Why I dropped out of Mechanical Engineering

Is mechanical engineering worth it? Here's what I learned after starting out as a mechanical engineering student and studying mechanical engineering major.
Although I am currently an Electrical Engineering PhD student, I learned many things during my time as a mechanical engineering student. I share it in this video!
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think :-)

[@BigBrainFolabi]

Trust me I've been through this exactly!! I had the same love for mechanical engineering, building things, machinery, automotive etc. But, in my first year which is pretty much common for all students in different domains, we had this subject called mechanics of solids. I kinda had a love-hate relationship with it. I really liked the subject, but I wasn't performing well in my exams even after putting too much effort in it. Then I finally had to make a decision to choose a different path. I chose electronics which I'm also interested in and doing better. But, I have not given up on my passion to learn certain subjects in ME, which I do alongside electronics as a hobby. I love both of them and I wanna see where I can land. Well I'm pretty confused but still moving forward with great positivity.

[@lsi3585]

You know you are an ME student when Statics is so easy you make fun Civil Engineers but wonder how electrical engineers choose to deal with circuits.

[@favouremma7429]

statics isn't sooo easy tbh

[@jamesperdue8558]

This channel is unbelievable to me. I started my first year as an ME and have just switched to electrical precisely because Statics is miserable and physics 2 and circuits 1 seem neat. As I learn more about the subfields of electrical, I just get more and more excited about being able to do this stuff. It feels like this channel was built for me.

[@alithedazzling]

Hey James! This channel is built for people like you for sure, very happy to hear you are finding value! more videos to come ;)

[@yourbedroompunk7601]

going through the same thing, crazy how the world works!

[@hussamali8163]

Great info and simple delivering. Your videos never let me down please keep them coming each has its own valuable information.

[@alithedazzling]

Thank you so much, its comments like these that help me keep posting despite being very busy with research. Will keep posting :-)

[@maryluvskk]

It’s amazing to have someone who explains everything about electrical engineering ❤

[@nickputkaradze1181]

We shouldn't regard negative experiences as a wasted time, because we can learn from them. You've got a really good point about that we can learn what we don't enjoy and change paths. At first I was studying medicine at university. I didn't think much while choosing a major. I was just thinking that I like helping people and medicine is a good major generally, so I got into it. But after a semester I realized I'm not that curious about human anatomy or diseases that affect our bodies. I wanted to see big picture of how human body is built and functions and that's it. I didn't want to learn what each drug does in our bodies. So, I knew that I had to change my major. I sat and thought about what kind of concepts do I enjoy learning. It mainly was physics underlying natural phenomena. But I also wanted to be able to apply knowledge to solve problems, so EE was a best choice and I don't regret transferring any second. While being on medicine and also on EE, I have seen many people who were like me. They didn't enjoy what they were taught, so they struggled. But many of them still continued learning on that major and didn't consider a change or were afraid. I don't think it's a good idea to be learning and then working on things that you don't enjoy, for a long time. It will lead to unfulfilling life.

[@alithedazzling]

Absolutely, I'm glad you are sharing this so others can see it happens quite a lot and my case is not unique -- for those who decide to stick with what they are doing, I hope they find an angle that makes it more interesting.

[@StEvUgnIn]

That's good advice. It's just about getting the right pivot.

[@alithedazzling]

Absolutely, but in order to pivot you have to give it a shot!

[@haas1298]

Hey I am in that situation, I am currently majoring in electrical engineering and considering switching to mechanical, I will give it all like you said at the end and see how it goes👍

[@alithedazzling]

Best of luck!

[@camlex2144]

I'm heading into my first semester for ME in uk where you're suppose to declare your major when you apply and I'm already trying to change my course to EE based on my curiosity I developed over the summer in electricity and magnetism with their applications. I guess I also somewhat going with my gut feeling as well because there's still so much I don't know but I'm more than willing to seek through this degree:)

[@arkytoon]

I am an electrical engineer. If the time would go back, I would study mechanical engineering. Even though, I'm proud to be an electrical engineer.

[@marksamuel9132]

Could you please explain why

[@_rd_kocaman]

same reasons why I started ME. turned out as a data person and much more content about it. almost 4 out of 5 people in my class are not pursuing ME career and I'd argue the rate is the highest among all degrees

[@randallmcgrath9345]

One of 2 EE majors I knew said that Junior year tends to be very stressful for most since thats the primetime for internships usually. Or its when people study abroad and have to deal with studying and adapting to a new country.

[@deadlyalpaca8548]

Great message 👍🏻

[@alithedazzling]

Thank you!!

[@antoups]

I'm a second year mechanical engineering student, I wanted to do mechatronics at first but it was a 3 year program and most of the people told me to get an engineering degree in either mechanical or electrical and then pursue it as a masters degree. My first year in mechanical wasn't bad actually, I somehow fell in love with dynamics and ended up getting an A+, I didn't enjoy thermodynamics as much as dynamics honestly. I always do research about electrical engineering and I guess it looks really cool, but I'm totally not sure if I should switch or continue with mechanical and learn some electrical along the way as a person who wants to pursue a robotics career. I really enjoy some of the topics in mechanical as well in electrical and I found both of them not so hard to grasp. It has been a hard time for me honestly, I spend each and every day thinking if I should switch, but I guess I'm going to continue with mechanical and put a tremendous amount if learning other electrical aspects on my own since I'm really confused.

[@SmartyAnalysis]

Stay doing the mechanical engineering, it's really worth it and will help you alot during your robotics and mechatronics masters program. In robotics you will learn alot about electrical engineering. You can talk with your course advisor to and professors to give you more electrical courses since you already covered the most mechanical courses you need for mechatronics. Stay studying 🥂

[@thaplymouth7155]

Dude, I'm so glad I found this video. I'm going through almost this exact thing right now. I have experience in CAD/CNC/mfg so when I decided to go back to school Mechanical was the natural choice. My drive to go back to school has actually been largely driven by my interest in aerospace. Anyways, in my MATLAB course a few semesters ago I found myself staying up late to solve problems, make my code more efficient, or go beyond the initial solution to make a better program or create visualizations. I've utilized it where possible in more classes since then, like physics, statics, etc. I'm in statics now, and like you, while the concepts seem simple enough I'm struggling in the course. I'm also doing better in Phy 2 (elec/mag) than I did in Phy I (mechanics), and I got an A in my circuit analysis class--I was actually curious to learn about resistors, capacitors, circuit analysis methods, etc. I've been considering making the switch to Computer Engineering due to its mixed emphasis on circuits and programming--the things I've seemed to enjoy so far in my current program. I think you're right, and confirmed my suspicion that my lack of interest in statics is probably a sign to go ahead and make the switch, despite telling myself all this time that its what I've wanted. It's like telling yourself you like a girl you've never met, and once you meet you realize that the two of you just aren't compatible. Thanks for the video; I just subscribed.

[@alithedazzling]

Wow, that's very similar to my story, especially the compatibility part --- check out my other videos on other majors, hope they help!

[@liamdavis2068]

Nice👋, I’m also an electrical engineering major. I love it becuz it feels like the most high-tech engineering field out there. It has so many real-world applications becuz most of our technology is comprised of electronic components.

[@kristasusannaa]

Haha hello again missed you🙋🏻‍♀️

[@alithedazzling]

hey there, hope you're doing well :-)

[@zodi7319]

Your videos are so good

[@alithedazzling]

Glad you like them!

[@mustafanaser9789]

I am also a Electrical Engineering (EE) student. But let's be honest. With Mechanical Engineering (ME) you have more opportunities than EE. If you learn ME you everytime learn also many basics from EE like circuit analyses. At least in my university I can guarantee you that ME students learn almost all important bascis about circuit analysis including "Signals and Systems". As a ME student you can theoretically choose every EE field except Communciation Technology or computer engineering. E.g. Control theory/ Automation engineering, Mechatronics or Energy Engineering are disciplines that can be chosen by EE and ME students or post-graduates. If you want to go into mechatronics you have huge advantages as a ME engineer over an EE engineer since you know and understand better how the mechanic components in the system work. As an ME undergraduate you can often enroll in EE graduate programs in many universities - like in mine where I currently study - but not otherwise. Indeed I know a ME guy who had just to take some undergraduate EE modules like "Embedded Systems" to be able to study a computer engineering graduate program. Of course you are missing some basics as a ME engineer/ student but you could theoretically catch up some EE theory knowledge in a short amount of time.

[@alithedazzling]

EE concepts are much harder to grasp than ME in my opinion -- it is not easy at all for an ME to learn this stuff

[@jeremyduru2683]

@@alithedazzlingit really depends on the person, a couple (EE) friend at my university, we took University Physics 1 together and in that class we spent so much time on Deriving and Theorizing equations in every problems and allot of them have to drop out of that course because of the high level math. Some of the concepts in Physics 1 is all Classical to Modern Mechanics and Thermo principles too At the end of the day (ME) and (EE) are both very difficult degrees it just depends on the person high level of logic to understand.

[@rayzedd29]

Hi. I am currently an undergraduate student in ME and am going through the same realization that you did with statics and other ME courses. I am really finding myself interested in the theoretical side of physics and really want to make the pivot. But the problem that I am dealing with now is that I worry that i may regret switching because of the difference in the job outlooks in ME vs. physics and the income straight out of college between those two. What do you think I should do??

[@anhthanglehoang574]

I graduated in major chemistry and i've worked as a R&D fomula engineer for tire company for nearly 2 years. Though, i don't hate my job, when i worked in the factory, i regconized that i have interests in machine, technology and automation. For this reason, i intend to quit my job and switch major but i still can't decide between mechanical and electrical engineering. Could you give me some advices ?

[@alithedazzling]

there are many "electrical vs mechanical engineering" videos on YT. watch them and they will have much more detail than I can provide

[@theunderdogmagazine]

Statics and Dynamics is very hard first time

[@bdulAhad0]

Do we have a guide or tips on how to switch majors? What will be the consequences and will we have to take extra classes etc especially to still being able to graduate in 4 years. (Assuming that was all the time it took from start of ME, to finishing EE??) (Asking as someone who is nearing the point of entering college.

[@alithedazzling]

it will depend entirely on your school, I wouldn't worry about it until you're in college

[@tytoalba4794]

Do you need to know the basic electrical study or some practice to prepare for collage in EE degree?... Cuz i don't really have that experience and stuff but i'm quite interested

[@alithedazzling]

all you need is interest and willingness to work hard

[@amirmirhoseini3629]

u may not believe me but i have statics too and i realized that i have to quit ME. i also want to study EE. wish me luck in my exams so i can change my major with my grades :)

[@cdpalmo]

omg im experiencing the same thing and it all started with statics last sem oh god,

[@TonyDaExpert]

For me I guess I kinda just knew ME was too real for me, I needed something a bit more abstract cause just how my mind works

[@alithedazzling]

thats how I felt also

[@RaymondOsondu]

But you can't say because you don't like one aspect of mechanical engineering, then you completely give up on it. There are more fun things like CAD, Fluid dynamics and so much more. No matter the field you go into, there's going to be something you don't like.

[@alithedazzling]

True, but MECHANICS is the core of MECHANICAL engineering, if you hate that, its not a good look

[@maghferahzahin4197]

Btech takes 4 yrs . How did u completed in 3 and a half year while changing your major

[@alithedazzling]

summer classes + a ton of credits sophomore and junior year

[@geraldwesley]

Which is more important in electrical engineering math or physics?

[@alithedazzling]

physics is more important because those are the concepts you need to understand, however math is still very important because its how those concepts are described and applied on a quantitative level. But if you were to fall in love with one of them, definitely physics -- more specifically electromagnetic physics.

[@geraldwesley]

@@alithedazzling well am interested in electromagnetic and atomic physics than other branches of physics

[@alithedazzling]

@@geraldwesley perfect then, you would probably like microelectronics class when you get to it -- you can watch some videos about how transistors work and semiconductors

[@WanderSage0]

What is your specific research in for your EE PhD ?

[@alithedazzling]

antennas at THz frequencies

[@rohithsudarshan6524]

If you think statics is easy come to UIUC and take TAM 😭

[@alithedazzling]

Haha I don't think statics is easy, quite the opposite! It was so difficult that I ended up switching out of ME. The point is that what makes it hard is not the concepts or anything intuitive, but rather how rigorous each exercise is. In my university we had homework every single week day which would take hours!

[@alithedazzling]

@Abdullah Ali oh I totally agree! Statics is only the beginning haha

[@mokamoka9048]

I'm about to take statics this summer 😂😂😂and I'll see and let you know later 😍😍😍 I'm doing mechanical engineering too however I feel dynamics is more harder than statics since we deal with moving objects 😅😅😅

[@shivammittal551]

That fucking rc hibbler book

[@gonzalezm244]

Statics is boring for most mechanical engineers too. Don’t give up on mechanical engineering just because one class was boring. Dynamics is where it gets fun lmao

[@alithedazzling]

true

[@Mohamadg.]

Noooo

[@alithedazzling]

RIP

[@emina4627]

If you are doing well in EE, very good for you! But that would be a terrible advice to someone who is frustrated after statics, and is about to quit. Too early! Mechanical Engineering is much more than just statics and actually nobody on Earth does all these FBDs, reactions, internal actions manually for decades. Tbh, it is a useless tool to solve real world problems... Take a good online course in engineering drawing with CAD and machine design/elements. Just dive in for a few months to see whether mechanical engineering is for you... Statics and calculus are just alphabet of mechanical engineering!

[@alithedazzling]

If you are not enjoying the alphabet, how are you gonna enjoy the more advanced stuff? Statics and dynamics are the foundation of ME, if someone finds them very boring and uninteresting, the rest of the classes and career is gonna be very hard. Life is short. Do what you are interested in

[@emina4627]

@@alithedazzling I think if you grind for a while, you are going to be grateful later. A different story is if you don't actually like the domain. That's why they have intro to MechE/ChemE/EE courses at some universities. You may not like the alphabet, but you should definitely like the problems you are about to solve in a few years.