Wasn’t really sure what to write for this blog in all honestly, I feel like coming to the end of semester two it would make sense to talk about the other sem two classes. In engineering science in semester two there is one core engineering science paper, one compulsory engineering wide paper and two electives. My blog a couple weeks ago goes into quite a lot of detail into one of the projects from the engineering science class, and the engineering wide class doesn’t really need much explaination in all honesty. I don’t really know much about any of the electives excluding the two that I take, and I feel like Amanda knew more about all them anyway and summed things up pretty well last year, so go check our her blog explaining these: **link**
So now, in an attempt to not repeat things that have already been said I thought why not give a run down of all the things I like about engsci, and more importantly all the things I don’t like about engsci.
Don’t get me wrong, most of the time I feel like I have picked the right spec, right degree and bla bla bla, but like everything, there are things I dislike about it. And so as this blog isn’t necessarily about promoting engsci, and more about giving a realistic insight into what it’s like, here we go?
what do I LIKE about engsci?
- My friends, engsci cohort in general
The engsci cohort itself is very close compared to other specs (i think?), in comparison to the 500 person lecture halls of first year engsci definitely has a more comfortable and close-knit sort of environment. Since the engsci cohort is relatively small, at only about 80 people, we all sort of meet and get to know each other to some extent in the first few weeks and on the trip. On this trip especially there are so many opportunities for people to become friends and build a good support network within engsci, and that makes such a difference when coming into a new spec without really knowing anyone. I’m literally so grateful for all the friends I’ve made in engsci, I would have literally no motivation to go to class at all without them, and I need the emotional support through all the deadlines and assignments!! Shout out to you guys if any of my engsci friends are reading this! 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
- coding (WHATTT)
This might sound crazy to anyone who knows me, but I’m actually starting to like coding (🤡), not like all the time, but I genuinely have enjoyed it sometimes which is insane to me. I feel like having to somewhat code all year, my coding ability has progressed to a certain point where things have just started making more sense. I know in the past I have said that engineering science isn’t just about coding, and I still stand by that, but while that’s true coding is still such a useful tool for solving engineering science problems when the problems are too big to calculate ourselves. I feel like we reach a point in engineering science where it isn’t even about the code anymore, it’s about how the code is a tool to help us solve a bigger problem. I’m not even joking I was the worst coder ever last year, but there is so much time for improvement if your willing to try, so in line with my previous advice, don’t let a bad first year coding experience alone put you off of engsci.
- heaps of variationnn
If you’re bad at decision making like me, I feel like you will enjoy this aspect of engsci. If you wanna procrastinate deciding on what job to do for your whole entire life, why not procrastinate longer and choose engsci? Because there is so much variation in the course there is genuinely so many different paths you can go down to, and so your not locked into a certain job type or study topic forever and ever. Even just this year I have studied so many different subject matters and so I feel like it’s such a well rounded spec that could help me get into so many different job areas in the future. Though there is somewhat of an overlap between particular classes, there are so many differences between each paper that each one still feels distinct from the rest, so I don’t find myself getting bored of doing the same stuff. Some people like really ‘specialising’, but thats definitely not the path for me and I’m so bad at making decisions, so this element of engsci is perfect!
what do I DISLIKE about engsci?
- no part two assistance centre 🙁
Compared to other specs there really isn’t many options for academic support as there is no part two assistance centre for engsci!! One of my biggest lessons this year was to make use of the resources available to me, and so even though I didn’t make the most of the part one assistance centre at the time last year, I wish there had been one available for engsci this year, especially when topics just aren’t making sense to me from lectures 🤡🤡. There is part two assistance for most specs, EXCEPT biomeng, chemmat and engsciiii ughhh, I believe they might be creating one in the future but as it stands there isn’t one currently and it kinda sucks. Obviously office hours are still a thing, but a part two assistance centre in my opinion is a much better resource.
- everyone is so smart 🥸
I feel like a problem I have had with engsci this year is I have let myself get kinda psyched out at times and intimidated by how smart everyone else is. I feel like I find myself doubting myself and my abilities really often, which is so crazy because at the end of the day I’m really proud of how I’ve been doing this year? You will find so many intelligent people in engsci, but I sometimes find it hard to remember that I deserve to be in engsci just as much as the next person. Some people can talk the talk more than others, and I kinda let this get to me, and sometimes feel like I’m not measuring up to them since it ‘seems’ easy to them. It’s important to know that everyone finds it hard at least at some point whether they let it show or not, and I feel like I need to remember that, because be fr an engineering degree was never gonna be easy. Don’t let the imposter syndrome get to you !! 😍
- workload/life balance
This is a very personal one which really depends on who you are as a person and what other commitments you have. I personally found the workload of engsci at times to be quite daunting, and I have struggled to maintain a sort of uni life balance. In engsci, especially if you overthink your work like I do, there can be periods of time where the work is just stacking up and taking way longer than you think it should, and it can feel like a struggle to get things done. Obviously the solution to this is to be more organised and prioritise your degree over everything else and all that sort of stuff, but this is easier said than done. While I will say it is definitely doable, the stress of the workload and deadlines gets to me sometimes especially when I have other commitments on top of that.
Hope you guys enjoyed this blog and were interested in hearing about the good and the bad of engsci, and that the bad points don’t put you off of engsci, but just make you more prepared for it!
Ava 🧚♀️🧸🍓