Can You Balance Mechanical Engineering Studies with a Social Life?

[skizzle]

I'm thinking about studying for mechanical engineering, but I'm slightly discouraged by the amount of work people say they have to put forth. but is there really that little amount of free time to hang out with friends and do things you enjoy? i mean, will i still have to for my gf and what not? I'm not really motivated in school but i have a general interest in engineering but i don't know if i can do it if it's going to be that much work.

 

[chroot]

It depends on your work ethic, study habits, and your mastery of the material you were supposed to learn in high school. If you have good study habits, good discipline, and paid attention in high school, you'll still be able to have a full social and romantic life. You can do it!

- Warren

 

[G01]

You are still able to have a social life and a girlfriend while studying science or engineering.

But you won't be able to spend every night partying either. It is a lot of work, but it's not impossible and people complete engineering degrees every year and love their choice of career. Good Luck!

 

[Cyrus]

Im not going to lie, your soical life WILL suffer.

 

[Ki Man]

Although, it will not be completely nonexistant (although it probably may seem like it at times)

 

[ytoruno]

its more managable than one might think, assuming your girlfriend doesn't give you too much drama.

 

[Serbian.matematika]

Im not going to lie, your soical life WILL suffer.

very true!

 

[nicksauce]

The engineers at my school are actually notorious party animals... us physicists on the other hand...

 

[Pyrrhus]

You are going to have to party less, but you can still party.

 

[berkeman]

I'm not really motivated in school but i have a general interest in engineering but i don't know if i can do it if it's going to be that much work.

To be honest, engineering does not sound like a good match for you. Sorry.

 

[Ronnin]

You know there will be a time in your life when hanging out with your friends and drinking beer won't be nearly as important to you. A little sacrifice today goes a long way in getting you what you really want tomorrow.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

You know there will be a time in your life when hanging out with your friends and drinking beer won't be nearly as important to you. A little sacrifice today goes a long way in getting you what you really want tomorrow.

What DO you really want tomorrow (to OP and Ronnin)?

 

[Feldoh]

Im not going to lie, your soical life WILL suffer.

Especially if the majority of your school is male

 

[Cyrus]

Especially if the majority of your school is male

Less distraction to study harder!

 

[Cyrus]

What DO you really want tomorrow (to OP and Ronnin)?

A job that pays me lots and lots of money to do cool state of the art stuff.

 

[G01]

Skizzle, I think you should ask yourself the following question:

Do I like and enjoy engineering enough to give up part of my social life to study it?

If you really enjoy engineering, then you probably wouldn't mind giving up some of the social scene in order to study it effectively.

If you can't see engineering being interesting enough to sacrifice some of the nights at the bar, then engineering is not for you.

Find the subject for which you can answer "yes" to the above question, and that is most likely the major of choice for you.

 

[Serbian.matematika]

what would you do if you were in my situation;
gender: female
program: EE
cultural background: very strict parents
social life: NON existent (no boyfriend)
but= that's OK, it's temporary, when I get my degree probably some guy will find me?

 

[berkeman]

what would you do if you were in my situation;
gender: female
program: EE
cultural background: very strict parents
social life: NON existent (no boyfriend)
but= that's OK, it's temporary, when I get my degree probably some guy will find me?

You're doing fine. Keep working hard now, and you will enjoy the rewards in due course.

 

[Cyrus]

what would you do if you were in my situation;
gender: female
program: EE
cultural background: very strict parents
social life: NON existent (no boyfriend)
but= that's OK, it's temporary, when I get my degree probably some guy will find me?

gender: does not matter
program: does not matter
cultural background: does not matter
social life: does not matter

Also, a boyfriend is not a social life. Its ok if you don't have a social life, however, it is important you have good social skills.

 

[mgiddy911]

Also, a boyfriend is not a social life. Its ok if you don't have a social life, however, it is important you have good social skills.

That's an important statement. I remember a thread a while back about how to study for (my opinion here) a ridiculous amount of hours per day (end my opinion)

Many responses were that the OP may be missing out on key aspects of his undergrad life by trying to do literally nothing but study and sustain his health with a bit of sleep and food.

What I mean is that going out to drink or party is not crucial, but having no social life (possibly meaning no social skills) can be detrimental to your life after college

 

[berkeman]

I guess I should mention another option -- the one that I found to work for me. I had a girlfriend or two for much of college, but I found that I really couldn't take the time to socialize and party during the quarters. I found that I did best by focusing almost 100% on studies during the time that school was running, and then enjoying myself and partying during school breaks (like Spring break, or Christmas break).

I was pretty well adjusted socially before college, and during college breaks and then after graduation. But during school time, no partying. It wasn't as much fun probably as mixing in some partying during school time, but for me, the extra level of acheivement in school (and hence after graduation) was worth the extra effort and willpower.

 

[Hydrargyrum]

I guess engineering will be perfect for me then since I don't have a life now and probably never will

 

[Cyrus]

I guess engineering will be perfect for me then since I don't have a life now and probably never will

With your attitude, I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Hydrargyrum]

 

[z-component]

No need to pity yourself. If you really want the degree, you'll work for it.

 

[Cyrus]

What, get real.

 

[Hydrargyrum]

Sarcasm

 

[proton]

I guess engineering will be perfect for me then since I don't have a life now and probably never will

haha, sounds just like me. except i probably will have a life...not til after college though

i assume its also foolish to sacrifice a social life in order to pursue a double major in math and physics?

 

[dontdisturbmycircles]

My experience is that you can make it in Engineering with quite little effort (assuming you are somewhat bright) but the difference between a 3.0 and a 3.6+ is about 20 hours per week. I personally think its despicable to graduate with a B- average but that's just me.

On the other hand, graduating with a 4.0 with no knowledge of politics, philosophy, or the world in general, is even worse.

 

[mgiddy911]

Proton,
I would say yes definitely foolish to sacrifice social life to double major in math/physics
Doubling in math physics will give you lots of skills in math that others may mis out on, but on a grad school app. it won't add too much because the subjects are similar. Where as a double in Physics and Philosophy or Physics and English would look very impressive.
so my opinion is do not throw away your social life to do that double major, just try and squeeze some extra math classes in here and there, maybe a math minor? ps. there's a good band out of Waco,Texas called Math Minor.I also highly agree with dontdisturbmycircles in that you should branch out while in college and take classes form other subjects. Take ( if you are me, then struggle with) a few literature classes and learn a foreign language