The 6 Year Engineering Program

The UW engineering degree is intended to be five years long, but let’s face it – many UW engineering students spend 6 or more years here getting their BASc. After getting back your midterms, you may be thinking that UW Engineering is not the place for you, but read on in this article and you just may find something that can give you a hand. I’ve failed tons of midterms, three courses, and delayed my graduation by a year (from 2011 to 2012). Along the way I learned a few things I wish I could have known sooner rather than learning them the hard way. Here they are:

1. Study skills take time and effort to acquire. I came from high school thinking I knew how to study, but really all I knew was how to regurgitate things I memorized. Unfortunately, in university it is required that you understand concepts to pass. CECS runs some great workshops on study skills and upper years may also have good advice. Those practice finals the profs post? Do them – they are up for a reason. Even if the questions don’t end up on your final you are practising the skills they are looking for.
2. You are going to need to work with others to get this degree. Any discipline will have labs, assignments, fourth year projects, etc. that need you to work in a group. Get to know your classmates and who you work best with so you can put together a group that will be able to get things done on time and will provide quality work. Also, sometimes there is just too much work assigned for you to do it all on your own – if you have a study group, you can help each other out.
3. If you are injured or sick, go see a doctor. The reason I am graduating a year late is because I have tendonitis in both my wrists and was unable to write as of a year ago. This was due to poor ergonomics and ignoring my wrist pain for too long. It took 4 months of physio to fix and cost me a year. If you are injured or sick (physically or mentally) please see a doctor or counsellor as soon as you can. They can work with the Office for Persons with Disabilities to try and save your term if needed, as well as working to heal whatever ails you.
4. All work and no play will burn you out. Take the time to do something you enjoy as a break from your studies. I spent the first two years of this degree studying my butt off and was confused why my marks were poor. As soon as I started doing extra-curriculars my grades went up – I was giving my brain a chance to relax and I would be able to work much more effectively once I had taken a break for some fun. However, please remember this is a delicate balancing act – too many breaks and you won’t study enough.
5. Have a good place to live in which you are comfortable. Living in a dump can be majorly stressful – I once lived in a place where things always seemed to be broken (the heat, asbestos in the basement, the plumbing, etc.). It added stress to my life that simply did not need to be there. Although it was a cheap place to live I moved to a new place that was more expensive but was well cared for. It made a huge difference in my stress levels and comfort. Considerate roomates are also one of the best housing situations to have.
6. It’s okay to fail things – you are at university to learn. Failing things is part of being a UW engineering undergrad – very few people will graduate without failing something. Learning how to move on after getting a failed grade is important, and seeing that you have no idea what you are doing in a course is necessary to identify courses you are at risk in. If it’s an assignment you failed, dust yourself off and work harder from that point (getting help from TAs is also important). If it’s a course you failed, find out what options you have for passing that course. If it’s a term you have failed, talk to your academic adviser.
7. This degree is expensive – learn where to go to find good deals on food and drinks. I take pride in my cheap shopping skills so here are a few tips. Zehrs has 10% off for students on Tuesdays, be sure to bring your WatCard. Sobeys has 10% for students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but in general, it is a more expensive store than Zehrs. The University Plaza can be really pricey for poor quality food – watch where you go. The Engineering CnD has the cheapest coffee around – $0.50 for coffee in your own mug and $0.35 for tea in your own mug. The Engineering CnD is a not-for-profit EngSoc service, so all the food in there is sold pretty much at cost. Also, most bars and clubs will have daily food or drink deals – seek them out! Finally, never forget that it is cheapest to buy alcohol at the LCBO or Beer Store and drink at home.

I hope you have found this article to be helpful and best of luck on this term and the rest of your terms at UW!