The subtle disadvantages of being a FIRST Alumni

[jee7s]

Be really careful about feeling that you are bored out of your mind in your freshman year in college. Be mindful that the university needs to teach to a common denominator, and you are currently ahead of it. That won't always be the case.

Your situation sounds a lot like mine 14 or so years ago. I was on a FRC team, learned a lot of cool stuff. I was in the top 10 of my high school class at a blue ribbon school in New Jersey. All through high school I really wanted to go to Duke. I even took a summer session there. But, alas, Duke didn't accept me for college. I ended up "settling" for the University of Virginia. That's right, I felt I "settled" for the then #1 and current #2 public university in the country.

So, when I got to Charlottesville, I was a really cocky and arrogant son of a you know what. Practically slept through my first semester, when my schedule was basically a re-take of a bunch of stuff I took in high school. I left for Christmas with a 3.6 GPA. College was going to be easy.

But then I got kicked in the shins. I didn't take my introductory circuits course seriously. I mean, given enough effort, I can do circuit analysis. Who cares about this Node-Voltage and Mesh-Current stuff anyway? All I ever needed to know about circuits I learned in High School. Right? Well, I thought so then. At the same time, I didn't take multivariate calculus seriously, because I'll never have to worry about things more complicated than a circuit.

Next thing I know, I'm simultaneously failing three courses in my second year: E&M Physics, Electronics I (transistors), and DiffEq. Why? Because I didn't know how to do a two dimensional closed surface integral over an inverse square force field in spherical space. And, I didn't know how to do N-V and M-C for small signal transistor models. Oh, and dear God I didn't know how to find a determinant so now I can't solve differential equations using Cramer's Rule.

Yes, I can understand the boredom. I was there. But, a question to ask yourself: Can you explain how the fact that the divergence of a 4 dimensional anti-symmetric rank 2 tensor equals zero means that there is light? Can you explain why a square pulse in the time domain equals something like sin(w)/w in the frequency domain? Can you explain why a single pendulum is well governed by algebra, but a double pendulum is chaotic? Can you explain why a curve ball curves, in a mathematical sense?

There's a lot to be learned. If you want to be an engineer, then find some healthy distractions until you hit the challenging stuff. I wish I had taken up billiards my first year in college, that would have probably helped. Instead, I found myself teaching myself vector calculus, field calculus, and differential equations during Christmas break 2001. I'm really glad I did, that re-commitment to myself meant I graduated. That meant that I went to on grad school and earned a Ph.D., and that in turn gives me the career I have today.

So, stick with it, and use this opportunity to find those good rounding passions that make us human.

[MARS_James]

Speaking from experience I feel for you. I actually got into my first choice of University, and chose to go to the local community turned state college to save money. I was BORED more BORED then I ever have been in my entire life. I was like some people on here and my arrogance and intelligence coming out of FIRST allowed me to cost through my AA degree. I also got a rude awakening upon transferring into an accelerated Master's Degree program (which I am still in), let me be the one to tell you, use these moments of being bored to read up on the classes you plan on heading into if you don't want to/can't do extracurriculars. This will help you in the long run.

I also feel your statement several alumni and friends have started pursuing engineering degrees and switched, but as you said statistics don't lie(which if you take a stats class you would know how wrong that statement is) the number of major switches in comparison to the population as a whole is shockingly less.


On another note:

Originally Posted by jee7s

But, a question to ask yourself: Can you explain how the fact that the divergence of a 4 dimensional anti-symmetric rank 2 tensor equals zero means that there is light? Can you explain why a square pulse in the time domain equals something like sin(w)/w in the frequency domain? Can you explain why a single pendulum is well governed by algebra, but a double pendulum is chaotic? Can you explain why a curve ball curves, in a mathematical sense?

Thank you for supplying me with some great questions that I used to be able to answer and will now be spending some time beating myself up for forgetting then being proud of myself once I remember

[Laaba 80]

I actually had the complete opposite experience. I spent 9 years as a student hearing how far ahead FIRST was putting me, and I started to believe it. Once I got to college I realized I wasn't ahead at all.

[Allison K]

Originally Posted by Laaba 80

I actually had the complete opposite experience. I spent 9 years as a student hearing how far ahead FIRST was putting me, and I started to believe it. Once I got to college I realized I wasn't ahead at all.

A new mentor (no prior FIRST experience) pointed this out almost immediately after becoming involved in the program and I was a bit flabbergasted that I had never noticed. It's shocking how often the message in speeches is "FIRST kids are special because they are in FIRST" and not "FIRST kids are special because they work hard" or some variation on the value of work ethic. Since that was pointed out to me I've been very careful with how I word messages to my students to make sure that I'm emphasizing that on our team we value working hard, not just having FIRST on a resume.

[RyanCahoon]

It sounds like you had a fantastic mentor on your FIRST team. In addition to the great suggestions already given for ways to challenge yourself, I would suggest finding a mentor at your university. I would suggest a grad student or post doc as they're usually not as busy as professors, but seek out professors if you can't find a grad student that you respect.

It's great to get advice from online forums, but developing a longterm relationship with a mentor will give you someone who knows your position and progress and can give more specific suggestions what to pursue next. They'll also be a excellent letter of recommendation when you apply for grad school or a job.

[magnets]

What a weird disadvantage. You've taken advantage of a great opportunity and you've worked hard, and as a result, you currently know more than people who've never studied engineering.

I honestly struggle to see how this is a disadvantage. If the courses are really too easy, ask somebody if you can take harder classes. Could you sit down and take the final for the class you're in right now, and get an A? If so, ask to take another class.

[EricH]

Sooner or later, you WILL get a wakeup. There's a reason I took 5 years to graduate college, and that reason wasn't my first year. It was my second year.

See, in the first year, most colleges like to get the general stuff out of the way. By the second year, you've still got some of the general stuff (but it'll be spread-able through your remaining time), but you'll start getting your major-specific courses. Or should I say, your major-specific "Weeder" courses--the type of courses that if you pass 'em, you should have a relatively simple time the rest of the way (and the concepts will stay with you), but if you don't pass 'em, you may want to think about your career path. (Don't forget to retake those courses!)

In my case, I hit Dynamics, Intro to Solid Mechanics, and Diff. Eq., 'long about the second semester of my second year. The only course I passed that semester was Physics II (and its lab). Insert retakes, and another year in college. I did manage to make my escape eventually, just not in the 4 years I wanted to.

So, just like everybody else: Go find something to do that ISN'T programming/robotics, and then go find something that challenges you in the programming realm. I hear some helicopters and quadcopters want to be programmed to find their way through mazes (don't remember the competition, though)--that oughta keep you busy for a couple years or so.

[Angeliukm]

To the OP, be careful how you phrase statements claiming to be far ahead of everyone else. This can come across as bragging, even if you don't intend it that way, and will annoy people (for good reasons). See some of the previous posts in this thread for examples of annoyed reactions. Don't dismiss these replies, though; I'm currently a first semester sophomore, and I can already tell that they're giving the kind of valuable advice that only comes from experience. They've been where you are now, and they're trying to prevent you from making their mistakes. The shear number of these replies shows how many people in FIRST are concerned for you and only want you to succeed.

I believe that in your case, your boredom might have less to do with being a FIRST alum and more to do with your professional and research experience. Not all FIRST alumni have this problem (myself included), and it sounds like you've had some fantastic experience already through not only FIRST, but also your Boeing mentor and undergrad research. Keep in mind that it's quite rare to have had this experience, especially as a freshman, and it's something most freshmen and sophomores would give almost anything to have had. This is a good problem to have, and many potential solutions have already been posted. I don't want to repeat all of the advice in this thread, so I'll just ask again that you consider following it.

Everyone else, let's try to be no harsher than necessary. It's hard to know what you're taking for granted, and I think the OP is learning this.