My first uni semester

[Red]

Wasn't really all that bad actually. As some may know I am a physics/engineering major, which means 80% more studying than usual and less free time for anything else (which I am okay with, I don't really go out with friends, and I am not into partying at all). Although, it does leave less time for video games, reading, and making my youtoob videos.

I won't deny that I struggled a bit, but I think that's due to a little laziness and procrastination (which I have been working on mind you!!). The only classes I really had to worry about were Physics and Calculus; Writing was an easy A as always, Physics lab was more time consuming than anything else (it was just what we learned in Physics, but applied), and Engineering... well, it was something else.

Anyway my professors were overall pretty good, especially my physics professor (my only gripe with him is that he didn't allow us to have a formula sheet during the tests, which I felt was unnecessary but whatever). My Calc professor was okayish, though I learned more by watching the Organic Chemistry tutor than from her lectures (I'm aware that YouTube is only more helpful at lower levels; at higher levels, lecture is pretty essential if you want to learn anything). My writing teacher was really cool too, and I that's the class where I met some good friends due to discussion, even though we may have disagreements. My physics lab professor was pretty nice, and her grading policy was pretty lenient, so I had to worry less about that class than usual. And my Engineering professor... you know, if 2 people ask about it, I'll consider making a whole new thread on him, if I have time.

Oh yeah, speaking of time, I also had little time and motivation to do anything else related to extracurriculars. When I went to orientation, I signed up for several clubs, thinking 'alright fuck yeah this shit's gonna kick ass' but when I told my mom, she said that I might not have all that much time during the year to do all these things I wanted to do; I especially wanted to do work with the broadcasting club, since I figured it'd be pretty cool to be a DJ for a station heard across the country. I even went to the interview a week before the semester started, and they really liked my resume and what I wanted to offer. They said that before I could to any broadcasting I had to take a 10 week course throughout the semester, and if I missed 2, I was kicked off. I remember a few weeks went by when I got the email saying how I can't participate in the club anymore, and I was like 'Oh shit I completely missed that.' But y'know whatever.

I know a few people who just quit their majors since they are hard, which is upsetting to me; they fail a test or two, and then they decide that it isn't for them, so they switch to a major for the sake of easiness. I keep trying to tell them that no one said it was going to be easy, and you have to try before giving up, since it is in their ability; unless you're a super genius, you have to put the time into it (I had to learn that the hard way).

There is this one kid in my physics and calc class who failed the classes in his first semester, but actually tried again, and actually passed all of his exams, which I respect the hell out of. You keep going, even through failure. Insert Aisha Tyler quote about failure here.

My favourite class was physics; It was hard as balls, and I probably could've done a bit better, but I think that class was the most fun and fulfilling. I think I obtained more valuable knowledge from that class than any other class in my life, and this is just the tip of the knowledge iceberg. While we only did the bare minimum if you will, we learned about rocket science, gravity, and how calculus can apply to physics, and whenever I was studying and doing the homework I'm like 'hell yeah I'm a fucking genius.'

Now it isn't quite over yet, as I still have one more final, but I'm studying for it as we speak. Shouldn't be too bad, right?

I know this post was incredibly self serving and masturbatory, so how about you? How was your first semester in university? Any advice or whathaveyou?

[teo123]

Physics was also one of my favorite classes during the first year. That is, I was relatively good at it, only 9 out of 147 students in my class passed the exam the first time (many of them didn't even bother to apply to it the first time), and I was among those 9. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), we don't have physics this year.
My favorite class was "Programming 1". I was the first to do a seminar in it, you can read that seminar here (it's about the basics of the compiler theory, in Croatian). No other student in my class has made a seminar, even until now.
There were a few rather funny things that happened to me during the first year. On a laboratory exercise in electrical engineering, the professor asked me: "How come you don't know that? Have you bought the Kuzmanović'es book?". I responded with: "I have bought it, but, you know, it's a rather fat book.". Then the professor told me: "Colleague, I'd kindly ask you to abstain from such comments.".
On the oral exam in electrical engineering, when I entered the room, the professor (another one) asked me: "So, have you prepared yourself for the exam.". I said: "Well, not really, no.". Then the professor said: "Colleague, honesty is usually a good thing, but not right now.".
I also like how my electrical engineering professor explained the Biot-Savart Law: "See, when you try to spill water from a glass, it won't get out of glass until some air enters the glass. So too won't the electricity leave the battery all until some magnetic field, usually produced by the wire, doesn't enter the battery.".

[Adloud]

I'm also doing my first semester! I study Computer Science. It's very hard, especially all the math. I'm in the process of studying calculus right now. My finals will be in January, although we also have exams on a semi-regular basis. I'll be rooting for you on your last final!

[teo123]

I'm also doing my first semester! I study Computer Science. It's very hard, especially all the math. I'm in the process of studying calculus right now. My finals will be in January, although we also have exams on a semi-regular basis. I'll be rooting for you on your last final!

Mathematics is hard when studying computer science? Well, if you ask me, Electrotechnics 1 and 2 and Basic Electronics are way harder. Like, way, way harder.

[Adloud]

Mathematics is hard when studying computer science? Well, if you ask me, Electrotechnics 1 and 2 and Basic Electronics are way harder. Like, way, way harder.

Older colleagues tell us that this is the harder part and that it gets easier from here. I'm also a little bit worried about Electronics but that's going to be the second semester (so basically an eternity from now). It also depends where you went to university, I guess.

[teo123]

Mathematics is hard when studying computer science? Well, if you ask me, Electrotechnics 1 and 2 and Basic Electronics are way harder. Like, way, way harder.

Older colleagues tell us that this is the harder part and that it gets easier from here. I'm also a little bit worried about Electronics but that's going to be the second semester (so basically an eternity from now). It also depends where you went to university, I guess.

I am attending the FERIT University in Osijek.

[brimstoneSalad]

Wow, great that you had a good semester. I can't say I remember much about school, kind of ancient history at this point but very cool that you're going for physics and engineering. I'll end up having to ask you physics questions in no time.

[Red]

Wow, great that you had a good semester.

I won't deny that I had my slumps, moments where I knew I could've done better on an exam, or seeing a dumb mistake if I just thought for a second. But, I just tell myself to not give up, and that seems to have worked thus far. I've learned how to study right instead of half-assing it (thank you Organic Chemistry Tutor).

I can't say I remember much about school, kind of ancient history at this point but very cool that you're going for physics and engineering.

Would you say that college, at least in STEM fields these days is more difficult than before, or easier (It's definitely more expensive)? I mean yeah same knowledge, same material, that doesn't change, but do you think that since we have learned more in the past 100 or so years it's harder? I know it's a stupid question but I've been wondering about it.

I'll end up having to ask you physics questions in no time.

Woah woah woah, I thought you were the one who knows how rockets work, and has a university-level understanding of Physics? How much could you have forgotten already (if we just forget what we learned what's the point???) In my first physics course we did do a small amount of Rocket Science and Gravity, but I'm sure that it's only scratching the surface of knowledge on that front.

If you're being serious it might be a while before I can answer any high level questions off the top of my head, but I do have my $450 Physics textbook if you need me to look up anything for you. Although one of my high school buddies is majoring in Aerospace Engineering (he also was one of the people who encouraged me to make my Nuclear Energy video), so I might ask him when you inevitably stump me. Spekaing of which, I hope to use some of the concepts I learn in school for future YouTube videos, which I will be doing more of again (I hope to have my next one around beginning of January).

[Lay Vegan]

I peaked in my first and second semesters of college. Consistently earning a spot on the Dean's List, making new friends, founding several organizations on my campus, managing the Earthlings chapter in my city yada yada.

I even had time to run a YouTube channel

Time management became an increasingly important issue though, so eventually I had to pull back on the extracurriculars and focus on completing my program/internship (no clubs and no YouTube).

I think the general difficulty of most majors depend on how specialized they are. My own program covered the basics of economics, marketing, organizational theory, accounting, and stats etc. but didn't go as far in depth as the STEM programs.

Anyway, happy to hear your semester went smoothly. Moving forward, hopefully you'll be able to join some relevant clubs on campus.

[teo123]

I've just written my first seminar this year. That's for my Algorithms and Data Structures class. I've spent whole days writing it the last three days, and that was after spending months researching for it.