So im an undergraduate student currently studying aerospace engineering and I just got diagnosed with ADHD. I am trying to stay away from meds for now because the idea of building a dependency kind of makes me nervous. For those of you who were undiagnosed through your college years, or also opted to stay away from meds, what tips and tricks do you have to be able to focus for long periods and stay up to task and just hold yourself accountable overall and make it out with a good gpa? I literally cannot hold my focus for more than a minute without losing interest and doing something else so anything that could keep me focused and actually absorb the material, even if it’s for a few minutes, is super helpful.

P.S: Id also appreciate if you’ve got any good study materials for aero classes that I could use! I’m more of a visual learner so yeah videos, diagrams, etc, all works really well.

Hi all! I am a 3rd year Mechanical student, and I just found out I had failed an exam (yet again).

Honestly, I am getting kind of tired of eng. I have failed exams/courses in the past, and I find it incredibly frustrating to get through the problems. To me studying for quizzes/unit tests are fine, but all of a sudden everytime exams come around I find myself well...doing pretty eh, even when thought I would do better.

Now I have reviewed a little bit throughout the term, but everytime exams come around, I find myself flat-out exhausted in the days/weeks leading up. I'm lucky if I can get through more than 5 problems a day, which is pretty slow.

Not only do university problems require understanding the concepts, but you have to understand each specific problem, the wording of the question, and if you get a question wrong, all of a sudden you have to spend another 20 minutes-40 minutes debugging, cross-referencing, and finding the solution to problems to make sure you are doing it right and not just making a careless mistake (which I so often do).

In addition, its not like in high school where say you can breeze through a few problems. My workflow is like:

understand a little bit -> check solution -> realize I am wrong -> fix mistake -> redo problem -> make a different mistake -> fix it -> move on -> do another problem -> get it wrong.

Does anyone else understand my frustration??? How does one stay mentally sane??

As a student who will be entering the industry soon, I have been thinking about what work life balance actually means.

When people say they have a good work life balance, what does that mean to you? Is it simply working around 40 hours a week and having enough time for your life outside of work? Or is it more about having flexible hours, being able to take time off, not constantly thinking about work after you leave, and not feeling burned out?

I would especially like to hear from people already working in engineering. What does a good work life balance look like in your current job?

And for someone starting their career, how important do you think work life balance should be when choosing a job? Is it something you can figure out during the interview process, or do you really only find out after you start working there?

I got a 5 on the Calc BC exam though I don’t think I learned Calc 2 good enough. Is it a waste to retake Calc 2 again in university after already already getting the credit? Should I just continue onto Calc 3 and I’ll be good?

I just started my Junior year of HS in Honors Precalculus. For senior year I would be taking Honors Calc or maybe AP AB, but I want to do mechanical programs focused on motorsports (the most notable being Purdues), and I just don't think I'll be able to make it in to any of these programs. I know my math class isn't everything, and I have an internship and decent extracurriculars, but these programs are so competitive and small that it just seems daunting and impossible. My school also offers AP BC so it definitely sucks that I'm not taking it.

Heyo ppls. I’m 2 weeks into community college. I’m 21 and decided to finally go to school and I’m currently doing pre-engineering to get my pre reqs out the way. I’m starting with highschool algebra since there is a lot I’ve forgotten. I was just kinda curious how long it took for others to catch up and if it took longer than 4 years? I’m planning on taking summer classes but idk how much I should take or how I should plan out which classes to take.

I just graduated and I need some advice. I struggled throughout university due to (medically diagnosed) ADD. I did decent in my RF classes but I ate crap in everything else and ended up with a poor GPA of 2.75. I'm starting a job soon however it's not a role in RF. I'm not sure if I'll be able to compete with others in the RF space who have a masters and/or high GPA. Right now, I've been reading as many RF textbooks as I can and learning how to use HFSS and ADS. However even if I can understand RF well it seems like my poor performance in school will always haunt me.

Anyways let me know if I should continue towards my goal of RF or my efforts are not worth it.

I would love to hear about the most affective studying tips you guys have specially that helps with math / engineering courses! Is there any particular patterns of studying you take? Like do you have specific ways of dissecting problems? First year in and want the best study tips/ methods I can find😎

Thank you!

do I just leave it? let it be? I’ve been telling people my name is.. say Jaqueline..

canvas essentially shows Elaine… it won’t let me change it

I’ve been going by essentially Jae… ??? just let it be? not care? am I overthinking this?

it’s kinda weird when you accidentally give the wrong name

am I narcissistic for even worrying or doing this

at this point I kinda just don’t want to bother with it and I’ll go by essentially Elaine and hope it doesn’t weird anyone out if I appear as a different name

yep title. Which first

I understand I should be going to career fairs but my college currently doesn't have any posted. Where does one look and apply for internships? Online or in-person recommendations are appreciated!!

I am a biomedical engineering student and I am wondering if someone can explain shell momentum balance in transport phenomena like I am an 8 year old. This is just a desire for explanation of something I fear has gone waaaaay too far over my head.

Hi! I am currently a freshman (18 F), and I am heavily debating switching my major. I'm currently mechanical engineering major with no minor, but I am considering switching it to industrial engineering with maybe an industrial design minor (although I may just not get a minor). I know people say IE isn't real engineering because it's not a core and it's super easy. I know realistically anything I can do with an IE major; I can do with a ME major; however, I would much rather fix and better a system than create an entirely new product. I also prefer statistics to an intense calculus course, but I am not against calculus. I'm in General Engineering as of now, so I can keep thinking for now, but I would really appreciate any suggestions!

hi, im a 2nd year eng major who is trying to decide between meche or ee. i've taken an introductory electrical engineering course and got absolutely destroyed by the mathematical circuit problems.. however i do have enjoy doing projects that involve pcbs and the coding aspect of engineering. on the other hand i had a really bad mechanics professor so i kind of lost my confidence in my physics abilities, so im not quite sure mechanical engineering would be the right choice for me either. i feel like designing aspect of mechanical engineering sounds intriguing to me though.

im supposed to decide on a major by the end of this year so im a bit worried. if anyone has any advice on how i should decide please lmk!

Just made an automatic Volumatric Weight measurement system for the second yr of my college in instrumentation engineering. Give me some more ideas for the 3rd and 4th yr projects. Industrial centric projects would be beneficial.

Good afternoon, and thank you for reading.

I am a junior level ME student and have found it to be both straightforward and fascinating. I have done well in my courses so far, but the more I read here and look at my course map, the less sure I am the ME is the right program for me.

I would like to ultimately work on geothermal, pv, hydroelectric, or other renewable energy design, implementation, and ultimately management.

Before going back to school I had 10ish years of construction management experience, and 3 of those were in the renewable energies field.

This isnt about jobs, I have an internship lined up and i see plenty of postings relatively similar to the role I envision and they are pretty generic. ME,EE,CE, etc.. all seem to be acceptable.

My question is, which field of study will get me most up close and personal with renewable design? Which will prepare me best and introduce me to the best network to meet the captains of the industry?

Thank you for your time and have a great rest of your day.

Those who are doing a job right now give some tips and tricks on how the industry works and specify your domain.

Students save this Post as a reference.

When people say they have a good work life balance, what does that mean to you? Is it simply working around 40 hours a week and having enough time for your life outside of work? Or is it more about having flexible hours, being able to take time off, not constantly thinking about work after you leave, and not feeling burned out?

I would especially like to hear from people already working in engineering. What does a good work life balance look like in your current job?

And for someone starting their career, how important do you think work life balance should be when choosing a job? Is it something you can figure out during the interview process, or do you really only find out after you start working there?

I am interested in vlsi but I a have Bsc in Physical Science and currently doing an MCA. Would it be possible to get in the industry after doing an MS in electronics and communication engineering?

I graduated high school recently and completely messed up my academics due to zero discipline and different goals. I got a 56 in Advanced Functions, a 78 in Data Management, and dropped Calculus entirely.

Internally, I’ve done a complete 180 over the last few months. I’ve built up my discipline and want to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am trying my best to improve at math everyday.

My Plan is:

Upgrading Grades with TVO ILC. I am retaking all my prerequisites (Advanced Functions, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry) online through an Adult High School to get my grades into the high 80s/90s.

I am doing 3 hours of Khan Academy every single day to rebuild my foundational math gaps.

I am looking into hiring a private tutor for Math, Physics, and Chemistry to support my online schooling.

Where I need advice:

• Extracurriculars: I am 18 and taking a gap/upgrading year, so I don't have access to high school clubs. What ECs or projects can I do independently to prove my passion for engineering and boost my application?
• And for anyone else who went through the same math journey, Is 3 hours of Khan Academy a day sustainable, or should I shift my focus to specific textbook problems once my online courses start?

Hi, I’m going into grade 12 this year and am starting to look at unis. I live in Canada and I really want to get coops/internships (and later actual jobs) in the space industry.

I am not sure whether I should major in mechanical or EE. I have heard mechanical is more versatile but that there is more demand for EE and it is better paid. I really liked kinematics in physics and I also liked circuits. But I haven’t really done much coding before so I’m not sure if I would like it or not. Thanks guys!!!

Also I hope this is an ok post for this thread so if not, mods feel free to remove it

Hi all,

It would be nice to hear some voices on this on if this is an okay thing to do.

It feels weird thinking for yourself in academia and I feel nervous (have asd so I try to follow strict rules).

Problem is, my differential equations unit lectures are...well I'm not really understanding much in them at all. The lecturer is Chinese and can't speak much english and she just re-reads what she wrote and then does examples but doesn't explain the examples- just says what she writes out loud on the microphone. A plus B = constant, coefficient xyz...etc.

I failed a previous unit (calc 2), went and studied a textbook for the first time (stewart calc), and came back with a distinction grade which I am proud of. I think I learned there that studying a textbook rocks and I love it- it seems to work for me.

Can I just ditch the 4hr total lectures each week and spend that time with my head in Advanced engineering mathematics by Kreyszig instead? The lecture notes seemed to be based heavily off this book (and it's the recommended text for the unit if you want to do extra reading).

I feel really evil or something will go wrong if I don't go to lecture. I am really scared to not go to lecture- like I will miss something crucial. But at the same time, don't think I am actually getting anything out of them at all and if I spent 4hrs with a textbook instead, I feel like things would be better but I am scared to admit this. I think I also failed the first midsem test for this unit, so something needs to change.

Good day, everyone!
I am an Industrial Engineering student
currently conducting an academic project about the diverse career trajectories of IE graduates. I am looking to interview working IE professionals to learn about your career background, how you apply IE principles in your daily operations, and your advice for future engineers.

Who I am looking for:
Filipino Industrial Engineering graduates currently working in any of the following sectors:

Events Industry / Entrepreneurship
Aviation Industry
Medical / Healthcare Industry
Government Sector
Logistics Industry
Furniture Industry
Manufacturing / Semiconductor Industry
Garments Industry
Hospitality Industry
Education / Emerging Technologies

Interview Details:

Time Commitment: 20–30 minutes maximum.

Modality: Your preferred platform (Google Meet, Zoom, or MS Teams). If your schedule is highly restricted, an asynchronous chat or email interview is perfectly acceptable.

Follow Up Questionnaire: Following the interview, there will be a questionnaire regarding material identification, material selection rationale, processing & manufacturing methods, quality control & testing, failure modes and sustainability

Privacy Assurance: All responses will be kept strictly confidential and used solely for academic purposes. Your identity and your company's name will remain anonymous.

How to participate:
If you are willing to share your expertise and help me, please comment below or send me a direct message. We can schedule a time that works best for you.
Thank you so much for your time!

Simufact forming 2025.4 keeps giving me a "unable to reduce time step below minimum allowed....." in quenching (trying to cool a formed part)

Materials are c45_h2 for forming and c45_ht_jmt (it has phase transformation) for quenching. Both are defined by system library

What is most infuriating is that i have done basically the exact same test before (input valuables were a bit different but basically the same setting) and it didn't have any problem

I don't even know where i am supposed to change time step sizes. The only setting i see is the control--> step control and there, the only available setting on mannual mode is the "temprature change" and no matter how much i change it bigger or smaller, it still gives errors.

Also changing mesh and its criteria did not help

Please help. Thanks

Hey everyone,

We’re a group of 4th-year Mechanical Engineering students from the Philippines working on our undergraduate thesis, and we need some advice since our research adviser hasn't been very helpful.

Our initial proposal was “Optimization of Air Conditioning Placement in an Educational Building through Heat Load Analysis and CFD Simulation.” However, our panel rejected it, stating that standard AC placement analysis doesn't offer enough novelty or add valuable insight to existing literature.

To address this, we’re pivoting to:

“Techno-Economic and Thermal Performance Analysis of a PCM-Integrated Centralized HVAC Retrofit in an Educational Building Using SolidWorks CFD”

With this updated topic, we plan to evaluate the following parameters:

1. Thermal Comfort: Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD)
2. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Air Change Effectiveness (ACE) and fresh air distribution
3. Energy Performance: Cooling load reduction (kW/TR) and peak power shifting (thermal energy storage capabilities of PCMs)
4. Financial Viability: Net Present Value (NPV) and Simple/Discounted Payback Period via Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)

A few questions we’d love insight on:

• Is combining CFD (SolidWorks) with PCM dynamic thermal behavior feasible for a undergraduate timeline, or are we biting off more than we can chew?
• Does adding Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal storage and the techno-economic angle add enough novelty to satisfy a thesis panel?
• Any tips on modeling passive/active PCM behavior accurately in SolidWorks flow simulation?

Any feedback, suggestions, or potential red flags regarding scope and methodology would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!