How do I prepare for electrical engineering in college? And what college should I go to?

Question

I'm now a senior and I have pretty average grades with a 3.4. I'm taking pre-calc and physics this year. I plan on going to NJIT, TCNJ, Rutgers, Stevens, or NYU and majoring in EE or CE. I have an FCC GROL and an MECP license I earned from my electronics shop. The problem is that my teachers spent so much time studying on the FCC and MECP topics that I have a somewhat amateur knowledge on electronics such as circuit making and schematic reading. This year I will try my best to learn these things but I have no idea what may happen. Is there any websites or books I can look up online that will help me with easier terms and not like those electronics books that will confuse me? Any advice will be acknowledged and gratefully appreciated.

Answer 1

All 5 universities are following the ABET requirements. What this means is that you would have to take at least two Physics, at least two Chemistry and at least 3/4 Calculus/Differential equations courses as well as general interdisciplinary courses like English, Foreign Language, History/Philosophy/Literature, Economics, Management, Social Sciences, Computer Science and technical drawing. The courses are structured that way such that you would be have learn the materials needed to tackle the EIT (Engineer in Training) exam and the PE (Professional Engineer) exam (a few years after graduation).



The way to succeed in college engineering is to be strong in your foundation courses which in this case are your math courses so that you would be able to handle without problems later on. If you have extra time, you may want to visit on of the college book stores and pick up a Calculus 1 textbook and start working on it before the term starts.



Most engineering students have a common first year which many are known to take the time to decide what is most suitable for themselves. More would have problems with Computer Science and Physics than any other subjects. You probably would be able to make the decision whether to choose to EE , EET, Computer Engineering or Computer Engineering Technology before year 3. If you have want most options open, make sure you choose a college that also offers the T (Technology) options. The difference between Engineering and Engineering Technology is Technology focuses more on applications of existing Engineering Technology as opposed to a more theoretical engineering approach of Engineering which entails more brain-power usage and prepares one better for graduate school. Electrical Engineering is deemed as the tougher of the two.



Can't advise you at the microscopic level because I was a Computer Science major. I had many common courses with other engineering majors for the first 3 semesters and for inter-disciplinary subjects. You could also consider switching over to Computer Science (or picking it up as a minor) should you discover yourself to have more interest and aptitude after taking the required Computer Science course.



The Computer Science syllabus is slightly different as accredited programs follows the requirements set by ACM and IEEE as opposed to just IEEE. It is currently administered by CSAB.

Answer 2

A 3.4 GPA is marginal for Electrical Engineering. If you get in somewhere, you're at high risk of failing. If you're mainly interested in Electronics, you should take a 4yr Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering Technology.



The best book to get you up to speed in Electronics is called "Art of Electronics" (though it's a bit dated now).

Answer 3

It appears like you've gotten a reasonable quantity of functional enjoy, so I might inspire you to take the hardest, such a lot complicated physics and math categories to be had. Dedicate extra after-magnificence research time to those categories. In a four-12 months tuition, as an EE primary, you're going to be competing towards scholars who attended academically-rigorous personal top colleges, and who've accomplished complex AP physics and math categories. I might inspire you, on your loose time every day, to log onto Yahoo Answers - Physics, and bounce in and resolve issues, for illustration, in Newtonian mechanics (legislation of movement). You'll discover this a little bit extra complex than your HS physics direction, due to the fact on your direction you research each and every specific magnificence of issues, take a scan, and transfer on. In distinction, on Yahoo Answers you'll be able to be answering questions from each and every magnificence of drawback that may be solved by means of Newtonian mechanics. Some issues might be handling a stability of forces -- gadgets sliding down a ramp, with friction. Other issues will ask questions approximately trajectories of gadgets of a wide variety. You'll have got to solve the preliminary speed, at an perspective, into vertical and horizontal accessories, and resolve vertical and horizontal ingredients of the drawback. Solutions to the quadratic equation: s = vt - zero.5at^two. You'll additionally stumble upon issues with KE, PE, and the PE saved in a spring of F = kx. Plus, tensions in two cables, at angles, helping a mass. Plus rotational issues with angular momentum and rotational KE. Anyway, you get the thought. You are bombarded with plenty of distinct issues, and also you have to believe in your toes. I might additionally inspire you to go into an EE task in a technology reasonable. The most appropriate pageant, of direction, is the Intel technology reasonable. And, become a member of or begin a "robotics membership" at your university. The university (or membership) buys a $500 standardized package of fundamental ingredients. You layout & construct a precise robotic, and input your robotic in a country wide pageant. Don't get discouraged. I majored in EE and physics, and studied for six years of undergraduate tuition to get a B.S. measure. Take one more 12 months on the establishing, if wanted, to rather emerge as knowledgeable in physics & math. The higher-stage publications in EE subjects will then be extra pleasurable and no more annoying. I might additionally suggest, while you begin tuition, to push tough to get summer season "co-op" or "intern" jobs in a top-tech organization on your selected uniqueness. By the way in which, engineers from neighborhood firms might be judges at your technology reasonable, so this can be a well strategy to get an "in" at an EE organization. Best of good fortune! ------- .