Engineering in college

[EricVanWyk]

I have some strongly held convictions on math and engineering education. For example, I think that algebra-based physics should be thrown away and replaced with calc-based physics... in 9th grade. In my immodest opinion, we lose a lot of potential engineers because the modern american math curriculum focuses too much on results and not enough on process - too many formulas, not enough concepts. It becomes a terrifying wall of cryptic symbols that can only be memorized... but the beauty of math is that it all makes sense and requires extremely little memorization once you understand it.

For example, take 1 dimensional 1 body physics. In algebra land, it is a whole lot of specific formulas to memorize. In calculus land, all you have to remember is
"position's first derivative is velocity, second derivative is acceleration". Combined with a few hours of calc, you can easily rediscover all the equations that you had to memorize in algebra-land. Why waste all that angst teaching it by brute force in the first place?



Before you decide that engineering isn't for you, ask yourself if you are having trouble with the Math concepts or the Math memorization. Force yourself to understand where all the equations come from, and you will have a much easier time. Spend the time up front, it will pay back in spades later.