Common for one class to give trouble?

[Farmergregor]

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?

 

[General_Sax]

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).

 

[nlsherrill]

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.

 

[Dougggggg]

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.

 

[physics girl phd]

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).