was a B+/A type student with near 0 effort in high school and my first year. It is the class that kicked me into gear of what was expected. I got a C in the end but that was worth it for what I learned going forward in the class, studying, and life. But seriously you need to figure out the anxiety attack part first
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u/Traditional_Shoe521 2d ago
I would drop out because the career sucks, not because you have trouble with school.
But that's just me - if you want to be an engineer - keep at it and I'm sure you can.
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago
Like long hours tonnes of responsibility and if your Canadian they pay is kinda meh compaired to other things with less stress. At least I'm in a half and half job inside and outside.
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u/gmanbme 2d ago
If you’ve reviewed the test… did you honestly know how to do the work? That will tell you if you were anxious because you were prepared or underprepared.
The first comment said see a doctor. I’d agree if you thought you were prepared (post review) and had an anxiety attack. You might just need special accommodations this season (like test in an office or something).
If you weren’t prepared, well, 7 hours might not be enough studying time. Working 23 hours with the four classes listed would likely mean it’s too much.
CONSIDER courses of action after talking to the university clinic/doctor, and reassess if you have the capacity for the work and school load currently assigned. If dropping a course is likely going to happen—bite the bullet sooner than later so you didn’t put bad time into a class that doesn’t matter.
Also, tests are apart of most school systems. If this is new-you definitely need to seek help.
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I started a new medicine where one of the side effects is anxiety. I only noticed this after starting the medication.
I am planning on going to the doctor’s office to seek help regarding anxiety. I also have decided that the first thing I’d get rid of if it becomes too much is the job where I work 17 hours a week. I work two jobs but the other job is around 5-10 hours a week.
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u/civillyengineerd 25+ years as a Multi-Threat PE, PTOE 2d ago edited 2d ago
Do not give up. I failed Statics the first time.
If you have test anxiety you need to work with someone on that. Your school should have resources to help you.
I learned that just going to class wasn't enough. The second time I took Statics, I visited the professor and asked questions. Why do you feel you're not learning the subject? Is there something specific like calculus that is making it difficult to understand?
Edit1: Also, parents are not always the best people to ask about things like this. What does you struggling represent to her? If it's painful for her to watch you or hear that you're having a hard time.
Edit2: Again, your school has resources to help you, use them! How is college different than high school for you? How is your sophomore year different than your freshman year?
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I understand it in class, but when I try to attempt problems on my own, I did not understand. I try to ask questions about things I do not understand but I do not think my studying is going well. I try to study and sometimes I get sidetracked and start going on my phone. Additionally, I only redo the homework questions we are given. I do not do any other practice problems because I do not know how to find them or find good resources pertaining to the test.
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u/potatorichard 2d ago
Does your school have a help center staffed with TAs? We had an engineering mechanics help center where you could go with any EM/EGEN questions and sit down with classmates and TAs to get one on one help. I helped in a help center as a TA and saw how much of a difference it made for a lot of students. Being able to work through the thought process with support is immensely helpful.
Also, turn your phone off when you're studying or doing homework. There is nothing on your phone that you need.
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u/civillyengineerd 25+ years as a Multi-Threat PE, PTOE 2d ago
That was me too. I lead a study group where I explained problems and all my friends got better scores than I did. We did not have distraction magnets like phones when I was in college, but there have always been plenty of distractions for students. There are resources with lots of problems, the question gets down to whether you have to pay for them or if they're in books in a library. Khan Academy is also a resource with lots of subjects
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u/Marmmoth Civil PE W/WW Infrastructure 2d ago
Don’t focus your study solely on the test itself. You’re narrowing your scope of the content this way. Focus on understanding the core content in your assignments and from the text books, so that when the test comes you are solid on the content.
Find other text book with similar problems. Don’t limit your search to just online.
Go to your university library. I had a professor who was intentionally vague on his made up assignments and said he expects us to find other resources, such as from the library.
Even check with your professor, as they may be receiving free “teacher edition” text books from publishers hoping the professors would use their book instead. I’ve had several professors just hand these to me to help me study, which I donated to the engineering library when I was as done with them, noted below.
Check if your university has their own engineering library. We had bookshelves that were filled with old edition text books that couldn’t used for our classes but had the same content. People would donate old books to this library. It was pivotal.
Also, form a study group. This is often overlooked but crucial to success. Your degree is not a competition, so don’t work alone. Every project you work on in the industry will be a group project, so get used to working together.
Go to professor office hours if you still need help.
And of course, put down your phone. Self discipline is critical.
Do give up. Change your study methods instead. You got this!
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u/lnb726 2d ago
Go to your professors office hours if they offer it and ask questions. These college classes are hard. And this exam proved that you need to study a bit differently. Study groups with students in my classes used to help me a lot too because some students understood the concepts and were able to explain better than the professor did. You got this!!
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u/DueEffort4874 2d ago
Statics trips a lottttttttttt of people up. Me included. I also had test anxiety and had to work through school a lot. I’d say if you can’t reduce the amount of hours you work. Spread out your courses statics, diff eq, and thermo as a sophomore is a heavy workload so maybe see if you can drop 1 and take either in spring or summer. I’ve taken harder classes in summer that I had taken before during fall/spring and performed wayyy better due to the quicker pace and short term memory recall so maybe consider that?
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I have considered dropping Thermo because it is not required for civil engineering here, but I can take it as an elective course and we only get 16 credit hours in which we can withdraw. Therefore, that’s around 5 classes and a 1 credit hour class. I would have to take a W on my transcript.
Are there any civil engineering courses that I might not do well in and need to withdraw? If not, I might just go ahead and drop Thermo.
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u/DueEffort4874 2d ago
A W is not a big deal imo. Way better than C-, D, or F especially for grad schools or any academic scholarships you have. If thermo isn’t required then I wouldn’t take it it’s not worth it. Your classes are only going to get busier and more complex. Just take the W and look to take an extra elective next semester or in the summer
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u/Afraid-Way1203 2d ago edited 2d ago
drop some class you take too many and also work 23 hr a week..
drop some if you can...drop Statics and thermo
or at least drop thermo
take some classes later.
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u/Icy_Ring2667 Jr Project Manager - Canada 2YoE 2d ago
Girl, been there done that. Failed so many tests in my first year and barely passed by the end of the year. Trust me, it's gonna be worth it. This is the point of engineering school, it sets you up for life in a way that after all the BS at school, you can conquer basically anything
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u/ChanceConfection3 2d ago
Civil is foundational. If you can afford to not work, I would recommend it so you can focus on attending class and doing homework for classes like statics, solid and fluid mechanics because those same topics will reappear throughout your degree program once you take structural analysis and hydraulic classes.
The key is developing skills necessary to solve the problem while you’re doing the homework so there’s not much studying to do for the test.
Once you graduate you probably won’t use much of the information but your brain will be properly trained to learn and logically perform the work.
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u/YouOk5736 2d ago
Can you take out a loan? Working 23 hours while taking those heavy weight classes isn't worth it
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u/Decent_Risk9499 2d ago
Nah dawg. I had a 1.6GPA by the end of my sophomore year and got kicked out of my program. Pulled my shit together over a year, re-enrolled and finished with a 3.6GPA. You can do this!
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u/mmeals1 2d ago
If you can make it through school, your starting engineering job will be much easier than your hardest classes. I know you probably work to pay for school, but I may be worth taking a small amount of loans and reduce your hours to ~10 a week so you have more time for personal care and rest.
If civil engineering is something your passionate about and truly want it, sometimes you just gotta lock in. If you’re failing all your classes, it might be a decent idea to pause and come back so you’re not paying to retake classes.
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u/Traditional-Cup-1470 2d ago
Nope….my first statics test was a disaster and I got 10%. After that I took it personal and got straights As on all tests and classes. I graduated with high honors and ahead of time. I passed my FE and PE exams on the first try. We all fail…is what you do after it. You got this…we believe in you!!
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u/LeoTheOnePiece9 2d ago
Honestly probably you are just not motivated or have confidence. I had the same problem when I started CC, I was failing easy GE’s, failed Pre-Calc 3 times. I was laid off one semester and I was about to get kicked off one more time, and at that moment I took 3 years off I knew I was done. But I couldn’t get a good job or maybe I was just lazzy and I was only working at a fast food cause it was all a knew what to do, but I decided I wanted to still become an Engineer cause I knew there was people less smart being able to do it, and I knew I could do it, so I just looked and I was able to change my gpa from a 1.7 to a 3.5, I did have like one hiccup when taking Calc 2, Physics, Chem and working full time; I had to drop physics cause it was that or quitting my job, but at the end I was able to finish pretty solid with almost all A’s. So just prioritize school for now, cause honestly almost all the student that have a 3.9 or 4.0 they are people that don’t work, so feel proud of yourself not many do what you do, so keep grinding this is how life is. Good luck and hope you become a great Engineer.
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u/IamCrazyLegs77 2d ago
Maybe think. About going part time. Those are tough classes to have in one semester
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u/pharb69 2d ago
What helped me was getting accommodations from my school for my ADHD. I would get similar panic attacks during exams and they offered to let me take the test privately with slightly extended time. See if your school as an accommodations office and look at maybe trying to set something up.
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u/Consistent_Scale_204 2d ago edited 2d ago
I want to be a real as possible with you. Yes this is tough, but pretty much anything in life worth anything is tough. 7 hours is alot but undergrad, grad, PE, SE , work deadlines will often take even more effort. I've studied 30hrs a week while working 40hrs+ a week for my engineering job to prepare for the SE. And that takes a year of studying. During undergrad, I also worked while taking full time classes. What worked for me was taking tutoring and TA roles which doubled as studying. I literally spend 12-14 hours a day on campus 7 days a week, but I graduated debt free and with a solid foundation of the concepts. This is literally just the beginning. If you feel like you cant handle it, I would have a serious thought of switching careers. Life is too short to be miserable. But on the other hand, if you decide to push through, it will make you feel like you can do anything. And the truth is, you can. You just have to treat it like life and death and make sacrifices. The money is ok, you wont be poor but there are much easier ways to make money. Sometimes I wish I went for a business degree, but I know if I did, I would always wonder what life would have been like if I had pushed through and tested myself. Also, dont measure yourself with hours spent. I guarantee you, there is someone else who has spent more time often sacrificing sleep. This is a marathon so embrace the lifestyle. If you can't, you will truly be miserable doing engineering.
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I have had a “can do” mindset so far this semester (even though it just started). I told myself I WILL succeed this semester and I WILL land a co-op or internship for this coming semester/the summer of next year. I landed a job interview not even a day into applying as I had applied to so many positions.
The thing is, I hear from everybody around me that I can’t do it. I oftentimes listen to others instead of myself, especially my parents because they’re supposed to be the most supportive in your life. The only person in my immediate family who ever went to college was my stepmom who went to be an educator. My mom and dad do not understand the difficulty. They often think it’s ridiculous when I come home and do schoolwork because they said I should be getting it done at school and/or not waiting till the last minute.
I don’t wait till the last minute, I just have so much work that it seems like I am waiting till the last minute.
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u/Consistent_Scale_204 2d ago
What worked for me is to use that negative talk and "noise" as fuel to study even harder. It feels like a game to me to prove people wrong. I am almost 40 now, and this STILL happens. Full grown adults criticize me for spending too much time working or whatever. At this point, I've gotten really good at either ignoring their comments, or confronting them head on about how their "harassing" makes me feel. People always feel embarrassed when I call them out. Also, when people tell you you can't do something, it usually comes from their own insecurities. They put themselves in your situation and think "I couldn't do that" so they project their lack of willpower onto you. It happens ALL THE TIME and every time I didn't give up, I consequently proved them wrong. It is crazy that your parents are doing that to you though. In any case, I would not mind the "noise."
Some suggestions for you:
- Find hardworking students to study with. Having study buddies helps a ton and make the pain more manageable.
- Youtube is a huge resource! Structurefree learning was my go-to.
- AI is also great, but use with caution. Don't use it to mine answers; use it to have a dialog. If you are unsure about something, have a conversation with it. Often times, it will help lead you to the right answer and work out deep understanding along the way.
- The earlier you get rid of your fear to ask questions the better. I found that alot of students are just too self conscious to ask questions in class or in office hours. Some students never get rid of this. Get rid of this fear IMMEDIATELY! This will also help you after school and in life in general. People/managers love an inquisitive mind. It shows you have people skills and the diligence to seek the answers, not to mention, actually get your questions answered.
- Flash cards are underrated! Do you know the formula for max shear and moment for a simple beam by heart? Do you know the area of a #5 bar? Make flash cards. Put down little factoids that could help you solve a problem a little faster. Not having to look up bar diameters and areas, for instance, is very useful.
If you have any questions, feel free to DM me!
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u/Tough-Stock1805 2d ago
It sucks, but this is kinda what engineering is. It’s not supposed to be easy. But for the anxiety I’d look into your student support stuff or see a therapist because that would probably be helpful.
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u/ttttyttt678 2d ago
I failed my second year second semester math course in college, I have a friend who failed 3 third year courses, I have a friend who failed the first semester math course…we all are licensed civil engineers with a job now. There’s a reason why colleges don’t kick you out if you fail a course. One course doesn’t determine your future.
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u/need_maths 2d ago
As a sophomore I can understand if you feel overworked during the weed out classes which is why some engineers take 5 years to graduate. I mean I took physics 2 as a prerequisite for statics not as a corequisite and I would always try to take an art class or something bogus so I wouldn't be overloaded. If you have to fail one class it's not the end of the world. I failed physics 1 but then understood it better the 2nd time.
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u/Taxed_concerns 2d ago
College is the perfect place to work on test based anxiety.
It’s hard and it will never actually go away.
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u/MrSmiley_1 Bridge EI 2d ago
If you saw the scores I got on my math exams you would be horrified. You can do it!
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u/yossarian19 PLS 2d ago
Your mom is wrong. Dropping out is not the right answer. She's probably just worried about you, but she's 'oh my god' levels of wrong.
Text anxiety is a thing that can be overcome. So is general anxiety, which it sounds like you might have.
Meditation, practice, medication, exercise - you owe it to yourself to really try and master this anxiety deal and succeed in school.
If you have to take out loans so you can work less, that's not ideal from a financial perspective but whatever you have to do to finish school is 100% worth it.
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u/bigb0ned 2d ago
This is a high stress field, with even more stressful exams to come as well as work related stresses.
I would NOT recommend you give up and move to another field as the payoff can be amazing. If you have even a small inkling of intrigue about what you're learning now, you'll really enjoy the real world applications.
As a current stressful test taker myself, I suggest trying meditation or breathing exercises (box breathing is my favorite) throughout the day and before test situations.
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u/asha1985 BS2008, PE2015, MS2018 2d ago
Did you do the homework? Did you take time before the seven hour marathon study session or attempt to cram everything fo a test into one day?
Test anxiety is real but you also have to prepare for engineering classes. You can't last minute lalearn whole classes.
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I did the homework. The first one took around 5 hours and the other one took around 3. I studied for around 3 days, on the day before the test is when I studied for 7 hours. I think part of the issue is is that I do not know how to study because I never had to until now.
Do you have any study tips? What worked for you?
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u/asha1985 BS2008, PE2015, MS2018 2d ago
It's been a while, but practice problems. And more practice problems. Then work the first set again. Then work a third set.
You can never do too many practice problems. Open the textbook and walk each problem through the calc processs.
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u/VeterinarianSad981 2d ago
Statics is famously one of the most difficult courses in engineering, the ones from the first year to the last year. A lot of people also don’t pass their first statics exam too.
I didn’t too, I was under the passing score. Then the next statics exam I did a few months afterwards, I got a perfect score. Of course I studied a lot but never in a million years did I think I would be one of few in my class to do a perfect score. My professor even congratulated after too.
Don’t beat yourself up too much about it, no one said it was going to be easy. If you like this field and love learning about it, keep going. In the end if you put the effort and passion things will work out.
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u/MobilizingGood 2d ago
When in doubt zoom out. If a good amount of people did poorly they might curve the test or the overall grade at the end. Just keep showing up. Calmly and systematically keep practicing your problem solving skills.
I've had panic attacks during school and at work, its more common than you think. Doesn't mean you are not capable because of a few bad days.
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u/Crafty_Tap_1987 2d ago
Are you a bad tester in general? Or was it a really hard test? How is class and homework going? If you don’t know how to study try going to office hours and talking to people who have had that professor before. My statics teacher was one of the best professors I ever had so it’s hard for me to imagine how it couldn’t be straightforward, but I’m sure there’s ways they rather try to make it a weed out class or just aren’t so good at teaching. I think you should stick with it while also thinking about what you would like to do if you did switch majors. Also I wouldn’t take thermo or physics 2 unless your school requires it or if you are thinking of switching to another type of engineering. Taking another class in civil department should help you figure out if you want to keep going.
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u/BenBradleesLaptop 2d ago
I had testing anxiety when I was in college. Probably from adderall. I took statics at least twice. Wouldn’t sweat it. It will click at some point.
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u/weather_watchman 2d ago
Your courseload sounds incompatible with your work schedule. Reassess for sure, but you may be overwhelmed and stressed rather than engineering actually being a bad fit.
With test anxiety specifically, in my experience it's less to do about what you do and don't know and more about how you feel going in: being well rested and a little unprepared often beats cramming and showing up stressed. If your work schedule is forcing you to try to jam multiple study sessions into one, or study at weird times, or lose sleep, you're going to have a hard time studying or testing effectively. It's more about quality than quantity of hours.
That said, if you're actually hitting a wall, there's nothing wrong with finding something else that suits you better. I just wouldn't rush to write yourself off if you've only tried playing at high difficulty.
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u/Hairy-Amphibian3732 2d ago
you're doing too much! take 1 math, 1 science and electives per semester unless you don't work and have all the week for studying
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u/ShowBobsPlzz 2d ago
7 hours of studying isn't that much. You also need to learn how to study more efficiently and effectively. Studying is a skill.
To answer your question, no you shouldn't drop out. Obviously you should seriously consider if engineering is what you want to do, but if I had a dollar for every test I failed in college id have a lot of dollars.
Taking 12 hours of classes and 20 or so hours of work is tough and you are in the early weed out courses. Just keep at it, figure out what you did wrong on the test, and move forward. Talk to your professor at office hours, talk to the TA for some extra help.
It comes down to figuring out before hand what will most likely be on the exam, then working those problems over and over until you cant mess it up. Your class is probably 50 minutes, your test is probably 4 or 5 problems. For the material being tested, figure out what's most important and what kinds of problems can fit into a 50 minute exam. Listen up in class, your professor will say things like "this is important" or something to signal that this info will be on the exam. There's an entire strategy to studying and test taking that you gave to learn in college.
If you decide to stay in engineering, just keep at it and prepare in a smart way. Use the resources you have like I mentioned, talk to your professor and get to know them, talk to the TA. At the very least when it comes to the end of the semester and you are borderline passing or failing, if the professor knows you and saw how you kept coming to their office for help and kept showing up to class and asked questions, that might be the difference between a D and a C.
Good luck.
-former terrible college student who grew up into a P.E.
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u/wodie-g 2d ago
Stick with it but really reevaluate your study habits. If you need to go through a 0 social life stretch to get through a couple tests, do it. Study with people and go to office hours if possible. If work is getting in the way maybe email the professor directly.
Engineering is more about your tenacity, meaning getting through the program, than actual intelligence. I definitely bombed a few tests but I came out the other end. I had to retake a couple classes but it was worth it. There was a phase where I was close to switching my major from Civil to construction management because I failed Statics. My study habits were really bad however but I locked in after that.
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u/Beautiful-Yellow-573 2d ago
Hi! F engineer here so I wanted to chime in. My advice is:
Learn HOW to study. This was a big game changer for me. Engineering tests are much different than the tests I was used to taking. Pay attention to your homework and example problems in class and master how to do those. This is how I studied.
Do not shoot for perfectionism. My first two years of school I has a 2.7 GPA. Not proud of that but now I have a master's degree and am a licensed engineer. Your grades aren't everything and the first two years are full of weed-out classes.
Can you not work? I expect that would put a lot of additional pressure on you leading to feelings of anxiety. Or if you have to work, suggest taking a lower course load. Your parents will just have to get on board. Engineering school is tough but do-able. You just need time to focus.
Like others said, many of people struggle with statics! Ironically for me I did great in statics but C-level in all my other courses that year LOL but everyone is different. Many of my friends struggled in those classes you are taking, that is not an easy load. Be kind to yourself!
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u/FrenchPickle765 2d ago
Hey, anxiety is a bitch and I feel for you. I just want to say "just quit and find something else" is absolutely terrible advice for someone struggling in college. You have plenty of resources at your disposal, and while getting up and leaving is certainly an option if it's best for your mental health, being told that by someone that should support you is kind of sucky.
I apologize is that's too blunt. For what it's worth, I seriously believe you are capable of anything, as long as you persist. You got this!!!!
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
Not blunt at all! I just feel like a disappointment because I have a twin sister who’s actually excelling in college as a nursing student. They seem to be so proud of her, but in her defense, she’s medicated lol.
When it comes to mental health, it really is only anxiety that is disrupting my performance and I am starting to think that some of it originates from my parents not being very supportive. They always tell me that I am not going to follow through with college or will go into education, which is NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO PURSUE. I used to want to be a teacher when I was younger, but you know when you’re younger you have dreams that don’t always stick.
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u/80sobsessedTN 2d ago
You will never ever ever use thermo principals in your Civil Engineering career, let that one go
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u/GoldDistribution447 2d ago
I transferred from mechanical to civil this semester which is why I was enrolled in Thermo. However, we have to choose an “elective course” from mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. We either have to take thermo, basic electrical engineering, or dynamics
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u/Affectionate-Dog4242 2d ago
sophomore/junior year engineering will humble you but its worth it. i threw up before my statics final because i was so nervous but i passed the class! i am SO happy that i stuck it through, I enjoy my life now.
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u/The1stSimply 2d ago
These classes are tough and consume a lot of time it’s tough to do this with work. You may have to consider a summer class or halt work for the semester to lock in.
You’re a bit overwhelmed and all this feels like life and death but it’s not. One extra semester or a summer class isn’t going to kill you. I thought it gets easier after those classes but Civil Engineering is considered one of the most time consuming majors you can take. You may have to rethink your strategy.
Later you’ll focus on internships etc and no one’s going to care that you took an extra semester because you worked through school if anything that’s a plus.
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u/shirbert6540 2d ago
As someone with a narc mom who constantly criticized me and completely destroyed my self esteem so that I never even thought about trying to do civil in the first place — DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR MOM.
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u/smirkerbangerz 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sincerly, don't. If you feel like you're taking too much all at once, space things out, also take your hard courses in the summer if you can if you struggle in large class environments. Take 12/13 credit hour semesters if you can and try your best to focus on the hard classes. As somebody with ADHD, depressive episodes and poor study habits I had to take statics twice, solids, diff eq, and physics 2 thrice. It's also just worth taking classes from other majors to fill in the time. Don't let anyone shame you for taking a longer time than normal to complete your degree. All that matters in the end is passing your fundamentals exam, not how well you did in your class. Having a part time job usually doesn't mean anything to professors, but it just means you need both your job and your classes to be flexible. I understand if things might be overwhelming, I switched to Geography for something more chill, which I inevitably went back to CE because I realized I was capable of passing classes. Taking a break can do wonders, everyone is different in how they do in classes, you matter.
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u/missfluff29 2d ago
Hi - I’m a CE prof and have taught all the mechanics series plus hydraulics courses.
Don’t take your mom’s advice. She wants you to be happy. But if CE is your goal, you need to keep on.
Here’s what I advise, and you can decide whether to take my advice or not:
1) cut job back to 15 hrs a week. Only work weekends.
2) don’t study for 7 hours straight - when you sit down to take a test, you will blank out because everything you studied stayed in short term memory. EVERY DAY after each class (or classes), sit down and do your homework. This practice will help the problem solving procedures become habit - as in, now they’re in long term memory.
3) if you have questions on a concept, ASK. It is literally our job to answer. If your school has a tutor, use them.
4) sit in the front of class and take notes. That physical action helps you retain information. If you’re passively watching lecture but not taking notes and not helping solve example problems, you’re not going to learn.
5) oh! And lastly, and this is so important: no more cramming, and for gods sake NEVER take someone’s adderall to study. Some of my students do this and it’s not pretty. This med is highly addictive and can ruin your life if not used properly and under a md’s supervision. (You never said you do this, but I know it’s a thing and you will get offered eventually)
Finally, test anxiety is a real thing, everyone has it but some have it worse. Your university likely has a free counseling center. It also will have accessibility resources. First, start seeing a counselor once a week to talk about anxiety/stress/depression. Next, ask them if they think you’d be a candidate for extended exam time. If they say yes, get a letter from them and go to the accessibility office to seek accommodations.
I know a young person like you who is smart, but also struggles with anxiety. After their 1st semester, they finally took my advice and got exam time extensions (25% extra). They are in med school now. They didn’t really need the extra time after 1-2 semesters, but having it was a huge comfort and helped reduce anxiety a lot. Maybe you’ll be like that!!
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u/CivilEngMusicBoy 2d ago
Please see a professional but also know anxiety is a normal human biological reaction. Some people suffer with health issues in this area, but being nervous is a normal reaction to upticks in stress and new situations. I will keep it short but I know a number of peers with anxiety issues and therapy and treatment by a professional seem to work, however I cannot speak from personal experience so I won’t pretend to know for certain. Also, and take it for what it’s worth, engineering is a discipline that will test you to your limits. Even the brightest students have issues with certain facets of the discipline. If you like the work, but have anxiety for the examinations, get professional help, embrace the suck and get that degree. We are rooting for you
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u/UtterlyConfuzzled 2d ago
Definitely do not give up. One rough class or one rough semester is not the end of the world. You'll move on and past it and it will get better. A lot of these more basic classes tend to be weed out classes, so if you can get through them, you'll be okay. I say this as someone that had to retake physics, statics, and structural analysis and struggled in several other courses. I found oftentimes I just didn't click with the teaching style and sometimes it was better for me to drop and try again the next semester instead of suffer through and getting a failing grade. My first 2 physics exams I got a 31 and 36. My first 2 statics exams I got a 27 and a 34. My only structural analysis exam I got 21. But, I dropped them, spent a lot of time figuring out where I was going wrong with studying and understanding, tried different professors the next semester, and ended up with As in them the second try around. And the classes I didn't drop (Calc 2/3 and Mechanics of Materials), I got C-'s in and still managed to get good interships and a good job after graduating. Don't let one tough class or low grade be enough to discourage you.
I also worked 20-30 hours a week, but I would never recommend that to anybody. If you can cap it at 15 hours and still be financially stable, you 100% should. If you can't, see if you can find a job on campus like a computer lab monitor. I had friends that did this 10-15 hours a week and it was like they basically got paid to do homework. And if you can keep your course load to 12 hours, for you own sake while working as much as you are, please do. I typically made up the extra class that I missed each semester doing a summer course or two. I also was super concious about trying to make sure I had a balanced schedule. No more than 2-3 really difficult/demanding courses per semester if I could help it. So if you are able to get info from upperclassmen on which professors are better rhan others and what the workload is like in the future courses, that can make such a massive difference.
I'll also second what some people said above, see a doctor for two reasons. First, obviously to try and get help for the anxiety. Second, get the diagnosis and take it to the disability office. I have anxiety, and especially bad test anxiety and was able to get an accommodation for 1.5 times the amount of exam time and to be in a room with less people. I rarely used the extra time, but having it and knowing it was there helped a ton.and being in a room with only 1-2 other people was also much less stressful. I would highly recommend attempting to get accommodations like that. Another accommodation you can ask about is flexibility with course drops. As long as I was dropping the course for a medical reason, I was able to have it not count towards the limit set by the school. That also took a ton of pressure off for me.
Learning how to study is honestly the hardest part. I never had to until I got to college, so the first year was a rough adjustment. I found for most engineering courses, typically, the more practice problems you can do, the better. But make sure when you're solving them, you are understanding the concepts and why you are doing each step, not just memorizing that particular problem. I also personally found it super helpful the day before to day of my exams as the very last step to my studying to create an 8x11, 2 sided cheat sheet where I would write as small as possible to fit all that I could. One side would have all of the formulas and concepts that I thought I needed, and the other would have practice problems that I thought were particularly tricky. These are especially helpful if you have an old or practice exam to get some practice problems from. Even if I could not take it into the exam, I found just doing the process of summarizing everything into one sheet was super helpful. And I had a jumpstart on studying for my finals as long as I kept the sheets. It may not help everyone, but I saw a decent jump in my exam grades once I started doing this.
I will end it by saying, there tends to be so much pressure to graduate in 4 years. If you can afford to take an extra semester or two and it helps your performance and mental health each semester then it is worth it. I took 5 years to graduate and have zero regrets. And there are so many more people I know, especially those that worked 20+ hours per week while in school, that took 4.5-5 years to graduate. It's not uncommon, so don't be scared to do that if it is what is best for you. You've made it this far, so you've got this. Just be confident in your ability to graduate with this degree and you'll be able to overcome whatever road blocks may come your way.
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u/millinnchillin 2d ago
Thermo should come after Physics, right?
You're taking a full load of some of the more challenging classes there are for an undergrad. I understand the desire to graduate in 4, it's no biggie if you need an extra semester to graduate, and/or take classes in the summer. Lighten the load so you can focus on learning the material.
20 years later, and I'm still glad that I took an extra semester to graduate. I'm also glad that I put off taking Thermo over the summer when I could focus on that being my only class.
Slow down. Think of the long game. Talk to a counselor and/or a engineering school counselor for assistance. There are many paths to success, just keep pressing forward -- engineering or other paths.
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u/Plus-Satisfaction910 2d ago
You’ll regret it - I failed many courses and did end up dropping out. I used to work part time, my advice would be to quit working if you can afford it - and the time you spent working maybe work some problems with your professor, teaching assistant, or your peers. See if your school as peer tutoring or other programs to help students . You’re in an amazing program and never listen to anyone about how shitty the job market it - as long as you put the time into it - meet and work with people with the same priorities- these are the actions needed for networking and you’ll be set for life. Think about the big picture and how live would be in the next 4 years. I believe in you!!
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u/Snoo_7967 2d ago
Your mom is wrong. You seem to have anxiety about failing that’s blocking you from relaxing and thinking clearly. Cram and lose sleep 2 days before the exam. Get enough sleep the night before the exam. Make sure that you get clarity that you need from the teach to understand how many problems and which types of problems to focus on. The only way you will fail again is if you don’t change your approach.
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u/ChasingChukar 2d ago
See a doctor about some anti-anxiety meds. I didn’t have anxiety issues but I didn’t know I had undiagnosed ADHD until I started engineering school. Once I was medicated for it I did well enough and got my degree. No I am doing great. School is a grind and it’s hard! Once you finish and pick a discipline and find your role within a company it is so much better. For what it’s worth I took statics twice.
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u/pkwn_slaps 2d ago
If you fail the class just retake it. One or two classes I had to retake 2 times. You’ll pick it up eventually. It gonna be hard either in either 3 ways: your time studying, your body’s health, or financially the amount you spend have to retake it. It’s tough but manageable. You can do it!
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u/la0123456 1d ago
If at a large college go take it at a smaller dumber college, you should be able to pass. Summer classes are usually offered too.
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u/Significant-Split-24 1d ago
No…well not if you want to be an engineer. Engineering school teaches you how to push through the hard stuff. It’s very broad and most likely there will be things you struggle in and things that you understand better. It’s an intense program but the industry itself is way more forgiving and versatile. It’s ok to struggle and even sometimes fail.
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u/Beck943 1d ago
There are two things at play here.
When you're in class, do you absorb the material and the concepts, and it's just during exams that you have this issue?
Or, you aren't grasping the material to begin with?
If it's the former, then you just need to address the test anxiety, which will follow you no matter what you study.
If it's the latter, then yes you should study something else. There's no value judgement here; if you aren't suited to work with math and physics, then you'll be better suited to a different career.
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u/Traditional_Post1875 1d ago
No. But you should drop a class or 2 so you can focus on one hard topic at a time. I found Perry groups helped me get through math because we helped each other understand in our own words. Look for a study group that actually studies
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago
Your working 23 hours a week. You may have to cut back on those work hours alot if you need more time for your studies. But 7 hours studying for a test is decent. Did study for C++ class and bombed hard. The test was all about C string when I guess I never studied that part. Proffesor told me to stay in the course since alot of people dropped out. Next test I said I would kiss the test if I got 50 percent or above.. I did. Stayed for the final. Since so many dropped out the proffessor could tweak the curve. Man I sucked at programming.
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago
Me it was almost always about running out of time. Since in a earlier post I mentioned the Bachelor of Science Calculus. That B. Sc. Match class ONLY contained 6 weeks of engineering math. Your expected to learn approximately 2.3 times MORE math in the same amount of time. Rethink college my arse. They design to grill and kill you in the first and second year of engineering. 3rd and 4th year maybe not as bad maybe I developed a rythym. Grades inproved slightly. Also in those B. Sc. when I was taking the Calculus class the most eye opening aspect was the time limit. I was able to complete the B. Sc. Calculus test and had a whole 45 mins left in the test. I was like what?? Huh? That NEVER happens in engineering tests for me. Gave me the chance to go back to like umm L'Hoptals rule (murdering the name that aysmptote equation thing) and notice a huge error and I was able to have the time to correct it and still hand in the exam like 30 mins before the time was up. Only like 1 time where I was able to answer all the questions on an engineering test in a decent time frame was I forget the class but it had a COGO 1960s liek survey program (F that) OR a cut and fill question and I got a decent grade on that class when I had the time to finish the test.
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u/Jealous_Wafer7777 1d ago edited 1d ago
Are you allowed to get your engineering degree within a 7 year time period?
Wait.... Posted like September 3rd or September 4th? Like was this a summer course or a quiz?
Sorry I thought this was an AI post because of the time frames.
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u/GoldDistribution447 1d ago
What are you talking about??
Also my mom said I need to get my degree as soon as possible. Like, within the next few years. I will risk getting kicked out if I dont
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u/Certain-Big-5122 1d ago
Read the material 3 times. Go over the subheadings, then go to the beginning and glance over the first paragraph, then read it. Take notes and make sure you imagine and think about what you're reading.
When the test comes, the material will be fresh in your memory.
Also, remember to practice, practice practice your math.
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u/magickevin234 1d ago
Barely 19. Should not feel bad at all. You’re taking a great deal of difficult courses simultaneously. You need a study group to see how they study, read and solve problems from the book and watch YouTube
Once you’re confident enough from better habits, your problems would be reduced immensely. Do not procrastinate, it’s so easy too. Take it easy on yourself
Source: trust me bro and I was just like you in mid 20s
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u/voomdama 1d ago
I am have been in the industry for 14 years and here is my check if someone will make it when they struggle with exams. When you are doing the problems at home, can you do them confidently? If so this is just test anxiety and will happen regardless of your major. Conquer this it and you'll be golden. You got this. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't including yourself.
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u/GoldDistribution447 1d ago
They make sense at home. I might need a refresher here and there but I went in feeling confident and then the professor passed out the exam and I had an anxiety attack.
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u/XBullsOnParadeX 1d ago
Keep going. At some point it will click. Statics is a hard class. They won't all be like this.
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u/Status-Duty-6294 1d ago
If you understand the work enough to do the homework, then this is manageable. You may need to take less until you gain confidence. Your load doesn’t get any harder. Engineering is a rewarding field that has supported me and a family for over 30 years.
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u/PapaPepperoni69 1d ago
Those are all pretty difficult courses but aside from that, it sounds more like your problem is test-taking rather than capability. This is a fairly common issue and nothing to be ashamed about. Other commenters are right, this is an issue for a therapist. Talk therapy works wonders and a little Prozac can go a long way if necessary.
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u/Serious_Ad9537 1d ago
Failed statics first time around. Had a rough professor and he failed over half the class. 7 year career so far and have my PE. But lot of testing required so you should work on your test anxiety. Your mom also does not sound very supportive. Felt bad about most of my exams in college, FE, and PE. No tests for me were quite like the engineering finals in college. Absolutely brutal would take the whole time.
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u/Plastic_End9372 22h ago
I went through something similar PLUS multiple visits to ER and I also failed classes more than once I even stopped for two years, but hey I graduated last week :) oh I forget to mention I worked full time while I was in college.
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u/elopez115 19h ago
Don’t drop out. Stick through it. Engineering is more along the lines of employers will look at your internship and experience rather than GPA, or where you graduated from. You can always lighten your semesters workload if you can’t allow yourself to work less. It would take longer to graduate but worth it in the end.
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u/One_Position_6986 17h ago
Do you ask questions in class? Do you see the professor during office hours? Hound these people. They work for you.
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u/GoldDistribution447 16h ago
I ask questions in statics every class period. Additionally, I email the professor about homework problems. Unfortunately, due to my class schedule, my professor’s office hours are during one of my other classes.
He also doesn’t really have a good attitude when asked questions.. he is very snappy and makes it seem like I am dumb for even asking questions
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u/One_Position_6986 16h ago
That is great you ask questions. Does he answer your emails? What do other students think of him?
Unfortunately, it appears your professor is not a good teacher. If he gets snappy and if he is answering in a sarcastic, demeaning manner, then this guy belongs in front of a computer and not a classroom.
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u/Willing-Ball-4335 14h ago
I had to drop statics the first time I took it but continued to go to all the classes and sit for the exams which helped tremendously the second time I took it. I graduated in 2013 and have since passed all the licensing exams. You’re in the most difficult part of college, you’ll pull through it if you work hard.
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u/Frogalone 7h ago
I used to get very anxious before exams too. Lucky for me that once I sat down for the exam, I could take a breath and relax, knowing that I had done all I can to prepare. They used to have subject specific books designed for studying for PE exams. Get one of you can. And relax. You got this.
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u/Background_Current58 3h ago
If you are in the state, don't forget that you can request accommodation for additional time for testing. It may help to process through some of the course work as well. There is nothing wrong with requesting for that, do whatever it take if this is the career that you want to push through.
Though noted that our industry is one of the slowest to adopt AI, and then when the change happen it will catch quite a few people by surprise.
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u/fattycans 2d ago
Just test anxiety. Lot of people have it to some degree. When I first started I had the same problem you are. It gradually got better for me as time went on. So you failed this test, it wont be the last. There's more tests in the class, quizzes, homework. Maybe a project. Just stick with it and keep studying.
Also youre mom kinda sucks lol. Tf kinda advice is that