Common for one class to give trouble?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the challenges faced by a second-year undergraduate mechanical engineering student in a circuits analysis class. Participants share their experiences with difficult courses and explore reasons for varying levels of understanding among classmates. The conversation touches on personal struggles with grades and the perceived disparity in effort and outcomes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over consistently receiving lower grades despite significant effort in a circuits analysis class, questioning why some classmates seem to grasp the material better.
  • Another participant shares that they have not encountered a class that made them feel powerless but anticipates challenges in future courses like E&M or QM.
  • Some participants suggest that differences in understanding may stem from the class composition, questioning whether it is primarily mechanical engineers or electrical engineers.
  • Advice is offered to seek help from classmates who understand the material better, emphasizing the value of discussing confusion to gain clarity.
  • It is noted that some students find analogies, such as water plumbing, helpful in understanding circuit analysis, particularly for those not specializing in electrical engineering.
  • There is a general acknowledgment that it is not uncommon for students to struggle with specific classes, particularly circuits and electromagnetism.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences with difficult classes, with some agreeing that it is common to struggle in certain subjects while others share their personal insights and strategies. No consensus is reached on the reasons for differing levels of understanding among students.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the potential impact of class composition on understanding the material, as well as the subjective nature of difficulty in courses. There is an acknowledgment of varying strengths and weaknesses among students, which may influence their performance in different subjects.

Who May Find This Useful

Students in engineering programs, particularly those facing challenges in courses like circuits analysis or electromagnetism, may find the shared experiences and suggestions relevant.

Farmergregor
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Hello, I'm a 2nd year undergraduate working towards a degree in mechanical engineering. Overall, I'm doing fairly well with a 3.87 GPA, but this semester I am taking one class (circuits analysis class), and it has been kicking my butt. Right now I'll probably get a C in the class. It seems no matter what I do, how much I study, or how many angles I approach the class from; I get C's or B's (sometimes A's) on assignments/tests relative to the rest of the class. Hopefully this doesn't come off as arrogant, but I wonder why some of my classmates grasp the material, but I don't. Usually I always feel like the grade I want (an A) is always within my reach if I put forth the required effort. However, it feels like no matter what amount of effort I put into this class, I get the same results.

Anyways, I'm necessarily asking for advice on how to do better in the class. I really want to know if any of you have had similar experiences. That is, have you taken a class where you feel powerless to make the grade you want?
 
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Yeah, pretty much all of them. I just try my best and hope to beat the average. (Don't stress too much, it's not worth it).
 
Farmergregor said:
Hello, I'm a 2nd year undergraduate working towards a degree in mechanical engineering. Overall, I'm doing fairly well with a 3.87 GPA, but this semester I am taking one class (circuits analysis class), and it has been kicking my butt. Right now I'll probably get a C in the class. It seems no matter what I do, how much I study, or how many angles I approach the class from; I get C's or B's (sometimes A's) on assignments/tests relative to the rest of the class. Hopefully this doesn't come off as arrogant, but I wonder why some of my classmates grasp the material, but I don't. Usually I always feel like the grade I want (an A) is always within my reach if I put forth the required effort. However, it feels like no matter what amount of effort I put into this class, I get the same results.

Anyways, I'm necessarily asking for advice on how to do better in the class. I really want to know if any of you have had similar experiences. That is, have you taken a class where you feel powerless to make the grade you want?


I have yet to come across a class that has made me feel powerless, but I also haven't taken E&M or QM yet, so I'm sure my time is soon.

In regards to your situation, is this a class filled with other mechanical engineers? Or is it primarily EEs? If you have never seen this stuff before, and don't find it as interesting/relevant to your goals, then I can see how it can give you problems. It is extremely frustrating for me when people understand stuff that I don't or put forth less effort and get better results, but this happens from time to time. My advice to you is to really put more into your studying. I usually am never content with my knowledge/grades on tests and assignments, and because of that each time I study even more and try even harder, and this has proven to give me better grades. Electrical circuits really are quite different than mechanics. I have seen some people fly through circuits/electricity with no problem but struggle to solve a ball rolling down a hill problem. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so just plan accordingly to make up for your natural grasp whatever material by studying more, and soon it will probably make more sense.
 
If you say some of your classmates are getting it, talk to them ask for help. Sometimes just talking through your confusion can help you realize what has been so difficult. Plus if you are in other classes with some of those people, you can help them with classes your better at.
 
As a small note, some students find that water plumbing analogies help in circuit analysis... especially if they are non-EE engineers.

But, to answer your question, it's not that uncommon for one class to throw a loop... and both circuits and electromagnetism (field theory) seem to be common (in our university, the two are combined for all engineers, then EE's take further courses).
 

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